Into the Badlands Review: The Boar and the Butterfly (Season 3 Episode 11)
It’s all about the gift on Into the Badlands Season 3 Episode 11, “The Boar and the Butterfly.”
There’s a level of dire consequence now on the show, where everyone’s making moves meant to further toward the endgame. Sunny’s pursuit to fix his mistakes is the larger looming story, but it’s in Bajie and Minerva where the episode finds its most entertaining work.
Pilgrim’s paranoia deepening at the loss of Nix at his side is a great direction for the show to take his character. He’s adamant that everything go his way, but every time it doesn’t, his rage and frustration reflects back on himself, as though his defeats are personal failures.
On a show where defeats are usually tossed back as someone else’s personal failure, one they pay for dearly, it’s a refreshing way for a villain on Into the Badlands to think.
That Pilgrim’s own failings are mixing with his new power brings a hint of Quinn back, where his mind can’t be trusted as visions of Castor float back. Everyone is haunted by their past on the show, but Pilgrim’s absolute fear is a startling moment, to see how emotional he can get at the misdeeds he’s done.
Bajie and Minerva working together is a fun odd couple, and the scene between them at the campfire is so rewarding. Nick Frost and Emily Beecham bring a level of regret in their performances, allowing two old friends with years of bitterness between them come together for a nice (or not so nice) meal by the fire.
“The Boar and the Butterfly” is great at allowing quieter scenes the room to breathe, and this one, in particular, is a standout, along with the scene between Nathaniel and Lydia while watching over Henry.
The fight between Sunny and Minerva is such a great way to cap off the episode. There’s such a large gap between them, and there’s so much anger behind Sunny’s fighting technique as Minerva’s is more defensive, at least until a certain point. Daniel Wu and Beecham bring a lot of their characters into the battle, and it works wonderfully.
Into the Badlands Season 3 Episode 11, “The Boar and the Butterfly,” is an episode that brings a lot of characters together while leaving some wounds, especially emotional ones, not quite ready to mend. With Sunny and Minerva now on the same side, it will be interesting where their dynamic goes, with so much animosity still between them.
The gift is still locked deep inside the main players, where skill in combat is their only chance against the enemy. It’s growing more dire as larger plays are made for the Badlands, but with some starting to put aside animosity for the greater goal, there’s signs of hope, as well.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- It’s interesting how Cressida oversteps her place any chance she gets, while telling Pilgrim of how powerful he is only moments before. Her threats to Nathaniel and Lydia has the feeling of something deeper at play for her, as though Pilgrim is just a means to an end.
- Speaking of Lydia, it’s not every day on Into the Badlands where a fight is stopped right before it happens. She’s showing her diplomacy skills, and protecting Nathaniel now that they’re a couple. Plus they have Henry to think about now.
- The assassination of the eldest Chau has a level of visceral violence to it. Of all the deaths on the show, this one had an unpleasantness to it, even with her absolute cruelty.
What did you think of this episode of Into the Badlands? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Into the Badlands airs Mondays at 10/9c on AMC.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.