Review: Into The Badlands 103 White Stork Spreads Wings
White Stork Spreads Wings is another solid episode for AMC’s Into The Badlands. It doesn’t take long to get the action going as the episode begins with an all out assault led by Quinn and his Clippers on The Widow. Quinn wants to exact revenge on the Widow’s gang for nearly killing his son, Ryder in the previous episode.
Quinn leads the charge into The Widow’s compound proving that he’s quite adept with a sword and is capable of more than just killing innocents in cold blood. The showdown between The Widow and Quinn is an epic and wonderfully choreographed duel that showcases why both of them are worthy of their positions of power.
As the battle rages on between the Clippers and The Widow’s forces, M.K. continues his habit of not following orders. He breaks rank from the rest of the colts to get a valuable item from inside The Widow’s home – the mysterious book he saw in her possession the last time he was there. With the battle not going her way, The Widow retreats and her forces escape to fight another day.
Meanwhile, Lydia sits by Ryder, her injured son’s side talking with Jade her husband’s new bride to be. Although she is pained by Ryder’s injuries, she isn’t off balance enough to let Jade get the better or her. Lydia’s words of wisdom for Jade reveals some of the strength and conviction she must possesses to be Quinn’s wife. Her character has a newfound strength in White Stork Spreads Wings, able to stand up to Quinn for his failures and her son’s current state all the while letting young Jade know where her place is in the hierarchy of the Baron’s home.
White Stork Spreads Wings gave Orla Brady a chance to spread her own. Her performance was a restrained but emotional one that showcased the wide range of emotions that Lydia keeps hidden just beneath the surface.
Sunny, displeased with M.K.’s brashness during the raid on The Widow’s compound, begins the young lad’s training in earnest. To aid in the training, Sunny enlists Waldo to teach M.K. a lesson and in the process the boy gets the best wheelchair ass kicking of his life.
Quinn, searching to reclaim his lost virility is all kinds of nasty in this episode. He sleeps with Jade mere feet away from Lydia while his son lay dying, eerily approaches Veil about her dead parents and reveals his knowledge of the relationship between her and Sunny.
In an attempt to smooth over some the consequences of his actions, Quinn asks Sunny to meet with an Zypher, an old friend and the regent of another Baron, Jacobee in an attempt to forge an alliance. Zypher warns Sunny that Quinn’s actions could lead to war.
The Badlands isn’t an easy place to survive. Everyone seems to be capable of kicking ass whether it be Baron, an old dude in a wheelchair or a prostitute. There are however, other ways to survive than by the sword and that is something Lydia is very well aware of.
