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annavereThis show hasn't let me down yet, so I presume there will be some absolutely ingenious method by which to pull the fat out of this dumpster fire and it is going to be so incredible that this will just be a step on a necessary road in hindsight. I am going to keep my negative comments as concise as possible, because I don't believe they actually jumped the shark here.
It sure feels like they did, though.
First, the good: Jennifer! Jennifer struggling with her new role, because she's brand new at this, and she has no idea and frankly the Daughters are kind of scary and she's new to the apocalypse. She's also the only one left alive at the end (Cole and Cassie are dead to me until they redeem themselves) so hopefully she gets to save the world in the finale to bookend her attempt to end it back in the season opener.
The group in battle with random scavs, with Ramse, Whitley and a now-scarred Deacon working together, plus the Daughters, whom Jennifer can barely lead. How did the power dynamics get sorted out during the time skip? Ramse and Daughter in chief (I am annoyed by her lack of characterization) get into a trial by combat, which can't be the first time that's happened in a year of old fashioned travel. I'd bet money Ramse, Whitley and Deacon all came to blows too, because that's what these guys do.
Third thing I liked about this one was the travel equation provided over at the Rewatch Group, which speaks of fascinating hardships overcome along the way and a far more enjoyable episode than this one.
The rest made me deeply unhappy. Starting with the opening sequence, wherein Cole/Cassie are dropkicked back into their passive-aggressive rut of hurtful silences and sideways accusations after what appeared to be a genuinely sweet breakthrough.
Then they fail at their job. Again. When faced with the latest psycho Primary and Messenger (united in unholy matrimony), Cassie and Cole, both within easy shooting range, decide to stand around trying to reason with these loons. Cue paradox. Cue colorful curses directed at my DVD player and a sincere hope that the Save the Primaries plot is retired with this season, because I have found it mostly exasperating.
This goes up to eleven a few minutes later when a gunned-up Ramse confronts the Witness... by yelling at him. Amazingly, that doesn't work. Then Ramse, Whitley, Hannah and Deacon get killed, even though they're badass warriors with nothing to lose, and the one time being aggressively violent might be the tiniest bit useful they stand around and die. A sad, slo-mo hopeless fight sequence would have conveyed the same 'darkest hour' mentality without completely disgracing everyone in view. They didn't fire a single shot!
Also, intercutting this appalling sequence with Cole/Cassie making love is the fastest way possible to take that pairing dangerously close to the level of an anti-ship for me. Cassie knew from her visions that the house of cedar and pine was bad news, and instead of running like hell or lighting the place on fire, she... did exactly what Olivia told her to do. So the creepy sexual subtext of her induced visions (which I never commented on, because I was hoping I was wrong) was genuine, and the fact that it was Cole being referenced does nothing to make this better.
So, I eagerly await the way this situation is about to be salvaged. It's bound to be extra enjoyable after this.
It sure feels like they did, though.
First, the good: Jennifer! Jennifer struggling with her new role, because she's brand new at this, and she has no idea and frankly the Daughters are kind of scary and she's new to the apocalypse. She's also the only one left alive at the end (Cole and Cassie are dead to me until they redeem themselves) so hopefully she gets to save the world in the finale to bookend her attempt to end it back in the season opener.
The group in battle with random scavs, with Ramse, Whitley and a now-scarred Deacon working together, plus the Daughters, whom Jennifer can barely lead. How did the power dynamics get sorted out during the time skip? Ramse and Daughter in chief (I am annoyed by her lack of characterization) get into a trial by combat, which can't be the first time that's happened in a year of old fashioned travel. I'd bet money Ramse, Whitley and Deacon all came to blows too, because that's what these guys do.
Third thing I liked about this one was the travel equation provided over at the Rewatch Group, which speaks of fascinating hardships overcome along the way and a far more enjoyable episode than this one.
The rest made me deeply unhappy. Starting with the opening sequence, wherein Cole/Cassie are dropkicked back into their passive-aggressive rut of hurtful silences and sideways accusations after what appeared to be a genuinely sweet breakthrough.
Then they fail at their job. Again. When faced with the latest psycho Primary and Messenger (united in unholy matrimony), Cassie and Cole, both within easy shooting range, decide to stand around trying to reason with these loons. Cue paradox. Cue colorful curses directed at my DVD player and a sincere hope that the Save the Primaries plot is retired with this season, because I have found it mostly exasperating.
This goes up to eleven a few minutes later when a gunned-up Ramse confronts the Witness... by yelling at him. Amazingly, that doesn't work. Then Ramse, Whitley, Hannah and Deacon get killed, even though they're badass warriors with nothing to lose, and the one time being aggressively violent might be the tiniest bit useful they stand around and die. A sad, slo-mo hopeless fight sequence would have conveyed the same 'darkest hour' mentality without completely disgracing everyone in view. They didn't fire a single shot!
Also, intercutting this appalling sequence with Cole/Cassie making love is the fastest way possible to take that pairing dangerously close to the level of an anti-ship for me. Cassie knew from her visions that the house of cedar and pine was bad news, and instead of running like hell or lighting the place on fire, she... did exactly what Olivia told her to do. So the creepy sexual subtext of her induced visions (which I never commented on, because I was hoping I was wrong) was genuine, and the fact that it was Cole being referenced does nothing to make this better.
So, I eagerly await the way this situation is about to be salvaged. It's bound to be extra enjoyable after this.
