The Outpost Review: All We Do Is Say Goodbye (Season 4 Episode 6)

Where has all the loyalty gone? Brother has betrayed brother, friends have abandoned friends, and Blackblood’s have mated with humans — the nerve of some people!

The Outpost Season 4 Episode 6, “All We Do Is Say Goodbye,” finally approaches the elephant in the room — interspecies relationships. Since the reveal of the existence of other living Blackbloods, I’ve always had this nagging concern in the back of my mind. How do the Blackbloods feel about their bloodline mixing with humans?

The Blackbloods are proud warriors who have lost so much. It appears they have less than a hundred people left in their population, which is of great concern. If this group of people doesn’t focus on repopulating their bloodline, they could die out completely in less than a century. 

Add in the general mistrust of humans, and you get a problem they didn’t teach us how to solve in calculus.

Zed and Nedra feel it is their job to voice these worries to the concerned couples one-on-one. What better time for Zed to act than when he is locked in a mobile cell on the way to The Capital? Seriously, he practically has Talon cornered.

Through normal chatter, Zed approaches the situation from the left field. He speaks to her kindly, but sternly about their responsibilities as Blackbloods. It is easy to see that Zed has a great deal of guilt. 

Zed feels at least partially responsible for all that has happened to the Blackbloods — especially the part where he “abandoned” them. Although Zed felt he was doing the right thing at the time, he now feels survivor’s guilt. 

Unsure of what to do with said guilt, Zed decides it is best to pass it along to Talon. He tells her they owe their loyalty to their people and that it is their responsibility to take matters into their own hands. 

Luckily, Zed is smart enough not to suggest they shack it up. He instead mentions that any other male Blackblood could catch her eye. Talon’s actions shoot down the prospect immediately, but we can see that Zed has gotten into her head.

Tobin: Forget the others. This is about us, our destiny.

I can only imagine the thoughts currently rolling through Talon’s mind. Doubt, dread, remorse, and liability. 

But let’s think about this for a minute. Does Talon owe her people anything?

Yes, she did play a part in what happened to her people, but she had no way of knowing how things would turn out. How could she? 

When things go wrong, we tend to make it all about ourselves. If I acted differently, the outcome wouldn’t have been the same. If I said something else, so-and-so wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.

The list of what-ifs goes on for days stuck on repeat. But the truth of the matter is that things happen for a reason. A lesson may be brought on by the circumstances, but no amount of remorse will gain traction in changing the past. 

I’m sure Talon realizes this somewhere deep in her subconscious, but that doesn’t mean she won’t mentally punish herself anyway.

Nedra similarly approaches Wren. She gets Wren alone and forces a sense of responsibility on her. As the newly assigned high priestess, Wren needs to answer to a higher calling. 

Okay, I have to admit that there is a sense of logic in what Nedra says. 

In our world, we call many people to a greater moral code than ourselves. Priests, presidents, kings, and judges are asked to live at least slightly different from the average citizen. We ask them to refuse immoral lifestyles and to denounce harmful habits.

There is nothing wrong with asking someone with special privileges to act for the greater good instead of themselves, but it is going a step too far to tell them that they need to reshape their life completely to appease society — especially when what they are doing isn’t inherently wrong.

Wren never signed up for this job. She isn’t a politician that ran for office and was voted in. She simply shares a bloodline with the former high priestess.

Therefore this burden isn’t simply her own, it is the burden of all her people. Together they have to survive the growing pains and changes that Wren brings about with her role. 

Wren can stay loyal to her people while also embracing human culture. She can raise this child alongside Janzo, teaching them the ways of the Blackbloods and humans alike. This can create true harmony between the species like nothing has before. 

Her role as mother to this child can only bring about positivity in the relationship between both species, proving loyalty to both humans and Blackbloods. This is her responsibility: to honor both bloodlines simultaneously, giving no preference over the other, and establishing a true sense of consonance between them.

The theme of loyalty is laced throughout the entire episode with other examples through Tobin and his interactions with Falista. 

Tobin wants nothing more than his wife to return to normal. He knows the kinj is controlling many of her actions, but he simply has no clue what to do about it.

The fear in his eyes speaks volumes as Falista kneels before the gods, ready for the kinj to be extracted. He won’t give up on her and hopes that through these actions of sacrifice, they will be made whole once again. 

What Falista believes seems like an obvious lie. The deaths surrounding the gods make them appear merciless, but Falista’s loyalty to them blinds her. 

This is nearly a mirror image of Tobin’s love for Falista. They both want what is best for who they are loyal to. Unfortunately, those they’re loyal to don’t necessarily have their best interest at heart. 

And that boils down to the biggest problem.

Loyalty can be a great characteristic. It shows honor, strength, and nobility. But if your loyalty is to the wrong person, it becomes a weakness. 

Know who you support and what they stand for. It truly makes all the difference.

Hopefully, our favorite characters realize the importance of this before it is too late. Wren has shown us great hope with her epiphany in the last few moments of the episode. Let’s hope the others follow suit quickly.

What did you think of this episode of The Outpost? Does Tobin have a plan for some last-ditch effort to save Falista? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

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

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Jake Stormoen Discusses ‘The Outpost,’ Shipping, and More [Exclusive Interview]