‘See’ Recap: ‘The Compass’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘See’.

​It is definitely safe to say that the beginning of season two of See on Apple TV, has been quite the intense affair. After all, we’ve seen Baba Voss be captured by a brother that has nothing but disdain in his heart for him and we’ve also watched Edo Voss’ forces do their worst in regard to controlling Baba and Haniwa. To the point where it took one of Edo’s one top lieutenants to save them both through an errand of mercy and the intensity hasn't ended there. Since the fallout of Queen Kane’s actions have followed her to her new kingdom, forcing her madness and her fury to be put on full display once again. But rather than continue to assault our senses week in and week out, it just so happens that this series decided that now was a good time to take a little break from the intensity and offer up some of the show’s trademark character development and world-building and that made ‘The Compass’ quite the engaging and somewhat relaxing tale.

For this episode took the time to reveal to us, that Queen Kane isn’t the only person that knows how to play manipulative games, the kind that outright help to shape the future. For Lord Harlan used the truth about what happened at the Dam, to gently nudge the queen into letting him marry Maghra, in the hopes of obtaining a great deal of power. An act that immediately led to fascinating machinations from Princess Maghra as well. Since she saw Harlan’s overtures as a grand opportunity outmaneuver her sister. For if she agreed to this engagement, she could in fact… use the joy in her sister’s heart to manipulate the queen into a more noble stance. One where she would find a new palace and grant Harlan great power and riches untold. But more importantly, going this route would buy her time until her family was returned to her. As to whether or not her will plan will work, well that has yet to be seen, especially since her darling sister more or less laid down a wedding date, but it was nice to see someone work to play the queen’s game for a change. 

However, those wasn’t the only slow and intimate moments present within this particular tale. For once Baba and Haniwa and Tamacti Jun survived a harrowing encounter with some unsavory folks, they came into the company of a secret troupe known as The Compass, which brought about a reunion with Paris and the world-building in question. Since we came to learn that The Compass was formed to protect those with sight, allowing for us to understand how much Haniwa means to the world in a positive and negative manner. Since there are so many that believe those with sight will lead the populace of Earth to a better tomorrow and how so many others fear them and want to control them or eliminate them. Which in turn, brought about some powerful commentary on how prejudice works in our world and how it finds new ways to persist regardless of the standing of the world, simply because humanity wishes to let it persist, leaving all of us to wonder… what it would take to properly eliminate it.

A question that even the show is unable to answer since no one is certain how to bring it to an end, but it is nice to have this series, ponder upon the problem and at least get a conversation going about it. But while those two elements did indeed slow things down and help the audience catch their breath for a moment, make no mistake about it… the tension that this show is known for was still present in this tale. Since Kofun had to deal with prejudice firsthand and barely made it out of that encounter alive and of course… Edo Voss is angry about what happened in Trivantes. Because no one escapes the commander general, and that motivated him to get word to all of his forces to be vigilant and search for Baba and his traveling troupe and of course, to enact a little revenge and power grab. One that involved making a visit to the House of Enlightenment to speak with Jerlamarel, out of the belief that one of his sighted children helped Baba and Haniwa to escape and well… when he didn’t get what he wanted… he had no qualms with killing Jerlamarel and taking control of this all-important place.

As to whether or not this power grab will be successful enough to the point that he will once again have his brother and his niece in his clutches and have his honor and trust restored with the Trivantian Council, will have to be resolved another time, for it is still early in the season and there is still quite the journey ahead. One that will hopefully have Baba Voss and Haniwa reunited with Kofun and Maghra, since Pennsa is their destination and one that should also bring the conflict with the queen to a head. But before we get to those points, we can revel in the wonder of one quality tale. Since this episode really did a fine job of helping us to get to know these incredible characters further and understand how broken this world truly is and well, in the end, once again we are left counting down the minutes until next week’s tale as we eagerly await to see where this wild and fascinating story is going to take us next. Until then.

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