Into the Badlands 208 Sting of the Scorpion’s Tail
“With this blade I thee wed…”
Sting of the Scorpion’s Tail features a bevy of shifting alliances, questionable decisions and an incredibly uncomfortable marriage of inconvenience as the action brings the main players back the Badlands. It’s taken eight episodes but most of the main cast is being slowly reunited and Tail offers a couple of anticipated reunions.
Sunny, M.K. and Bajie turn to smugglers to get them through the wall and back into the Badlands. Their journey begins to get interesting when the bus they are using for transport is unexpectedly stopped. The smugglers are in league with Baron Chau who has her Clippers on site to purchase anyone that’s on their way to the Badlands.
The Widow and Quinn continue to forge an uneasy alliance. While the Widow is content to play by a certain set of rules she soon finds that her new ally is as unpredictable as he is dangerous. Cracks begin to form in the relationship between Lydia and the Widow. Still feeling some guilt over how Veil was treated, Tilda takes issue with the Widow’s position on the matter and for the slightest moment some potential revolt is foreshadowed.
With new coalitions popping up all over the Badlands, Sunny soon finds himself in front of Baron Chau mulling over an offer. She wants him to become her Regent but he refuses. In what’s becoming a weekly exercise of “Let’s Make a Deal: Badlands Edition”, Sunny comes back with a counter offer that piques Chau’s thirst for revenge.
Sunny’s gambit leaves M.K. and Bajie in a cloud of uncertainty. His turn to the dark side is faster than a professional wrestler’s and leaves Bajie questioning his friend’s loyalty. Chau’s no fool though and her willingness to go along with Sunny’s plan is tempered by the fact she trusts no one.
Quinn continues his quest to collect wives and Veil is his next target. Seeking to make Henry his rightful heir, he wants to make Veil his next wife while keeping Lydia in the fold. As the prospect of her becoming Veil’s sister wife crystalizes, Lydia realizes that Quinn’s quest for power knows no limits. The scene between Veil and Lydia before her pending nuptials is a tiny glimpse into what makes the former Baron’s wife tick. With tear’s streaming down Veil’s eyes, Lydia’s calm reassurance demonstrates the skills she’s used to survive at Quinn’s side. Pragmatism and guile are Lydia’s real strengths as evidenced by her ability to successfully navigate social and political minefields over the years.
What resonated throughout Sting of the Scorpion’s Tail, aside from the dealing and double-dealing of most of the characters was the relationship dynamics of the female characters. Whether it be Tilda’s displeasure with the Widow for betraying Veil, the exchange between Tilda and Veil in Quinn’s stronghold or Lydia trying to prepare Veil for her forced walk down the aisle these scenes were filled with regret, mistrust, affection and compassion. Each character operates by their own code and the circumstances they’re in only complicates the relationships they’ve forged.
By the end of Sting of the Scorpion’s Tail viewers will need a scorecard to keep track of who is aligned with whom. The ever changing dance cards and the potential for constant betrayal means that everything is in play moving forward.
