Siren Review: Leverage (Season 2 Episode 8)
Ben, Maddie, Ryn, and co put together the final strings for their plan to take down the oil ship once and for all on Siren Season 2 Episode 8, “Leverage.”
The only thing I can think about is Sarge’s death. I want to say it’s one of the saddest deaths to strike a nerve with me because it’s entirely out of the blue and such a mundane way to die. What makes it even more tragic is he and Helen had just said their goodbyes to each other, but they didn’t know it was for forever.
The bond that Helen and Sarge acquire is so unique and special because it’s purely made out of admiration and love. Sarge doesn’t understand that there’s more to being with someone other than just protecting them from harm, but that’s how it is underwater, so he sees it as showing his love her. Which, Helen doesn’t not appreciate it; she likes how he gets around her.
ALEX ROE
Almost all of the mermaids have made bonds with the humans. Levi and Ben, Eliza and Rick, Sarge and Helen, and Ryn and Maddie. I find it to be a soft moment between Ben and Levi when Levi lets him know that they are friends.
Based on how Levi acts the few days before initiating the plan it’s apparent that he’s not entirely on board with going back in the water. But, he can’t change what has to happen, and he only wants the humans, specifically Ben, to know that he is good and does like them. Levi’s way of a heartfelt goodbye is calling Ben a friend, and it’s cute.
I am so glad that Nicole gets called out by Xander, even if it is the midseason finale and should’ve happened sooner because she deserves to get what’s coming to her. It seems as if Nicole is having a change of heart because she doesn’t want to give Ryn over to her commander so easily.
IAN VERDUN, CURTIS LUM
If Nicole doesn’t care about Ryn at all, it should have been easy for her to get her into the military building and take her by force like her higher-ups want to do. But, after Xander grabbing her arm the way he does, it looks like he might’ve found himself a new, pissed off enemy.
I understand that Ryn, Maddie, and Ben’s bond is powerful so for them to have sex when Ryn feels like she’s never coming back feels right, but it doesn’t change how uncomfortable it makes me.
I love their bond with each other, but the entire sex scene just makes my skin crawl and makes me want to turn the tv off. I don’t know what it is about them getting that intimate that makes me want to yell in disgust, but I don’t want it to happen again because it’s just awkward.
IAN VERDUN, ALVINA AUGUST, GEORGIA WATERS
It’s not a shocker to anyone that Katrina and Cami continue to sneak around and have their own agenda. Cami can’t get over the fact that Xander killed her mother and now that she knows she’s going to be gone forever it’s time for her to get her revenge.
With Sarge’s death, Cami’s disappearance from the group, and Xander and Calvin’s possible deaths there’s no way that the mermaids stay away for long. At least, I hope they don’t.
This midseason finale is phenomenal and has a cliffhanger that knows how to hit right where it should. I look forward to seeing what happens in the second half of Season 2!
What did you think of this episode of Siren? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Siren airs Thursdays at 8/7c on Freeform.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.