Talon and Luna must find an old friend of the Outpost to assist in their mission. Tobin and Falista’s meeting with the ‘Gods’ proves eventful. Wren and Janzo’s new pet causes concern for all.

Picking up literally where the previous episode left off, this one gets into things pretty rapidly with a genuinely shocking moment which, while inevitable, still has impact nonetheless. Falista and Tobin, prostrated before the creatures Falista believes to be gods, offer their Kinjes up willingly, but these are not creatures interested in bargaining with those they perceive as lesser beings.

Luna struggles to find much of use at the place to which she has led Talon, but an old memory yields a familiar name, giving them a solid lead to proceed on. It’s a welcome return for a character who felt underused and ultimately sidelined too early, and it gives the opportunity to see some of the other side of both this character and Luna herself. Armed with new knowledge, the trio head off to where they think they may well find the Key to the Scevicor.

Back at The Outpost, Wren and Janzo’s newly discovered creature causes no little consternation in the minds of those around them, especially when he decides to go walkabout on his own. The fact that he seems to match the descriptions they have of the ‘Gods’ isn’t helping, and Janzo finds himself once again arguing against Spears and Zed as to what is best. It is apparent though, that Janzo’s compassion is a weakness that a cunning enemy might exploit…

Speaking of Zed and Spears, they get on about as well as usual, Zed taking great apparent pleasure in winding up Garret as to what might be going on in his relationship with Talon. Not sure Zed is the best person to be taking romantic advice from though, given that he is clearly carrying a torch for Nedra – feelings which are emphatically not returned.

It’s odd to say but suddenly The Outpost is starting to finally feel as if the lore underpinning it all is more planned than I had ever appreciated before. That’s maybe because they have finally hit a vein of storytelling they can work with after a few seasons of flailing wildly but the new villains and the slow revelation of who they are and how they might tie into the history of both humans and Blackbloods feels genuinely interesting and compelling. The show still has its faults with clunky dialogue, forced exposition scenes and some dire sets and props, but damn it all if the ideas aren’t good and the cast aren’t selling it for all its worth.

Verdict: Things are starting to get very interesting indeed. 8/10

Greg D. Smith