The Ark season 2 finale review, “Fortunate”: Too good to be true?

The Ark season 2 finale review, "Fortunate": Too good to be true?

As a long-time fan of space dramas, I must say that The Ark season 2 has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. It’s not every day you see a series that manages to balance character growth, teamwork, and suspense so effectively.

In the last installment of “The Ark,” spacecraft Ark-1 arrived at the Trappist solar system. However, as the second season finale unfolds, we question if what Ark-1 discovers on Trappist 1D is too good to be real.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS for The Ark season 2 finale.

In the latest installment of “The Ark”, a series of significant events unfolded, culminating in an ominous revelation about Trappist 1D. It appears someone is determined to eliminate Trust, going as far as dispatching Strickland on a perilous mission with the intention of causing his demise.

Given that Strickland learned his daughter was on this planet, it became imperative for him to come here to retrieve her. But would his urgency potentially endanger others in the process?

The Ark season 2 finale review: Strickland fails to trust his own crew

After the events of the last episode, the leadership team aboard the Ark-1 found themselves in a situation where they had to decide their next course of action regarding Trappist 1D. Strickland, however, had a different idea – he was convinced that the person who had been blackmailing him thought both Katherine and Trust were deceased. To ensure this belief remained, it was crucial for them to make the unseen party think that Trust and Strickland were indeed still on Ark-1.

Instead of relying on Garnet’s promise to retrieve Katherine, Strickland decides to take matters into his own hands by secretly traveling to the planet in search of his daughter. Upon hearing a voice that reminded him of the man who had extorted him, he launched an attack. However, it appears that this voice might have been imitated, as the man was unaware of Strickland’s identity and there were no off-planet communications from his device.

To be honest, I’ve got a feeling there’s more to this story than meets the eye, don’t you? When old man Strickland encounters Katherine, it’s clear she doesn’t recognize him – that’s a red flag if ever I saw one. Guards whisk Strickland away as Katherine recoils from her own father. It’s a chilling scene, making me wonder what secrets they’re both hiding.

In the exploration of Trappist 1D, an unusual situation unfolds as the environment appears excessively orderly, and curiosity is met with evasive responses. Particularly when Brice and Kabir inquire about Maddox from the Ark-15 team, they are told she perished in a “regrettable incident.” This phrase implies that further inquiries are unwelcome, though Brice remains oblivious to this unspoken rule.

The Ark season 2 finale review, "Fortunate": Too good to be true?

Ian finds out the truth about Maddox

As the rest of the team is led away, Ian surveys the ship and discovers several problems. Encountering a woman in the corridors, she expresses her gratitude for being there. Upon peering into a room, he sees Maddox administering an implant to someone.

It wasn’t Maddox who met an unfortunate accident; instead, it appears she has been asserting her control over others by getting them these implants. Every other member of Ark-1 underwent this implantation procedure.

Returning to Ark-1, I seek assistance from Alicia, as we both understand that only Trust could potentially intervene in this situation. It’s come to light that Maddox has refined the brain control chips to perfection, making Trust the sole individual who can halt her control over others. He possesses the kill switch.

The Ark persists in underscoring the importance of every individual. Trust believes he requires a minuscule object to access the chips and insert the kill switch into one person, after which the nanites can spread to others. Regrettably, they lack such a small item, but not until Angus comes up with the idea of utilizing Kelly’s nanites. Kelly is quite willing to assist in this predicament, particularly if it involves confronting her own mother.

In simpler terms, we need to activate Kelly’s implants first so she can subdue Garnet. This should be done quickly as there’s not much time left before others enter the room. The plan is to administer nanites to Garnet at this point, which will prevent Maddox from controlling everyone else’s minds.

It’s crucial that we move closer to those on Trappist 1D now, as they require proximity to one another for a crucial nanite kill switch within Garnet to activate effectively.

Instead of rushing to solve this problem quickly, I’d prefer if it had been stretched across two episodes for better character development. It would have been intriguing to explore Maddox’s true intentions over a longer period. Given the amount of time she’s been portrayed as a looming danger, it seemed like an opportunity missed not to delve deeper into her monstrous nature in the final episode. However, The Ark is known for resolving issues within a single episode, so the show remains consistent with its style. I simply felt there was too much action packed into this one and could have benefited from being expanded.

The Ark season 2 finale review, "Fortunate": Too good to be true?

Maddox continues to prove herself as a threat

Without a doubt, we’re well aware that Maddox wouldn’t simply lurk in the background. Given her nature, she was bound to pose a threat as The Ark season 2 concluded. With Ark-1 believing they had rescued the inhabitants of Trappist 1D, Maddox kidnaps Katherine and transports her onto the Ark-1 shuttle, issuing a warning that she will harm Katherine if Garnet and the rest attempt to pursue her.

Luckily, Kelly managed to secure the controlling device for her implants and secretly boarded the shuttle. She anticipated that Maddox would flee, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for her to confront the person responsible for transforming her into the girl she is today.

It’s heartening to witness the progress Kelly has made. Despite once being on the verge of harming Maddox, her goal was to show that she wasn’t the person he tried to mold her into. The unfortunate act of killing Maddox occurred solely because Maddox had threatened her life.

The Ark season 3?

In summary, The Ark’s second season concludes with a predominantly joyful tone as Strickland and Katherine reunite, and the inhabitants of Trappist 1D break free from Maddox’s influence. Nevertheless, the storyline is wrapped up in a manner that entices us and leaves room for a compelling third season to unfold.

Garnet explicitly states that she can’t continue staying on Trappist 1D because the Arks 10 and 14 haven’t shown up yet. She wants to know their whereabouts since she’s concerned about leaving people possibly stranded if they’re out there. Although she had successfully guided Ark-1 to reach Trappist 1D, her sense of responsibility doesn’t allow her to leave without knowing the status of the other arks.

She won’t compel anyone from Ark-1 to accompany her, but it’s up to individuals whether they wish to join her journey. This decision has led to some relationships being tested by distance or dissolution. While Eva looks forward to the beginning of a new life on Trappist 1D, Brice expresses his reluctance, preferring to go with Garnet instead. Meanwhile, Angus is essential for food production on the planet, and Alicia is crucial as the Chief Science Officer.

The conclusion is both joyful and sorrowful given the possible separations, but it fits perfectly with each character’s journey. In the final moments, Garnet departs with a combination of GA, EF, and common folk. Meanwhile, Kabir and Marsh choose to stay on the planet, whereas Ian decides to accompany Garnet aboard Ark-1.

While Ark-1 navigates towards Ross 128, they successfully establish communication. A being on the planet advises them to retreat and reverse course “before disaster strikes.” Meanwhile, back on Trappist 1D, Angus and his agricultural team are excavating the soil when Angus discovers an unusual object. It appears that there was previously some form of life as a tablet inscribed with foreign characters is uncovered. What does it signify?

The Ark season 2 finale review, "Fortunate": Too good to be true?

The Ark season 2 overall review

This season wrapped up another fantastic chapter, emphasizing character development and unity. Each episode highlighted the unique contributions of every member, and this was particularly evident in the season finale. Background, age, or any other factor doesn’t limit one’s significance; everyone has played a crucial part in resolving each challenge that arose.

Despite Trust initially being annoying, he proved useful in certain situations, particularly his compliments towards Alicia’s capabilities. By the end, I grew fond of him. The character who underwent the most transformation was Kelly, who at the beginning of the season yearned for execution due to her crimes. As she came to terms with her mother, her past, and her own potential, she found a way to be beneficial – even learning when it was appropriate to take a life.

My primary criticism, focusing on the final scene in particular, is that the visuals seemed overly reliant on computer-generated imagery (CGI). The backdrop of the planet behind the Ark-1 crew appeared to have been created using a green screen. Whether this was intentionally done to give an unrealistically perfect impression or not, I’m unsure, but it initially detracted from the immersive storytelling experience for me.

What I will say is: Syfy, we need The Ark season 3!

2024-10-03 06:41