Wow. There's a lot to unpack here. What a penultimate episode! Season 3 renewal announcement, come through!
First off...
• LOL at whoever wanted to use their super soldier (Raelle) for a recruitment tour... our very own witch Captain America, love it :joy:
• Goosebumps at the mycelium origin story scene! Way to turn things around, and I think anyone still questioning Alder's intentions especially after the doubts planted by this season would be swayed back into her corner after that (very Season 1 finale feels, actually, so I guess she will always be a complex character); Raelle, of all people, sympathized with her!
• Morrigan's whisper, holy sh---!!!
• And the Rite of Proxy scene. God damn, that was intense!
• No offense to Victor Webster (guy who plays the VP), but I have seen him on a couple of other shows as the bad guy or an unlikeable one, or so I can't help but think that his character here is shady lmao (he has been to me since day 1 lolol). The way he's been all season about his daughter being a witch is sketchy to me. "He's actually a pretty good guy" my ass — if you have to say that about a character, it's almost guaranteed to backfire eventually lol. If the guy that stays behind turns out to be a means to distract or keep tabs from within the Fort, I wouldn't be surprised.
I've seen some reactions where people are genuinely worried that Alder is getting killed off in the next episode but I really don't think so, because if they stick with the decision made here (Petra replacing Alder), I think it would definitely be interesting to see Alder as a "regular" witch/soldier who isn't the Army General (and if there's one thing I've gleaned from Eliot's interviews, this seems right up his alley (hopefully).
In Petra and Alder's words, Alder has lived as the General for so long she's forgotten how to deal with consequences like a human and has made some... questionable decisions to protect the witches (and to some extent, her position). After her dismissal, she would be watching the new General eventually make similar big decisions, and possibly similar mistakes, like she did, but this time as a spectator... either making her introspective and see what she could do differently, or just smug and satisfied like "I told you it wasn't easy" (I wouldn't mind her being petty like that, I probably would be too lol).
I don't doubt that she would eventually try to scramble back into the seat of power (and that she might succeed at one point), but this should be a good arc for her... if she survives. This whole comment would be for naught if she ends up actually dying like people think and I'm a fool lol.
I absolutely LOVE how this show handles episodes that follow and focus on characters outside the main group. This was so good.
Holy wow, that was intense. Reese getting cornered by HR and the FBI, Finch pulling through at the VERY last minute (cut it real close there, but of course, what would this be without the thrill), AND Alicia snooping around. SO good. Also very glad that Carter and Fusco now finally know about each other.
Always a pleasure to see Clarke Griffin's mom back as the sultry fixer Zoe Morgan.
I'm jealous of everyone who got to watch this and the reveal at the end without knowing (what I have sadly known long before starting this) that the POI is Root and that she would eventually become part of the team. Because daaamn, Amy Acker did such a switch there, very convincing as the good doctor and then did the psycho hacker well lmao (come to think of it, it is very Claire/Whiskey too; I kept wondering why this particular actress x character combination felt kind of familiar).
Also... The Machine is sort of sentient? I know about AI, but that's a whole 'nother level.
Before anything, guys, I know petitions to save shows are sometimes long shots, but it's worth a try: https://www.change.org/p/freeform-save-motherland-fort-salem. There's so much they could do with motherf*ing Witch Soldiers! This definitely deserves more seasons (and a better network than unfreeform).
So many thoughts about this episode! Some highlights:
• I loved the Doctor dude telling Batan that she was responsible for helping turn the public opinion against witches because, regardless of their intentions and the message they really wanted to convey, their means was horrible. It's not up for debate. And she needs to acknowledge that. Especially because I think I'm going to enjoy her character a lot more than I was expecting.
• Sometimes when I start to see Petra show some vulnerability and actual care for her daughter, there's always just something... lacking, and she quickly turns to caring more about her potential. Sure hope this changes in the future because damn it, Abigail just needs to be loved, come on.
• "The union of Earth and Sky must be prevented at all costs." Hmm, this season highlighted Raelle's power a lot with the mycelium (with some hints of what Abs could be capable of on her own), but looks like with this little comment, Abi's power season is coming!
• Oh god, Penelope... that was too bad, I definitely joined a bit of the hype train and thought she would play a bigger role as a potentially strong "lost lineage" witch in later seasons. ... But ugh, yeah, I just knew that the VP was sketchy. The thought of anyone willing to kill their own child for a fucked up mindset becoming President? Uh-uh. shivers
• "You two can move the earth, right?" - UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR
• The rescue scene, yasss! Tarim, Spree, Unit power! And wow I love that Raelle immediately got "shit's about to rain down and through your windows babe" from the S on her hand? LOL
• I was honestly scared for this finale, what with the title ominously being a Part 1 (and the idea that the season would end in a cliffhanger, with Part 2 months away), and with the horrifying ending to the penultimate episode (I honestly thought the Fort battle was gonna be much longer), but how it turned out is pretty exciting! Oh, the fun road trip potential for this ragtag group of fugitives, it almost sounds like the beginnings of a joke: 3 War College cadets, 2 members of the Spree, and a Dodger (?) walk into a Camarilla cell...
• The rest of my review and ramblings for this episode, because this got way too long and if anyone cares, are here: https://addictedtothese.wordpress.com/2021/08/27/motherland-fort-salem-revolution-part-1-s2s-bewitching-finale/
Side note that I would love perhaps a book spin-off series, I've wanted it ever since and even more when I saw Eliot's interview about his original plan for the series being books. I would prefer that these characters be continued on the show and maybe a different set of characters (maybe even from a different time period) be explored in a potential book series, so I hope to god that this gets renewed beyond Season 3... and soon, because if they finish drafting Season 3 without a confirmed Season 4, they might end up rushing through Eliot's vision for the rest of the show. :(
Perfect from the first minute 'til the end.
"You're right. You're a good detective, and a damn good friend." I squealed, I tell 'ya. Fusco deserves that after 3 seasons of taking shit from Reese.
The call from "Shaw" that was so obviously a trap but was still, at the very least, a driving force that moved the story forward wayyy forward. And I'm glad they at least now have confirmation that Shaw's alive, but finding out that she fed Greer and co. information about Root (and the glimpse of her at the end implying that it's true)? Shiiiit, my heart is breaking.
And goddamn if a Machine made me cry. "I will not fail you now." WTF.
Bonus: Root playing chicken with the Machine — our psycho's back with a vengeance (and very intense feelings). Harper popping back up, Finch dressed up like a homeless hipster "dope fiend", Root vs Martine part 2 (and part 3, the bed scene threw me off guard, holy shit!), Reese goddamn smiling. The Samaritan agents' handler's ominous warning going with the montage of scenes at the end? Chills. (And Control killing her? Bonus bonus! I love how unapologetically ruthless this woman is... as long as it works for/isn't directed at the team.)
I knew from the cold open and the music at the beginning that we were in for a ride. Holy sh—
Two decades later and I feel like I still know several of the lines by heart. There are small details I notice more now, but somehow it's still as magical as the first time around, even though the CGI and effects are noticeably from the early 2000s, this was pure magic back then.
I remember my first rewatch of this as a kid, the first book in my hand because I realized it was a very close adaptation, and I would look for the page in the book where the current scene would be and I was be so happy to hear the lines on the page being spoken onscreen. (I've stopped expecting book adaptations to be accurate since then, of course, but it was a nice memory, a reminder of simpler times.)
Nate's development is annoying, but honestly realistic. It was as Keeley put it somewhat: people like them have more to prove; Nate was literally the towel boy / kit man before his promotion and has a father whose approval he yearns for. I feel for him and can see where he's coming from, and where he wants to go. Even his defensiveness about his new position in life that he presents as cruelty to his successor, Will, and even Colin, (currently the only people he can exert some power over) is behavior I've seen in real life with people who climb up ranks. But not everyone who does this goes through a similar transformation. tl;dr Nate: Cool motive, still a dick move though.
I wonder which Ted will meet Nate in the fallout though: kind Ted who forgave Rebecca, or a rare, angry Ted who's gone through a rollercoaster of emotions in the past few months (weeks?).
I wasn't surprised he tried to kiss Keeley, too. Saw that coming the minute he asked for her help to pick out a suit. And yo, I thought Roy had good chemistry with the teacher. In my head, I immediately established it as a possible fallback for Roy if Keeley goes back to Jamie. I don't know, for some reason, I'm just not feeling Keeley and Roy this season. Roy looks so aggressive next to her lol
I loved Ted and Sharon's scenes. Their dynamic is a pleasant surprise for this season.
Wow, that was an amazing start. The art style is stunning (I keep pausing to appreciate it), the lore setup is great, the characters intriguing, and the end is definitely gripping enough to make you want to keep tuning in. I constantly asked my brother about some small details, curious if these were established in the game since I'm not much of a MOBA player.
Also, the opening sequence is SICK!
"This is a very frustrating conversation."
I don't know about you guys.. but this episode was hilarious to me. :joy:
AND NOW WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE TATTOO WAS
Shaw!!! This episode was very, very good to her character. This made me feel so much about her. I laughed, I almost cried, I got angry with her, and I officially love with her. So good.
And Carter!!! You boss ass b*tch!
Root on her own was already a force to be reckoned with. Her with the Machine? They never stood a chance.
This show came out of nowhere and I am loving every second of it.
REESE IN GOD MODE!
The Machine is a literal Deus Ex Machina and I'm not even complaining. Holy wow, POI never disappoints with its season finales.
The transition from the 2 messed up simulations to the last one with the kiss and meta lines was so unexpected, I have no words to describe how perfect and funny that was (except I died).
This episode's flashbacks and its culmination are probably one of my favorites of the show.
Great return! Loved seeing the glimpses of their new lives, and Reese now a legit cop? This is gonna be a sight to see. And no joke, but I'm looking forward to him actually working side-by-side with Fusco. Him getting Carter's desk... damn, can't believe Carter just died a few episodes ago (for binge-watcher me), it feels like it's been forever after everything they've been through at this point.
Poor Shaw and her mismatched job, but looks like she'll fit right in with her new one (which I still don't quite know what it'll be, but I'm guessing this will play a role for the Machine's plans later on?).
Also, can't help but see the irony in Reese (and Carter previously) working with Elias now, realizing he's the "necessary/better evil"... after working so hard to send him to jail in Season 1 and seeing his absence land them several of their numbers. I know he kind of seemed like he liked Carter and even got revenge for her death, or maybe that was just him making 100% sure that HR has no more chance to return. I wonder if working with him will at one point in the series blow up in Reese and the team's faces.
Side-note: cute that they were upgraded from the burner flip phones to iPhones. XD
After watching the first movie, I genuinely thought I'd rewatched this trilogy to truly understand it too late (I watched it as a child but always felt like it was a movie for adults with its serious tone, so I was never quite attached to it). The first movie showed me the reason why LotR was so often the point of comparison whenever a new high fantasy series came out. But 2 decades later, having seen so many films and shows somewhat inspired by LotR's ambitiousness, I was honestly... a bit whelmed.
But this movie... damn.
Given more time to get to know them somewhat, the characters have become a bit more likeable (though I understand that it would have been hard to form an attachment to them with just the first movie, which had a lot of introduction to do). I also really liked the way this film handled the split narratives without taking away anything.
Probably what I loved most about this was the introduction to more of this world's lore. Now I'm tempted to rewatch the first movie with this newfound appreciation for it (I most likely will after the third movie). It makes me wish I still had the time and patience to read books because I'd love to read the series just to delve deeper into this rich universe. Might be time to finally dust off that old copy of The Hobbit lying around here somewhere…
Also, for a long time, (I avoided spoilers and they weren't really abundant) I genuinely thought this was about Frodo gaining control over the ring. I now realize that it's really just about this high fantasy world, an impending war against 1 dude (who's really just empowered by evil Dumbledore at this point), and a host of races selfishly trying to gain control of The Ring. Well. It's mostly just been Men at this point, go figure.
And what an edge-of-the-seat battle! I went from being so sure that the Ents would show up to turn the tide, but then they didn't and I thought the battle really was unwinnable massacre, then the elves arrived and provided some hope (even for viewers like me who hadn't read the books, I assume), but then they were still massacred, and at that point, I figured it truly was done, with such heavy losses made more tragic by the scenes leading up to it. And then... sunrise! Damn, a rollercoaster.
Also… poor Gollum?
I don't think I fully appreciated the first time around just how well this show managed to (eventually) integrate Root into the team and how they were able to redeem and develop her character convincingly; I was too busy just enjoying her popping up whenever she did. From psycho kidnapper to core part of the group. * cries *
But dang, if they'd gotten the chip then... would've saved them a whole lot of trouble (and us 2 seasons of Samaritan lol).
At first, I couldn't quite put into words how I felt about this episode (but as you can see, once I started, I couldn't stop).
Though it had less action than previous episodes, it was gripping, though it didn't have a sense of foreboding because a) the big bad would expectedly not win, and b) I felt like the fear of possible defeat was stronger in the penultimate episode.
Yet this was so emotional. John, of all people, brought me close to tears. I kind of knew that he was talking to the Machine too at the Reserve, but his final conversation with Finch was heartbreaking. He was so ready to lay down his life for the man who'd given him a purpose.
Root truly did become the Machine's conduit, in a way. It felt for so long, because we weren't really hearing the Machine, like she just worshipped it like a god, but hearing the Machine's POV now, it almost seemed like they had an almost symbiotic experience and learned from and with each other, and the 'love' was mutual. Their scenes actually felt like Harold was talking to both of them.
I don't quite know if the 'meaning of life' lesson that the Machine got was a bit predictable or if it's just I'd seen it quoted before somewhere (now that I think about it maybe it felt familiar because it was a callback to Root's dying speeches to Shaw and Finch), but I do appreciate it because in the end, I feel like Finch still didn't truly believe or trust in his creation until they had that talk. I was even kind of hoping for Finch to call the Machine his child or something, but I guess that would have been kind of sudden for him still despite recent events, so in the end, the affirmation Finch gave her ("Yes, we did") was still pretty satisfying.
Other standouts: that shot of Root and John on the rooftop got to me, too. Damn. And Shaw's farewell to Root/the Machine and her avenging Root (I am officially obsessed with Sarah Shahi). Poor Fusco but glad he made it 'til the end. And Bear!
My god I wish this show hadn't gotten cancelled and given a shorter final season. I read that the showrunners wouldn't have rushed this otherwise. Though I was getting sick of Samaritan amassing so much power, just getting more powerful every day, I am curious how they could have handled it better if they had more episodes.
-If they could have even explored a post-Samaritan POI.
-With the constant implications that the Machine was no match for Samaritan and the frequent back and forth between Root and Finch about making the Machine an open system and arming her, I wonder if this was something they were planning on tackling further someday and..
-- if this would have paved the way for the Machine to be able to defeat Samaritan without the ICE-9,
-- and if they would someday have struggled with the Machine turning into a Samaritan-like ASI if they did as Root wanted (and thus if an extended POI would have ultimately ended with no ASI/the Machine's destruction like I'd initially thought, or wouldthe Machine really have proven to be a good/better ASI)...
So many possibilities.
This was a ride. I'm 5 years late but I'm SO glad I gave this show a go, I definitely did not know what I was missing. I'm not sure how to move on from this now!
A series that made chess feel exciting. I mean let's be real, I like and enjoy chess at times, but chess is admittedly not something I would have expected to be as intense as depicted here. Made me curious how accurate and truly powerful Beth's chess game was and what real competitive chess players thought of this (I Googled, and I wasn't disappointed).
Anya Taylor-Joy was so good! She takes us on a 7-episode trip of Beth's life highlighted by her triumphs and lows, her relationships and losses. At one point, I was pretty sure we weren't going to get e 'happy ending' after everything we've seen, but I'm glad to have been proven wrong. I loved that in the end, Beth learned to accept help and love and family where she can.
Season 6, in my opinion, probably has one of the most put-together plots of the show thus far. Maybe because, to me, it feels like it involves the pay-off of seasons and seasons of problems and solutions set up by the show. The monoliths and the fear dimension, the LMDs, their time traveling, and of course the characters' relationships. The shortened season also helped a lot with the pacing, but this now makes me feel like a shortened final season will not be enough. I am excited at the prospect of getting Agent Carter closure next season, though!
Holy shit, the moment the reactor went out? chef's kiss I got goosebumps!
What a satisfying ending
Also, that was like 3 Black Mirror episodes in 1, holy sh
This was so good! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely great that this was our first cinema experience after 2 years of this pandemic!
I actively avoided reading reviews about this before we got the chance to see it, especially the massively negative ones, but everything to avoid my own opinions from being influenced. Being a Marvel fan, I wasn't quite ready to witness the supposed, potential downfall of the MCU, not in my lifetime, so I wanted to be the judge for myself. Turns out, there really was no cause for concern.
I WAS expecting it to drag given the runtime, number of characters, and the damn review tidbits I did see, but it absolutely did not (for me). I barely even noticed time pass. (Although sure, there was that one, very long info-dump scene, but I didn't really think there was any good way to provide that crucial information.)
I loved all the characters. They were all humanized somewhat despite their Eternals status. I looked forward to seeing where they all ended up on Earth and was not disappointed (though I'm guessing there was more to Makkari's story, maybe..?). I SO enjoyed all the myth counterpart story jokes too (the one who flew too close to the sun was freakin' bittersweet).
And I actually, truly liked the moral struggle they had. If there had been none, if they'd gone the typical superhero movie route of everyone being onboard and saviors of humanity mindset, then I would have been disappointed. But this is realistic (as much as possible in a superhero flick). Because even I questioned their decision (though knowing Marvel, I'm almost sure this won't be the last we've of the giant ice baby, or there's maybe a secret within the secret, so I don't feel too bad about it just yet). It's also pretty effed up to think that maybe Thanos really was trying to save the world in (more ways than the one he shared) when he Blipped them population. Had he known all along!?
I loved how Dane was pretty much just a cameo here lol. But that's a good thing — they planted the seed for his character without taking away focus from The Eternals themselves.
That plot twist with Ajak and Ikaris, I totally did not see that coming. I was expecting what occured to be with the former, so yeah. WHOA.
And Angelina Jolie? Totally fangirled over her. It's been a while since I'd seen her onscreen, and I totally wasn't expecting much, but despite the fact that they nerfed her for a huge chunk of the main action to give the bad guys a shot (lol), the action we did get and the emotions she brought.. She is just:ok_hand:
This movie's humor felt probably very natural to me in a way it hasn't for recent MCU movies.
Karun's inclusion was hilarious! I loved Makkari's speed vfx, and I momentarily forgot Kingo's power before their first fight after the reunion, but damn that was cool. Sprite's storytelling scene was nice, too, and shows just how the stories of the gods and goddesses would have been passed down because of that. And Thena and Gilgamesh........ * tears *
Note: this is probably like an 8/10 for me, but I'm giving it a 9 because I just need to balance out all these hate ratings. -__-
This was so good.
But I am CRYING. "I chose a voice." Holy --
"She certainly makes an impression." - understatement of the year!
Loved the twist of seeing another hacker-agent pairing chasing down POIs! That last couple of scenes with Fusco and Carter (and Bear) was soo good.
And okay, Root's still crazy but I'm warming up to seeing her lurking around. Enemy of your (in this case John and Finch's) enemy, after all... I'm trying not to spoil myself too much despite knowing some things to come, so I don't want to search for it, but I'm definitely hoping we'll see Shaw again very soon. I was kind of hoping the last scene would be them recruiting her. I don't know how I can bear just going back to the case-of-the-week stuff after that (but I will anyway)!
Reese and Carter (and Fusco, with goodboi Bear) actually working together and making a freakin' great team!
This was a really great episode. Good mystery and its unraveling was good; even though I kind of expected that the random guy at the beginning of the flashbacks was gonna be the culprit, just because I've watched too many procedurals for it to be somewhat just part of the formula, I didn't expect Root's past identity until just before the reveal.
Very high stakes episode! My worry for Finch and the Machine was very real.
I'm really loving this season so far! Would it be such a stretch to say this feels like one of the best RPDR seasons yet?
I am sad about the eliminated queen, but at this point it feels like all of them are really killing it, so any one of them going home tonight onwards would have been a shame. I will miss Crystal's gender-fuck armpit hair looks though! That was legit not something I expected to see and enjoy so much before she graced our TVs with it lol
So good! This episode definitely showed me that these queens are up there (and coming from RPDR Down Under, I definitely needed a good DR season)!
So good! Wasn't the vibe I was expecting at all, but I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely thought we were at least going to see more of the Red Room, though, so that was a bit disappointing. Still, entertaining overall, and hopefully we'll see the Red Room in future installments.
Such a shame that this had to come out only after her character's death in Endgame, but I think a good BW future is still a big possibility either in Yelena taking on the mantle eventually, or Nat being brought back once the multiverse gets effed up.
Also, that post-credits scene! I wonder how weird that appearance would have felt if the viewer hadn't seen TFATWS yet (or, if as originally planned, this movie came out before that). Also just realized that she's being very Nick Fury-esque now, assembling an Evil Avengers crew lol.
