Into the Badlands Review: Curse of the Red Rain (Season 3 Episode 14)
A reminder of caution and what matters becomes the theme on Into the Badlands Season 3 Episode 14, “Curse of the Red Rain.”
The episode is one of the series’ best, delivering on character arcs and action in a way that the show has, at times, shied away from. “Curse of the Red Rain,” however, allows characters their time to be honest before the big battle, and to show what they care about before it’s taken away.
The Sunny, Bajie, and Kannin side of things is mostly left to the wayside. In the more relevant scene, it’s not often Sunny hears reason. Bajie’s newfound fed-up nature with Sunny miraculously leads to a breakthrough. Sunny’s arc this season is pocked with error, and so Bajie being the one to make him see the error in his ways is a nice touch, helping to balance the scales.
For a series with a whole lot of blood, finally there’s an episode with the most blood, courtesy of Cressida’s incantation and blood rain. That’s before the massive Sanctuary battle, too. It’s a wonderfully shot sequence, boots slamming into the bloodied holes in the mud, and the panic of the Sanctuary at such an unseemly event.
The whole second half of the episode is one of the longest, most engaging action sequences Into the Badlands has ever attempted. It’s violent, fast, and exhilarating. The blowing of the gate is one of the most technically exciting things the show has done, and it’s such a brilliant use of time and action to set up a culmination between Minerva and Pilgrim fighting to the blowing of the gate.
With so many players in battle, an action scene can easily become overburdened; but this lengthy sequence makes sure to take its time with each character’s plight, effective by staying fast but efficient. Sherman Augustus and Lewis Tan are incredible in action, making the entire sequence in the garage, with its many moving parts, one of the most entertaining fights the show has pulled off.
M.K. looks to still be breathing, despite the gate explosion putting him out of commission. This will leave him filled with even more rage, if even possible. The same can’t be said for Lydia, whose passing comes as a loss for the remainder of the season. Her presence isn’t frequent on the show as of late, but it’s one that has a lot of heart behind it.
Into the Badlands Season 3 Episode 14, “Curse of the Red Rain,” finds itself in the unique position of delivering a heavy battle with a lot at stake, now that the end is near. It does so spectacularly, where the intensity could easily mean the fate of anyone involved, this close to the end.
It proves fatal for Lydia, Orla Brady having been fantastic on the three-season run. There’s a level of sorrow on the show where goodness does not always conquer the bad, or if it does, there are casualties along the way. The Badlands are a harsh place, and this episode proves it again, in epic and thrilling fashion.
What did you think of this episode of Into the Badlands? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Into the Badlands airs Mondays at 10/9c on AMC.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.