The Outpost Review: Kill the Rat, Kill the Kinj (Season 3 Episode 6)

With Talon left as commander of The Outpost, her role becomes crucial in the survival of her friends, family, and other surrounding people. She discovers that heavy is the head that wears the crown — especially in times of tragedy.

The Outpost Season 3 Episode 6, “Kill the Rat, Kill the Kinj,” has our favorite female protagonist in quite a predicament.  Poor Talon never wanted this position thrust upon her. Instead of being a warrior like her birthright calls her to be, Talon must play judge, jury, and executioner. 

Everyone is constantly looking to her to answer nearly impossible questions, in real-time none-the-less.

Is this person infected? What do we do with them if they are infected? How will we stop this madness?

Don’t get me wrong, these are all very important questions that need answering. Unfortunately, Talon isn’t necessarily well-equipped to solve these problems. Yes, she is used to making life or death decisions, but a battlefield is a different place and situation entirely.

Luckily, Talon is smart enough to resource some of these more difficult tasks to her close allies. 

Zed appears to have become Talon’s direct advisor and it proves to be a good decision. Zed isn’t a “yes man.” He has no trouble challenging Talon’s decisions before she puts them into play.

Yes, Talon, this does make sense at the moment, but what happens if it unfolds differently? These are the challenges you want your second-in-command to put you up against. A simple servant can be gratifying but if you are looking only to please yourself, then please step away from the role of leadership handed to you.

Zed and Talon constantly knock heads throughout the episode causing them both large amounts of frustration. I’m a little surprised that Zed hasn’t yet struck out on his own with his bullheadedness, but for now, he seems on the up and up. 

Janzo and Wren work on the science side of things examining rats and the effects the kinj has on them. 

There is no better choice than the two greatest minds in The Outpost to unwrap this quandary. This couple working side-by-side creates a mini think tank that can out logic the Priestess and her plans in record time — at least I hope so.

Janzo and Wren’s relationship is different than the one that Talon and Zed have going on currently. Talon and Zed attack the same problems from different angles, coming up with a solution that works out best for Blackblood and humans alike. Janzo and Wren, on the other hand, finish each other’s thoughts and sentences. 

Their logic is very similar drawing from life experiences and complicated math to spell out the mumbo jumbo riddles laid before them. Typically, one figures out half the equation, while the other calculates the possible outcomes. Together they meet in the middle — proving two heads are better than one. 

Talon: Janzo, find me a cure!

This kind of relationship is also one you should have in your arsenal. A person with similar beliefs and backgrounds can push you forward when you get stuck. The give and take trait of said relationship can be very beneficial in times of need.

As Janzo and Wren wrack their brains with several different experiments at once, they discover something unique. Their invention basically becomes a radar for The United, a helpful tool that practically fell in their lap. This proves to be a godsend for Talon, eliminating a majority of the guesswork. 

Her choice to use Wren and Janzo as scientific analyzers may very well be Talon’s greatest decision this episode, although she does nearly stretch them a bit thin by handing over part of a cadaver to them. This part of the episode I am not extremely fond of even though it serves a couple of purposes along the way. 

The quasi-murder mystery isn’t a case for Elona Holmes to say the least, but it does give Garret a chance to cut his teeth fulfilling his father’s role. Talon and the others are the first to notice Garret’s knack for collecting clues causing her to make this an official duty for him.

Garret is understandably reluctant due to guilt and shame. After all, he is the one who murdered his father. Taking this position seems to add insult to injury.

This proves to be a burden to Garret similar to Talon’s leadership role — marrying the two storylines together with similar themes. 

I believe this guilt will be a driving force in Garret’s new duties making him better at what he does. While guilt can be used for many awful things, one can use it to their benefit as well. 

As the mystery quickly comes together, the team is not only up against a dangerous cult but a flesh-hungry Lu-Qiri as well. With a rescue in order, Talon and the others have to work quickly to defuse the situation.

Talon, knowing the gains of friendship, offers her hand in kindness instead of cruelty making a vicious enemy into an irreplaceable ally. Although it happens a little too rapidly for my taste, the take away here is that a small act of kindness can go a long way. 

With Talon having the upper hand, the cult is dispersed, inturn, solving the murder and rescuing the young lady who was to be sacrificed. 

Overall this is only a small bit of excitement in the grand scheme of the episode, serving only to give Garret new purpose and Talon a Lu-Qiri. It isn’t overly bothersome and at least gives everyone something to do while searching for Gwynn and the Priestess. Introducing a love interest for Munt helps too.

With this side mission out of the way, Talon can move on to bigger and better things like saving The Outpost and the entire world.

Although the crown that has been bestowed upon Talon has proven to be extremely weighty, she is wise to distribute the weight evenly throughout her friends to lift it to its proper placement. This is a fantastic lesson for the rising leaders in this country and also for you and me.

Life was never meant to go it alone. Burdens are easier to carry together. 

What did you think of this episode of The Outpost? Will Talon and the others get to Gwynn in time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Outpost moves to Sunday at 9/8c on The CW starting November 22nd. 

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