I thought I was ready for this episode. I really did. I rewatched the whole series in preparation, and I've spent months poring over the trailers and considering every possible direction this could go. But man... this episode is crazy. It's violent, meta, shocking, and melancholic.
The ending and the beginning both blur the line between what is part the show and what isn't; similar to eps2.7, there is a seamless transition from the recap into the show, so that it's started before you've even realized it. And then, pretty much straight out of the gate, Sam presents us with a shocking scene that leaves you reeling for most of the rest of the episode. Luckily, the middle portion of the episode isn't too crazy; it has some fun stylistic flourishes, but for the most part it's a pretty straightforward depiction of Elliot's war against the Dark Army. There's some great tension and a few surprises, but by the end of the episode the viewer has mostly recovered - so Esmail rips the rug out from under us yet again.
I adore this show, and this has to be one of my favorite episodes. It's definitely my favorite season premiere; usually the episodes of this caliber are reserved for a little further down the line. I can't wait to find out what other gifts Sam has got in store for us.
The ending and the beginning both blur the line between what is part the show and what isn't; similar to eps2.7, there is a seamless transition from the recap into the show, so that it's started before you've even realized it. And then, pretty much straight out of the gate, Sam presents us with a shocking scene that leaves you reeling for most of the rest of the episode. Luckily, the middle portion of the episode isn't too crazy; it has some fun stylistic flourishes, but for the most part it's a pretty straightforward depiction of Elliot's war against the Dark Army. There's some great tension and a few surprises, but by the end of the episode the viewer has mostly recovered - so Esmail rips the rug out from under us yet again.
I adore this show, and this has to be one of my favorite episodes. It's definitely my favorite season premiere; usually the episodes of this caliber are reserved for a little further down the line. I can't wait to find out what other gifts Sam has got in store for us.