Emerald City Review: Science and Magic (Season 1 Episode 4)
Emerald City has successfully become much more intriguing, thanks to “Science and Magic.”
However, this is not in any way because of Dorothy or Lucas and their journey. One hundred percent of the credit for this intrigue goes to Tip and Jack’s respective storylines.
Even though it is heavily implied that Dorothy is the new Beast Forever, I find myself wanting to spend more time with Jack and Tip while they both try to figure out how to live with their new bodies — and how to survive in or escape from their respective prisons (which we will, hopefully, see more of in the weeks to come).
In Tip’s case, she is given the choice between being a “nun or a whore,” which is so incredible reflective of our societal views on women, is it not?
Tip is wonderful because she has no interest in either option, but she can acknowledge that one of these witches may be willing and able to help her moreso than another. Glinda, it seems, has her own agenda — and it is one that her girls are meant to follow to a T.
West, however, seems more receptive to free will and opinions. Tip can talk to West — she can make demands.
And she does.
West seems to respect this about her.
Glinda would want to smother it.
Even more intriguing still is Jack’s fate. Presumed dead after last week’s episode, Jack is brought back from the brink of death and rebuilt by Jane (our very own, steam-punk Tin Man), only to become the property of a seemingly spoiled, perhaps mangled, and possibly twisted princess.
No one in Oz seems to be really, truly friendly, and the princess gives off all sorts of creepy, living-china-doll-esque vibes, so, it’s safe to say that Jack’s time with her likely will not be pleasant.
Like being turned in to the bionic man isn’t hard enough…
Meanwhile, Dorothy is sort of collecting mistreated children and setting them free along the way — the last one turned in to a girl, and now this one turns people in to stone when she gets upset (which, y’know, may come in handy, so long as they stay in her good books).
It certainly helps that the girl, Sylie, seems to be extremely fond of Lucas. In fact, it even kind of seems like she recognizes him.
Maybe he saved her from some sort of terrible fate before he was strung up and left for dead?
That certainly seems like the most likely option.
With the arrival of Eammon and whatever information it seems he has about who Lucas really is, it’s safe to assume that we will find out more in the episodes to come.
All in all, “Science and Magic” is by far the best episode Emerald City has produced thus far and, with any luck, things will only get better from here on out.
What did you think of “Science and Magic?” Let me know in the comments below!
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Emerald City airs Fridays at 9/8c on NBC.
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Becky Peters
Becky is a television, literature, and pop culture enthusiast who spends more of her time exploring fictional worlds than she does living in the real one. Post-apocalyptic and dystopian settings are her kryptonite, and she has a strange soft spot for anything that involves the walking dead (the creatures themselves, not the show -- but the show is good, too). You can usually find her engrossed in shows like Preacher, The Walking Dead, Sense8, or any one of the many other series that tickle her fancy. Follow Becky on Twitter: @epic_bcky