Motherland: Fort Salem Review: Delusional (Season 2 Episode 8)

Scylla accompanies Raelle and the unit on their mission to find Nicte, much to Abigail’s dismay on Motherland: Fort Salem Season 2 Episode 8, “Delusional.”

“Delusional” does it’s job well to set up the penultimate episode where we’ll more than likely see Alder and Nicte face-off, unless it’s saved for the finale.

Petra taking the bold move of going against Alder’s orders and taking Nicte alive makes me hopeful that more is coming for her. Alder has been making irrational decisions, whether she believes them to be for the greater good or not, and it’s time Petra steps up to the plate to overtake.

Petra’s storyline has been here or there, kept out of the main spotlight, but it’s been hinted at throughout the two seasons. She was rightfully supposed to command the military in Season 1 until Alder puppeted President Wade and forcibly kept her position.

It’s time for someone, anyone at this point, to challenge Alder on her decision-making and thought process. Tally standing her ground and not backing away from is everything I need and more. Tally negotiating terms with Alder before agreeing to the Nicte mission is a significant step in her character progression and is overall an adorable moment, even if she is being serious.

Tally has come a long way from being the new girl who only wants to follow orders and abide by any orders given. She’s one of the only ones who know the corruption that’s deep down at the core of Alder’s role as the head of the military. She’s finally got through to Petra and convinced her of the shadiness happening, but convincing everyone else won’t be so easy. 

Nicte’s arrival at Fort Salem begs the question: what happens to Tally now? There are two episodes left in the season and I know deep down this can’t be the end of Tally’s season-long storyline because if so there will be frustration. I need Tally to have access to Nicte alone so she can ask her what she needs to without the permission or scolding from Alder. 

Scylla and Abigail’s back and forth throughout the episode is comical because if Abigail could take two seconds to calm down, she’d see Scylla isn’t so bad. Yes, she has done horrendous acts and needs to take accountability for doing so. But, I feel like she has to an extent. She has shown remorse for her actions and has made her stance very aware to Raelle that she no longer believes in the Spree ideology.

Abigail hasn’t seen the change in Scylla until she helps them get out of the Spree-infested woods alive. I have hope that Abigail takes note of Scylla’s participation and is having second thoughts about her. Without her help, every single one of them would have met the same fate as the protection unit that accompanied them.

Let me make it clear, I don’t blame Abigail for her actions towards Scylla because at the end of the day she’s only being a good friend. People are blinded by love everyday and in her heart she doesn’t believe that Scylla is a good person for her friend, so she’s vocal about her opinion. It would be nice for her to initially give Scylla the benefit of the doubt, but Abigail is a strong-minded woman who doesn’t bend to others easily and I love that about her. 

I wish there had been more coverage of Raelle grieving her mother’s death and talking it out with Scylla. I don’t care if it’s a heavy episode centered around Nicte’s capture; Raelle deserves more time to come to terms with everything that has occurred. We get very minute coverage of her chats with Scylla before the unit is deployed to Nicte’s hiding ground and I need more. 

Scylla’s reassurance to Raelle that she doesn’t have to endure her trauma alone is such a sweet moment between the two but also saddening. Scylla is listing off all the people that Raelle has in her corner, and there’s a slight twitch in her face. She isn’t going to vocalize it, but she realizes that she has nobody now.

Willa is the only person Scylla had in her life, besides Raelle, who cared for her and looked out for her well-being. Without that, and Raelle by her side, she’s facing the world all alone again.

While Scylla may be joining Raelle’s father in the Cession with Tiffany, it doesn’t change the gut-punching feeling that hits as she walks away into the woods alone. 

People’s viewpoint on Scylla because of her actions is valid, but when I look at her all I can see is a girl who’s whole life was ripped apart by military actions. At a young age the pathway for her life is altered forever with the death of her parents, and from there it only gets worse. However, she has evolved from that broken mind-frame that forced her into the hands of the spree and is no longer looking to hurt or take innocent lives. 

Scylla deserves to live a life where she experiences love and if she isn’t reunited with Raelle at least once more before the end of the season I’ll riot. 

I wish the illusion spell used on Nicte and Tally isn’t so noticeable because the setup is the perfect opportunity for an “oh my god,” moment. But, Nicte doesn’t know Tally’s mannerisms well enough to efficiently pull an undercover role off, unfortunately.

I look forward to seeing how Nicte and Alder’s reuniting moments are approached and if we’ll get to see Alder have the backbone to interrogate her alone. My main curiosity is how she’ll go about keeping her secrets withheld from the rest of the military. 

Favorite Quotes:

• “It’s not about fighting conscription anymore or liberation at any cost. Proving a point by taking innocent lives. The people who took you and did what they did to you are the only enemy that matters.” – Scylla.
• “Instead, she gave her life for you.” – Scylla.
• “You got any Spree food in that Spree kitchen?” – Raelle.

What did you think of this episode of Motherland: Fort Salem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Motherland: Fort Salem airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on Freeform.

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