Time for Into the
Badlands to return and it opens with stunning visuals and good music. No
matter what else this show is, it’s a sensory feast – a truly beautiful program
– 6 months have passed since the end of the last season
Even when following Sunny who has been sold to slavers
who are “mining” (prospecting for remains of our society anyway) and we’re
quickly treated to an awesome fight scene showing off the glorious battle
choreography. He doesn’t escape but my does he look awesome being recaptured.
Chained and set to work, Sunny meets Bajie, fellow
prisoner, crafty opportunist who offers to be his guide in the prison being a
confidant, teaching him the rules (including needing to meet your quota or face
lethal gladiatorial combat – oooh Sunny is interested in that). With Bajie’s
help he begins to put together an escape plan. But we also see Bajie is
ruthless. He repeatedly calls himself an opportunist but we see that also
involves a willingness to attack and use his fellow human beings.
When Sunny makes it clear that Bajie is not part of his escape plan Bajie makes his own plans – and sells Sunny out to their captures as a clipper and therefore someone valuable.
MK was kidnapped by some monks last episode and is now
being trained by an Abbot in combat and presumably control. He’s a bit sulky
and pouty, demanding to speak to the Master. Normally I’d roll my eyes are
whiny acolyte demanding to be treated as all special but since he was actually
kidnapped I’m going to give the guy a hard pass here. It’s not like he signed
up for this
One of his fellow supplicants also wants to escape – he
wants to return to his Nomad tribes where he was respected and worshipped for
his power. Yep, they all have the lethal fighting power when they’re cut: his
fellow nomads used him as a weapon to protect themselves. Apparently too many
cuts will eventually kill them but he considered this a small price to pay for
his own people.
Eventually frustrated, MK goes seeking the Master and
finds her (points for the Master being a Black Asian woman) and her awesome
broom throwing power. She clearly has some major mojo and knows all about MK
and the people he left behind. He isn’t that thrilled about learning and really
wants to go home to the people he left behind
She will allow this if he can get past a paper bird with
sharp edges without using his powers. It’s nifty Origami – and opens a shallow
cut making him go all dark-eyed and scary. He attacks her – and you know that’s
not going to work. She stops his super powered punch with one hand and then
with some carefully applied pressure points she puts him on the ground
