‘Lodge 49’ Recap: ‘The Mysteries’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

There are few things I enjoy more when it comes to a television series that I am falling in love with, than when it finds new ways to completely and utterly surprise me. Because it’s magical to know that I’m so immersed within the framework of the plot, that I find myself totally unprepared when a greater plot thread or overreaching arc suddenly drops into my lap and it just so happens, that Lodge 49 managed to pull this off to a tee. Because for several episodes now, it’s been about the characters and their journey, and while I’ve enjoyed every single second of that, there is a plot involving fate and destiny that has been placed upon the back burner in this saga. That is until the next episode in this series, ‘The Mysteries’, came along.
 
For this tale found a way to propel this whole matter involving fate and destiny, and magic for that matter as well into overdrive in this tale. But I made mention of this coming about as a surprise, and I meant that. Because before the series came to that point, it had other matters to focus upon, like some commentary on perception, specifically how other people perceive us and view us matters at times and can motivate us to do something good with our lives, and much of this was explored by way of Liz’s journey in this tale since she came to learn that other people see her and Dud as outright losers and while she did her best to mask her hurt over this discovery, it was obvious to the audience that this stung badly.
 
Of course, that didn’t stop her from going about her usual day of working at Shamroxxx and isolating herself in the evening. But an apology from everyone’s favorite donut slinger, Alice, in regard to her dad calling Dud and Liz losers, led to some drinks and another wild evening of entertainment for Liz, the kind that ended with a broken mirror, and her head going through the glass in her coffee table and the sobering pain that came with this move, in conjunction with what Alice’s dad had to say all seemed to serve as the wake-up call that Liz has been desperate to receive and in a surprise and stunning move, she called her corporate crush and seemingly made a move toward something more stable in her life. 

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But that’s where the traditional character study that we’ve come to know and love in this series came to an end. Because the wonder of fate and destiny took the center stage as Ernie and Dud did their best to care for an ailing Larry that seemingly was beginning to lose his mind. In fact, there was plenty of discussion in this tale revolving around getting Larry some serious help by way of assisted living because of his newfound proclivity to scare everyone with his behavior and it would seem that Larry had concerns about his health as well, prompting him to work hard to right a wrong, one that changed the course of this series in ways I never expected and the grand reveal of the fact that alchemy/magic and everything that the Lodge stands for is real, was stunning to say the least.
 
Because it means that something truly special is brewing as we close in on the end of season one, and clearly it involves Dud since his journey matches that of the Lynx’s founder and the fact that Dud was able to see wonders during the night shift at Orbis, only cements the fact that magic is real in this universe and the Lodge truly is something to behold and it is important to the health of our characters since it can in fact heal in its own special way and offer bonds to people they never knew were possible. Yet while this grand reveal was incredible in its own right, it was also unfortunately, bittersweet. For in the closing moments of this tale, with the truth finally revealed, Larry finally passed into the great beyond, leaving his closest friend behind with incredible knowledge, and a new responsibility in life as the Sovereign Protector of Lodge 49.
 
So, yeah, wow. This was actually quite the impressive episode when all is said and done. Because it’s rare for a series to reveal its secrets in the middle of the season, but here we are, and now the truth is out in the open, and it’s clear that Dud is as special as Larry believed and well, while this episode was in many ways a grand download, it really was beautiful when all is said and done. Because it gave Larry a complete journey in this tale, and Liz is pushing to grow in life and…there are more mysteries to be addressed in stories to come because there is now the whole matter of the missing scrolls from the One True Lodge and who is the mystery man that arrived, claiming to be from London? Time will tell of course, but the good news is, I don’t have to wait long to find out, for the next chapter in this tale is just a button press away…until next time…

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