Legion Review: Chapter 26 (Season 3 Episode 7)

Time is doomed to repeat itself on Legion Season 3 Episode 7, “Chapter 26.” That is, unless David and Syd have anything to say about it.

The sense of urgency has escalated the episode into a slow burn where convincing becomes the only chance for fixing the timeline. David tries to convince Charles while Syd tries to convince Gabrielle, this battle for Syd trying to do good while David tries to convince his father to do bad. It’s a sign of where both are at the end now, how far gone one is compared to the other.

Farouk as a kinder, decent character clashes with everything we have witnessed before, creating this image that is more aligned with Charles in order to win him over. But the previous king trapped inside a monkey and all of his subjects trapped inside each child is one inflicted horror that is one of his worst crimes, which is saying something on a show where he has committed some heavy cruelty.

Present-day Farouk breaking free of the time between time and meeting his past self makes for a fascinating turn. Two Farouk’s fighting father and son is sure to be the mind battle of the year, that is, unless time eats them all up. Legion has made the ticking clock idea into an actual physical weapon, making time literally of the essence.

The moment of Legion escaping from their doorways, all to greet Charles, is another sign of David’s breakdown. He’s no longer able to control all of his various facets, making the final battle with double Farouk a curious wrinkle. Is it David and Charles against Farouk, or Legion, with its many personalities, against Farouk?

Switch’s fate is a devastating turn. She’s been helping the villain, sure, but for what she still believes is a good cause. It’s another person who David has used past her limit, the moment of her stumbling toward him as tooth by tooth falls around her one of the more haunting images of the episode.

The age-old question of, “would you take out baby Hitler before he becomes evil Hitler,” becoming part of Syd’s line of thought is a fun little moment between Kerry and herself. Her newfound enlightenment, brought on by Oliver and Melanie, shows Syd has a wisdom beyond her years, seeing the good in people before the bad has a chance to do its business.

Her wisdom imparted on David’s mother, Gabrielle, is hopefully not brushed aside based on the assumption Syd is a figment of her imagination. There’s a quick moment where that’s a possibility, but the follow-up does appear to show some progress being made, as they both race to baby David’s aid.

Harry Lloyd’s portrayal of Charles Xavier is one of kindness and gentleness, allowing Charles to be ultimate in his power while also a little gullible as a person. He still sees the good in everyone, but the episode certainly shows him the darkness he has missed out on. Lloyd is a perfect embodiment of Charles with this mindset, showing that not everyone has been corrupted yet on a show full of trauma.

The show continues to be a marvel with its impeccable visual flair and editing choices. The time cuts, snatching away consecutive movements and repeating others, is a fun little window into time collapsing in on itself. It also comes in simple shots, like Charles before he accepts the ride to Farouk’s palace, with this endless crack in the road underneath the car, as though a threshold is about to be crossed.

But Legion also thrives in showing spectacular locations, like Farouk’s palace, with its many tapestries and decadent design, or the many doors in David’s astral plane.

Legion Season 3 Episode 7, “Chapter 26,” does some intricate storytelling by keeping a heavy episode a little light in its heart. What other show would blast Captain Sensible’s “Wot” as a defense mechanism in a character’s mind? The fate of the world is in the balance, but it’s never been more entertaining and fun to watch.

David’s mission has the air of defeat in it from the very beginning, but his belief in its success is misplaced. Syd looks to have the true answer: hold love a little closer, and don’t let the darkness in.

 

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Legion airs Mondays at 10/9c on FX.

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