yoshinaruto

I wasn't anticipating them exploring this much backstory, but I'm glad they did. It was an incredibly gripping storyline, with Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett knocking it out of the park.

I expected quite a bit of backlash due to the added focus on these characters, but I'm pleasantly surprised that is (at the time of writing) not the case. It's a beautifully done episode, and it deserves the praise it's been getting so far.

I'm optimistic for the rest of the series, although this episode set the bar quite high. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey continue to pull their weight, so I have faith that this show will continue to impress.

The only criticism I'm seeing in these 1 star reviews is that it's either "boring" or "too gay". I could accept boring as a subjective criticism if they elaborated more, but most of them don't. There is the somewhat valid criticism that most of the episode is self contained, but I don't see how that's such a bad thing.

The concept is interesting, and it does a good job utilizing its one location. It builds tension well, with us not knowing where it's headed or whether or not the characters in this episode are safe or not. It doesn't need to rely on CGI or pre-established characters/plot lines. Personally, it's my favorite episode of the season, although episodes 4 and 6 are are right behind it.

While the show had a slow pacing that required patience up till this point, the payoff was absolutely worth it. Not only does this episode make great use of the premise the show built, but it has me impatient for a second season.

If anyone was thinking about quitting the show before making it to the end of this season, make sure to finish it. It's incredibly worth it.