First Things First…
Are we going to pick up where we left off, with John having just rescued Quiet but still needing to escape Topeka? Or will they already be out of harm’s way?
Also, now that John proved he cares enough about Quiet to follow her into trouble and save her—even after she poisoned him—will their relationship take the next step? Or will there be more bumps in the road?
And will Sweet Tooth be in every episode (with Stu riding bitch) now that he has a new mission?
3 Things I Like
3. It Gets Worse Farther East
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard things get worse farther east. In this case, it refers to the Watkyn’s Storm John and Quiet have to wait out.
John says these storms are a result of a nuclear plant that exploded when the world fell and poisoned the atmosphere. But aside from looking cool, I’m interested because the West already seems shitty. How much worse is it east? And when they say east, do they just mean New Chicago? Or will we eventually make it all the way to the East Coast?
2. Quiet’s Origin
“We’ve been stuck in these fields since we were kids. Did you not hear what I said about beachfront property? Once we’re done, it’s blue skies and yellow sands for the rest of our lives.”
Quiet
Quiet and her brother had it pretty good, relatively speaking, working in the orange groves. I’m not sure what the arrangement was, but they were working out in the sun and, despite their complaints, they seemed happy.
Sadly, Quiet got duped and brought her brother along for the misery.
It’s jarring to go from the first flashback, when Quiet is joyous and hopeful, to the next , when she was essentially a slave. She and all the other slaves are missing fingers, toes, ears, or noses, which their “keepers” wear as jewelry. This explains what happened to Quiet’s missing finger.
At that point, she wouldn’t even talk for her brother. (At least, not until she slit his boss Kerwin’s throat and rescued him.)
In this flashback, we also see an active shooter yell, “You promised me! I gave you four years. Where’s my beach? My freedom? That contract is bullshit! All of this is bullshit!” right before she was executed by a Reaper.
These flashbacks work because we see all Quiet lost—at least some semblance of happiness and a decent life, plus her relationship with her brother.
It’s also easier to understand now why she’s so distrustful of the cities. And although she finally agrees to join John on his delivery, and then to return to New San Francisco with him, it’s understandable why she doesn’t believe there’s anything better out there.
1. Partners (and Sex in a Ball Pit)
“There’s nothing better! I tried to find something better and I got my brother killed.”
Quiet
The roller coaster John and Quiet go through at Astral Burger is a microcosm of their whole relationship.
They start the episode arguing because John saved Quiet before she could kill Stone.
A minute later, they’re having sex in a ball pit.
Then they’re arguing more… playing games and getting to know each other while laughing their heads off… round two of ball-pit sex… more arguing… until finally a breakthrough.
John finally convinces Quiet she’s carrying way too much on her shoulders—her guilt over her brother’s death, her need for vengeance—and it’s too heavy for her to bear alone.
When he tells her she has to let go, she says, “I can’t just let go, John” before breaking down and sobbing in his arms.
Her guard has been so high all season that it’s powerful to see her finally be vulnerable. And ultimately, this is how she agrees to be partners with John. Which is good, because we know something even John doesn’t know—that his delivery isn’t on the up and up, and he’s definitely gonna need her.
Tim Matassa
