While season 1 is a bit overrated (in my opinion), as it was certainly quality, the majority of it was build up to the final couple episodes which had tremendous payoff that really created a tantalizing mystery. I feel they've sort of forsaken that obscurity for "action and drama" over the past couple seasons. Certainly there is action and drama when it excels, but sacrificing what made the show succeed in the first place was a bold move that really didn't payoff.
Until now. The story has set itself up, using the prior seasons, as a means of creating a scenario that is steeped in that same mystery and gravity that made the climax of the first season and the aftermath (when it wasn't just pandering nonsense) of the second season work so well. I feel that most of season 2 and 3's missteps have been addressed in the storytelling and delivery we've seen so far. Yes, there still are those ~edgy~ moments, but that's part of the show's "flare" (like-it-or-not) and only became a problem, for me, personally, when they sacrificed the substance of the writing for the flashy action sequences. Beyond that, and something that has me concerned (as I do feel the first two episodes were more reconciling with the poor writing of season 3 than anything and bridged the story between what was and what it's leading towards) is I don't know how they will manage the pace as they have revealed quite a bit by this episode, but there are still quite a few episodes left. That said, the least I can say, with those concerns in mind, is these two episodes have at least partially redeemed this show and if they manage to keep up the quality, I think will redeem itself entirely if not make it worthy again of the praise it received in its heyday.
The episode itself was filled with calamity, something managed very well over the past couple episodes. With the reveals they've made so far with this episode, it makes some of the more superfluous scenes of the past few episodes make sense, and also alludes to a greater underlying narrative. Again, I'm not entirely confident they can keep it up and make it worth it after they really dropped the ball with the bulk of the past two seasons, but what we've had in the past two episodes has been compelling enough to make me hopeful they can manage (with some degree of forgiveness in the consistency) throughout the remainder of the season.
Beyond that, the reintroduction of Bernard as well as giving Maeve and Caleb an Odyssey of their own is very welcomed. Bernard had always been the doormat, nuisance character that routinely felt like his presence was getting in the way of the more important narrative shifts, but rebuilding his character as some sort of sage has really made his storyline more riveting, which I was shocked at the revelation of his venture towards the end of the episode. It felt like it came together well with a lot of the other narratives we've been sort of scrambling to make sense of in the context of the bigger picture this season.
All-in-all, I'm impressed, if not hopeful, for what the season has brought so far and what it can potentially give through the remainder. Ultimately, it remains to be seen, but I felt compelled enough to write this review. This episode was solid enough that I felt like I should share my thoughts, and in the context of the rest of the series (for which I have never written a review) I'll have to acknowledge as quality I'm glad to watch. 8.5/10.
Until now. The story has set itself up, using the prior seasons, as a means of creating a scenario that is steeped in that same mystery and gravity that made the climax of the first season and the aftermath (when it wasn't just pandering nonsense) of the second season work so well. I feel that most of season 2 and 3's missteps have been addressed in the storytelling and delivery we've seen so far. Yes, there still are those ~edgy~ moments, but that's part of the show's "flare" (like-it-or-not) and only became a problem, for me, personally, when they sacrificed the substance of the writing for the flashy action sequences. Beyond that, and something that has me concerned (as I do feel the first two episodes were more reconciling with the poor writing of season 3 than anything and bridged the story between what was and what it's leading towards) is I don't know how they will manage the pace as they have revealed quite a bit by this episode, but there are still quite a few episodes left. That said, the least I can say, with those concerns in mind, is these two episodes have at least partially redeemed this show and if they manage to keep up the quality, I think will redeem itself entirely if not make it worthy again of the praise it received in its heyday.
The episode itself was filled with calamity, something managed very well over the past couple episodes. With the reveals they've made so far with this episode, it makes some of the more superfluous scenes of the past few episodes make sense, and also alludes to a greater underlying narrative. Again, I'm not entirely confident they can keep it up and make it worth it after they really dropped the ball with the bulk of the past two seasons, but what we've had in the past two episodes has been compelling enough to make me hopeful they can manage (with some degree of forgiveness in the consistency) throughout the remainder of the season.
Beyond that, the reintroduction of Bernard as well as giving Maeve and Caleb an Odyssey of their own is very welcomed. Bernard had always been the doormat, nuisance character that routinely felt like his presence was getting in the way of the more important narrative shifts, but rebuilding his character as some sort of sage has really made his storyline more riveting, which I was shocked at the revelation of his venture towards the end of the episode. It felt like it came together well with a lot of the other narratives we've been sort of scrambling to make sense of in the context of the bigger picture this season.
All-in-all, I'm impressed, if not hopeful, for what the season has brought so far and what it can potentially give through the remainder. Ultimately, it remains to be seen, but I felt compelled enough to write this review. This episode was solid enough that I felt like I should share my thoughts, and in the context of the rest of the series (for which I have never written a review) I'll have to acknowledge as quality I'm glad to watch. 8.5/10.