Written by John Edward Betancourt How ‘Exile’ Explores What Our First Steps on the Road to Recovery Look Like ‘I am starting over!’ Over the course of this grand rewatch of Lodge 49, we’ve been privy to some powerful lessons revolving around the power of loss and trauma and the long road to recovery that comes with that. But while this series has offered up an honest look at this difficult and winding process, it has yet to properly identify exactly what progress in regard to this process, looks like. Which may seem like a tall order since grief has its own timeline and there is a lot of work that goes into feeling like our old selves again. But it certainly seems as though quantifiable progress is possible, because there does come a day where we wake up and feel better. Where the daily grind isn’t so miserable and where we find joy in the things that we do once again. Which once again begs the question, what does progress look like? How do we know we are actually taking those all-important first steps in the right direction? Well at it turns out, ‘Exile’ is an episode that was fully prepared to answer those questions, and what made this particular tale so worth our while and so fascinating and beautiful, is that it doesn’t have one specific answer to those questions, and that’s the right way to handle this. After all, since there is no timetable to grief and no exact process back, how we exhibit progress will be unique to the individual and this episode took the time to explore several possibilities that show us we are healing and that we are closer to finding the peace we so desperately seek. For example, sometimes a signal that we are taking the proper steps to healing our soul, is when others depend upon us in a time of need, something that was demonstrated by Dud and Blaise’s time together in this story. Because Blaise was in a bad place and spiraling downward quickly after seeing his carefully assembled life fall to pieces, and well… he turned to Dud in his darkest hour. He used him for a soundboard for ideas, for transportation and even for counsel when necessary and this shows us that Dud is healing, simply because… he was able to handle everything that Blaise threw at him. And he did it with dignity and kindness and those respective behaviors are indicators of progress because if we are able to take on more and not falter, we’re starting to heal and find strength once again. Speaking of strength, a show of it, can also be an indicator that we’re making progress and taking our first steps toward a mentally healthy future and that’s something that was explored by way of Liz. Because she faced some insurmountable odds in this tale with Omni not paying her staff at Higher Steaks. But rather than join in on the frustration and let the sour emotions wash over her; she took action. She found a way to pay her staff and she even went so far as to confront Janet in order to get her people taken care of. And it takes a strong person to do those things, which clearly demonstrates how far she’s come in her recovery and it is making her quite a heroine in the eyes of her friends. But while those two indicators could have carried this episode on their own, there was still one more aspect to dive into that shows us that we’re headed in the right direction, and that’s the moment we are ready to open up about some of our hardest and most painful moments to others. Something handled by way of Ernie’s journey in this tale. For this is the episode where we finally learn about his late daughter Amaya, and this was a huge moment because Ernie has perhaps resisted the healing process the most in season two. But to see him take the time to be honest with Dud and find value in one painful experience, speaks volumes to his healing process and it applies to us as well. For if we too can reflect upon those we’ve lost and find the beauty of their brief time on this planet, then we truly are on our way. If anything, this is an incredibly powerful episode when all is said and done. Because it really is a teaching experience. One that offers so much support to those that are currently working to heal. Because folks that are doing just fine, get a reinforcing pat on the back when they see themselves doing the great things the characters do in this tale. And those who feel as though they’re spinning their wheels, get some solid clues to remind them that they’re on the right track after all. But more importantly, those who feel they have a long way to go, have some goals to look forward to when they’re finally ready to step into the light and that’s just incredible. Because that’s something you just don’t see television shows do. But Lodge 49 was truly something special and this is a unique episode that reinforces that fact in a bittersweet manner. Because while it is wonderful to immerse one’s self in a story that lifts you up, we are sadly, nearing the end of our journey. For only three episodes remain in this saga. But thankfully, they too dive into supremely positive lessons and it will be a true delight to revisit every last one of them, one more time.
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