A Game of Checkers

Enjoyable enough, but felt like a strange way to end season 1. Kind of felt like it was trying to be an epic season finale just for the sake of being epic. Up until this point the best parts of the series were the ones focused on character moments and interpersonal drama. Then they go and just throw up a big chaotic mess full of everybody just running around like maniacs.

I don't fully understand Said's logic. He wants better justice for the downtrodden. How is a prison riot that kills a bunch of people going to help? Does he hope it will draw media attention thus leading to systemic change? I don't think he's that naive. I guess ultimately he has decided that death is preferable to imprisonment in an unjust system; and he's willing to make that choice for everybody. What a guy.

Beecher gets to play the mad dog. I'm sure he had fun with it, but it occasionally comes off as a little goofy.

I hope that every season of Oz doesn't end in a full scale riot episode.

The way they have finished Season 1 seems like a kind of cleaning house. It pretty much allows them to build up Season 2 with any characters they want; casualties in the riot can be anybody that's convenient.

I'm curious to see which characters have survived, and whether any of the storylines from Season 1 will carry into Season 2. A lot of characters had a lot of growth, and a bunch of motivations and schemes were going on; I hope it's still there when the smoke clears.