'Raised by Wolves' Episode 4: How Hunter and Ambrose embody the petty hypocrisy of religious authority
Spoilers for 'Raised by Wolves' Season 1 Episode 4 'Nature's Course'
Taken at face value, the Mithraic religion is one of peace, love and goodness. The thinly-veiled Christianity stand-in might preach peace, but no truly peaceful religion can be, in part, responsible for a devastating war that ended all life on Earth. 'Nature's Course' shows that there's a difference between spirituality and organized religious practices designed by men with feet of clay.
A closer look at Hunter (Ethan Hazzard) and Ambrose (Steve Wall) show that the hypocrisy inherent in authority figures of religious organizations is alive and well, even in the far-flung future. Hunter is the clearest example of how religious hypocrisy sinks in at an early age. Hunter clearly thinks of himself as the leader of the group, taking pride in his high IQ, but more importantly, his position.
He is smart enough to recognize that some things have to be done, but as the son of a high cleric, he rests in the assurance that he's not the person who has to do it. When it comes to killing the beast, Hunter clings to the fact that to do so would be a sin — but since lower class Mithraic and androids are impure to begin with, it's perfectly fine for them to slaughter the beast as he reaps the rewards.
He is perhaps the most overtly faithful of the Mithraic children because the system has worked for him — of course, he believes in it. It's easy to see how Hunter could one day grow up to be an Ambrose. The hierarchy of influence in the Mithraic religion puts great stock in the power it gives a mortal man, as interpreters of Sol's will.
The higher-ups of the Mithraic obviously believe that they are above reproach and that they deserve every benefit they get. They are told that as long as they are in that position, they are better people. They get to hide behind those who are "impure" and have them do the work while still enjoying the fruits of their labor. Ambrose is fully aware of just how much power his position gives him — and is constantly on the lookout of threats to the same.
We've seen how he freezes under pressure last episode, as Mother (Amanda Collin) attacks. He's not unintelligent — we see how crafty he is when it comes to targeting the threat of Marcus (Travis Fimmel), and all the things he does while attempting to humiliate and eventually kill Marcus. All that intelligence is devoted to securing his own position, however, proving that ambition is the only real thing he's devoted his mind to in his years as a Mithraic Eminence.
It's easy to appear spiritual when following the teachings laid down clearly by the scriptures, but when trapped in a situation that no Mithraic teachings have ever accounted for, both Ambrose and Hunter are lost, desperately hoping for the "impure" to figure out a solution for them. While 'Raised by Wolves' hasn't done a great job of proving that an atheistic society is the best way forward, it does great work in showing just how some of the pettiest, small-minded men rise to the highest level of power in the Mithraic way of life.
In fact, petty selfishness is exactly the kind of personality trait that helps someone up the religious ladder. If Campion (Winta McGrath) is truly about to join the spiritual side, he ought to take a closer look at Hunter as proof of the worst of what a religious man can become — or he could just ask Tempest (Jordan Loughran). Episodes 6 and 7 of 'Raised by Wolves' air back to back on September 17 on HBO Max.