‘The Ark’ Recap: ‘It Should Have Been You’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE ARK -- "It Should Have Been You" Episode 210 -- Pictured: (l-r) Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet, Reece Ritchie as Ian -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 210 of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular aspect of the human condition that we don’t see explored all that often in science fiction… is the power of grief. Which is surprising. Because grief is an important aspect of the human condition, something that deeply defines us as a species and something that we all truly share in at some point or another, and it really is quite eye opening to see stories set in space or set in the future… where it doesn’t seem to have the impact that it does now. As though one of the hardest experiences for us to overcome, somehow can be handled easily with progressive technology and hope for a better tomorrow.

Which is why this week’s episode of The Ark on SYFY was so delightfully impressive. For it took the time to showcase that grief isn’t something that would just go away because of a need for immediate survival and because technology could comfort. It would be real, and it would be something that potentially… someone would hold onto in a negative manner because of the trappings of the future. All of which ‘It Should Have Been You’ explored by way of one incredible surprise aboard Ark 1. For the FTL drive was having a slight malfunction after being turned into a weapon and while the captain, Doctor Markus, and Ian were poking about it to help… a surge of energy transported them into the depths of their minds.

All because the good doctor happened to harbor technology from Maddox from the early stages of the human augmentation program. Granted his trial failed, but the tech was able to link everyone’s minds, and for a brief while, the three of them lived in a dream state for what felt like months aboard an empty Ark 1, and once the tech failed in the doctor, he left them behind and returned to the real world. Leaving Ian and Garnet to live long and fruitful lives in that dream, the kind where they became close, and eventually they came to love one another, deeply. To the point where any attempt to bring them back to reality, failed because of the bond they formed. But eventually, they were pulled from the dream state and returned to regular life.

One that might not feature that love, as evidenced by Sharon’s response to Ian’s touch. But there was reasoning behind that. Because in that dream state, and fresh off of sending Lieutenant Lane’s body into the void, Sharon was enduring hard grief. Grief that she harbored for a man she loved and she of course, never got the chance to tell him of those feelings or explore where those feelings could go. So, in that safe space, she let Ian stand in as her love and lived the life she wanted with Lane. Which spoke to the tragic power of grief and how technology could perhaps instead help someone embrace it and use it in the wrong manner. Because Ian will indeed be hurt, and nothing will ever be the same between he and Sharon.

All of which offered up, a tragic and heartbreaking tale, really. One that reminded us that what makes us human, flaws and all, simply won’t disappear once we traverse the stars or find new ways to improve our lives through technology. Our wonder and our folly will be with us for all time, and the show deserves a round of applause for not just quickly moving on from Lieutenant Lane’s death and for showing the powerful impact of grief. And it should be fascinating to see what life will be like for Sharon and Ian in the days to come as we inch toward the season two finale of this incredible and magnificent series. Until next time.

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