First and most tragically we have the inevitable
confrontation – Dutch finding Johnny imprisoned by Jelcho, learning he’s been
lying to her and learning that he has risked their license as killjoys
She’s devastated and it’s emotional and painful and very
very sad and a large part of me just wants to cry “no no no no – whyyyyy!?”
But it’s not entirely all about Johnny’s betrayal. He
points out he loves Pawter – and that both Dutch and Pawter have their things
(sixes, Khlyen) (Westerley, old town). What isn’t said but I think we can
clearly imply is that neither of them are Johnny’s thing – Dutch does say “you’re
my thing” but is he, though, really? Even D’avin is more connected than him.
And, really is Dutch risking their license any more than Johnny? Not to say
Johnny’s in the clear with the deception et al – but there’s something there
What I can’t help but thinking about this is how many
marginalised sidekicks we’ve seen in the genre I would have loved to have this
beginnings of a storyline. I would have loved to see them do their own thing
while the lead is surprised and feels betrayed that the sidekick has their own
life and isn’t content to just follow in their wake. It’s even slightly
frustrating that when we finally see this challenge of assumed service it’s a (one
of the few) privileged sidekick and a marginalised lead.
Dutch leaves Johnny for Pawter to rescue – which Pawter
does by invoking her mighty authority and making Jelcho bow and scrape because
she is one of the nine now and is awesome.
But there’s another authority – Delle Sayah who is behind
all evil, is the one pulling Jelcho’s strings and orders him to speed up the
plan even if it is way ahead of schedule. So what is this ominous plan
Pawter thinks she’s hit on it from last episode – “eugenics
execution” the wall will kill all the old and weak and everyone who the company
thinks is not a useful worker. She and Johnny run around Old Town testing blood
and air and water trying to find exactly how the company intends to do this –
eventually hitting on a shipment of special rations which is due to arrive soon.
