Into the Badlands 210 Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire
“The final battle is upon us…”
Quinn’s words to kick off the season finale of Into the Badlands crystalizes what Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire is all about. While most of the season has been filled with the Widow’s exploits to reshape the Badlands, her squabbles with Quinn have been pushed aside somewhat after the events of last week’s episode. With Sunny now counted as one of her enemies, her path has been set. The conflict that now rises to the forefront of the narrative is the one between Sunny and Quinn.
Quinn has already done a magnificent job of destroying his own family, with Ryder’s murder at the top of his list of familial crimes. Sinking into madness, he’s stolen another man’s family – Sunny’s – to help him succeed where he failed with Lydia and Ryder. Quinn’s need for Lydia, Jade and now Veil are just a cover for what he’s always wanted off the battlefield, an heir that can carry on his legacy. Now that Henry and Veil are in his clutches he’s forced to come face to face with his former Clipper who’s on a mission to reclaim what is rightfully his.
Back to the Widow, her world in tatters she struggles to maintain her vision for a new world order. A Baronless Badlands will have to wait and she offers an olive branch to Waldo. Her litany of betrayals has left him disillusioned but the Widow’s promise of power holds his ear. The Widow has become the other side of Quinn’s coin. Her attempts to woo M.K. to regain their lost gift, the absolute beat down she delivered to Tilda and her willingness to dispatch anyone who ceases to be useful to her proves her cunning and iron will is the equal of Quinn’s.
Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire is full of little surprises. The shifting alliances that permeated previous episodes are kicked into high gear in the first half of the episode. Characters that you never thought would become allies are brought together due to extraordinary circumstances. This not only moves the narrative forward in interesting ways but it also sets up potentially tricky interactions moving forward. Loyalty only goes so far in love and war particularly when one’s life is at stake.
For Badlands fans who enjoy their character development and intrigue with a healthy dose of martial arts mayhem, then Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire fits the bill perfectly. From Sunny’s flaming arrows floor routine, to the anime inspired blood squirting sword fest, the latter half of the episode is all out action. Even Bajie gets to showcase his skills as the assault on Quinn’s compound accumulates more dismembered bodies the closer Sunny marches towards his family. Not to be outdone the final showdown between Sunny and Quinn is a visual and acrobatic feast that will have repercussions well into next season.
Speaking of next season there promises to be a considerable shift in the show. Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire was an excellent finish to the storyline that began in the first episode of Into the Badlands. Moving into Season 3 new possibilities exist to carry the narrative forward into promised but uncharted territory. While some of the plot threads were resolved at the end of the episode, several new questions arose while others remain unanswered. Until Into the Badlands returns what happens next will be shrouded in mystery leaving a satisfied fan base clamoring for more.
