‘The Ark’ Recap: ‘Kill or Be Killed’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE ARK -- "Kill or Be Killed" Episode 202 -- Pictured: Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here.
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If there is one fundamental question that has hung heavy over the hit SYFY series, The Ark, it would have to be… how do we find our way forward as a unified species? Simply because we live in a divided world and we are desperate to see the division end and find peace and unity, and we often turn to science fiction to find those answers, and this show is one that has broached that question. Granted, it hasn’t outright answered it, and rightfully so. Because there is no easy, simple answer to doing this or we would have done it already. Instead. the show has correctly pointed out, some of the elements that will go into answering that question, and that’s top of mind today, because another piece of the puzzle was laid out during last night’s episode.

For ‘Kill or Be Killed’ saw some newfound tension and division arise over Captain Sharon Garnet’s decision to bring members of Ark Fifteen aboard Ark One. For so many saw the attack that took place against the ship and Ark Three, as a sign that sabotage and more bloodshed would arrive aboard the ship. So naturally, anyone from Evelyn’s vessel was greeted with disdain and distrust, especially Kelly, since her legend spread far and wide through the corridors of the ship and well… just like that… we were back to square one. Aboard a vessel without trust and full of division and that allowed for the perfect moment to explore how… it is up to the leaders of the world to demand grace, and patience, and understanding so we can find common ground and move forward when division is sown. 

Which Garnet was able to do by way of some fascinating decisions. First and foremost, by disarming the concerns of her nervous crew. Because she pointed out, how no one that came aboard from Evelyn’s ship of doom… was someone in command or anyone that might have an agenda. It was the scientists, the engineers and doctors, and one from security with a conscience. A move designed to point out that not everyone was on the same page and others didn’t always have the influence to be free of tyranny. So that the crew of Ark One would have an understanding of the situation for the other half and offer them grace. Which they did, with some oversight of course, but that line of thinking is something that would go a long way in moving forward as a nation and as a species since it would help to stop with the us versus them mentality. 

But there was still more work to be done as the ship underwent emergency repairs to get back to Ark Three so they could strip it and complete their repairs. For the Kelly situation kept disdain and concern alive and well, that prompted Captain Garnet to order a trial to decide Kelly’s fate. Wherein we all came to learn that she was nothing short of a blunt instrument, one designed to do her mother’s bidding and she did so with regret and sorrow. Granted, she still committed crimes, but she was not the tireless monster that others painted her out to be. She was an unwilling solider and deserved a little more than hatred and fear. She deserved a chance to rehabilitate and earn her keep. So, she was given a chance to do so through a brig sentence. But what mattered more, is that once again, understanding came into play to diffuse fears and that did indeed bring peace aboard the ship.

Of course, that won’t be the end of issues aboard the ship, since trust does take time to come together, and there’s that weird matter of that bolt of energy that snuck its way into the ship during its rocky FTL trip to Ark Three. But for now, we can celebrate a thoughtful episode. One that spoke to how rhetoric and anger, two orders of the day right now, are causing more harm than good, and that we need to do what happened here to find a little peace. Of course, easier said than done, but it is nice that this show is offering us answers in these trying times and now that we’ve reached the end of this particular struggle, it is onto the next one. For Ark One has a stowaway to deal with and is still in need of major repairs to make the voyage forward toward a second chance for all of mankind. Until next time.

To learn more about season two of ‘The Ark’, check out our interview with the actors who play Angus and Alicia, Ryan Adams and Stacey Read.

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