The Outpost Review: The Pleasing Voice of The Masters (Season 4 Episode 8)

Most of us are on a mission. To be a good person, to achieve enlightenment, or to even help the most people. Who is to say which mission is the correct one?

On The Outpost Season 4 Episode 8, “The Pleasing Voice of The Masters,” several characters feel as though they are assigned a certain task that they must complete. The problem is someone else sees the situation differently. 

As the episode begins, Talon, Naya, and Luna are cornered by the gods. They have the precious key, and the gods insist on retrieving it from them. Talon, being the only one with a kinj, sees this moment as a duty to protect her friends even though she is hopelessly outnumbered.

Talon has never been anything less than brave. She is always more than willing to take the hits for the team no matter how bad the situation gets. Although her physical strength keeps her safe throughout the fight, her emotional fortitude protects her friends and family.

Some people may argue that Talon is being stupid, and I guess in a way she is. There is no way Talon can defeat or even defend herself against these mighty beings. All they need to do is simply surround her, and she is toast. 

Luna sees this clearly. She knows that because of Talon’s kinj, she is a liability. 

Instead of running off somewhere into the woods like Talon requests, Luna puts herself in harm’s way. Although Luna doesn’t hold up for long in the fight, she buys them both enough time until Tobin appears for backup.

Luna and Talon both see the dangers unfolding before them. Either of their decisions could spell out disaster. That doesn’t mean that one or the other is wrong.

Moments later as the fight wraps up, Tobin transports to Garret’s side with the key. In a fit of exhaustion, he spells everything out to Garret. They both fear the worst.

Upon hearing that Talon may be in the gravest danger of her life, Garret insists they must rally as many men as possible to save her. They can easily outnumber these four measly gods and save Talon before dinnertime. Right?

Well, the problem is that Garret hasn’t seen these beings in action. They are fierce, ruthless, and downright despicable. They have no qualms with fighting dirty and will use any means necessary to win.

Desperation is always a game-changer.

Tobin, knowing firsthand what these beings are capable of, does everything he can to shut down Garret’s way of thinking.  He presents the logic of the situation to Garret straightforward. The more people brought into the battle, the more people are going to die. 

Plain and simple, humans without a kinj are powerless against these beings. 

Garret does his best to defend his ideology, but we can tell that his resolve is becoming diluted. Does that mean that Garret’s original idea was wrong or selfish? No, he didn’t have all the information at the time causing him to see less than the full picture.

Additional information is the best way to change people’s minds. Once they are added to the loop, they can see everything more clearly allowing them to reassess the situation.

Even though Tobin and Garret have different mindsets they find common ground — the key must be destroyed.

Unfortunately, this isn’t your everyday house key. It can’t be simply smashed by a couple of bangs against the wall. So they must turn to Wren and Janzo to do the honors.

Except, it isn’t all that easy.

It is clear in Tobin and Garret’s minds that the key must be destroyed. Eliminating the key means eliminating the threat. But, that isn’t the way Wren and Janzo see it.

Wren and Janzo are the only ones who have had close access to 313. They are the only ones who have had meaningful communication with him, and they are the only ones who understand what 313 and his people have to offer.

Tobin and Garret see 313 as a threat. He looks like one of the gods, therefore he must be aligned with them. Wren and Janzo understand 313 to be an empty slate. 

Without the voice of The Masters, 313 has no guidance. If they awaken his people, they stand to be as docile as he is. Even though they are meant to be a weapon, without a target or directive they are harmless.

Tobin and Garret’s fear grab ahold of them, making them refuse to see the light. To them, what is meant for evil can only be used for evil. 

Wren and Janzo’s philosophy is the opposite. They see the possibilities in these beings. They know freedom for them will prove a great tool for making great allies to The Outpost.

With thousands of more allies, the playing field will be closer to level. Not to mention the amount of knowledge they can share with the people of The Outpost. 

Janzo: Do you always do what the Masters tell you?

The positives of freeing 313’s people may outweigh the dangers, but there is honestly no way of knowing.  They must act in faith instead of fear. 

Fear says destroy and never trust. Faith says to love — even when it hurts.

With no ultimate decision made, they retreat to opposite corners believing they are both in the right and that the other is being unreasonable. 

Hurt feelings and bruised egos don’t last for long, as the gods share a vision of a tortured Talon in their grips. 

This again raises Garret’s emotions, making him insist that they do something now. Tobin agrees something must be done, but he knows it isn’t the duty of others to save her.

He is the king, and it falls into his hands.

Talon has saved Tobin and the people of the Outpost countless times. He sees the only way of saying thank you is to rescue her himself. 

This resembles Talon’s choice at the beginning of the episode. She resisted the help, at least temporarily, and paid the price as Tobin does.

For Tobin, the consequences are much more extreme. 

And I’ll ask you this one last time, is Tobin in the wrong for wanting to save Talon all by himself? No, I do not believe he is.

Tobin doesn’t go in with selfish ambition or conceit. He wants to protect as many people as possible. He chooses to go forward into the fire so that no one else has to get burned. 

Much like Gwynn, he chooses this option knowing that it can very well be his final sacrifice. Who can fault him for that? 

It all boils down to this, every situation has multiple outcomes available. Our decisions and duties can affect everyone involved in positive or negative ways. 

We won’t always see other’s points of view, but that doesn’t make them bad. It only makes them different. 

Remember this next time you want to judge someone for their decisions. 

You don’t know what they know. You don’t see what they see. You don’t understand the sacrifices they are willing to make. 

What did you think of this episode of The Outpost? As the gods grow in numbers, how will the last two kinj-bearers be able to defend themselves? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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

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