Rings of Power, “Where the Stars are Strange”, Review!

Rings of Power returns us to Khazad-dûm with Durin and Disa, Galadriel deals with Elrond, while a new evil is in Rhûn! Re:cap - “Elven Kings Under the Sky”; Sauron was killed by Adar and his Orcs, but rose again in human form as Halbrand! Elrond has returned to Lindon and High King Gil-galad wants him to turn over the Three Rings. Instead, he leaps over a cliff into the sea! Elrond goes to the shipwright, Cirdan, to find a way to destroy the Rings. He takes a boat out to a point where the Three Rings can be lost. Adar has spared Halbrand and his human servant, Waldreg, has him swear allegiance to Adar. Halbrand kneels, Adar wants him to vow with his head next to his feet!, and he does so. He says he will serve the “Lord of Mordor”, himself!, not Adar. Halbrand rides out of the Orc camp and Adar sends Glug to follow him. Waldreg mocks Halbrand’s vow to kill him, returning to the prison cell, he finds the giant collar. 

Then, the Warg leaps at him, Waldreg screams! The best end to a traitor! Sauron rides away. At Lindon, there is a stirring Elvish song by Gil-galad, it is like Sam’s song, “In Western Lands Beneath the Sun” in Return of the King, a farewell. Impressive singing by Benjamin Walker as the Elves including Galadriel and Elrond prepare to leave Middle-Earth. Cirdan walks up to Gil-galad and says perfection is not just in Valinor. He shows him Narya, the Ring of Fire, that he wears, and opens his hand to show the other two Rings, Nenya and Vilya! Gil-galad picks them up, Elrond shouts, “No!”, and this startles the high king dropping the Rings. One, diamond-like, falls down steps to Galadriel! This is Nenya, the Ring of Water!, it has chosen her. Galadriel picks it up, Elrond tries to warn her, but she slips it on her finger. Gil-galad puts on Vilya, the Ring of Air. It seems that there is a autumn sun on them, a beautiful shot out of what was a solemn occasion. 

The bare Great Tree of Lindon begins blooming flowers that turn autumnal and then white. Galadriel smiles. Elrond goes to Galadriel, looks at her, and then walks off. She stands next to Gil-Galad and Cirdan and they hold out their Rings. The fires of the Eregion forge is lit. The Elven smiths prepare the forge and an anvil is lowered. Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) watches as Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) compliments the new forge. This is Kenworthy’s first series. She is there to announce a messager from the Southlands. The gate is raised and Halbrand rides in! Celebrimbor sees him from a tower and Mirdania asks if he should be allowed in. Galadriel had warned him about Halbrand before she left. Then, we see the city of Eregion, Ost-in-Edhil, next to the River Greyflood as we fade to black. 

I really like the concentration on Sauron and Adar, Galadriel, Elrond, and Gil-galad, then The Stranger, Nori, and now Poppy. The show has a number of leads in different places so this is a good way of breaking up the groups across different episodes. Charlotte Brändström directs “Where the Stars are Strange” along with Louise Hooper who also directed episodes of The Sandman. The writer is Jason Cahill who also wrote episodes seven, “The Eye”, last season. There is the fiery cauldron of Mount Doom like the Eye of Sauron which erupts, this was one of the images that The Stranger had seen. We move to the map as Sauron’s darkness spreads west. It heads towards Khazad-dûm! This is the kingdom of the Dwarves under the Misty Mountains which we saw as Moria (a later name for it) in Fellowship of the Rings (2001). This is in its glory days with Prince Durin IV. Elrond goes there to meet with his friend to get help with the building of Celebrimbor’s forge. He is invited over by Durin’s wife, Disa, and sees at their home, the sapling from the Great Tree. 

Durin agrees to Elrond’s plan, but has a more difficult time discussing it with his father, King Durin III. Elrond catches Disa talking about a mine with Durin and then finds that the has discovered mithril! The cave collapses and it is sealed by the king. Durin IV sends his son to Lindon. There Elrond recounts to Gil-galad “The Story of the Roots of Hithaeglir.” A tree held a Silmaril, the light sacred to Elves, a warrior defended it against a Balrog. Lightning strikes the tree and it’s power goes into the earth. Gil-galad says that the mithril has the light of the Silmaril. Elrond meets with King Durin III to negotiate for the mithril. There are two other Dwarf lords with four more that still need to appear. Still, the king does not want to endanger Dwarves with the mining. Elrond is about to leave Durin and Disa, but finds the corrupted Great Tree leaf being healed by a piece of mithril! In secret, Durin is mining with Elrond and finds a vein of mithril! 

Below, the vein, a Balrog stirs in the darkness! Still, he gets into an argument with his father he rips off his crest, no longer heir to the kingdom! Elrond returned to Eregion. Halbrand suggests to Celebrimbor an alloy to amplify the piece of mithril. We move into Khazad-dûm, which uses mirrors to reflect sun deep into the kingdom. There is the market of Dwarves, Disa (Sophia Nomvete) is shopping with Durin (Owain Arthur) for mole-tail stew. He says she married a prince and now he is an outcast. She says she married the one she loves. Their relationship is the best romance in the show. Disa asks if he talked to his father. Durin is stubborn and starts to complain, but it is drowned out as Disa hears something. She tells him to brace himself and then yells for everyone to brace themselves as the ground rumbles! A large stone shatters a bridge and Durin holds Disa. They walk to see the mirror light start to wink out! 

Galadriel places her hand with Nenya on the ground before the carving of Finrod, her brother. Celebrimbor surprises her walking in and says he had a visitor. It becomes dark like night and Galadriel wonders about his return. Roots start to snake towards her and bind her. This turns blood red. Celebrimbor begins to say in Black Speech the inscription of the One Ring! He rises with the roots in this nightmare then is lashed against a tree and his body pierced! Galadriel is a council, but the voices are muffled. Gil-galad is planning with an attack on Adar’s forces and the Commander of the South (Jeany Spark) reports that Sauron was seen going to Mordor. Gil-galad asks the Commander of the Northern Armies and Galadriel finally turns and says ships on the River Anduin could attack from the west. Gil-galad agrees, the council leaves, and he asks what troubles Galadriel. She says that Sauron may have gone to Mordor, but wants to take all of Middle-Earth. 

Galadriel tells Gil-galad that Sauron wants to take the will of the people and needs the Rings and Celebrimbor for his plans. The high king covers his ring hand. Gil-galad says that the defenses of Eregion will keep him safe. She touches Nenya and sees a stormy vision of Halbrand. Galadriel goes to Gil-galad’s side and says there is some hidden evil moving towards Celebrimbor. He asks how she knows and Galadriel says she can sense the Unseen World with Nenya. Gil-galad doesn’t want Galadriel to face Sauron by herself. She asks if she wasn’t alone in her encounter. A bell tolls as we move to Eregion, “Realm of the Elven-smiths”, there is beautiful cupolas with the Misty Mountains in the distance. Mirdania delivers to Halbrand that he is denied entry by Lord Celebrimbor. He is asked to leave, but Sauron, I mean Halbrand lashes his horse’s reins to a pillar. Mirdania sees the bloody slashes on his back.    

Celebrimbor walks down to the forge and finds that Halbrand will not leave. He holds to his promise to Galadriel and doesn’t care that Halbrand is injured. The fallen and bloody messenger, Calenwe, is dragged back past his dead horse and the body of another Elf. Her body is also dragged leaving behind the crushed message cylinder. A rider races the setting sun, he has a skull mask, and dismounts at Caras Gaer, “Western Rhûn.” It is several curved, stone buildings. Inside, it is a dark hall, an acolyte (Bryony Miller) appears before the throne of a Dark Wizard (Ciarin Hinds), dressed in white robes, with a guru beard, and staff. Mance Rayder was played by Hinds in Game of Thrones. He seems like a wicked version of Saruman. She releases yellow butterflies from a jar, they flitter around her, as he holds up his hand. Her hands are open and her palms are cut!, the blood drops to the floor. The acolyte is dismissed as the Dark Wizard parts the swirl of butterflies. 

The butterflies swirl into strange and then finally form into a robed figure. This is the Dweller (Bridie Sisson) who was banished by the Stranger! She reports that Sauron has taken a new form. Then, the Dark Wizard asks about the Istar who was said to travel with two halflings! A Dark Wizard who has three Mystics? Rhûn is not well known besides the Easterling soldiers. It looks like they are watching Sauron and may be defeated before joining forces with him! A messenger, Brank (Yasen Zates Atour) offers to capture The Stranger if he heals his flesh curse. The masked man says the Istar will surrender or he will kill the halflings! Nori and Poppy are walking along thinking up names for The Stranger. He says he can’t be given a name, it is already part of the person, he just has to hear it. Say Saruman. Poppy has discovered a short cut. She rushes over to a rocky cliffside that overlooks the desert. They can’t cross it without water. Some tents are set up and Nori returns with some cactus. She says he will need a gand to use his magic. 

The Stranger hears distant horses, then Nori and Poppy hear them, three riders are searching for them. They decamp and The Stranger finds the Harfoots are gone. They have used the tent to hide themselves. A guard sees a snake and kicks it away, next to Nori and Poppy!, it is killed by the knife of Kilta (Arkie Reece). Their hiding is like Frodo and Sam at the Black Gates. Kilta orders the others to search the area on their horses. The Stranger says they have been following them. Nori says that there only way is across the desert! The trio, together, descend to the sands, In the dark caverns of Khazad-dum, two Dwarf women, Revna (Laura Jane Matthewson), and Brenna (Rachel Payne) whisper about the crops withering without the sun shields. They talk about rumors, but they are stopped by Disa. She takes them to see King Durin III (Peter Mulan). He acknowledges Disa and asks for the report from Narvi (Kevin Eldon) who talks about a fire-mountain, Mount Doom. 

The shock waves flowed all the way to their kingdom and destroyed the sun shafts. The king is looking to open new shafts. Disa says the Stonespeakers have not found a safe passageway. Disa offers to look for one and the king gives his approval. They go to start singing, but the last sun-shaft crumbles. The king says the Stone-singers have provided for the kingdom for nine centuries!, but now their bond is broken. He gives permission to Narva to dig. Durin III asks to talk with Disa, he says he spoke to his son in anger, she says he should say that to her husband. Disa says they are both being stubborn to apologize. He says it is a strength. Disa defiantly tells him the mountain is not listening, because the king can’t hear his son’s sadness. She tells him to be strong and ask for his son to see him. The miners including Durin IV are working tirelessly to reach the sunlight. One miner, Barduk (Stuart Bowman), mocks him for getting blisters, “palace hands.” Barduk puts the blame on Durin IV and his father. Durin IV warns him, but Barduk pushes him down. A commoner messing with Dwarf royalty? They are lucky that the prince is even there. 

At their dinner table, Durin quietly sits as Disa brings her meal, he asks about the kids, but she says they are not hungry. Durin says that the rye of the bread tastes like it was from last year, which it is, and Disa notes that they could trade for fresh bread if the king permits it. This is a disaster, pettiness should not get in the way of helping his people, a weak king. She asks him to apologize and Durin says he is in the right since his father threw out Elrond. Disa says they can’t hear the mountain and she’s afraid. An argument turns into revealing a fear, incredible acting by Sophia Nomvete! He quietly tells her, “We’re Dwarves. We’ll find a way.” Elrond is sanding a boat when Galadriel enters the workshop. She tells him the message may not have reached Eregion and fears that Sauron is there. She has permission from the king to go with a “small party” and invites Elrond to go with them. Galadriel admits that he will only allow her to go if Elrond joins her. 

He forces her to reveal that Gil-galad thinks she will be decieved by Sauron. Elrond says she was played by the Enemy, he knew that she wanted a “Lost King”, and says that taking the Three Rings is falling into Sauron’s plans. She pleads that she cannot have Sauron in again.  Elrond is hurt that what he believes, the Three Rings are corrupt, even after Cirdan took one, is just turning away that the threat of Sauron still exists in Eregion. The forge that made the Rings could be still used and there is danger to Celebrimbor. He is the most stubborn. Galadriel brings up his promise of a “whisper of a rumor” of Sauron that he made, but he counters with saying that she should leave for their friendship. By the shore, Cirdan says the Rings are beautiful, Elrond doesn’t see it as beautiful. Cirdan continues saying would he toss away the work of the poet Ramiel if Elrond knew he was a drunkard. Judge the work, not the way it was made (or the flaws of the maker). 

He says it takes humility to do so. Elrond says he wish he knew Cirdan’s peace. Cirdan reaches into the water, fish swim about his Ring, he pulls one out. It flops on a rock and he says the Rings would dominate everyone, but not to let his fear blind him to his friends. Cirdan says he should open his eyes even if his friends are mistaken before the darkness of Sauron blinds him. I’m impressed by Ben Daniels’ acting, a gentle voice of compassion, needed when things get complex. It really shows the wisdom of this character who was only hinted at in Lord of the Rings. The blindness dissolves to the sun, nice shot!, with The Stranger watching Nori and Poppy staggering across the desert. He ends up dragging the both of them on the tents! The Stranger stops and then collapses. Nori rushes over to use the last of her flask of water to give him a drink. Poppy rushes to a hill, she is excited to see water!, but The Stranger is not breathing. In a sand pit, there is a well, and the two friends drag The Stranger to the well. Poppy goes to pull up a bucket from the well throwing off the stick that locks the rope.  

She picks up the barrel, but unhitching it, the rope sets off a bell! It clangs faster and faster. Nori splashes water on The Stranger, the bell stops, and he is able to revive. Then, everyone scoops water from the bucket. His attention is drawn to the stick, it resembles the staff from his dreams. Poppy notices the riders, one of their horses neigh, there are five of them! Their black flag has a white symbol that looks like the Eye of Sauron. Kilta orders the attack, Poppy and Nori take over by the well, The Stranger says the Elvish words and slams his staff down. A dust storm sweeps them back. Then, this turns into a sandstorm that tears into the riders and the well! Nori and Poppy hold onto the well’s stones as the sandstorm pulls at them! The Stranger’s staff disentegrates! He struggles to reach Nori and Poppy, but they are pulled into the storm! Celebrimbor has pulled out a stone from the forge, Mirdania remarks that the mithril has gone. He smiles and takes the stone to a balcony. Celebrimbor says it is ithildin, the stone glows with the symbols in the moonlight. 

He wonders about his visitor, Halbrand stares at him from below the tower! It starts to rain and Celebrimbor with guards meets with Halbrand. He says he can’t deal with him and Halbrand hints that he saw Galadriel. He mentions the Rings. Celebrimbor is too interested and asks if they work. Halbrand says the High King hasn’t contacted him. He says the creators work hard, but their work is taken by others. Sauron, that is Halbrand, is about to leave, but stopped by Celebrimbor. By a fireplace, Halbrand is again asked if the Rings work, he says, “they worked wonders.” He continues manipulating Celebrimbor saying the Elves and Lindon are saved. Celebrimbor sniffles and then laughs, overjoyed at finally making something successful after centuries. He wants to celebrate and gets a wine bottle from the First Age. Halbrand asks him if he is his friend. Celebrimbor sees Halbrand as troubled and this false king says he should make Rings for Men. The Elf master smith says that Men are “covetous.” He refuses especially since they don’t have the mithril. Halbrand says the Dwarves have their own problems. The greatest evil is corrupting the greatest crafts person! Sauron’s evil is spreading with Galadriel and Elrond at odds, Durin and Disa losing their kingdom, and to the east there is more evil to overwhelm Middle-Earth! 

 Five Rings of Power out of Five! 

#LordOfTheRings, #RingsOfPower, #WhereTheStarsAreStrange, #CharlotteBfrandstrom, #LouiseHooper, #JasonCahill, #SophiaNomvete, #OwainArthur,   #MorfyddClark, #RobertAramayo, #BenjaminWalker, #BenDaniels, #DanielWeyman, #MarkellaKavenagh, #MeganRichards, #CharlesEdwards, #AmeliaKenworthy, #CharlieVickers, #CiarinHinds, #BridieSisson, #BryonyMiller, #JeanySpark, #ArkieReece, #YasenZatesAtour 

Star Wars: The Acolyte - Kelnacca #1 Review!

One of the characters to stand out from The Acolyte was the Wookie Jedi, Kelnacca, and now Star Warriors have the chance to get more of his story! The comic can be read independent of The Acolyte and the High Republic stories, but of course, they add some flavor to this story. Kelnacca was introduced in the second episode of The Acolyte, “Revenge/Justice”, DC-TA1/2. He is played by Joonas Suotamo who finally gets to play an original Wookie character and a Jedi to boot. Suotamo is given a special thanks in the credits. The first Wookie Jedi was in Legends with Lowbacca, the nephew of Chewbacca, who joined the Jedi Academy. Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force (1995) by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta; EC-YJK1. Then, in canon with Gungi, the Youngling in “The Gathering” (2012) episode of Clone Wars; GC-CW5/6. 

In the High Republic, there was a Wookie Padawan, Burryaga Agaburry. He was introduced in the Star Wars: Insider short story, “Starlight: Part One: Go Together” (2020); DC-SWI199 by Charles Soule. The comic has a Phil Noto cover that shows Kelnacca in his Jedi robes with his green lightsaber ignited. It is written by Cavan Scott who currently writes the Star Wars: The High Republic comic. He also has upcoming the Star Wars: Tempest BreakShe er novel. Marika Cresta is the artist and she previously worked on Star Wars: The High Republic #7. We open to the planet Tozil, first appearing here, with red rimmed skies, strange flowers, and stone structure. Master Yarzion is called for and then we see him resting on a bed. He has reddish skin and curved ears like a Devaronian, but with a long, curved head and tatoos, Zabrak like Maul?, and he has long, white hair. 

It is his apprentice, Ordea who asks for him, but he says it almost his time to go into the Force. He coughs and she still has questions about how will take over her training. Master Yarizon says he had the same question when he has a Padawan. This goes back a century to when the Starlight Beacon crashed on Eiram. It almost fills the page in a long panel while on the beach are ships to help with the recovery efforts. Some epic scale of the tragedy captured by Cresta. This was in 230 BBY, the events of The High Republic: Light of the Jedi (2021); DC-HR1, by Charles Soule. The young Yarzion is running up to Jedi Master Elzar Mann, with black hair including Padawan braid pony tail.   Elzar was introduced in Light of the Jedi. He says he was apprentice to Jedi Master Lulad and relucantly tries to say she died in the crash. He wonders how he will be trained and Elzar says, “The Force always provides.” I always like new expressions and understandings of the Force. 

Yarzion turns and in a large panel sees the towering figure of Kelnacca, almost blocking the sunlight behind him, honestly I was getting into the story of the Jedi that I almost forgot he would enter the story! I always think of the Taoist saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Elzar introduces Master Kelnacca who was sent as the Coruscant relief effort. Technically, this is his beginning, even though we don’t get his days as a Jedi Knight and Padawan, I hope this left for novels or further comics! Elzar leaves them and Yarzion tries to thank Kelnacca, but he walks away! This immediately shifts to Kelnacca in action with his lightsaber. Yarzion’s narration says his master was brave. We move to a battle on Vianza in the Nihil Occulsion Zone. The Nihil leader, Marchion Ro, set up the Stormwall that sealed off a sector of the Outer Rim. This is the following year which is Phase 3 of the High Republic. The Nihil were pirates who caused the crash of the Starlight Beacon. 

The battle with the Nihil also includes Yarzion with his yellow lightsaber. Great action by Cresta! After the battle, the children of Vianza are stunned to see a Wookie Jedi. Kelnacca reaches out with the Force to lift up the rubble. One boy asks if Kelnacca talks and Yarzion tells him, “only when he really needs to.” They ask Yarzion about his tatoos and he leaves to work on the recovery effort. Kelnacca looks towards his apprentice. This moves to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, two years later, so beyond the current phases. Yazion is in the Archives Library looking at a hologram of a Jedi, a bald woman with tatoos. He is gazing at the hologram when Kelnacca in with his robe on grunts. Yarzion shuts down the hologram. Kelnacca speaks a few words in Shyriiwook and points out the tatoos of Master Lulad. The elderly Yarzion tells Ordea that the runes are a tradition of having the name of his greatest teacher.  I really like these concepts that Scott creates that make his characters meThis morable. 

He had said to Kelnacca that he had the tatoos made when he had returned to his home planet for a mission. Lulad appeared before the tatoos were finished, Lulad appears, and the older Yarzion’s narration thought she would want him to remove the tatoos. Ordea asks if she was angry, and Yarzion says no, and the young Yarzion is stunned. His narration explains that the Jedi Master got her own tatoo of his name! This is a great concept, yes the teacher does learn from the student, Ordea wonders what Wookie Jedi had said. He is silent as he shuts off the holo projector and walks away. This moves to Veek in the Outer Rim. It is the final year of Yarzion’s training. A fire is burning the thatched roof of huts a father tries to pull away his daughter, they are rodent-like, possibly Tynnan like Bazil.The family escapes and Kelnacca tells his apprentice to leave. Outside, the daughter, Yesula, pleads that Zeekay, their droid is trapped in the fire. 

Yarzion asks about the droid and Yesula says that it had holos of her mother and doesn’t want to lose her again. Wow, a moment that is heart rending. Yarzion, resolute, appears with the droid in his arms out of the fire! He hands over the droid and then tries to apologize to his Jedi Master. Kelnacca ignites his lightsaber. Then, he slices off his apprentice’s Padawan braid, the Knighting ceremony! In his bed, lit by candles around the room, the older Yarzion says Kelnacca asked for him to do something. He starts coughing, Ordea wants to know what was it, and the Jedi points out she can ask his Jedi Master! We see Kelnacca standing call. Yarzion is happy Kelnacca arrived and then his eyes for one last time. Ordea realizes he is gone. Kelnacca picks up his body to take outside, a candle wick smothers. They both stand as there is a funeral pyre for Yarzion. There is an interview with Suotamo about his input with the comic and also filming of The Acolyte. Scott brings a rich back story that truly makes Kelnacca a favorite character, a Jedi of few words. Also, this is one of my favorite stories about Jedi. This is a powerful story, the moments across the High Republic, and the stories of new Jedi characters.  

Five+ Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWars, #TheAcolyte, #Kelnacca, #RevengeJustice, #JoonasSuotamo, #YoungJediKnights, #HeirsOfTheForce, #KevinJAnderson, #RebeccaMoesta, #Gungi, #CloneWars, #TheGathering, #StarWarsInsider, #StarlightPartOne, #CharlesSoule, #CavanScott, #MarikaCresta, #PhilNoto, #Yarzion, #Ordea, #Lulad  

The Ark, “Cycle of Violence“, Review!

 “Cycle of Violence” has the crew of the Ark-1 face the feared Eastern Federation! Re:cap - “We Don’t Kill Our Own”; The clones led by Milos have taken over the ship using a ricin gas. Alicia has locked out the command codes from the bridge. Dr. Kabir and Dr. Marsh work to get an antidote to revive the crew. Kelly who was defending Alicia from clones has collapsed. Her implants overheated from long use. Interesting that her run time is only on her controller and can’t be detected by herself. On the bridge, Milos says to Captain Garnet that he will kill Lane unless she enters the command codes. Garnet agrees, but instead puts the ship on lockdown! Felix pulls Angus away from the closing door. 

Milos says she is trapped in the bridge with them. Garnet defies him saying that Milos has more in common with the Gen-3 clones! He has his clones tie Garnet to a chair. Sasha has the engines of the shuttle ready with Lt. Brice ready to throw the ship from any FTL jump. This is detected on the bridge. Garnet smiles. Ian takes out a knife saying that she had him locked up. Milos has him back off. Ian locks his knife and then drops it behind Garnet’s back. He’s a double agent! Dr. Kabir uses her emergency med code to check on Angus and Felix. She realizes that the captain has overriden any codes and contacts Alicia. She thinks she can open the path from Felix to the med lab. Alicia adds to Dr. Marsh that Kelly doesn’t look good. 

Marsh prepares his med kit to help Kelly. Angus and Felix rush in with the earth needed for the antidote. At the shuttle, Brice asks Sasha about Eva and the engineer notes that he can’t believe Eva is Eastern Federation. The others reach sub-engineering, Alicia hugs Angus, and then goes to help deliver the antidote. It is poured into the air filtration system. Marsh isn’t able to revive Kelly. Lane opens his eyes. Milos notices the gas antidote and not happy that the crew is waking up. The crew members strike the bulkhead door as Garnet frees herself. She stands with the knife and Milos realizes that Ian helped her! A clone attacks Ian and Garnet kills him with the thrown knife. They both fight the clones, Garnet back in action!, and Milos pins down Ian. He reaches for the knife.

THE ARK -- “Cycle of Violence” -- REECE RITCHIE, CHRISTIE BURKE -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

He raises the knife, but falls from the machete buried in his back from Garnet! They make apologies to each other and Garnet opens the bulkheads. Alicia and Garnet ask Marsh at med lab about Kelly. He tells them that the implants were on too long and that her nanites are not healing her. Brice enters Eva’s quarters, he holds her, she says she never felt so alone. He says he will always be there for her. Garnet sees Trust and makes him head of engineering to replace Eva. His bathtub request is rejected, he has to wash with the rest of the crew! Sasha again has to repair the cell door control. At the ready room, all of the crew is assembled to drink for a toast to Ark-1, Lane looks out of the window, and they see the ship of the Eastern Federation. We finally see the group feared for many eps! 

The director of “Cycle of Violence” is Hannah Espia-Farbova. James DeLorean is the writer of the episode. Garnet and Lane enter the bridge. Brice says the FTL is not fully charged, but Garnet orders them into FTL. It malfuncations. Trust is angry. Garnet wonders how the Eastern Federation found them. Lane suspects Eva. This angers Brice ready to start something. Garnet asks Felix to bring Eva to the ready room. Marsh checks on Kelly. Kabir wonders why her nanites have not healed her. At the ready room, Eva says Harris changed their records to get on the Ark-1. Garnet tells her about the Eastern Federation ship. Eva pleads innocence. Lane questions her loyalty. She says there is a reason to hate the GSA. The GSA was developing a biological weapon on the lunar colony. I like that the world government is not so clean cut, there are shades to the post apocalyptic Earth. 

She doesn’t know about the Eastern Federation ships. She says the fighters used. Reports that the ship has come out of FTL. Brice says it will take time for the FTL to charge. The Eastern Federation ship appears and a cannon strikes the Ark-1 with a pulse. Trust says it is an  EMP pulse! They ship is dead in space! Alicia has gotten a commuincation. It is the bearded Captain Avega (Daniel Fathers). The actor played Lord Humfrey Lefford in House of the Dragon. He says he wants his soldier back, Bojan Markovic. They have his shuttle. Garnet tells him that Bojan is dead. He comes back on screen and realizes that Eva is Boyan’s sister and wants her to confirm what happened to him. He wants the shuttle and Eva or the ship will be destroyed. Garnet sends Alicia to check on the engines with Trust. Angus runs into Kelly. He panics and then realizes that it is Jelena. 

THE ARK -- “Cycle of Violence” -- REECE RITCHIE, CHRISTIE BURKE, DIANA BERMUDEZ -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

At her room, Garnet tells Eva about the demand, she agrees, but she says she doesn’t want to leave Brice. At engineering, Garnet sees Trust and asks about a weapon he can rig. Lane sends away the crew from the observation deck. Ian is casually reading a book. He says he has been under threat every day. He asks Lane to see a picture of his family. The officer in the window who could have been in charge. He was taken from the facility. Lane says his mother couldn’t have children. At the bridge, Captain Avega is back on screen, Eva walks up. She says she wants to stay on the ship. Garnet agrees to return the shuttle. Captain Avega says, “Then, you dug your own grave.” Garnet has Trust activate his weapon. A pulse goes out and shuts down the Eastern Federation ship. Captain Avega threatens the ship. 

Trust wants another attack to take out their life support! Garnet opens communication again for “peace talks.” Garnet gives the order for the EM cannon, Brice pretends to follow it, Captain Avega says he will go with his second in command and wants two of their people on their ship. Felix wants Kimi to go, then asks for Jelena. At the observation deck, Angus sets a tray of water, and then is startled by Kelly, he turns and runs into another Kelly. The crew is all Kelly. He runs. Garnet wants Eva to tell about the Eastern Federation. Trust says that the lunar colony was developing a bio weapon to kill billions. Alicia says it is the Trolley Problem, she says a trolley would divert to kill one or ten. Lane can’t believe it was his father’s program. Eva says it is the GSA chose who lived and who died. Lane leaves. 

Garnet says, “If what you say is true, then this means… we’re the bad guys.” It doesn’t matter if they are GSA, on mission, they are independent of what happened on Earth. Lane looks out his window. Brice looks in on him. He says his dad was good. Lane says Brice having the colony destoryed saved people. Garnet check on Kimi. She says Ark-15 left and what happened on Earth when it left. Ian says they both did bad things. Garnet says he is a neutral party. The EF shuttle arrives, Captain Avega arrives, Felix checks him while Jelena checks his lieutenant, Ristic (Luka Jovanovic Dzivdzanovski). Strom in The Outpost was played by Dzivdzanovski. He can’t believe that there were so many people from Serbia. She introduces Garnet and Ian. Ian tells the liteutant if he tried potato vodka. At the table, he stops the arguments, Garnet talks to Avega. He says he is going to Trappist. Garnet tells him that there is a GSA colony already there. She offers an alliance if his ship disarms.

THE ARK -- “Cycle of Violence” -- JADRAN MALKOVICH, SHALINI PEIRIS -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Avega refuses and wants to fight at Trappist ending the negotiation. Garnet stops Avega, he ends up with his hands on her throat, and tells him to kill her! She says he will kill them and they will kill him. Garnet reasons to him about the endless cycle. I really like that Garnet will put her life on the line to break the cycle. She says he wanted to save the human race. Then, she tells him to kill her first, he brings up the disarmament. She says they will arrive at Trappist and negotiate while they stay back. Avega says to his lieutenant that it is their last hope. A peace negotiation with a threatening rival? This was Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). Ristic still argues and stopped by the captain. Angus runs into the medlab and sees Kelly unconscious. She looks at him. He says he can’t stop thinking about her. Kelly thanks him. He kisses her and some nanites slip from his mouth into Kelly. A Nanite Kiss? Is Kelly Sleeping Beauty? Marsh pushes him away and Kabir says that her vitals are stabilizing. The penultimate ep of The Ark deals with the risk sides have to take for peace, something greater than space ships, and the relationships of the crew! 

Four Compression Suits out of Five! 

#TheArk, #CycleOfViolence, #HannahEspiaFarbova, #JamesDeLorean, #ChristieBurke, #ReeceRitchie, #RichardFleeshman, #StaceyRead, #RyanAdams, #SamanthaGlassner, #DianaBermudez, #TianaUpcheva, #ShaliniPeiris, #JadranMalkovich, #PavleJerinic, #DanielFathers, #LukaJovanovicDzivdzanovski 

The Ark, “We Don’t Kill Our Own“, Review!

The eighth episode of The Ark has some hard truths and the resourceful crew again trying to save the ship! Re:cap - “It Can’t Be True”; Kelly is suddenly activated and almost kills Eva! Trust is able to deactivate her in time. The prime suspect is Ian, Lane’s clone, who is kept in a cell. A fight, staged, distracts the medlab staff, and Milos takes a jar of pills. Eva collapses, but Brice takes her to Dr. Marsh in time. He discovers that it is ricin. At the bio-dome, Garnet, Felix, and Kimi with Angus who finds the castor bean used to make ricin was hidden by Lati who starts to run. Kimi explains to Garnet that she and Lati are Federation operative hunters. Felix comes back having lost Lati. Kimi says Eva is Eastern Federation. A notification that Kelly has broken from her cell and was seen taking Alicia to the shuttle airlock. 

Garnet contacts Dr. Marsh and sends Felix to get him to the airlock. There, Garnet and Kimi find Lati ready to put in the command for Kelly to break the neck of Alicia! Kelly has Alicia in a headlock on her knees! Lati tells Kimi that they weren’t fast enough and that death is the only justice. Lati orders the captain to bring six months of supplies to the shuttle. She wants a chance out in space. Felix and Dr. Marsh show up, Lati threatens them, and the doctor slips the tranquilizer gun behind Garnet’s back. Garnet to tries to reach Kelly in her activated mode. This has been Kelly’s conflict if she is a machine or her own person. Lati gives the kill order, but Kelly doesn’t move. 

She breaks the hold of the implants, throws Alicia to the side, she throws a punch that Garnet ducks. Then, Garnet injects the tranquilizer to her neck! Felix slams Lati against the bulkhead and rips off her wrist control. Garnet reassures Alicia as Felix cuffs Lati. Sasha works at repairing the cell door control. Kelly says she wants her control device and for Dr. Marsh’s control to be destroyed. Garnet says Kelly has made it difficult to trust her. She does add that she took Dr. Marsh’s controller. Garnet talks to Trust, she thanks him, and he has started to change since Catrina. Garnet allows him out of his cell and he thanks her. Lati is taken to her cell and Kelly greets her! 

THE ARK -- “It Can’t Be True” -- RICHARD FLEESHMAN, REECE RITCHIE, PAVLE JERINIC -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Angus sees Alicia at her room and he apologizes for not being there for her. She says he was nervous throwing up during their intimacy. He admits he only kissed Kelly. She says she wasn’t intimate with Trent. Alicia says she wants her first time to be with someone she loves, awww. Felix finds Dr. Kabir at the punching bag. She pauses and says she thought she could forget about her ex-husband. He was a narcissist and abusive. Kabir says she feels loss of control when getting close. Also, she says he is always in her head. Powerful acting by Shalini Peiris. The show has drama that stands apart from the sci fi. Felix offers to help. He says he was bullied until he learned to defend himself. Felix shows her how to fight to get back her control. 

Eva is visited by Garnet and Lane at medbay. Garnet tells her Kimi has evidence that she is Eastern Federation. Eva admit it is true! Shocking admission, I thought this would take a few eps, she says they can trust her. Garnet confines her to quarters. Felix and Kimi walk her to quarters, Brice catches up to talk to her, he can’t believe it is true. She slips away her hands. Felix quietly takes her to her quarters. Kimi eyes Brice. “We Don’t Kill Our Own” is directed by Marc Roskin who had directed the first episode, “Failed Experiment.” It is written by India Sage Wilson, the writer of the bizarre “Museum of Death”! The Ark-1 is in FTL, at the conference table, Kimi says they did reveal Eva as Eastern Federation. 

Garnet says there will be no secret investigations wihout her notification. She wants to know all about Kimi’s investigation and if there is anyone else who could be Eastern Federation. She wants to talk to the captain privately, but Garnet orders her to tell them now. Kimi says seven years ago the Eastern Federation attacked the lunar colony. Lane says his father died in the attack. Kimi says that Lt. Brice was sent to stop the attack, but did not ordered by the Eastern Federation. She says her best friend, Maurisa Yi, was his co-pilot on the mission. He had said he doesn’t know her and then shows the picture of them together! She was killed, Brice survivied, investigated and he was demoted and suspended from duty. 

THE ARK -- “It Can’t Be True” -- JADRAN MALKOVICH, SHALINI PEIRIS -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

Lane asks him if it is true and Brice acknowledges it with a shrug. Brice stands up to apologize and Lane punches him in the face and stomach! A strong performance by Richard Fleeshman struggling with his past and the trust of his friends. Felix has to pull away Lane! Red pills are broken to make a jar of white powder by Milos and his clones. Lane is sulking as Brice tries to say he is not Eastern Federation. He explains that he was given the mission. Brice says he mentored Maurisa and then she was assigned as co-pilot on the mission by the GSA. They were to fly into the Eastern Federation ships and set off a bomb. A suicide mission, but he had the fatal Klamplins disease at the time. He didn’t want Maurisa to die. Instead, Brice tried to shoot down the Eastern Federation ships. I wonder what was the look of the GSA fighter craft. 

Lane is angry that he survived. Garnet says he has had enough punishment. Brice tries to talk to his best friend, but Lane doesn’t want to see him! At the medlab, Alicia talks privately to Dr. Kabir, she wants a birth control implant! Kabir is happy! She has to keep the volume of her excitement down. Alicia sits and Kabir gives her the injection on her arm. She doesn’t want the doctor to smile so much. This show is so perfect! Kabir offers to give her a checkup. At the biodome, Felix debriefs Angus at the biodome, Angus shows Felix the potato vodka invented by Lati and two glasses are poured. Felix takes a drink and says, “Good”, short and to the point. Sasha is working at engineering and sees the gash on Brice’s cheek and he explains he took a well deserved beating.

Brice admits he doesn’t know who is Eva. He takes some equipment back and Milos brings him in with a knife at his throat. Milos threatens Brice and pours the powder into the system. Brice is gagged by a clone and then falls unconscious. The clones put on breath masks as the powder is injected into the ventilation system. Lane is angry about Ian and his father as he talks with Garnet. The gas knocks out Lane. Garnet falls, but is about to crawl over to her drawer. She pulls out the control device and sets Kelly’s control to autonomous. Kelly is activated, Lati is unconscious, and shatters the control to open the door. She sees fallen crew members in the corridor thick with the powder! The clones enter the bridge. A mutiny by genetically superior people saved from their ship? A bit like the classic Star Trek ep, "Space Seed" (1967). Milos says the gas has dissipated and told the crew will wake up in eight hours. Milos orders the new destination.

 

THE ARK -- “It Can’t Be True” --  , SAMANTHA GLASSNER, STACEY READ, SHALINI PEIRIS -- Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY.

At the biodome, Felix and Angus, are the only ones active with a separate air system. Felix tries to contact Lane and Brice. At the med lab, Kelly tries to revive the fallen Kabir. She takes some adrenalin to inject Kabir who wakens. Kelly says everyone in the ship is down. She says her augmentation keeps her protected her and there seems to be a knockout gas. Kabir checks the air vent and suspects it could be Ditroxflurane, a sedative. Kabir injects Alicia with a lower dose of the adrenalin. The ship shudders as Alicia says they dropped out of FTL. On a console, Alicia finds the Ark-8 clones took over the ship. Kabir is going to make an antidote to use the air ducts. She revives Dr. Marsh. Alicia goes to the sub-engineering deck with Kelly who will protect her. They see two clones. Kelly walks to them to easily kill them. Brains and Brawn, the perfect duo! 

Alicia injects Brice and Sasha. Alicia is still angry at Eva since an Eastern Federation agent killed her mentor in the lab. She is locked out of the system. Brice goes with Sasha to move the shuttle and throw the ship from FTL. Brice asks if she will be alright. Alicia says, “Kelly’s got my back.” Alicia goes to hack into the system. Kelly hears something and walks out, taking out clone after clone with Terminator efficiency. She walks in to tell Alicia that she “neutralized them”, then Kelly collapses! Ian is knocked out and he is also injected with adrenalin by Milos. He helps Ian up and admits that he blew up the Ark-8 with the Gen-3 clones. He says there is a new course to “our planet.” Alicia gets out a spray on a towel. Kelly says Dr. Marsh says her implants would overheat being used too long. Ian is happy to be on the bridge. Ian tries to contact Niko. Felix and Angus are in the bio dome, he tries to contact the bridge and Milos answers him. 

The clone leader orders them to be killed. Dr. Marsh has developed the antidote with Kabir. The doctor has to find the transport agent, but there is not enough biopod. Dr. Marsh notes the diatomaceous earth in the bio diome. Kabir contacts Angus who has enough earth. She says the air is clear now and that Angus should bring as much earth he can bring. In the shuttle, Brice finds the shuttle locked down, he tries to use the failsafe with Sasha starting the engines. Two Ark-8 clones find the bio-dome is empty. Ian says that Captain Garnet has the command codes. Milos revives her at her quarters. He says he wants his people are safe. Garnet says they were safe on Ark-1. He says he will kill the non-clone crew if she doesn’t follow her. Garnet sees Ian. Milos says there is a new destination. He says someone locked out the command. Milos calls her a “GSA pawn.” He threatens to kill Lt. Lane. The Ark struggles with the truth about Lt. Brice and then a mutiny that can only be saved by the crew using their wits to defeat the clones! 

Five Compression Suits out of Five! 

#TheArk, #WeDontKillOurOwn, #MarcRoskin, #IndiaSageWilson, #ChristieBurke, #RichardFleeshman, #ReeceRitchie, #RyanAdams, #PavleJerinic, #StaceyRead, #ShaliniPeiris, #JadranMalkovich,  #DianaBermudez, #MilosCvetkovic, #KiernanMortell