It’s hard to define ‘love’, as the inmates attempt to do, but one thing’s for certain: on Valentine’s Day, everyone is searching for that elusive feeling, trying to find some form of connection; it doesn’t always end well, though, and what we oftentimes get is heartbreak and disappointment.
Father and son exchange blows. Pan up along two pairs of entwined legs, legs that belong to Starbuck and Baltar in a passionate bout of lovemaking. The former calls out Lee’s name. Sexy. Baltar doesn’t think so. It’s Galactica Sharon now, torn, with a gun in her mouth. It’s Caprica Sharon, shot and captured by Helo. He can’t bring himself to finish her off, and Galactica Sharon can’t do it, either.
As the race war in Litchfield progresses, the feud becomes not only about the individual women and the conflicts between them, but also about the various races as a whole. Issues of incarceration, privilege, and even hypertension are brought up at different points throughout the episode, and the inmates are very well aware of class and race issues that are ever present in both the prison culture and the world in general.
Lorna Morello has always been one of the more sympathetic characters in this show: a bit obsessive, yes, but then again, it’s completely understandable that she would need to cling onto something in order to make it through the day. However, this episode takes her situation to a whole new level, shading in a very disturbing side to her character.
Oftentimes, Louie takes you on an emotional journey, sliding you headfirst into some of the richest storytelling and acting on television. This is truly a show that makes full use of the artistic potential of the medium, and “In the Woods” is a beautiful and moving exploration of Louie’s past.
This episode has Jack Bauer driving like a badass through the streets of London, punching random dudes on the street, stealing cars and stealing from homeless people, and narrowly avoiding a bunch of huge explosions while transporting the dying daughter of a terrorist–who, by the way, wants to kill her daughter–away from a hospital that was just hit by a drone strike. A+
“Sometimes people just don’t want to play with you.”
Connecting with others can be difficult, but it’s what many people have to do to get through the day; it’s especially relevant for prison, where the environment is harsh and the people can be unforgiving. So, when Vee walks in and starts handing out cake, it understandably brings out a sense of camaraderie amongst the inmates in that moment.
“A hundred generations have defended this castle. You’ve never fallen before. You will not fall tonight!”
The Night’s Watch is about brotherhood, about fighting for one another, about courage when you’re faced with imminent death in the form of a giant. Even when you’re trapped in a tunnel, you’ll fight until your last breath, forever to be alongside your family.
Orphan Black is a show that consistently takes risks, and it’s always been able to craft engaging and exciting storylines out of those risks. However, this episode is a bit of a misstep; it’s still enjoyable at times, but it falters in a wide variety of places.
After the dark and unsettling season premiere, it’s refreshing to see the rest of the inmates at Litchfield being their usual endearing selves, and it’s a joy to be able to experience some of the most well-realized and well-written women in any form of media.
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