Geekscape Recaps: ‘Into the Badlands’ — “Two Tigers Subdue Dragons”

If you went crazy wondering where last week’s Into the Badlands recap/review went, you can embrace your sanity now: I didn’t write it. Sorry, previous commitments stopped me from writing, but I’m here this week for “Two Tigers Subdue Dragons,” a middle-of-the-road episode with an awesome climactic fight and some neat twists to hook us for next week.

Spoilers are ahead.

Heavy on plot and heavy on action, “Two Tigers Subdue Dragons” propels us forward at a brisk pace as the first season of Into the Badlands approaches its end. (Already? I know! Snuck up on me too.)

The big twist we need to wrangle with: Zephyr is in cahoots with The Widow herself, and now Ryder has joined their alliance. Quinn’s once dominant stranglehold over the Badlands is crippling within his home. What do you think will kill him first: his illness or his own blood?

Elsewhere, Sunny has a tough time ahead of him. The River King, the only safe passage out of the Badlands, will have to offer M.K.’s head as payment. It kinda sucks since half the reason he wants out is because of M.K. Speaking of that kid, I’m beginning to suspect (and perhaps fear) we may not learn his origins and how he got his powers this season. Next week’s preview focused on a showdown between The Widow and Sunny, which is enough to take up its own episode without having room for M.K.’s backstory. They very well could explain M.K.’s origin, but it’s just unlikely.

I’m in love with how every Baron has their own flavor. We’ve seen enough of Quinn and his southern samurai, while The Widow’s navy bowler hat ninjas were cool while they lasted. I’m totally feeling Jacoby’s Scottish pirates: their costumes (black plaid? DOPE.), their gear, and the swagger they carried themselves with made me want to know more about them. I’d watch a whole episode around Zephyr (whose actress reminds me so much of Katie Sackhoff).

Next week isn’t going to be fun for anyone. Sunny will have to decide what he does with M.K., and he’s going to have the redheaded roadblock that is The Widow standing in his way. Ryder has aligned himself against his father, and with only two episodes left in the season that’s going to blow up in someone’s face.