Will Review: Once, Bright Angel (Season 1 Episode 10)

A rocky first season ends on a high note with a solid finale, Will Season 1 Episode 10, “Once, Bright Angel.”

If you’ve been reading my reviews, you’ll know that I’ve had my issues throughout the season. I wouldn’t call it a love/hate relationship, but more of one that ran hot and cold frequently.

The finale, “Once, Bright Angel” has me wanting to take back any harsh words I’ve had for the show. It really is a phenomenal episode that shows the directions the writers have taken along the way have made sense the whole time.

The build-up and pay off of Will’s play, “Richard III,” is so satisfying. The humble players of the theater triumph over the evil Topcliffe with words and art. What a beautiful message, especially for our current times.

With the production of the play, many characters show their developments and growth.

Will becomes the hero that he is meant to be. Not the stereotypical knight in shining armor hero that saves the fair maiden from the monster, but the one that fights for a justice for the greater good using his God-given talents.

Alice actually saves Will by not letting him succumb to murderous vengeance.

She also becomes the heroine of her own story even though she’s not sure what that story is. The strength she has to seek out her purpose in life is beautiful to see in a woman living in the 16th century.

I like Will and Alice together, but I like her decision to leave better.

Alice: I need to find peace, to pursue a love that is far greater than you or I. […] I have gone to find what more there is for me to be.

I’m not too happy that her journey includes Southwell, though. That dude really gets on my nerves, and he seems way more controlling and manipulative than Will ever could be.

Luckily, Alice has proved to be strong in her convictions, so I’m sure he won’t be a problem.

I underestimated Alice’s faith. I had thought she was doing it more for spite, but she really did find her strength in the Catholic teachings.

This is evident on “Once, Bright Angel.” Olivia DeJonge is captivating in every scene. She portrays Alice as truly finding peace after her traumatic experience, and acting out of love and honesty afterward.

Richard gets the Most Improved Award for the season. I could tell Mattias Inwood had it in him to be great, but I felt his character was shallowly written. His development comes at the end of the season, but it is worth the wait.

Inwood as Richard portraying Richard III is a gripping performance.

The play is the denouement of not just Season 1 Episode 10, but of the season as a whole. The actors’ performances of the actors performing on stage are riveting, from Richard as Richard to Presto as Prince Edward.

The characters in the audience are very well acted, too. Especially—and I can’t stress this enough—Ewen Bremner as Topcliffe. His reactions as he watches the play unfold are priceless. Every expression speaks multitudes.

It makes the already fascinating spectacle even more entertaining.

Marlowe is shown in the audience towards the end. We know that there is jealousy in him regarding Shakespeare and this play, but his face as he views the production is interesting. He lets himself enjoy it, and celebrate his colleague and competitor’s achievement.

That shows growth—something he’s been to hell and back to obtain, almost literally.

Marlowe began as and remains my favorite character.

He can be so corny with his emo lines of dialogue, but something about the way Jamie Campbell Bower plays him, makes every offense so easily forgivable.

And the well-delivered and powerful performances definitely outweigh the cheesy moments,  to the point of making those cheesy moments great moments, as well.

Marlowe: What a miserable, mother-swithing profession it is to be a writer.

He says his last line of the season with a smile while on an empty stage, and I am giddy. This image really sums up some of my favorite things about Will: the magic of theater and the hearts and souls of those around it.

Stray Observations:

• I am a sucker for fog. This show does fog really well.
• Marlowe’s melodramatic quote of the episode: “When he left the stars extinguished, and the sky was so suffocatingly black that I almost expired.” I am going to make it my goal in life to nonchalantly quote that line in casual conversation.
• I love Marlowe’s reaction to the news that Will’s play puts the devil on stage.
• That weird whipping scene with Southwell, though. Um, okay?
• “And thus I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends stolen forth of holy writ and seem a saint when mostly I play the devil.”

What did you think of this episode of Will? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Will airs Mondays at 9/8c on TNT.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!