#but if waldo dies QUINN BETTER DIE

[silvertons]

You'll have to pass the Fort to get to Quinn's bunker. So why don't you stop in at my old Clipper shed. You'll find everything you need inside.

[nightmare-in-disguise-as-a-dream]

Into the badlands 2x10 thoughts now that the anger has gone away... a little.

Starting off with Odessa. I hope she doesn't backstab Mk again. If her and Tilda get together I'm fine with that but she should try to understand Tilda and Mk's friendship. Tilda has forgiven Mk because she understands he couldn't control it. More than fear I think Odessa is blinded by jealousy. Probably thinking Tilda will be snatched away by MK but he already let her go when she stated she found a new "Friend".

The widow. You did not want a world of barons so why are you offering waldo the position of one. How would he teach someone to be free? It comes off as if you are just controlling them. And also she should at least hear Bajie out. I figure he would tell her the truth about what happened when he couldn't find her. If he didn't care about her he would still have his gift.

That Quinn and Lydia moment. That made me love Lydia because she's over him now. She was ready to tell his men the truth. Even though it was a failed attempt she had guts. She looked the man she once loved in the eye and literally told him she cant wait to see him die by Sunny's sword.

 Declan was the closest to Quinn so why were they showing some other guy at some point and made Declan return the last episode to be killed?

The first bomb scene was okay but why didn't they pull out Sunny's body right away? That part I don't understand.

I loved how Waldo helped Tilda. He's just unconsciously becoming a father figure to these regents.

I loved the fight scenes with Sunny and Bajie. It was hard core and interesting. Too bad Bajie got injured.

Now....This part. The ending.

After all those stabs Quinn didn't die how? Im not leaving Sunny out he got hurt too. His clothes are leather right so I guess the arrows wouldn't go in so deep but he did get cut by Quinns sword. Quinn got these deep stabs about twice I think and then thrown off from somewhere. He should be dead. And for them to not hear him wasn't he groaning?

With Quinn I think the writers underestimated how fans would like his character and at some point gave up on the tumor plot. He had until winter to live. Im quite sure that's why the theme is snow all over the place. Those two things not being connected in season two show they wanted to give up on the tumor plot. Probably figured they just needed to mention the tumor a little and people wont worry about it. That's crap.

Also with this ending after Lydia told Quinn she would be there when he dies in an earlier episode I was expecting for her to show up at the last moment. Her dying with Quinn made more sense because she was saying all along she'd be there. Then when its over she can be with her son because she has nowhere else to go.

This Veil destiny thing the writer stated I don't acknowledge. If Veil had died in some other situation I would accept it but she just died after all that torture? From one stab? While others walking around like they from hancock. We saw her being ordered, crying. forced into bed, taken away from her son, be threatened and her killing Quinn to only die after all that is her destiny. She deserved a better death. Not saying they had to make her live to season 4 or 7 but after all that crap really? You made her a damsel. Her character did not grow. And you killed the best doctor in the badlands.

Bajie needs to be more honest with everyone. He's probably a good guy but he has too many secrets.

The writers better come out and say "Ha we trolled you. That's an alternate ending."

The guys came for martial arts. Girls came for the ship, martial arts and everything else. To kill off what we loved. If views drop seriously I am not defending this show.

I will watch this show for Henry, Sunny and their crew but not as excited as I was before this. It will take time. If they bring in another love interest, looking at Daniel Wu wouldn't make me watch this show. Not worth it.

I'll watch season 3 but not with the same excitement I had in season 1 and 2.

[jennawynn]

Into the Badlands 2x10 “Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire”

Weak ass lock... and the Level Up music when he finds the bike. lol “reunited and it feels so good”

This is an interesting sort of framing for this first scene. Quinn’s narrating what could by Sunny’s inner dialogue, but it’s coming from the wrong person and highlighting Quinn’s mental state. 

I love villains who are just doing what they think is right and just, but I like it better when it’s not because of a tumor. Like actually sympathetic villains.

“No coming back from what you did” Shit how did he find out about Tilda?? “Turning on Quinn...” Oh, phew.

Now it’s Waldo’s turn to drop truth bombs. “I thought there were no barons in your perfect world.”

Quinn’s actor does such a good job with his voice inflections and mannerisms. It’s unnerving and super obnoxious.

“Really...?” lmao 

Lydia nooooo.... LYDIA YES! Ugh that was gross but YES

Sunny’s like ‘I ain’t got time for your bullshit’ and he’s back in red! red to white to blue and full circle.

Dude, gross. How was she even breathing with all that blood in her mouth?

Odessa is so prettyyyyyy

Widow looked away when she said “for what I believe”... Waldo and Tilda have both called her out for losing sight of the fight... for seeking power over her beliefs. She’s compromising and now I think she’s starting to agree with them. She’s not sure what she believes, just that she’s willing to die for it.

wtf.

This was Sunny’s plan?? 

How’d Bajie get in the tunnels without anyone knowing? And why didn’t Quinn’s men make sure Sunny was dead?

I guess Bajie’s done pretending he doesn’t know which end of the blade is which. It’s cool to see a big guy portrayed as strong and athletic though. 

So much blood. Sunny’s got a vorpal sword. I always appreciate the nontraditional decapitations though... the halfway through the heads and stuff. 

Door? Pft. Door can’t hold my boy back from kissing his girl. 

Dramatic moment destroyed by Bajie shoulder checking the bad guy. “She’s cute. Bye!”

Bajie’s so agile. He even looks like he’s moving faster in these fight scenes than the other guy.

“I hate sidekicks” like he isn’t the biggest one in the show.

“Scissors? Really?” Wait, what? That little pair of scissors is gonna take down Bajie NOW? That fast??

Veil’s all ‘kill him baby, I got yo flower.’

Battle of the badass swords.

Um... where’s the baby?

They had to weaken Sunny to make this a fair fight.

Oh what the hell, Quinn. So much for protecting Henry. Make his mom fall on him dumbass.

The sais make for a flashier fight, but it’s harder to accept that Quinn’s able to do all this stuff without dropping them, especially wounded and tumor-brained.

What the hell? He was run through! You can’t just get up and keep fighting after that!! And if he does, why drop your sword after you do it again? Why not go cut the motherfucker’s head off?? He’s survived two run throughs already.

Don’t forget your sword, Sunny.

SEE WHAT DID I SAY

I mean... take Veil. You can make another Henry.

That little sai stab wound is enough to kill him but getting stabbed THROUGH THE TORSO three separate times isn’t?!?!

gdi Veil. gdi writers.

All those shuriken Sunny loaded up and he couldn’t save her??

Why does nobody in this show verify their kills?? If you’d cut his damn head off, none of this would’ve happened.

So white Tilda dies, but not really. White Bajie dies, but not really. White Lydia’s supposed to die, but doesn’t.... but Veil who COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED HAD SUNNY TAKEN TWO SECONDS TO FINISH QUINN OFF actually dies.

[livingwithashipname-blog]

Ermanda’s Inner Sanctum: Into the Badlands “Chapter XVI: Wolf’s Breath, Dragon Fire”

This post is not an easy one because of the ending, so I will start with the easier stuff.  Overall, the season 2 finale was solid.  Some long-standing motives were revealed.  We saw loyalty and obligation constantly interchange.  We saw more of the Badlands, learned more about the other barons, and caught a glimpse outside the wall through Sunny and Bajie’s captivity and escape.  The fight scenes were spectacular, as always.  Have I mentioned that these weapons, but mainly the swords, are truly works of art?!  They really are!  Even though this finale didn’t answer a lot of questions, the unanswered ones have an opportunity to be resolved in a 16-episode season 3.  

Azra & the Abbotts: Past, Present, & Future

The Widow 

As seen since season 1, The Widow's ultimate plan was attached to the Azra book.  She wanted what she once lost in order to defeat her enemies.  Her reputation as a ruthless killer to create a free society where men and women are equals was a constant hurdle to overcome, but there was nobility in that plight because it was formed from personal experience.  However, her strategy clearly revealed that saving women and offering freedom from the oppressive construct of the Badlands was a secondary goal.  Once she unapologetically made decisions that were contrary with her message to her followers, it tainted her character in their eyes to the point that she lost the trust of those in her inner circle.  But don't get it twisted.  She still has power in this game, but she will eventually reap the consequences of these decisions.  Those she wants most in her life are aware and making moves to protect their own personal interests from exploitation. 

M.K.

M.K. feels free of the burden his power created.  He doesn't want it back.  This is understandable given that his gift has been used as a pawn by everyone he has encountered while he sought answers about Azra and his mother.  Yes, even Sunny used him at one point (back in season 1).  Though he’s convinced his mother is dead, he is still in the dark about how Azra ties to the Abbotts, his "gift," and The Master.  The course of events suggest that M.K. lost his power by means of the operation he saw in the compound, but this is not entirely clear.  Therefore, I still consider the cause unknown.  Furthermore, he has made a deal with The Widow that could end in his death or enslavement if he doesn't win.  It will be interesting to see how his story unfolds next season since we didn’t get much progression on this story in the finale.  

Bajie  

Let's just point out one thing that has been apparent since Bajie and Sunny met: Bajie knows a lot more than he leads everyone to believe.  He is also a lot more noble than his actions suggest.  The reason he hasn't been written off by Sunny, M.K., and others after some sketchy moves is because of his uncanny ability to show up at the right moment to save the day.  However, one must hold tight to the skeptic hat with this guy!  He swipes the Azra compass, acts oblivious when asked to interpret the Widow's book, surrenders/sells Sunny to captors by revealing his identity as a clipper, and travels to this obscure location on Sunny's bike, leaving him, Veil, and Henry behind.  Good intentions are present, but one is always left wondering who is to benefit at the end of day.  I am happy that we are returning to the intrigue of the Azra plot through Bajie.  It’s becoming obvious that the first things we learn about Azra, or whatever/whomever Bajie summoned, will start with him, not M.K. or The Widow.  I want to see more of his nobility contrast with questionable decisions.  It makes things very interesting and fits the overall message in the show!  

Quinn & Lydia  

Lydia

I can see why Quinn loved to keep Lydia close despite his obsession with Veil and Henry.  She is a formidable woman who can defend herself when necessary.  But she has been on this roller coaster ride with Quinn for a long time.  She has made some terrible decisions to survive - all being a caveat of a victim of abuse and oppression.  She tried religious redemption, but that got tossed to the side when Quinn returned and murdered their son, Ryder.  Though she came back to Quinn and got trapped in his clutches once again, she fought to take him down in his own compound.  It didn't work, but Sunny's arrival gave her the chance to create her own path.  Where will she go?  What is her next move?  

Quinn

Quinn was such an intriguing villain!  His quest for unquestioned power and a royal family made him a force in the Badlands.  Everyone knows it's "kill or be killed" more with Quinn than anyone else in this world.  But at the end of the day, he was an abuser and master manipulator.  His untimely end was coming by Sunny's hand - a man he tried to emulate in a very twisted way.  That time came.  And I am not gonna lie and say that I am sad and gonna miss him.  It's quite the opposite... BOY BYE!!!  He had his moment.  But he had to take a final sacrifice with him because he's like a cat with nine lives!  I will say that I will miss Marton Csokas and his mastery of villainy!  He portrays it so well!  

And now this brings me to the part of the episode that I absolutely hated from a writing perspective...

A Moonlight Family Reunion: Sunny, Veil, & Henry  

Veil dies.  It's not shocking if you take foreshadowing in seasons 1 & 2 into account.  Veil’s eventual death became apparent this season when Waldo's advice to Sunny about focus and the tribulations of the clipper/regent life came up again during his chat with Tilda about her new role.  I also figured that Moon's prophecy would eventually come full circle since Sunny's use of his sword after battle serves as a symbolic reminder of familial sacrifice and identity struggles.  While I am sad that Veil is gone, I am upset with the setup that leads to her death!

First, Sunny was destined to return and duel with Quinn one more time to save his family.  Considering what happened last time, he should have made sure Quinn was dead by slitting his jugular for good measure.  When I watched Sunny run to Veil and Henry and drop his sword to the ground instead of returning it to his holster, I sensed something provocative was coming.  I wasn't convinced that Quinn was finally dead.  I took Sunny's eagerness to finally depart with his family distracted him from ensuring Quinn was dead into consideration, but it doesn't fit with his characterization for these two seasons.  He is not a dumb clipper!  Or else he would have been dead already.  He is super focused in battle and doesn't make silly mistakes.  Therefore, I have a hard time believing that he could be so careless.  

Second, Veil is a brilliant doctor and inventor.  How can I believe that she doesn't have better precision with the choice to stab herself to clip Quinn simultaneously?!  It's really hard for me to grasp this when other characters have worse injuries from battle and survive.  If Veil HAD to die in order to fulfill that prophecy, I would have preferred her succumbing to a bad injury in the battle crossfire (i.e., an unfortunate casualty), which would have been just as emotionally riveting without insult to Sunny or Veil's characterization.  But alas, that move was taken with Bajie to create the mystery in the final scene so...  Another avenue could have been to give the family the win and let them walk off to create the life they've desired since season 1 but insert some type of latent PTSD element - a battle of intent vs. reality - that could be seen as a flip of Sunny's dream when he was hit with the fingers of five poisons.  I think the latter would fit with the message in the show that the Badlands always leaves a mark no matter how badly one wants or tries to change.  

Overall, the nature of Veil's death possessed no honor in my opinion.  It was a dramatized means to complete the foreshadowing.  Ava died protecting M.K. with more honor than Veil sacrificing herself to save Henry.  As one of the purest characters in the story, she was a glimmer of hope amongst many others whose lives are a lot more complicated whether by choice or circumstance.  And now that light has been snuffed out.  We barely had a chance to see Veil exist separately from Sunny's story or Quinn's.  Her relationship with Sunny in season 1 had to remain under wraps.  She and Henry were victims of abuse caught between Quinn and The Widow's alliance all throughout season 2.  She had her faults while making moves to survive and escape Quinn's compound.  But for a show where diversity is celebrated, it's hard to see the only black female series regular written out of the story via death without any true victory held for longer than 2 minutes.  It adds to a Hollywood pattern that is seen FAR TOO OFTEN!  

Now a fan suggested on Twitter (and probably by more fans on other sites) that the power of the Abbotts or whatever Azra possesses could bring Veil back to life.  I like the idea, but I am skeptical of it for several reasons.  The season finale provided closure in some stories, but not a lot.  Plus, we don't know if Azra is technological, mystical, or both and how it ties with The Master and the Abbotts.  Until these elements are fully realized in the story, I don't see what literary advantage is found in Veil's revival without some type of catch like the redemption stone in the Harry Potter series.  Despite all of this, Daniel Wu (Sunny) has confirmed that both Quinn and Veil are dead.  There are no plans to bring either one of them back, especially Quinn. 

Lingering Questions  

What is Azra? Is it a technological hub or some type of mystical city?  

How did The Widow, M.K., and Bajie completely lose their powers?  It's not entirely clear and I think that we have to learn more about Azra and secrets of the Abbott compound to get this answer and understand it.  

Is there more to Waldo's backstory?  How does it fit to where he is a known traitor but respected and feared despite his disability?  What's the appeal in him being a baron?  

What is Tilda's path now that she is free and running with Odessa trying to figure out a way to save M.K. from The Widow?  

Where is Jade?  

Is the conclave the only time we learn more about the other barons (whether they are dead or alive) and their lands in the show?  

What's The Widow's new game plan?