Legion Review: Chapter 12 (Season 2 Episode 4)

On Legion Season 2 Episode 4, “Chapter 12,” David explores a psyche in a Syd-centric episode.

Compared to the first season, Legion has been remarkably simplistic in its sophomore outing. That is in no way a pejorative. There’s beauty in simplicity, and “Chapter 12” is a wonderful example of just that.

Whereas the first season often felt purposefully opaque, like a maze constantly turning in on itself, these recent episodes have been able to work on a much more contained level. The same basic style and weirdness remains, but the structure and stories within are smaller in a way.

This is, quite possibly, the best choice Legion could make.

What erupts out of this is a tighter, more elegant series, where you can take more time to do things like flesh out side characters that have been previously unexplored (such as Ptolemy in his maze) but also to take an entire episode just to dive deeper into the inner workings of the arguable lynchpin of the entire series: Syd.

Ever since its inception, Legion was pitched as a potential origin story for a villain: David. If that is indeed still the case, then the romantic interest (Syd) becomes a profoundly important character within that prism of storytelling.

Regardless of her role in his eventual turn to villainy, being fully invested in their relationship and, more importantly, in her will be a pivotal component in that.

A lot of what we learn about Syd in this episode is a very clear course correction from the previous season, where the focus was mostly placed on David and his myriad of issues but little attention was paid to the peripheral characters. “Chapter 12” serves as Legion‘s chance to turn the tide on that and let us glean more from her.

In the end, it gives Syd a fully realized and realistic backstory that never relies on being just one thing.

It shows her life in the way that feels most true to the human experience. Some of it is nice, while other parts are cruel, melancholic, and occasionally happy. More than anything, it just feels like a true experience, mainly in the way that your mind remembers things.

As David explores her memories trying to divine a meaning, a kind of beauty presents itself. A part of that is in discovering the life of someone you love, but also in trying to more fully understand that person.

The conclusion he arrives at is equally beautiful: You don’t love someone in spite of the broken pieces, but because of them. The broken is what makes them who they are. It’s an exploration into a complex life that simply works, through and through.

This is an episode that could have very easily gone the other way completely. It gently sidesteps the version of this episode that is simply a guy trying to solve a woman, because that’s not what this is at all. Is he trying to figure her out? Yes, because that’s what she’s asked of him — but it’s a step beyond that.

Most of this comes courtesy of Dan Stevens’ performance as David, but it’s also in the deftness of the writing that allows you to get swept up in the elegance of Syd’s story and allow yourself to be on the ride with it in what feels ultimately effortless.

Some Stray Thoughts:

• When is this show supposed to be set? As usual, some hard ’60’s/’70’s vibes and looks are here.
• The plague supposedly ended when the monk died, which doesn’t entirely line up with the end of the last, where Syd’s teeth were still clattering after the monk fell off the roof.
• Flustered Cary is the best Cary.
• Once again, there was no dance-off with Jemaine Clement. I might mention this every week for the rest of the season.
• Apparently, Division 3 found Lenny and brought her back to the base. This feels like a Shadow King trick, mainly because it makes no sense.

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

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Legion airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

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