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maverick_weirdoReleased January 3rd, 2009, runtime: 50 minutes, 32 seconds
Warning these posts will contain spoilers, it is best to listen to the episode first. You can listen to the episode Here
Shaena and Porec in the Hidden City.
In listening to this episode I realized that I posted a rather detailed response to it before on the "Second Shift" Forums. So most of this post is quoted from that.
I will point out that wile it was a six month wait between episodes they did manage to release this one before Arisia 2009, which was a good thing because the Second Shift performace at Arisia that year was Shaena meeting Oren (Season 2, episode 13). I'll be talking much more about that later.
Porec, after preaching the praises of the brotherhood for over a year, starts warning Shaena of the brotherhood’s “human” side. Effectively calling the capitol a “Necessary Evil”. Nicely done. “Scenic Route” introduces theme music. Very smooth.
Exposition rundown of the big-wigs, check.
Legion: high officers and élite corp only,
The Brotherhood: the keepers of the word, the fist (hand), the voice, and the chosen.
Porec in this episode clearly believes in his faith, but questions “the church leadership”. Berating the big-wigs from the pulpit was bold.
Porec might technically be responsible for “The Silver Night Incident”, but the Legionnaire Officer (you can tell he’s an officer by the clicking of his boots) is primarily interested in complaining about The Brotherhood interfering in how The Legion is run.
Talia, her name is short so she is still single, but she was ready to come to Shaena’s defense so she isn’t the jealous type. I am surprised that, with how hungry Shaena was, she wasn’t thirsty. Thwarted poison attempt sounded good. Interesting twist.
Then the attack in the night (but how did the assassins get in?). Someone tried to magic her mind, then the harpy woke her and the assassins attacked, (What were they trying to do before she woke?)
Porec used to be an assassin?!? Like his father!?! The “Cult of the Mother” is an interesting development. It seems that they work with the brotherhood, but are not part of the brotherhood. That someone would try to frame them is interesting. Porec’s description of their traditions is fascinating. The “court” scene worked very well.
Now comes the truly great sequence of the episode. Alternating between Porec & Shaena, and the slaughter of the scapegoats.
It starts with people who offer to talk, or were clearly guilty of something, but the Legion doesn’t want the truth, it wants people to blame.
Porec, “I have never lied to you Shawna”
Shaena, “Now might be a good time to start”
But as it continues the protestations sound more sincere
Shaena says, “Lie to me,” and Porec does, and the inquisition scenes prove he is lying
Shaena, “No one”… “is using this for political gain”
Porec, “Yes”
Official, “Condemned to death by beheading.”
A Victim, “Do you not know Who I Am?”
And then the nature of the inquisition scenes change, they stop being the proof of the lies and becomes the true answers to the questions.
Shaena, “This is for the best?”
Porec, “Yes”
A Victim, “No, This is wrong”
Shaena, “This is the happy ending?”
A Victim, “No, no” thunk
Porec, “Yes”
And then Porec says, “I must leave you now” and I think of Sydney Carton from “Tale of Two Cities”, at this point I realize that the inquisition must come for Porec too.
Porec, “Are you ready for this honor” (meeting Oren)
Shaena, “I am ready”
A Victim, “no, no, not now, not now”
The sequence ends, as it had to, with the official arriving for Porec.
This sequence may overshadow the kicker moment of the episode. It shows the brilliant work of the writers AND the actors AND the director AND the musical score AND the editing. It all came together.
Of course the final shock of the episode is when at the end Shaena is greeted by the last thing we expect; a simple, normal, sane sounding voice.
Bravo
Warning these posts will contain spoilers, it is best to listen to the episode first. You can listen to the episode Here
Shaena and Porec in the Hidden City.
In listening to this episode I realized that I posted a rather detailed response to it before on the "Second Shift" Forums. So most of this post is quoted from that.
I will point out that wile it was a six month wait between episodes they did manage to release this one before Arisia 2009, which was a good thing because the Second Shift performace at Arisia that year was Shaena meeting Oren (Season 2, episode 13). I'll be talking much more about that later.
Porec, after preaching the praises of the brotherhood for over a year, starts warning Shaena of the brotherhood’s “human” side. Effectively calling the capitol a “Necessary Evil”. Nicely done. “Scenic Route” introduces theme music. Very smooth.
Exposition rundown of the big-wigs, check.
Legion: high officers and élite corp only,
The Brotherhood: the keepers of the word, the fist (hand), the voice, and the chosen.
Porec in this episode clearly believes in his faith, but questions “the church leadership”. Berating the big-wigs from the pulpit was bold.
Porec might technically be responsible for “The Silver Night Incident”, but the Legionnaire Officer (you can tell he’s an officer by the clicking of his boots) is primarily interested in complaining about The Brotherhood interfering in how The Legion is run.
Talia, her name is short so she is still single, but she was ready to come to Shaena’s defense so she isn’t the jealous type. I am surprised that, with how hungry Shaena was, she wasn’t thirsty. Thwarted poison attempt sounded good. Interesting twist.
Then the attack in the night (but how did the assassins get in?). Someone tried to magic her mind, then the harpy woke her and the assassins attacked, (What were they trying to do before she woke?)
Porec used to be an assassin?!? Like his father!?! The “Cult of the Mother” is an interesting development. It seems that they work with the brotherhood, but are not part of the brotherhood. That someone would try to frame them is interesting. Porec’s description of their traditions is fascinating. The “court” scene worked very well.
Now comes the truly great sequence of the episode. Alternating between Porec & Shaena, and the slaughter of the scapegoats.
It starts with people who offer to talk, or were clearly guilty of something, but the Legion doesn’t want the truth, it wants people to blame.
Porec, “I have never lied to you Shawna”
Shaena, “Now might be a good time to start”
But as it continues the protestations sound more sincere
Shaena says, “Lie to me,” and Porec does, and the inquisition scenes prove he is lying
Shaena, “No one”… “is using this for political gain”
Porec, “Yes”
Official, “Condemned to death by beheading.”
A Victim, “Do you not know Who I Am?”
And then the nature of the inquisition scenes change, they stop being the proof of the lies and becomes the true answers to the questions.
Shaena, “This is for the best?”
Porec, “Yes”
A Victim, “No, This is wrong”
Shaena, “This is the happy ending?”
A Victim, “No, no” thunk
Porec, “Yes”
And then Porec says, “I must leave you now” and I think of Sydney Carton from “Tale of Two Cities”, at this point I realize that the inquisition must come for Porec too.
Porec, “Are you ready for this honor” (meeting Oren)
Shaena, “I am ready”
A Victim, “no, no, not now, not now”
The sequence ends, as it had to, with the official arriving for Porec.
This sequence may overshadow the kicker moment of the episode. It shows the brilliant work of the writers AND the actors AND the director AND the musical score AND the editing. It all came together.
Of course the final shock of the episode is when at the end Shaena is greeted by the last thing we expect; a simple, normal, sane sounding voice.
Bravo
