'The Outpost' Season 3 Episode 3 Review: Peace between Blackbloods and humans might not be imminent
Spoilers for 'The Outpost' Season 3 Episode 3 titled 'A Life for a Life'
Yet another episode of 'The Outpost' that takes an hour-long run only to show the most important plot development in the last one minute. But more importantly, it is yet another episode surrounding the long arduous struggle between the Blackbloods and the humans for control over the Outpost.
After Talon (Jessica Green), Wren (Izuka Hoyle), Janzo (Anand Desai-Barochia) and Yavalla (Jaye Griffiths) discover an underground passage at the end of the previous episode, Episode 3 comprised of them sifting through the labyrinth that they opened. Wren and Janzo had together come to the conclusion that they will find what they came looking for there. Yavalla, on the other hand, believes that this 'kinj' will bring peace between the Balckbloods and the humans.
Once inside this mysterious magical basement, which is housed under The Smith's (Kevin McNally) house, the group is confronted with one life-threatening hurdle after the other. At one point, they are stuck within the confines of a room with little air. Another time, Janzo has to quite literally put his hand in fire enduring second-degree burns in order to open the portal to the other side. And lastly, in the poorest display of stunts, Talon jumps, backflips and literally flies midair to get to the other side of a long line of hurdles.
In between all this is a painfully squeezed in conversation about family and loyalty, about Talon and her father and how he apparently abandoned his family in this world and fled to the Plane of Ashes, where he seems to be a confidante of Yavalla. And finally, it is here that the group finds what they are looking for -- or rather Yavalla finds what she and her curious, unnamed group of Blackbloods had been looking for. The kinj is given to Yavalla via a snake bite. Talon, Wren and Janzo persuade her to put her the kinj to use, but apparently, it isn't the right time.
It is at the end of the episode that we find out how exactly this much-sought-after kinj is supposed to bring peace between the two communities. Yavalla is to share the second-half of the kinj with Queen Gwynn (Imogen Waterhouse). She transfers one part of the kinj to the Queen (who is a human, mind you). Up until now, we had little idea that humans could use the kinj too.
As it turns out, now, Yavalla can think and know all about the Queen's mind and Gwynn can feel from Yavalla's heart (who also finds out about Jake Stormoen's Garret being alive). And that is how peace will come, with humans and the Blackbloods becoming one being. Or will it?
We hardly expect this to solve any and all differences that both factions have with each other. If anything, the kinj might make matters worse. With no secrets between the two factions, transparency is achieved, sure, but is there the will to remain allies? It also brings up a previous presumption about Yavalla that she can hardly be trusted about her intentions that remain as questionable as the woman herself.
We will only find out with time.
'The Outpost' airs Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 pm ET on The CW.