***
What we already know:
- CJ and the harvesters are outside the Fence with Theresa Burke and Adam Hassler. Ben Burke was also last seen outside the Fence, but Hassler recently brought a dead body back to camp, which we are led to believe may be Theresa's son, although we did not see the face of the corpse for verification.
- Theresa rightfully blames Hassler for the Season 1 death of her husband, Ethan. (RIP)
- Mrs. Fisher is not happy that Lucy does not want to become pregnant. Rebecca Yedlin is allowing Lucy to stay in their home until things calm down.
- It was revealed that Rebecca and Xander were married and have been separated for 6 months. Theo doesn't like that very much. He punched Xander in the face and left with a few belongings in the middle of the night.
- Mrs. Fisher and the Complex workers have captured a female Abbie nicknamed "Margaret." Margaret is seemingly peaceful, unlike the aggressive males the town has become accustomed to. She apparently does not react to physical pain.
- The Abbies had previously stopped attempting to gain entry to Wayward Pines and had not been seen for several episodes, but they're coming back now, presumably to rescue Margaret, and they're prepared to burn the forest to the ground in order to do so...
Wayward Points:
- IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT
- The episode began with a peaceful scene in the woods. In a flashback, we saw Abbies living quietly. There were women, children, even infant aberrations living in the forest. Suddenly, David Pilcher and his men showed up and gunned the Abbies down from a helicopter, unprovoked, in order to begin constructing the Fence. They may not exactly be human, but it's safe to say that the Abbies didn't take kindly to their first meeting with The Pilch.
- THE FIELD WAS WHITE ALREADY TO HARVEST
- The harvesters are attacked by Abbies at the beginning of the episode. This causes a bunch of problems, including, but not limited to 35 human deaths and a major food crisis. (More on that in the "What we learned" section.)
- CJ tries to explain to Jason that there was method to the Abbies' madness - that they strategically burned the crops, targeted specific soldiers and faked a retreat in order to create mass destruction with their attack. Jason refuses to believe that the Abbies are anything more than animals, dismissing any idea that they harbor any sort of sophisticated intelligence.
- SCARED AND UNPREPARED
- This episode gave us a much better look at Jason, behind closed doors. We discovered that he would like to start a family with Kerry, but also found out how afraid he is. Kerry accuses Jason of doubting his knowledge and power. Jason responds by casting blame on David Pilcher and admitting that he, himself, should have been able to predict the Abbies' attack on the harvesters.
- The most telling scene of the episode, as far as Jason is concerned, was when we saw him fall to his knees in the scorched corn fields. Clearly, Jason is devastated by the loss of food and, as a leader, has been somewhat backed into a corner. If he truly wants to prove that he is the chosen one, hand-selected by the Pilchers to lead this community, now is the time for him to step up his game.
- WAYWARD PINES, TURNED EMERGENCY ROOM DRAMA
- The most notable victim of the attack on the harvesters was Theresa Burke, who was rushed to the hospital with a collapsed lung. Adam Hassler was also among the wounded, although not nearly as severely. Hassler's main concern is for Theresa, for whom, we learned, he had romantic feelings before arriving in Wayward Pines.
- Theo, being the blossoming boss that he is, works quickly to save as many patients as possible, all the while maintaining his sense of one-liner sarcasm that I've come to respect so deeply.
- Hassler sneaks into Theresa's room in the hospital. While she's lying there, mostly unconscious, he apologizes to her for failing to protect her from Wayward Pines and for allowing her to follow her husband to the weird little town. Theresa's eyes open momentarily, startling Hassler. And then, it is implied, Adam Hassler pulls the plug on Theresa Burke, causing her to flatline.
- MEANWHILE, BACK HOME
- Theo is still struggling with the idea that his pre-Wayward wife, Rebecca, was also married to Xander. Theo contemplates becoming the "town drunk." Rebecca explains that she tried to find him when she arrived in Wayward Pines, but to no avail. The Doc ain't happy.
- Xander knows that the Yedlins are not happy right now, so he wants back in. Several times throughout the episode, he chides Theo about the fact that they're both, technically, married to the same woman, and he attempts to convince Rebecca to give him another chance.
- MARGE IN CHARGE
- While all the male Abbies are going nut, inside and outside the Complex, Margaret remains completely calm inside her cage. Mrs. Fisher and Theo continue to perform research on her, running and MRI on her brain, which, Theo discovers, appears to be twice as advanced as a regular human's would be.
- As the episode ends, we see (and hear, mostly) hundreds of Abbies approaching the Fence. Margaret is shown in her cage, tranquil as always, while the other caged Abbies look ready to bust loose and the Abbies outside the city limits look thirsty for blood.
Who we met:
- Oscar: One of Dr. Yedlin's assistants at the hospital. He is a little too eager to be working with Theo, and the Doc swiftly puts him in his place.
What we learned:
- We learned a little more about the vague issues with the soil in Wayward Pines. Jason believes that Pilcher overlooked something that prevents crops from growing inside the Fence.
- After the attack on the harvesters, there are only 20 surviving soldiers in Wayward Pines.
- Kerry mentions that the only food left for the citizens are the supplies they've saved up in the storehouse. CJ says that it will take months to replant new crops. He estimates that they will starve to death in less than six weeks.
- At the time of the funeral, there were 1,178 remaining citizens in Wayward Pines. Theresa Burke's death would logically make that 1,177.
- In Xander's life before Wayward Pines, he was a Marine drop-out and a drug dealer. He was chosen by Pilcher for his "resourcefulness." Rebecca mentions that Xander has previously stolen pills while in Wayward Pines.
- Hassler helped Pilcher send Ethan Burke to Wayward Pines because he was in love with Theresa and needed Ethan out of the equation, although Hassler mutters to Theo at one point, "We were never close," likely in reference to his relationship with Theresa.
- Margaret's temporal gyrus - the center of language for the brain that deals with advanced thought and problem solving - is twice as large as a human being's. For reference, the temporal gyrus size for a chimp is one-third the size of a human's.
- Hassler is familiar with the brand located on Margaret's hand.
Wayward Lines:
- Voice over PA system: "All able-bodied men, please report to the fire station immediately."
- Theo, on what to drink at the Biergarten: "Well, I've tried your beer, which is revolting, and the whole 'Celery Soda' thing... I don't know what that is..."
- Theo, on what the bartender gives him to drink: "'Distilled from pure Kentucky water'? Really?"
- Kerry and Theo: "Soldiers to fight the Abbies, civilians to fight the fires. It's not the same thing." "Well, they'll die the same."
- Jason: "We lose those crops, we lose everything!"
- Theo: "Shut up, Oscar."
- Kerry to Jason: "Are you the man born to lead? ... Then act like it. And never let them see you doubt again, even if you do."
- Theo to Xander, sarcastically: "How's your jaw?"
- Xander to Theo: "I left our wife in your office. She actually saved some lives, too, tonight."
- Jason to CJ: "Stop talking about [the Abbies] as though they're human."
- Mrs. Fisher and Hassler, on sending Ethan to Wayward Pines alone: "I thought you loved [Theresa]." "That doesn't make it right."
- Xander: "They don't want us to be human in here, but... it happens."
- Hassler to Theresa: "I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you... That I couldn't save you... Or that I did save you. It's ok. It's ok."
- Mrs. Fisher, after discovering the size of Margaret's temporal gyrus: "Do you think she can understand us?"
- Arlene, after seeing Theo's suitcase: "I um, have a spare bedroom at my place."
The Rules:
- A phone rings at the Biergarten. We can assume that it was answered.
- When describing her marriage to Xander, Rebecca tells Theo, "There were rules. There was surveillance. We were no more than cellmates."
- Xander infers that the First Generation military fatigues resemble infamous uniforms from world history, but stops himself, citing the Rule "Do Not Discuss the Past."
Wayward Whines:
- Hassler, you scumbag!
Wayward Signs:
- We saw for the first time the flag of Wayward Pines - it resembles a pine tree with a halo surrounding it.
Easter eggs:
- A close-up is shown of Hassler opening his eye in the hospital, similar to the first scene of Season 1, where a close-up is shown of Ethan Burke opening his eye after waking up in the forest.
- References are made to Season 1 when Hassler asked Pilcher to call off Ethan's abduction.
- In a flashback, Hassler is seen watching Ben Burke blow out his birthday candles in the park - a scene shown several times during Season 1.
- For the second time this season, Theo takes down the painting of David Pilcher in his office.
- A penny is shown in CJ's harvester tent. The last time we saw a coin prominently featured in an episode was S01E05: "The Truth."
What we don't know:
- What is wrong with the soil in Wayward Pines?
- What does the brand on Margaret's palm mean?
- Is Ben Burke still alive?
Obituaries:
RIP lots of Abbies
Season 2
RIP 35 citizens and soldiers
Season 2
RIP Theresa Burke
Season 1 - Season 2: Episode 6
***
A lot of the commentary I've seen on social media thus far has been rather negative toward Season 2, but I actually think it's getting pretty good. Season 1 was just insane, but this isn't Season 1. It's different, but I like it. This was, I venture, probably the series' bloodiest episode so far, so there's that. I assume Season 2 is another 10-episode run, although I'm hesitant to verify through IMDb because that would potentially spoil any post-season finale character deaths, so, if Season 2 is only 10 episodes long, we're headed down the home stretch with only four episodes remaining.
What did you guys think? The most shocking moment for me during Episode 6 had to have been when I realized that Theresa didn't just die - Hassler probably killed her. Dang you, Hassler! Let me know which moments surprised you in the comments below.
Until next week,
Work hard and be happy.
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