#big sky 3x04

[justjensenanddean]

Jensen Ackles as Beau Arlen BIG SKY: Deadly Trails (2022) | 3.04 – “Carrion Comfort”

[beaudeanw]

Beau & Jenny in Big Sky S3 so far ✨❤️

[deansraspberrypie]

(✿ ♥‿♥)

❤️‍🔥 Beau(tiful) Arlen 🤠

🍰 Tag list: @undisputedchick2 @jranutter @kazsrm67 🥧

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Agree with your tags, Riz! I could definitely watch him walk all day long, for many, many days. 😁🤤

Beau Arlen & Jenny Hoyt in Big Sky [162/∞]

[roennq]

Watching Jensen Ackles as Beau Arlen in Big Sky was a teensy bit surreal as it took me awhile to see Beau, instead of Dean the Sheriff. It didn't help matters that they scattered (veiled) references to Supernatural in a handful of episodes.

Here are the ones I spotted:

Names his car [2x18] "No, no, I keep trying to go in there, but something always seems to stop me. Today it was Pedro. Sprung a leak on me."

Gives salt as a housewarming gift [3x02] "And you're, uh, always protected."

Has a sounds-like-trouble brother [2x18] "Shoot, you should meet my brother." [3x01] "I used to have something like this when I was a kid, till my brother ripped its head off, and then I put him in a headlock, and Mom beat the crap out of both of us." [3x04] "Interesting antiques. My brother used to drag me to places like this when we were kids."

Occasionally calls Cassie Dewell Cass but it was in 3x13 that really brought it home [3x04] "Hey, Cass." [3x12] "You were right, Cass. Bunker near the hearts." [3x13] "Okay. I'm gonna call Cass. I want her on this with us. Let's move."

Honourable mention (foreshadow much?): [2x08] Episode soundtrack: Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas

For @highfunctioningflailgirl

[raayllum]

Full Circle: Season 6 and Through the Moon

Because I love patterns and chiastic structure and watched Prince of Egypt again earlier tonight, I was thinking a lot about the utilization of repeating plot beats in TDP, as I'm wont to do. If you want more detailed examples for what I mean, check out this old meta about the Dragon Quartet in arc 1, or this meta about Karim walking Viren's previous political path.

Now on a basic level, parallels make sense. Characters making similar choices in parallel situations helps build their characterization; characters making slightly or completely different decisions in parallel / similar situations provides character growth (positive or negative / both), progression, and contrast.

However, sometimes you'll get episodes or plot structures that are effectively growing in tandem with each other. I'm going to provide an episode example first, and then a seasonal example.

Episode: In 1x06 and 3x04, Rayla is keeping a secret regarding her emotional pain. Callum tries to get her to open up / support her three times, but she refuses each time. Finally when Callum reaches out to her, she can't keep it all under wraps anymore and has a big emotional spiel / breakdown because she doesn't feel worthy of that support. While understandable and accidental, these poorly timed outbursts leads to something awful happening to Zym (egg in the ice, and stolen by Nyx).

Season: In 2x01, both Callum and Viren are denied something they want (an arcanum and a seal) because of their current lack of status (magical, political). In 2x04 they are tempted by a more self destructive path (the lightning rod and blood deal with Aaravos) but ultimately step away. In 2x07, they go back on this more positive decision, and tether themselves to Aaravos/dark magic (Callum uses it for the first time, and Viren does the blood ritual). 2x08 sees them face their mirrored reflections (dark magic Callum and Aaravos in the mirror). At the end of the season, they both achieve higher magical prowess, but for Callum it's internal (primal magic) and for Viren it's external (little bug pal) and more forcefully enters his body (through the ear). Callum is 'free' (sky magic) and Viren ends the season in chains.

What these examples mean, then, is that I think there's good grounds for a lot of Through the Moon's plot beats to work their way into Season 6, but with reversed roles than we see in the graphic novel. And here's why!

[ Warning: Spoilers for 6x01 due to con notes! If you want to go in without knowing anything, don't read this! ]

Paranoia, Nightmares, and Partnership

Back when season 4 aired, it was noted by many (myself included) that Callum and Rayla had taken on a fair few of each other's more arc 1 personality traits. Callum was more prone to paranoia and more closed off; Rayla was more open and wanting to talk about things. Callum asked her to kill him (because he's 'already dead') displaying more of her overt self sacrificial tendencies, and Rayla left the drake in the wood much the same way Callum (and Ezran) were willing to leave the dragon back in S2.

While we see a bit of a return to form in S5 — Callum is more optimistic, sunnier, and intensely supportive; Rayla is more secretive, unsure, and struggling with water — it doesn't erase their continuing parallels. Callum, much like Rayla leaving in TTM, goes to a dark place to try to protect her and then doesn't tell her about doing dark magic afterwards. They both agree on hunting down information about killing Aaravos. Rayla learns how to open up and ask for help more readily, which is something Callum was always quite willing to do ("Look, Rayla [...] I just think this cube thing might help me").

And it seems going into 6x01 that we're seeing the parallels come out even more blatantly with Callum's behaviour compared to Rayla's behaviour in TTM. The first episode indicates this in a few ways:

Rayla having nightmares about Viren and her family + Callum → Callum having nightmares about Aaravos using him

These nightmares inspire more fear and paranoia in each of them, while their partner tries to be supportive but ultimately isn't as worried

What they're worried about is something that shouldn't be a massive threat, given that Viren was 'dead' and Aaravos is trapped, and yet it persists anyway

Like in TTM, they're in close proximity, as it seems Rayla has permanently moved into Ezran's old bedroom connected to Callum's by a door, and she and Callum shared a room in TTM as well (at the Nexus and at the Castle)

Conversations about said worries do happen on beds, though

We do see some differences though. In TTM, Rayla never mentions her nightmares to Callum, or to anyone, whereas in 6x01, Callum runs right to Rayla to tell her even in the middle of the night and never tries to keep them a secret. While Rayla was scared of her family and Callum being trapped and immobilized by Viren, Callum is worried about accidentally freeing Aaravos.

That being said, the escalating fear and worry, as well as the more skeptical partner still offering heartfelt support, feels familiar to say the least.

Onto the next:

Rayla's parents

Through the Moon and S5 had some of the biggest focuses on Rayla's family and her grief regarding her parents. They also have their similarities. While Rayla deeply wants to know what happened to her parents in both TTM and 5x01, she ultimately puts it on the backburner. In TTM, she goes through the portal primarily to find Viren, just as she puts the world first in S5.

Now, there's a few valid reasons that Callum doesn't likewise prioritize Viren in TTM (for starters, Rayla hasn't told him about any of her nightmares in which he heavily features), so he assumes the main problem is about her parents. It is worth mentioning, though, that S5 likewise reaffirms this dynamic of Callum being the one to prioritize her family and her by extension even when Rayla is telling him not to.

C: Sorry, Rayla. I just... hate you seeing like this [in pain]. / You know I'm always here for you, right? / Together. That's the most important thing. Together.

While whether the Moon fam will get out in S6 is yet to be determined, and I could see it going either way (we may get an attempt, but that doesn't mean it'll be successful, for example), the chance of freeing them and the opportunity to try has never been more present. We already see what is likely Rayla reminding Callum of the current state of affairs, citing "The fate of the entire world is at stake" and that she may be more inclined to prioritize the Nova Blade, whereas he prioritizes the coins and diamonds.

Their last attempt, after all, to seek out her family 1) didn't yield the results either were hoping and 2) ended in disaster of going to "a dark place" but more on that later.

Illusions

This is more of a tiny thing, but Through the Moon is also the place where we see Rayla and Callum engage in illusions most directly together. Although this is always an undercurrent in S1 and S2 regarding whatever Rayla is holding close to her chest, Callum's plan and Rayla's ultimate approval of lying to Lujanne to rebuild the Nexus shows characteristics we see again in s5 with sneaking off to the Great Bookery.

TTM also has to do with illusions of course overtly in the text, with Rayla and Callum's whole "white lies are illusions you build to protect the hearts of those you love" thing that they inherit from Lujanne, and Rayla eventually uses in her justification to leave. This is the main time thus far that the 'heroes' have used illusions in a negative way, as deception ingrained magic (false Viren, hiding corruption, Aaravos' general mystery) is typically more negative, whereas the two illusion spells the main trio have used (the fake princes and Zym's dog form) were short lived and not consistent.

It does make me think about how Callum apparently makes an illusion for the pearl, though, to be kept in the castle's dungeon. It would make the most sense to me if this eventually gets worked around into real harm happening because someone (like Claudia) thought it was real and wanted it back.

I also think that while there's precedent in most of arc 1 for Callum learning the moon arcanum, which I've detailed elsewhere, TTM feels like one of the biggest switches in regards to how much he understands Rayla. If Callum does connect to the moon arcanum individually and in the show itself, I think S6 is the most likely, and it'd tie well into TTM; that was the last time he believed in any kind of illusion, and now he's understanding that even more full circle in S6, potentially.

Seeking out Information

With all this in mind, though, I think S6 may parallel TTM the most precisely because it's Rayla and Callum seeking out information, together, regarding 1) her family and 2) a threat to the whole world. While we almost saw this combination of events elsewhere — 3x08 gets close with Callum and her parents, and 5x04 gets close with the worldly threat and Callum seeking answers about her family — those ended up being more... happen stance-y.

I also feel like going to the Starscraper with the twofold intent — save her parents, stop the threat — is more adjacent to TTM because it's intentionally two folded there, too. The kids weren't trying to figure out the threat by finding more about her parents in 3x08, and they also weren't trying to find out more about her parents by going to the Bookery in 5x04.

That said, the following two sections are why I actually think S6 is going to wrap up the bulk of the Rayllum development from TTM beyond them just having their talk, and that's because of

The Underworld / The Ascent

In their quest for the information, Rayla (and Callum) go through the portal, and Callum (and Rayla) go to the Starscraper. We know thanks to the S6 teaser trailer that Callum is going to have a personalized trial of some sort with his wings and the blindfold; this could be similar in theory to Rayla having to face her fear with water in TTM, if Callum develops hesitance towards Star magic because of Aaravos... or just having to pass some kind of obstacle in order to get information they seek.

This may seem like the opposite, given that the portal is a very unambiguous Underworld. It's a mirrored reflection of our living world, and it's a literal descent into water. The Starscraper means literally going up to the heavens, and presumably no massive brushes with death. At least at first.

However, I think both places are going to pose similar problems, at least in a character-theme sense. For Rayla, going into the portal was a massive risk, with Lujanne citing, "If you pull her out now, she'll just be a mindless husk. We have to wait and hope that Rayla will be back by morning, before she's lost forever."

Since it's likely that Callum will either be 1) outright possessed at the Starscraper, or 2) whatever happens there will snowball into his possession, I think you can see where I'm going with this. Callum fears a similar loss of identity (which has also been set up, i.e. "I'm not a dark mage, I will never help you" + "I was his puppet" + "you completely lost yourself"). Aaravos' possession is like the most extreme version of the snake-bird soul transfer spell, Aaravos' soul inhabiting and hiding in Callum's body to make him do terrible things / things against his will, and Callum will be the person taking the fall for it. The fact that dark magic, and the possession subsequently, are symbolic of death only enhance these parallels further.

But at the same time, this comparison isn't all bad:

Rayllum and the Retrieval

Because they're going to get each other out.

Callum goes into the Nexus Portal — into death — to get Rayla out before she can die, and lose herself. He retrieves her. They have to work together in order to successfully reach the surface, Rayla grasping the moon phoenix feather as a tether to guide them the rest of the way.

Likewise, there's been seasons of buildup that Rayla is 1) tied to Callum's sense of identity, as he is to hers and 2) that she will ultimately save him from the possession.

This is reinforced by Elmer and Soren's assertion of compassion, names, breaking cycles, freedom, and identity: "I win, cause this hunk of wood obeys me no matter what! [...] I own you, I control you!" "That's not my name."

Callum, like Rayla, is going to meet his metaphorical death due to the search for knowledge (possibly even over her parents and a threat to the world yet again). Rayla, like Callum did for her, is going to be instrumental in getting him out, and reaffirming his identity — finding him, ensuring that he's not a lost, empty husk. Callum will likewise be helping her do so, perhaps even with another Moon (arcanum) tether, and they'll ultimately escape together.

Cause you know — Through the Moon and S6 are like poetry. They rhyme.

And what initially split them apart is now what's going to bring them fully back together. Chiastic structure my beloved.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, September 3

Whistler: Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does.

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[liberteqm]

Jenny x Beau / Big Sky (3x04)

[becauseofthebowties]

JENSEN ACKLES as BEAU ARLEN in BIG SKY | 3.04 Carrion Comfort

[justjensenanddean]

Jensen Ackles as Beau Arlen BIG SKY: Deadly Trails (2022) | 3.04 – “Carrion Comfort”

[beaudeanw]

Jensen Ackles as Beau Arlen in Big Sky Season 3 Episode 4 - Carrion Comfort

[rebasource]

REBA McENTIRE as SUNNY BARNES Big Sky 3.04 “Carrion Comfort”

[avengerdaisy]

[insp.]

[deansraspberrypie]

🤠❤‍🔥 Beau Arlen and Jenny Hoyt

Big Sky - 3.04 - Carrion Comfort 🤠✨

🍰 Tag list: @avanatural @undisputedchick @jranutter @fortheloveof-jackles @kazsrm67 @muchamusedaboutnothing @b3autyfuldisast3r @breath-of-snow-and-ashes @bluedragonflylady @unabashed-lover-of-fictional-men @mrsjenniferwinchester 🥧

[whateverthedragonswant]

Big Sky 3x04: Thoughts

Saw the latest episode and I have some thoughts.

I get that Walter is an alleged killer and I understand Buck's concerns, but can I say how happy I was when Sunny stuck up for her son the way she did? I did a full on clap and had a Meryl-Streep-Ocars moment saying "Yes!" when that happened. She still terrifies me, though, lol.

So it's Walt who was the one that knocked Luke out (or made him trip, I can't remember his story) when he was going after Paige. I'm not sure what to think about the whole development of Walt keeping her stashed away and lying about it to Sunny. Considering Buck's grave warning to her, I have a feeling that it may ring true later on when Sunny finds out he lied to her. Especially if what we saw in the promo is giving any indication.

As soon as Jenny said the husband and daughter were sitting inside after the murder of the mother, I just knew this would come back to Beau and his family situation. And sure enough, it did.

Aaaaand I find it interesting that the murderer wore the Big Bad Wolf costume when lobos is Spanish for wolves and I can't remember if it's fictional or real at this moment but doesn't that sometimes refer to a possible cartel element south of the border? Regardless, I am convinced now more than ever that the cartel Beau mentioned is coming back into his story and somehow, some way, I know it has to do with his brother and with each episode we get, I really do believe he lost his brother (way too many mentions of that part of his past so far).

Though I'm not a Cormac fan (I still think there's something off about him, I still want to know why he kept the knife), it was nice to see Cassie let loose a little but also be a complete badass, and find one answer to this whole big puzzle

LOVED the scene where Carla comes in - I was like 'here, it is, the big Beau/Jenny push, it's starting to happen this episode, let me start the eye rolling' and then boom! Carla walks in and damn, I can see why Beau might still be in love with her. I also noticed her giving Jenny that look that Jenny herself didn't notice: the ex Mrs. Arlen did not like Ms. Hoyt. LOL. I think it's because she picked up on exactly what Cassie picked up on a little more this episode: Jenny has a thing for Beau. We all been knew but now it's being brought to the forefront even more. Like him turning her around to shoot Scott and holding onto her, and her reaction. Which is hysterical because she's playfully pushing Beau to admit he's in love with Carla but that whole bit of the dialogue could very much be applied to herself. And I also noticed that they didn't match Beau and Jenny's clothing this time in any way, shape, or form. So I'm thinking Carla is definitely going to be a very big part of the story for Beau moving forward, possibly almost as much as Emily.

Beau still loves Carla. There were a few moments in that scene that show that, which makes sense. But is he still in love with her like Jenny says? That remains to be seen. Because in 2x18 when Jenny says that Beau is still in love with his ex, he doesn't deny it. Instead, he smirks at her and says "You're good." Just like he said to Cassie in their intro scene when she deduces that he's the new temporary acting Sheriff. Cassie was right on the money in that scene so that means Jenny was in her scene. But now, it's been a few months and Jenny is saying the same thing she said back in 2x18 but now we have "No, I'm not. No, stop it." And we haven't had Cassie meet Carla yet (if they do). So I'm curious to see what he would say if Cassie asked him about it or said something to him, and what his response would be. Especially considering the interesting parallel they set up with: 3x01 - "Are you and Cassie really just friends or...?" "Yes. Yes, we're just friends." & 3x03 - "Do you talk to Cassie about your daughter?" "I see where this is headed. No, let's just focus on work for now. No, guys just have to have boundaries." So this is now going to be very interesting to watch, on all fronts.

I do still think that they are also using Beau to get Jenny ready to take over as Sheriff should he leave the show (and it doesn't get cancelled). He's consistently trying to help her move past her anger, her hatred for Tonya, working with her one on one to solve cases, and in this episode, she seemed to really take the lead in their case (with a few helpful suggestions from Beau), even right down to agreeing to help Cassie on her case. I really think Beau is meant to be prepping her for that part of her character development, to learn from him. Especially with lines like 3x02's: "This is law enforcement. We don't get to choose who we help."

Emily is still annoying but she did smarten up near the end, I'll give her that. I'm relieved to see it tbh.

Avery is still shady. I wonder how that's going to come into play with Carla's presence now. I also wonder how things will play out with Emily and her nosiness/suspicion, and also Sunny.

Tonya is devious. Not gonna lie, Donno's little crush on her was kind of cute.

I figured Luke's and Paige's scheme would come back to haunt them. It might be a good thing if Walt has Paige for now, and he's not planning on hurting her.

Very little Beau/Cassie interaction but that's okay I expected it. I was just grateful we got the one scene. I still think there's mounds of untapped potential there but we'll see where things go. I have love for both characters and want them both to be happy, no matter what that might look like. I did notice that as per usual, Beau always makes strong eye contact with Cassie, even when Jenny is in the mix. Not sure if this is just part of Beau's character and cop qualities (like he makes strong eye contact with Poppernak when speaking to him, Gigi, Denise, people they're questioning, etc) or if it's to show that yes, there is a bond there, they're good friends, and he trusts her. Naturally, if she showed up in the station asking for help on a case, he would be happy to see her and he would absolutely give her his full attention, just like Jenny did in this scene as well. Regardless, I'm enjoying every scrap they give me.

Speaking of which, can we PLEASE get more Cassie in the next episode? Even if it's just her working her own case. It's been very Cassie-lite at times and I'm not sure why. As much as I love watching Jenny, Beau, Sunny, etc, we need more Cassie, too.

I just have to mention again the actor who is playing Walt. He did it again when Sunny showed up at the cabin. When he recognized it was Sunny, he not only lowered the ax but also his eyes. This guy is good.

Something tells me that Cassie is going to find out about the Bleeding Heart killer and soon.

I am so thankful that they finally let Beau settle on a nickname for Poppernak and didn't keep him consistently trying new ones out. That got old very fast. But I do wish they had settled on something better than Pop Star, but I'll take it.

Loving that we saw Pedro again and it's very clear that Beau is in the driver's seat now.

I was also happy to see Jenny and Cassie get some interaction since they didn't the last episode. I wonder if we'll get more in the next episode. I feel like there's still a Gigi conversation that needs to be had. I LOVED how Jenny was like "yeah of course we'll help you." Love those two.

[raayllum]

I feel like with the theme of rayla and Callum reconnecting with who they used to be/ reclaiming identity (see rayla and Soren scene where she says not everyone can be saved and callum as the destiny is a book you write yourself), in later seasons do you think they will revisit a choice with a similar situation? Like callum sacrificing the primal stone/magic in context of the cube key for example or rayla risking herself for the red dragon or zym vs viren

It's hard to tell with TDP when they choose to lay down new plot structures or when they tend to do their repeats, but given the Dragon quartet (1x03, 2x07, 3x08, 3x09), repressed feelings duology (1x06, 3x04), and how many allusions, callbacks, and consistencies S4 has with prior seasons, I do think something Big harkening back is likely.

S4 already draws a lot of parallels to Callum's prior mage arc (staring at the moon in 4x01 the way he stared at the sky in 2x04, the framing with holding onto the lightning rod vs not being able to let go of the cube, etc.) and plenty of other character beats and relationships. Even down to Callum's fear/helplessness arc happening after something is willfully shattered by someone else. In post-S2, it was him shattering/sacrificing the primal stone (something he inherited/stole from Claudia and technically from Viren) and in S4, it is Aaravos shattering his own mirror as well - so I am pleased because I thought those two 'shatterings' so to speak would be mirrored, even if I thought it'd be connected to Aaravos actually getting out rather than just being a power move, if you will

I do think there's good grounds for Callum sacrificing the cube (more on that here) and I think we'll definitely see, whether in S5 or later on, Callum and Rayla restore both 1) ultimately agency to each other and 2) and thereby help each other reaffirm and simultaneously create a new identity. Which is what they were doing all throughout s1-s3, accepting each other as is while also transforming in each other into significantly happier, better people. And TDP loves its restoration arcs thematically for other characters too, so I think we'll see that here as well

I think that Rayla's "We can't save everyone" will be tested by Callum being possessed ("my heart for Xadia" call back) because of course, it doesn't matter what he does or what's happening to him, she's always going to fight for him and fight to save him. That's not a massive change from where she is right now, so perhaps saving her parents will also be something that helps heal that part of her, since the way she lost them / how they left her was such a big reason behind her leaving, as well

TLDR; absolutely, yes, I think we'll see the ways Callum and Rayla have changed - for the worse and for the better - tested and reaffirmed next season, be possibly transformed, and as always, incredibly intertwined in their bond with another.