'Raised by Wolves' Episode 8: Why did Marcus fall so deeply into Mithraic faith when Sue and Campion did not?
Spoilers for 'Raised by Wolves' Season 1 Episode 8 'Mass'
One of the major recurring themes of 'Raised by Wolves' is how its protagonists slowly fall into zealotry despite all attempts to avoid that very thing. Campion (Winta McGrath) finds himself leaning towards spirituality despite Mother's (Amanda Collin) strict atheistic beliefs, Mother herself grows suspiciously religious-like faith in her creator and his plan, and Marcus (Travis Fimmel), who is an atheist in disguise, turns completely towards Mithraic faith in the latest episode of the show. Out of everyone in the series tempted by zealotry, Marcus is the only one who embraces it wholeheartedly and it's worth taking a closer look at why.
At first glance, one might blame the voices in Marcus' head for slowly stripping him of his sanity, but Marcus isn't the only one with voices in his head. Mother is plagued by an artificial simulation of Campion Sturges (Cosmo Jarvis), who tells her in no uncertain terms that she's meant for a greater destiny, but this is something Mother immediately rejects, despite her love for Sturges and his plan for humanity. Campion the boy, for his part, is hearing a fair number of voices himself - both supernatural and otherwise - and though he's been tempted to accept Mithraic beliefs, he strongly and repeatedly rejects them despite the pressure he's under. Voices alone do not a madman make.
Then again, neither Mother nor Campion has received the kind of pressures that Marcus has, being constantly surrounded by those of the Mithraic faith, constantly under their watchful eye and forced to pretend, even with their own family, that they believe in Sol's scriptures. Two people who have felt that pressure, however, are Sue (Niamh Algar) and Paul (Felix Jamieson), and both of them decide to make a run from the Mithraic way of life the first chance they get.
Certainly, none of the other characters on the show are dealing with both supernatural voices and prolonged religious scrutiny, but what truly sends Marcus over the edge is something a lot more sinister. It's the fact that organized religions like the Mithraic faith are specifically designed to both prey on and venerate men like Marcus. These religious structures target those who are at the end of their rope, who feel they have nowhere else to turn to. People like Marcus are not only told that there is a better way, but that by following that path, they automatically become better people.
It doesn't matter that Marcus' true identity as an atheist in disguise makes his religious zealotry hypocritical. Time and time again, we've seen in people like Hunter (Ethan Hazzard) and Ambrose (Steve Wall) that hypocrisy is no barrier to entry. It in fact appears to be a ticket right to the top. Hypocrites do well in religious structures, it would seem, as no one prays harder or more performatively than those who are desperate for their followers to believe in the hypocrites' superiority.
Marcus slipped easily into his role as a Mithraic leader, and when he was at his lowest point, he could rely on religion to validate his sense of emptiness. He relied on religion to tell him that he was important, a prophet destined for greater things. He relied on that religion's structural hierarchy to exert control over his own family instead of sorting out their differences because religions like the Mithraic faith rely on exerting control instead of open, honest discourse.
Of everyone on the show, Marcus was most primed to fall prey to the allure of zealotry. In his rash abuse of authority, he has lost the love and support of his family, and he truly has nowhere to turn to but the open arms of the Mithraic. It's a vicious cycle, as religious members need someone to tell them what to do, and Marcus needs the validation of people who follow his orders. It's a trap that Marcus may just be trapped in for the rest of his life, however long that may be.
'Raised by Wolves' will return with new episodes on October 1 on HBO Max.