Well… that certainly ended dramatically. With actual
action rather than foreshadow as well!
Damien and Simone escape – mainly because Damien’s got
his full demon powers going now. This means John’s army of minions (who would
have been really helpful last episode) are happy to shoot themselves if they
try to stop Damien. Random nice ladies cry “Damien I love you” and try to throw
themselves off dams. He even accidentally makes Simone spit insects.
Despite my flippant tone, it’s so very very very spooky
and terrifying. Damien has a whole lot of power and doesn’t quite know what he
is doing beyond wanting all of this to end, unleashing poorly understood
demonic power in terrifying waves.
Simone, however, is firm. She is staying with him. She managed to save a life, she has a front row seat to the apocalypse and she isn’t going to go home and pretend it isn’t happening. Certainly not when she can make a difference, even if minor.
I like this – I like why Simone is here effectively as
Damien’s second. Because it’s not about him, not as a love interest – she is
there for everyone around Damien. She is there, yes, to try and keep Damien
back from the edge but it’s clearly for the world, for others, for the
innocents in his wake.
Ann and the Nun who killed her daughter have a few
theological debates. Well, it’s more “god god god” “satan satan satan” “GOD!” “SATAN!”
“GOD!” “Satan! And poking your stab wound! Ha!” Wounded nun ends up being
dropped in the grave – with wounded Amani (John has him shot for… reasons. I
don’t even know). They’re then both buried alive
But as they leave, a hand thrusts out of the dirt. I hope
it’s Amani… maybe. I mean it’d be nice if he didn’t die, but his depiction this
season has been entirely as Damien’s servant which… no. He had no real
character there, no real presence beyond as an extension of Amani. It’s a
broken depiction and a non-person portrayal which is so common for POC and
other marginalised characters
With much running in the dark and spookiness, John, Ann
and their army catch Damien – and we see a difference between Ann and John. Ann
worships Damien in all his satanic glory. John worships Damien for the power it
will grant him – and John gets eaten by demon dogs. That’ll learn him! No fake
devotion here! You’re in or you’re dog food.
Also present at the big confrontation is James – the cop
who is being driven to despair and distraction by endless hallucination and
mind games by the demonic forces. This depiction is interesting – I don’t like
this character and, honestly I don’t really even understand why he is there
since he seems so separate from the plot only appear to be tormented a little
more and then a bit more and then some more for no real indication why. BUT, he
is a gay man, completely absent of any gay tropes and he’s the first gay
character I’ve seen on any of our shows with a family. So points on all levels
And he lives, which is definitely more than I expected.
Honestly, I had a death clock running. He tries to kill Damien… and hits Simone
Which breaks Damien- he raises his blood stained hands to
the sky and in scary demon voice finally pledges his soul to the power of
darkness. Blood from his 666 brand drips down his face, covered in Simone’s
blood, and lands on Simone’s body
And Simone lives. We have official all powerful Damien here. And he was willing to give up his soul and humanity for a Black woman (I am desperately forcing THIS framing rather than it’s the FAULT of a Black woman and a gay man. My framing is better. Also while he’s evil he may also be much much much much more interesting than this season).
You can also see James’s brain just CRACK with that
scene. He falls to his knees not so much in devotion so much because everything
just turns off. There is a huge squad of minions all gathering to kneel and
worship as well
This episode actually leaves me a little more hopeful for
the next season – because season 1 left me bored RIGID
We had so much foreshadowing for no reason – I mean,
everyone here knew what Damien is. Everyone. A whole season of angst, ominous
chanting and mentally ill people as props was grossly unnecessary. The endless
scenes of foreshadowing and dramatic tension and darkness and entire scenes of
poor Bradley James emoting at a camera while NOTHING HAPPENED (and full points
to him, he did an awesome job of it – but ye gods that was hard and dull).
Now the demon is out of the bag – the Vatican is at war,
time to tear into some cardinals! Bring on the action!
