The Outpost Review: We Only Kill To Survive (Season 2 Episode 1)

It has been a long hard summer in the barren wasteland of television, as I sit and wait for the arrival of any hidden gem to wake me from my heat-induced stupor. When all seems lost, The Outpost Season 2 Episode 1, “We Only Kill To Survive,” swoops in to save the day.

Okay, maybe I’m being a tad dramatic here. After all, we just received the new season of Stranger Things on the Fourth of July, but with binge-watching that really didn’t last too long.

Nonetheless, if there isn’t any show you have already invested in for the summer season, the pickings are a bit slim this year.

 

With that small amount of grumbling out of the way, let me focus on the task at hand and tell you how overjoyed I am that Talon and her kin are finally back in action — with more than just a run of the mill season premiere. 

Within just a few minutes of the episode starting, I am excited to see the new level of gloss that has been added to nearly everything. When Season 1 began, it was clear that The Outpost wasn’t going to be the highest of quality when it comes to production. 

I understand the show was just starting out and it is difficult to throw a ton of money at something that may not make a dime in profit. However,  the lack of polish was quite glaring — reminding me of the early 90’s television. It was somewhat comical to see the outdated visuals, and the only saving grace was the storyline and quick attachment to the characters.

Fortunately, the new season seems to have taken strides in the production area. I’m talking about make-up, lighting, fight scenes, and even creature design — taking a giant leap in the right direction. Don’t get me wrong, the visuals aren’t 100 percent up-to-par with shows on major networks, but there is a notable difference between the seasons.

I’m sounding like a guy that only cares about special effects and violence at this point — and that is far from the truth. So let me dive into what really matters — the story. Trust me when I tell you that there is plenty of story arc to go around here.

Typically these days when a show takes a hiatus after the season, the first episode back is practically a mandatory report on what everyone was doing during the break. Usually towards the end of the episode, they throw in a tiny curveball to show you what might be in store for the future. This is a common formula I’m not exactly fond of, even though it gets the job done.

The Outpost flips the script and gives us plenty of intriguing tidbits throughout — to keep us from occasionally checking our phones for recent tweets.

Talon: I have to do something!

Okay, I’ve held my tongue for long enough. I can’t beat around the bush much longer by filling in the gaps with chatter about this, that and the other thing. This feels like I’m ripping off a band-aid, but here we go.

The most insane, tragic, scary, exciting, and dramatic thing that can happen actually happens — the death of a major character!

The first major battle of the season kills off one of the most beloved characters in the series, Captain Garret Spears.

Before anyone tries to hang me for not yelling spoiler alert ahead of time, I understand your frustration. Since it happens merely minutes into the episode — paired along with the fact that it doesn’t have any major impact quite yet — I feel as though my neck shall be spared for another day.

It goes without saying, that this event alone will have major ramifications for the unforeseeable future. Love triangles destroyed, relationships stretched, and an overwhelming thirst for vengeance renewed by nearly all of the remaining characters.

Currently, it is hard to say if this death will be something that sticks in the long run. In a world of fantasy, anything can happen. Talon appeared to have died in Season 1,  and everyone knew that was just a way to get you tuned in to the next episode.

That kind of cliffhanger is always annoying.

Living in the day and age of shows like Game of Thrones, you never know what will happen though.

While this death will affect many, I don’t feel it would really cause the show to have to change at its core. Instead, it can really ramp things up and make it feel like something is at stake. 

So honestly, I’m a little torn here. Of course, I love the character. I love the dynamics they add to the story and the way they bring all the other storylines together.

On the other hand, it is a great shot of adrenaline for the show to bolster itself with. It can project the series into new and exciting territory.

Part of me knows the character is still alive. They even foreshadow the possibility with Talon not believing it, but I still tell myself there is a 10 percent chance that this is exactly what it appears to be. Is that too high of a percentage? 

With that out of my system, I’ll move onto to the emergence of new Blackbloods. This revelation makes the new season feel like a true sequel to the first half.

Basically, Talon opens up a portal to bring one of her creatures into the real world. She is trying to raise an army for the upcoming war.

Of course, a creature comes marching through like a good puppy, but it doesn’t come alone. It brings along with it another woman Blackblood. 

When she reveals that there are more Blackbloods inside the portal waiting to be freed, I feel a moment of surprise — but not necessarily in a good way.

It was clearly established in Season 1 that Talon was the lone survivor of her race. Apparently, that was all a lie. Okay, lie may be a little harsh, let’s settle on a misconception.

Somehow there are Blackbloods that made it into the portal and have been waiting to come out ever since, but why wait until now? Is it is because Talon says the name of a certain creature or just happenstance? Hopefully, this minor plothole will be filled.

At least this new situation can give us additional insight into Talon’s past. I’m a sucker for backstory and love any chance to get to know my favorites better. It will give us additional insight into the lore of the show, making it more engrossing — which is typically a good thing.

It just depends on how they use it and where they go with things. I’ve seen some shows build up a great tapestry — just to throw it all in the trash later on. I’m looking at you Under the Dome!

The potential in the episode outweighs any areas of concern for me. It feels like a good time to be a fan of The Outpost. Let’s pray that it stays this way.

What did you think of this episode of The Outpost? What excites you most about the new season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Outpost airs Thursdays at 9/8c on the CW.

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