'See' Episode 4 Review: 'The River' is not as action-filled as previous episodes but it builds suspense in each of its acts
This review contains spoilers for 'See' Episode 4: 'The River'
Sight may have deserted the people of Alkeny, but not their will. 'River' may not have the bloody scrimmages and long-duration fight sequences like the previous episodes, but what it does focus on is the grit and determination the survivors of the post-apocalyptic earth possess. The episode sheds light on the conflict of interest between characters and how their decisions play a key role over the course of the series. Baba Voss (Jason Momoa) and his family are on the run again after the Witchfinders invade their safe zone and while they make their hasty getaway, the villagers pay the price of keeping mum with their lives.
Trouble brews at Queen Kane's (Sylvia Hoeks) palace as the ministry urges her to stop the relentless attack in a bid to find the Jelmarel's (Joshua Henry) children. When she blatantly refuses to do so, the ministry conspires and in the process, introduces the audience to the most demented side of Kane that wasn't seen in the previous episodes. Her self-destructive tendencies come to the fore as she decides to bring down the palace to take down all those who plotted against her.
It's surprising as Momoa's Voss is relatively mum for the major part of the episode. Barring the gruesome fight while they flee from the land, Voss is shown as a troubled man. The children, Kofun (Archie Madekwe) and Paris (Alfre Woodard) are bent on following the instructions Jelmarel has outlined and while Voss isn't entirely pleased with the move, he does so for his children.
'The River' may not be as action-filled as the season opener, but does build suspense in each of its acts. The final minutes see Kane walk off after manage to destruct her palace and her next step to find the children are still unknown. 'See' debuted as a series with potential, and it lives up to it by introducing a strong plot in each of the episodes. 'The River' may be the slowest of the three, but does manage to hold the audiences as it relies heavily on the suspense factor, which doesn't disappoint. For Voss and his family, this is a sign that their journey is far from over.
Momoa and Hoeks are the stars of the episode. Yet again. The characters they play aren't hard to figure and are easy to develop a liking to despite their starkly contrasting personas. A troubled, yet fierce warrior and a delusional queen have one common factor in the children, and neither of them is ready to let go. 'See' deserves a shot to be watched. And that's our take.
Episode 5 of 'See' will release on November 15 on Apple TV+