'Raised by Wolves' Episode 7 Review: Sci-fi makes way for paranormal thrills as the Mithraic take charge
Spoilers for 'Raised by Wolves' Season 1 Episode 7 'Faces'
Marketing decisions for this series could not have been easy. It's hard to sum up exactly what to expect from 'Raised by Wolves' as a series, especially as, in its latter half, the shift in the kind of story being told changes completely. What was once a philosophical exploration of suburban family life and the dangers of zealotry told through dystopic science fiction is now leaning heavily on more supernatural influence, becoming a suspenseful thriller with ghosts, godly voices and prophecy. The latest episode is a marked shift from the kind of storytelling that's been told so far and mileage may vary as to how well this works.
After having defeated Mother (Amanda Collin) with the help of Paul (Felix Jamieson), the Mithraic make the settlement their own. However, though she may have lost her Necromancer powers, Mother is not without tricks of her own, as she sees right through Marcus (Travis Fimmel) in more ways than one but most importantly, she knows about his secret atheist identity. While this should put the two of them on the same team, for Marcus, it's a threat. In the meantime, Campion (Winta McGrath) goes through a number of mental tortures, first from the Mithraic attempting to forcibly convert Campion to their own and then from Tally's ghost (Sienna Hurst), who wants Campion to kill himself, removing all doubt as to whether or not the ghosts are malicious.
The ghosts are one thing, however, but the voices in Marcus's head are another. While they seem to want what's best for Marcus, his family and Mother, they're slowly driving him insane with cryptic promises about his future. The voices are becoming too loud for Marcus to ignore, try as he might. Mother touches a nerve with Marcus, belittling him when trying to ally with him doesn't work and we truly start to see Marcus unravel here. Power corrupts, and Marcus's new position is apparently doing just that as his refusal to face his past has him embracing delusions of grandeur enough so that he believes he is the Prophet of Mithraic prophecy.
The Mithraic way of life truly takes the spotlight this episode as 'Faces' asks us to believe in the supernatural and unexplainable. Whether it's ghosts, voices or prophecies, the show leans hard into the idea of accepting that which cannot be explained by science. After all, the androids - the last true vestiges of atheism and scientific rigor in the universe - have lost, the Mithraic have won and we get to see just how bad the Mithraic can get when they're on top. Ambrose (Steve Wall) should have been a warning, as the Mithraic use their religion as permission to be cruel, rest on their own sense of superiority and look down on all those not following their way of life. Now that they have the freedom to not worry about their lives, their oppressive side to their personalities come right to the fore - leaving Campion with no one on his side.
While Father (Abubakar Salim) continues to be the one point of comfort and hope through the series despite being completely reprogrammed, this episode definitely takes an already bleak show into darker, stranger territory. It's a notable shift in tone, but say what you will about 'Raised by Wolves' - its storytelling is far from predictable. With Mother loose, there's a new underdog to root for, as the once-sympathetic Marcus edges increasingly close toward a true Mithraic threat. It's hard to care, however, about the show's supernatural sides, which feel as sensationalist as religious preachings themselves can sometimes be, especially in a show that's done so well telling stories grounded in its own logic. This episode asks its viewers to take a leap of faith, but as Campion would no doubt agree, there's not always good reason to.
'Raised by Wolves' will return September 24, on HBO Max.