‘See’ Recap: ‘Message in a Bottle’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Often times in storytelling, especially when it comes to new television shows, brave and bold decisions regarding how the story is told, are saved for late in the inaugural season or later seasons down the line. Because the goal of year one is to establish the universe and really immerse the viewer within the rules of the world and the actions and realities of the characters. So, to do otherwise either could confuse or make the viewer uncomfortable, as though the story is rushing toward the end. But now and again you run into a story that opts to take risks and take chances in its opening season and one such show that did that with incredible success, is See on Apple TV+.

Because the second episode in this already grand and sweeping, and bold world, takes some incredible chances with the story in a surprising manner. For ‘Message in a Bottle’ is a tale that early on, appears to follow that age-old edict. After all, only a short time has passed since Baba Voss and his fellow refugees have settled into the sanctuary, and after a surprise visit from Jerlamarel, wherein we came to learn that he has the gift of sight… it seemed as though tons of world building and slow cooking development was going to take place. But instead… this episode took those aforementioned risks and broke all kinds of ‘rules’ in the process. After all the time jump is something in storytelling that is normally reserved for a season finale or a midseason episode, to help shift the story toward new territory that context or direct clues have been hinting at for some time.

But here, we leap twelve years into the future in the middle of this tale, and well… it utterly makes sense to do so here. Because Haniwa and Kofun receive quite the gift in this tale, specifically a box of books and other bits of knowledge that puts them on a different learning path from everyone else. Making it clear that they are special, as is Jerlamarel’s quest in this world. Which means that by shifting time here, we are plunged deeper into this story, and taught that sight and its return is going to play a huge part in the story and well, in the end this is a bold decision that pays off in spades. Because it shockingly feels organic here and it truly does raise the stakes like never before and surprisingly gives rise to some fascinating commentary on our current world. 

Because the twins’ and their abilities here, are shunned and feared by even their parents to a certain extent, since sight isn’t a thing in this world. And how the twins are treated and how Baba Voss and Maghra view them, truly parallels how we in the modern world… treat those that are born with minor differences. For sight is seen as a disability in this world and dangerous, and burdensome and well, that’s a parallel that gives one great pause and forces the viewer to think about how we could and should do better regarding this, since we are all one. Which also makes this a brilliant and thoughtful episode as well, one that still had so much more to offer the audience than surprises and well-thought-out commentary on our modern world.

For this is a tale that also set the stage, for more trouble down the line because of said commentary, courtesy of Gether Bax. Because early on in this tale, his desire to follow the law and God and his outright disdain of sight, prompted him to send out messages in bottles down river. In the hopes that someone would find them and get them to the Witchfinder General and sadly… after a dozen years, that did indeed happen and now it will only be a matter of time before Tamacti Jun, and his forces make their way toward the sanctuary. But before they do, we can bask in one brave and intelligent tale, one that really did stun us in every way imaginable, and it was just wonderful to revisit this important chapter in this story and it does leave one eager to see what other surprises await us down the line, as we continue our journey back through season one of this incredibly original show. Until next time.

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