Emerald City Review: Lions in Winter (Season 1 Episode 8)

The mystery of Tip’s strange captivity is solved on Emerald City Season 1 Episode 8, “Lions in Winter,” which is one of the final episodes of the debut season.

The fact that the season is coming to an end means that it is time to tie up the loose ends that we have been pondering since the beginning. One of the biggest mysteries, if not the biggest, was Tip, and why he was being held captive and made in to a boy.

Turns out, Tip is the heir to the throne of Oz, and was being kept hidden from the Wizard. He is now everything the Wizard hates: female, magical, and powerful.

He is also the surprisingly formidable foe that he will never see coming. He views Glinda as his biggest threat — and, while it is true that she is certainly the most forthcoming with her intentions, she is hardly the most dangerous, at this point.

The Lady Ev, for example, is ruthless and intelligent. She may not have magic, but she has a deep loathing of the Wizard, and she has the technology that he wants. She is using his own weapons against him.

The Wizard is about to learn that Langwidere is not a woman who can be intimidated in to following anyone. Langwidere has endured suffering all her life, it seems, and she has been hardened because of it — to the point of being very well near heartless, even when it comes to those she cares about. Langwidere is not afraid to take the hard road. It seems that there is very little that she fears.

Needless to say, the Wizard is not someone she fears.

What is touching, however, is the fact that she kept Jack out of her politics and her plans to double cross the Wizard. Perhaps this is to keep from dragging him down with her, should she been punished for treason. He may, in fact, be her weak spot.

Jack, of course, doesn’t see it like that.

And, if we’re being frank, it seems as though Jack’s feelings for Langwidere are not as strong as hers are for him. He seems far more confused by their relationship and what it actually is — and rightfully so, given that he was, more or less, forced in to it.

As he said: being with her is easy for him because she owns him. It makes his existence much easier. It gives him a better life.

I would have liked to have seen more of Jack’s relationship with Jane. It seems as though the two grew to be quite close, and the brief scene they have together this week is wonderful.

As usual, Dorothy’s plot is somewhat lacking. The love triangle going on between her, Roan, and Glinda is lukewarm at best, and I, honestly, couldn’t care less about whether or not she and Roan end up together.

Both these women are in a battle for survival, and they care more about who a man is going to choose than the fact that they are meant to kill each other. Dorothy tries to kill Glinda, and, rather than go finish her off, Glinda whines about the fact that Roan’s not doing it for her.

Glinda, kill her yourself! You are a super strong, independent woman — you don’t need a man to do your dirty work for you, alright?

It’s ridiculous. You’re on the verge of war. Worry about romance later.

What did you think of this episode of Emerald City? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Emerald City airs Fridays at 9/8c on NBC.

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