Into The Badlands 106 “Hand of Five Poisons”
“We are all slaves to our nature”
Into the Badlands, AMC’s latest hit closed out its first season with twists, turns, thrills and heart stopping action. Hand of Five Poisons effectively shatters what many viewers have come to expect from the show and sets the stage for an inevitable second season. After the events of Snake Creeps Down last week, the status quo for several characters have been upset and the fallout from that episode is the driving force behind the season finale.
Survival and the quest for power in The Badlands spares nothing and no one. Relationships, alliances, and family are all bartered, sold or compromised by individuals in search of their own personal sanctuary or glory. Allegiances are scrambled beyond repair in Hand of Five Poisons with characters shifting sides or revealing their true selves and motives when the opportunity arises.
Loyalty and betrayal, two of the show’s central themes, are quite evident during much of this episode. Sunny’s loyalty to Veil is called into question when she asks him about his involvement with her parent’s death. His response and Veil’s reaction to it makes it painfully clear to him that sometimes it’s one’s actions and inactions that can determine how strong the bonds of loyalty really are.
Quinn’s whole raison d’etre is based on loyalty – as long as it keeps him in power. He fully subscribes to the “What have you done for me lately?” school of thought and it has great effect on the relationships he’s established so far. Quinn’s disapproval of Sunny’s actions and secrecy puts him at odds with his Regent. Even after Sunny’s years of service it doesn’t take long for the Baron to cast his eyes away from him and towards M.K..
The same outcome is mirrored within the confines of Quinn’s marriage. Lydia and Quinn confront each other over Jade’s collapse. Quinn admonishes Lydia for Jade’s current plight and reveals that he had heard whispers about her possible involvement surrounding the demise of his previous wife Beatrice. This revelation uncovers the fact that despite his power as Baron, there is much that Quinn is unaware of in his own home. The scene ends with the truth still unrevealed and the question of who is the true victim even more uncertain than it was before.
Ryder, brimming with confidence, continues his path to power but soon discovers that there is more to The Badlands than meets the eye. It’s a lesson that everyone learns in Hand of Five Poisons in one form or another. Quinn, The Widow, Jacobee, and M.K. are all faced with situations that are beyond their current capabilities. Even Sunny, who has been trying to walk a delicate tightrope all season long, learns some difficult lessons. He is widely recognized as arguably the most fearsome fighter in The Badlands but he meets his match in a fierce duel that sets him on a path that not even he could foresee.
Last week I mentioned that Snake Comes Down would have been a worthy season finale. I haven’t changed my opinion on that but Hand of Five Poisons does an excellent job of wrapping up Season 1 and setting up next season. The relationships established this year were thrown into flux and their outcomes are anything but certain. Strength and vulnerability were exhibited by almost all of the characters and with a potential power vacuum now in play, it will be interesting to see who fills the void. The episode also introduced to a new breed of warrior offering a potential glimpse into M.K.’s future. With the status quo now up in the air anything is possible for Into the Badlands. Hopefully the journey will continue and be just as enjoyable next season.
