‘See’ Recap: ‘The River’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

One particular behavior/action that is an expectation in family life… is sacrifice. Because there comes a point where times might be tough or someone in the family is in dire need of help, and the only way to make life better or help that person in need… is to make a great sacrifice, without worry or concern. Because being there for family will be returned in kind if need be… so we do it and usually don’t think twice about it, and this is such a noble act and so ingrained that we see it featured in fiction often to reinforce its importance. But the fact of the matter is, such an expectation is somewhat unrealistic and unfeasible in nature. Because at times, the sacrifice we take part in, can cause harm to us if the price is quite high and that leads to behind-the-scenes conflict we don’t like to talk about.

Wherein the pros and cons and cost of that sacrifice are explored in great detail before a decision is made, and sometimes… sacrifice doesn’t happen because of that price, and it is quite fascinating that we don’t talk about that enough. Because while sacrifice is important, it isn’t worth devastation, and it has an impact on a person, and this is why the next episode of See on Apple TV+ is of note. Because ‘The River’ is a story that took the time to show the realistic side of sacrifice through and through and it accomplished that feat… by having Alkenny fall. For Tamacti Jun and his Witchfinder Army did indeed arrive at the sanctuary, and they were quick to wreak havoc and cause great harm, in the name of finding ‘witches’ that already managed to escape Tamacti Jun’s grasp in quite the unique manner.

For in his spare time and out of worry, Baba Voss managed to construct a wonderful boat, one that would take them to safety… after great loss came into play. Since Gether Bax was once again the fly in the ointment for this family and led the Witchfinders to the river where they killed some of the folks hoping to escape with Baba Voss. But eventually, Bax (finally) died, and they escaped and that’s when a realistic look at how sacrifice actually works in a family came to light. Because this family found themselves at a crossroads. For Paris gave the twins their final gift from their father. A letter requesting them to find him and ‘The House of Enlightenment’ post haste. Which meant that finding safety and a new home would take a backseat to getting the kids there, if everyone agreed to it and not everyone wanted this.

For Maghra just wanted a simple family life and fought to keep that, but eventually… she lost that fight and sacrificed those hopes for what her children wanted and well, this was fascinating to watch take place. Because that’s really how such matters work and it was refreshing to enjoy that here in a realistic manner and to have the story shift gears and inform us what the back half of season one is going to look like. Since clearly, the grand search for The House of Enlightenment awaits us, alongside a grand fight to escape the Witchfinder Army, and it will be fascinating to discover what challenges await the family as they work to reconcile the possibility that the kids may never return from Jerlamerel’s sanctuary, and likely deal with more suffering along the way. Since Tamacti Jun is relentless and ironically, may be in the midst of a hollow pursuit.

Because back home, life went sour… fast. For the council had serious concerns about Queen Kane’s mental state after she demanded more forces for the hunt and made plans to kill her in a simple manner, by having her embrace a poisonous spider that would promptly bite her. But she came to learn of this treachery and made plans to handle them with vengeance and that of course, led to more unrest and a wild idea from the Queen to bring ‘peace’ to her land. One that involved shutting off the flow to the dam and prompting it to creak, leaving all of us to wonder if disaster is about to strike in the Payan Kingdom or if this is another mad gambit from a mad queen. Either way, this was just… an intense and fascinating episode, one that did a great job of sucking us in and setting the stage for more and well, the only way to learn if the dam will burst and what the hunt for knowledge will look like, is to hit play on the next episode, post haste. Until next time.  

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