The Outpost Review: A Life for a Life (Season 3 Episode 3)

The Outpost Season 3 Episode 3, “A Life for a Life,” focuses on the special roles several of the characters fill. Just like us, they are set apart for a purpose only they can fulfill. 

As the episode begins, Janzo, Talon, the Priestess, and a few others peer down into the vault that has recently been opened. Filled with mystery and danger, the group ponders which of them are most viable for the journey into the unknown. Of course, the Priestess argues who belongs more intensely than the others.

Often we ponder other’s worth in a situation. We put friends and families in a box and tell ourselves this is exactly where they belong. Honestly, it is not our place to tell someone who or what their destiny is. 

The Priestess is only looking out for her own stakes on the mission. She wants to stack her people on the side of victory — leaving out anyone who strays from her ultimate goal. This way she can control every aspect of the outcome.

Again, this is something we all do in one way or another. After all, we know what is best.

Quickly, Wren and Talon point out the flaws in the choices the Priestess makes. She is being shallow and closed-minded to other people’s strengths.

Although Wren is quite intelligent, Janzo’s mind works differently, causing him to be as much an asset as her. Two great minds working on the same project are better than one mind that only runs in a singular direction.

Under great protest, the Priestess agrees to let Janzo come along, and Zed stays in The Outpost. She never lets on that maybe she was wrong from the get-go, nor does she intend to. She seems to fear the knowledge of others. 

Other people being smarter than us can be quite intimidating. We tend to think that if so-and-so is smart that must make us dumb. No one wants to feel dumb at any given time, but especially when important things are a stake.

As they journey into the wild and dangerous unknown, the group comes across their first puzzle. There are several keys and various keyholes with no real obvious rhyme or reason as to which goes where. Janzo and Wren’s minds are immediately tested by symbols and hidden meanings. 

Like I pointed out before, Wren and Janzo have similar ways of thinking. They focus on logic rather than intuition, but Janzo has one leg up on Wren. Janzo always wants to do what is right.

Talon: He did the right thing, just like Janzo always does.

Last season, Janzo made several choices along the way that got him into heaps of trouble — nearly costing him his life. Fortunately for his friend’s sake, Janzo did not learn his lesson. His willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good is ultimately what saves them all from meeting an early demise. 

This is the role that Janzo fills. Anyone can be smart. Everyone has a brain they can fill with knowledge, but a moral compass is something different entirely. 

You can be taught all your life to do what is right, but when the chips are down it is up to you how you use the lessons you’ve been taught. Don’t forget Janzo’s sacrifice next time you are in a predicament. I doubt the decision will be as equally as traumatic, but you have the chance of swaying the outcoming in the right direction.

Mere moments after they are free from one trap, the group falls into several others. Each trap is more deadly than the next, and the logic behind them becomes increasingly difficult to unravel them.

As most of the puzzles rely on the knowledge of the past, Talon feels left out causing her to ponder her place in the mission. I can totally empathize with her.

I often feel useless in situations where the need for my expertise isn’t apparent. The ability to just show up isn’t always a plus because I tend to feel like I’m getting in the way more than anything else. 

But as the episode shows, just because you aren’t necessarily needed in a given moment doesn’t mean you won’t be needed later on.

Talon’s expert parkour skills prove ever useful in the latter half of the journey giving them the edge over past explorers who met their untimely demise. 

Throughout each challenge, every member of the group is proved to be needed, and mostly for reasons that aren’t immediately obvious. Janzo for his need to do right, Talon for her never die attitude and Wren for her loyalty.

Ironically enough, The Priestess is the only one that doesn’t prove to be essential to the group. Her mission would have gone down effortlessly with her absence. She is actually a burden more than anything else. 

Think about this next time you are in a predicament that you insist on controlling. Maybe your control of the situation is the greatest hindrance. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let go.

Elsewhere in the episode, Tobin and Munt continue on their mission to bring an army back to The Outpost. Although a separate storyline, it doesn’t stop Munt from having similar feelings to Talon.

Munt and Tobin talk about various things from meaningless to meaningful. Eventually, they land on the subject of Munt’s late mother. 

Munt misses his mother something terrible, and his demeanor shows it. His failure to save her life makes him doubt the title “warrior” that Tobin has given him.

We tend to focus on our failures over our victories. We feel our defeats label us more than our successes. As Tobin points out, this simply isn’t true. 

Our wins count for something. They count for our character and we should wear them proudly. You may have lost your job of over 20 years, but don’t forget, you actually had that job for 7,300 days. 

Even Gwynn plays a role only she can fill by using her royalty to her advantage. Her importance to The Outpost weighs heavily on the Blackbloods and Blackfists — giving her negotiating rights to her captivity. Although she uses her look of innocence in an underhanded way, it is to further the greater good. 

I have to admit, I never actually believe her poisonous ruse but it is still fun — especially watching Zed play the fool.

In the end, everyone plays their part, ultimately adding up to an overall win. Strengths and weaknesses are shown in times of trouble — building into a lot of character development.

And maybe that is the real lesson to be learned here. 

What did you think of this episode of The Outpost? Will Garret be the next one to be controlled? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Outpost airs Thursday at 9/8c on The CW.

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