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skayafair · 1 year ago

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S4 Ep 83 “The Warning of the Wind”

Boooy do I have thoughts.

I both like and dislike where Ned's been going this episode.

On the one hand I like that he reminded everyone of his nature. Not even the tar monster but more like... an unreliable person with very questionable views? Ned's morals certainly aren't high. But he's been influenced by Bill, by Rob, by the whole Searchers team because they fucking get along pretty well, they are kind to ech other, they have connections. And Ned may try to seem as if he doesn't need any of that, the fact is, he does. He's not a human but humane enough to crave this as an essential part of life. Deal with it, Ned, that's in your nature, now, too, and has been for quite a while.

The thing is, you don't get your dinner if you don't know how to get along. (c) TAD You want connections in a human society - keep up with stuff like morals. It's a contract of sorts.

I'm not done with what I like but I need to mention what I didn't like to proceed.

So on a personal level I don't like this need to be feared. It's just weak from my pov. One resorts to this when there's nothing else to impress or impact others with, nothing better, nothing more meaningful. Anyone can manage being feared if they put their mind to it, it's really not that hard. But how small one should be to resort to only that... to like that? Come fucking on. Being feared is boring. I was, way more often than I'd like to (or at least people have been wary of me and said I looked scary when I had none of that in mind), and every time it was just... "ah, that reaction again. Someone who can't handle me, judging the book by its cover, someone I can't be on equal terms with, and I wasn't even TRYING". So... Ned. Is it really necessary to stoop so low.

Which reminded me again how his personality aligns with some narcissistic traits, quite a number of them actually. Narcissists are very, very vulnerable, that's why they keep this grandiose facade - in defense, in advance. Ned has been putting on airs all the time just to seem as something he wasn't. More dangerous, more clever, more strong, more cunning and mysterious than he actually is. Because he's none of that, not to this extent at least. This is protection. Because he knows his shortcomings and vulnerabilities better than anyone, and he actually despises them. He thinks he's weak so he needs to keep everyone at a distance, because otherwise they'll find out. Lying and instilling fear are good ways to do that actually and to feed one's ego at the same time.

His narcissistic traits were an unpleasant reminder and the reason why I held on for months from admitting I like the character a lot. Because - not fucking again. I really had enough with this type of personality in real world to still be drawn to it in any circumstances. Well. Some roots can't be rid of that easily, and this attraction runs very deep in my personality. Some base coding. Too many levels to hack to get there yet. I'm glad I can at least recognize this type of personality now to keep away from it because apparently I can't resist it.

Anyway, I didn't like this reminder on a personal level because Ned actually showed some earnest development for the better. He's changing, so that was a painful bitter throwback jab.

And the second thing I didn't like - I don't remember him talking about hunting people before. He absorbed them to take up their appearance and memories, yes, but that's not hunting. That's his way of survival. I mean yes Ned is pretty liberal at that, but he never mentioned doing this just for fun. So this whole thing was just out of nowhere and I don't like it from the writing perspective. It isn't sewn into the narrative seamlessly, it sticks out not nicely. It's irritating.

But now back to what I DID like about the same things.

Ned is changing, I believe. And it bothers him a lot. This isn't the changes he's used to, not ones he creates himself. It's his personality adapting and answering to the outer signals, and he can't control it.

It's bringing his vulnerability into the picture again.

I've mentioned in my previous Ned post how he changed drastically because of his affection towards Bill, mostly. All masks are shed, he's openly admitting the most shameful things he believes there are about himself, shares his greatest fears and truths... One can't really get more straightforward than he is now. And this is delicious.

So, if he's already like that, what's there left to fear, right? Why bringing all this "feared monster" stuff back?

Well because he still controls what he shares. He can still more or less control the reactions of others to what he says and does depending on how he does it and to what extent, that's kind of The Narcissistic Thing - being in control of everyone like a puppeteer, only not because it's cool but because then no one can hurt them. They need to control how they appear to others, and, well, that's the most Ned thing ever.

But the changes that are going on on the inside of him now cannot be controlled like this. He doesn't control himself to the extent he's used to and likes. And so he loses his control on the surroundings, too.

This screams true vulnerability.

Ned is very uncomfortable with this. He's utterly out of his depth. He's so not used to this he can't even pretend he doesn't care. He doesn't act anymore save for a few jokes here and there. He spills his guts about feeling so guilty and not understanding any of this to Kate when she pays him a few minutes of attention, and, well, Kate's been wary around him before, so it's not like there's a strong connection. Ned just likes her. Not as much as Bill, but he does. And Kate is the carer of the group after all - it's not like Ned is the only one tempted to trust her like this. She did the same for Sam before, even though he made her uneasy at times, too.

So he's out of his depth. So to roll a few steps back to the familiarity, to something as much other as possible to this new version he's becoming now, he remembers hunting, being feared, causing pain. These were one of the first things he learnt, after all, they've been with him for a long time. Plus this role of a terrible tar monster used to give him the feeling of safety - no one will attack you if they run away scared first. Or die, because he actually is a tar monster when he wants to.

So he snapped. All the tension, all the pressure of the last several days and the fact that they had to leave Oslow and Bill and Rob together with it - to find a way to make things right again for everyone, yes, but it's still uncertain and frustrating and doesn't fulfill his wish - made him crave something familiar, something safe.

So Ned went for a hunt.

This could only end well.

Frankly what I'm most surprised with is that he decided some little people were okay to hunt - apparently he thought "they aren't human so no one will object". This is a weird way of thinking for someone who isn't human himself. Then again... Ned pretty much hates to be considered a monster and it really hurts him. He's not human by birth and I don't think he'd ever want to change his nature but he wants to be accepted and regarded the same as a human. Why not just being what you are, there are more ways than two... Anyway.

Kate obviously got worried - or maybe she hoped he'd try to go to the Source, idk, - and went to search for him when he went out in the middle of the night. And, well. Saw the hunt. It wasn't pretty even just by the sound. I don't want to imagine how it looked. And she saw all of it.

Then one of the little people shot an poisoned arrow and hit her leg. They were attacking her in general - probably because she seemed vaguely similar to Ned.

Ned heard. And immediately rushed to help her, muttering curses under his breath and already regretting all this hunt. Because Kate saw, and she was afraid now, and he wasn't happy about it at all.

To her honor, Kate let him get to her, even though she was demanding to call for Sam with a trembling voice. Ned explained that if he doesn't get the poison out now, she'll be dead in a few minutes. So Kate braced herself. She's so damn brave, it strikes me every time. Maybe the bravest of them all - she has the most to lose and goes with them anyway.

The "the poison should be out of your system because your blood, uh... tastes normal again" part was awkward, all things considered. Otherwise it would have been completely normal, and I like how the circumstances shifted the tone.

And then Ned carried her back to hotel to patch up. And let Sam and Ren listen to the tape with the hunt because he was running the recording since it seemed to draw the supernatural out. And this is a vulnerability, shown willingly. I mean, it was bad, there's no way around it. The chances the team would say "fuck off" after this were high. Or at least I believe Ned would think so. He still let them listen to it.

Like I've said, he's changing. He's probably not even sure if he likes it himself, but he can't neither stop nor control it. The VAs acting was great, and Ned's voice trembling with panic and desperation when he tried to convince Kate to let him help her, that he's not a monster she should fear... it was so earnest. The last part wasn't said, but it was clear as is. Ironic, considering why Ned went to his hunt in the first place, isn't it.

So I REALLY liked all that. It makes so much sense and also grounds Ned's character a bit - he was becoming a bit too good to be true, a fairytale nice version. Not with this type of personality, pal.

There were a few other parts I didn't like though.

Kate seems to be reluctantly encouraging Ned to go to the Source. Probably because she knows Sam's too rational and had a very telling experience the last time to know better than doing that again if he has a choice, plus he should find Anna. Kate can't afford to lose him like this. But she's uneasy with leaving Bill and Rob hanging, she wants to save them, too. So... does she think they can spare Ned because he wasn't with them to begin with and isn't very trustworthy in general? I... think she is capable of thinking this way. She can be as stubborn as any of the Searchers if she puts her mind to it, no matter what her heart is saying. That's how she was able to leave her family she loves more than anything else in the world and go search for Anna, then work with ISPHA. She used to be uneasy around Sam but that didn't stop her from bonding with him, helping, becoming friends. Because she needed him to find Anna.

So yes I can absolutely believe Kate can act rather heartlessly if she decides this is the most effective way.

But I really, really don't want her to go there. This is so cruel... What I would have a hard time believing is that she decided they can lose Ned if his mission goes south because he's what he is. Because he doesn't exactly fit into their team, he doesn't get along with others well, he's just other and doesn't hide it all that much, now more than ever. Come on, Kate, don't disappoint me. You're better than this.

And the 2nd thing - that Sam had to actually narrate all that about Ned's hunt. We as listeners already got it and processed, I believe. Come on, trust your listeners a bit more! It was sort if disappointing, "tell not show" move.

But then Ned and Sam talked, and I think I've forgiven this whole talking through bit 🤦‍♀️ I'm a sucker for their interactions, okay??? Their relationship is weird. It's sort of antagonistic, but not exactly. Ned says he doesn't like Bailey, Sam really isn't charmed with Ned either and has all the reasons to actually consider him an enemy. But. They still do get along, weirdly. Angrily. They are alike in some ways - more than just being born from the Source, more than just being human-shaped creatures. They feel like reflections, like brothers who don't get along but are still connected.

And I think they actually do like each other, at least partly, but don't want to admit that even to themselves. It's complicated. Ned is... VERY open around Sam. Not even trying to have an upper hand anymore. They are on some special terms with each other, and I can't quite explain it. Doesn't that sound familiar.

In this particular conversation they seemed to establish the boundaries:

- Sam admitted that by giving them the tape Ned made Sam trust him to no end but also consider the most untrustworthy person at the same time, and Sam didn't know what to make of it. Let's just say Bailey is a fan of heartfelt open talks no more than Ned, so either he grew personally, or he's unusually open around Ned as well. Or both. After all, Sam mostly lets himself show any aggression or hostility only to creatures like himself now - maybe because he knows they can handle him even if he snaps, and there won't be any more victims of his power breaking out of control. Maybe it's something else, I don't know. The fact is, he can be sort of hostile towards Ned, their relationship allow it with no hard feelings, and this is pretty liberating. Or I'm just projecting.

He gets the same in return. Ned said they're allies and he'll do his best to be useful and civil until they save Bill and Rob. After that... who knows. I can't transfer the feelings into words well, but this feels cold and distant and the most personal, sincere and close at the same time.

Stop being dumbasses, you both, and shake hands already, we all know you're both gonna miss each other. Let me have this happy ending at least like this.

...wow. The episode was only 27 minutes, actually.

#the sheridan tapes #ned leroux #sam bailey #kate sheridan #the sheridan tapes spoilers

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