‘Moonhaven’ Recap: ‘Mada’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Moonhaven’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, the AMC+ series, Moonhaven, has offered up some fascinating observations about the human condition and our quest to find unity as a species. Such as how technology likely won’t ever be the key to shedding our problems, it will instead just mask them or give us a false sense of security regarding resolution. Not to mention, we’ve also come to learn that there is no running and hiding from our darker tendencies and they simply cannot be bred out of us or manipulated away. Which are some bleak lessons for certain, the kind that have left us wondering if there is a way that we can impact change upon humanity. 
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Because it just seems as though we cannot escape our worst elements, and obviously, the answers to making that happen seemingly continue to elude us. Since we don’t know exactly where to start to really alter who we are so we can be better as a species. But as this series continues along, it is beginning to offer up some answers on the matter, so that we can perhaps… impact the change we seek and it is accomplishing that, by creating utter chaos on Lune. For ‘Mada’ is a story that more or less informed the audience that things are getting worse by the day in Moonhaven, since so many are beginning to shed their trackers and give into odd concerns about the future. 

In fact, it was basically revealed that there is a silent movement that is growing loud on this colony, that is grounded in complete and utter fear. For so many believe that their better way of life on the moon, is something that everyone back home will utterly fear and deride and potentially push to quell through violence. Which has given rise to an anti-Earth movement. One where the good people of Lune believe they are the echo that will soon rise over the voice. Which led to some horrifying moments in this tale, the kind that featured parallels to some of the misinformation and fear that is spreading about now and saw one hell of an ending take place, one that has clearly changed the course of this tale going forward with its boldness and power. 

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But what matters more here, is that through subtle moments in this tale and that very fear, the show was able to express what we need to work on and how we might be able to fix it. And in essence, it recognized that one of the biggest root causes of our problems as a species, is our fear of change. Because both Earthers and Mooners alike, and everyone in the real world for that matter, are so caught up in trying to preserve the moment that they believe any alteration to that, or their life patterns, will bring chaos and strife and an end to comfort. When in fact, change is a constant and always in our lives and if we took the time to embrace that and understand that, and truly live in the moment and let it go, then perhaps great wonders could be accomplished by this species.
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Not to mention, this is a story that also leaned heavily into another aspect of how we can perhaps finally find unity. In that, we should take a moment and really recognize the fact… that we are indeed all one people and one species, and that we share in so much. And if by chance we took the time to realize that and see and recognize how much we share in fundamentally… then perhaps we would stop with the fighting and realize that we’re on the same side and get something accomplished. Which is perhaps an answer that might not be revolutionary in nature but is worth revisiting none the less because we tend to forget it. But watching Paul grieve over the loss of his mother in this story, did indeed hammer home how we are all in this together.

If anything, one can hope… that the lessons being sent our way, are ones that the characters can learn from as well. Since clearly, they too have fallen into the same traps that modern day man continues to and that is leading to some serious conflict. The kind that is endangering humanity, period, and it will be quite interesting to see if Bella and Paul can accomplish what so many others have struggled to do and bring peace to a species that lives in fear far too often. But while we wait to see what comes next, we can relish in another incredibly intelligent chapter in this journey. One that found a way to get those points across in a subtle and beautiful manner, while continuing to world build and show us more of this incredible colony, and truly, we will all be counting down the minutes until next week’s tale, to enjoy more of this fantastical story and to see where its bold storytelling is going to take us. Until next time.  

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