REVIEW: Marvel's Inhumans "Havoc in the Hidden Land"
The penultimate episode usually means coming closer to the end of season-long buildup. At this point, it gives a bigger perspective of the show as a whole and sometimes sheds light on confusing elements or previously forgotten material. However, this isn’t a normal show. It’s Inhumans which means not only do we not get that stuff. We probably take two steps back as well.
It’s occurred to me that several times in my write-ups I have confused the number of episodes we have this season. Meaning, at this point, I thought we’d be done by now. I can’t tell whether this has to do with my admittedly divided attention or the generally uninteresting story of the show. I’m going to be fair and say both, but that doesn’t seem to change my overall opinion of what actually is the penultimate episode.
My first reaction would have to be…what?, followed by a resounding huh, and ending with a familiar ugh. This comes not only from a forced interest level brought on by watching the series every week but from a personal level as well. Penultimate episodes are supposed be either thrilling or surprising, often overtaking the finale in exciting moments. This episode took that notion and thought “how can we take all that and screw it over?”
Let’s give some credit to the show for getting more than one episode with the Triton character in full makeup. Much like Medusa’s powers, I figured they just took the easy way out instead of expensive effects and…sense, especially when beloved family member Triton seemed to be left out of the endless flashbacks or more than one reference in the pilot.
Unfortunately, that’s ruined by possibly the worst twist of the entire season where, get this, Black Bolt planned the whole thing all along. Maybe not the brother staging a coup or Gorgon dying scenario, more of the keeping a secret bunker and keeping Triton alive situations. You know, pretty much everything that is too convenient and quick to wrap the story up in two episodes. I’m not in a hurry to continue this story any more than anyone, but a show that relies on random occurrences rather than the half a dozen characters we’ve introduced and then promptly forgot about one hour later is worse. It’s pretty much the epitome of the lazy writing of this show.
I think Medusa puts it best when she says to Black Bolt how the whole thing is just insulting. I’ve used that word before, but never have I ever heard a show itself reference its own futility. First of all, even great shows should stop with the secrets revealed story as some form of drama. It completely goes against common sense. Second, in a show with so little common sense like this one, you don’t want to eliminate any point of waiting seven episodes to bring all the characters back together. Finally, the motivations of these characters are paper thin as they are, and changing them on a whim only makes them feel worse.
Which brings me to the next stupid thing on the roster: second Terrigenesis. Now, the idea of trying to control the continuity nightmare that is explaining super powers is surprisingly natural. That being said, using it as a deus ex machina to bring back Gorgon (which was the ONE THING I almost gave them credit for) ruins the entire thing. So anyone can get any powers to do whatever they want now? This show is nowhere near capable of handling that new plot point.
The only plot point it can manage is the slight twist that Maximus plans to disrupt the barrier keeping their city on the Moon. It’s honestly one of the more basic plots to take a finale, but it’s also far too simple for them to screw up. Now they can’t kill him even if they want to, and that’s what we call real motivation. It lacks any emotional appeal because I don’t care about anyone on Attilan. Heck, I don’t even remember anybody else’s name. Still, it makes for something to stop in the finale and the question of what they do next.
If that doesn’t sound like an exciting set-up for a finale, then welcome to the increasingly small club of people who are watching this show. The only thing keeping this thing upright is the slight possibility of Black Bolt doing something again. Since that could account for all over two minutes of screen time, it’s safe to say we’re closing on a dud.
