‘The Ark’ Recap: ‘Like It Touched the Sun’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE ARK -- “Like It Touched the Sun” Episode 102 -- Pictured: Reece Ritchie as Lt. Spencer Lane -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
​
Something that is genuinely fascinating about stories that push a character emotionally and physically, is the sheer fact that they tend to hold back regarding how hard they push said character. And what makes that fascinating… is because it often leaves us wondering… why? Because in storytelling, there are no limits, so why not truly push the character to their breaking point and beyond if the opportunity is there and the story calls for it. So, we can properly explore the human condition and the reality that we have limits, and that life will sometimes put us to the test. But alas, so few stories do, for reasons that aren’t that clear and that is why it is always refreshing to run into a story, in any medium, that understands that going the harsher route does in fact… create good storytelling through and through.
​
Because it gives the viewer or the reader, something to connect to and it also vests them and has them rooting for this person (or persons) to rise above the madness after they stumble and fall, and one particular show that is happy to lean into this and is a breath of fresh air for doing so, is The Ark on SYFY. For this series had no qualms putting the crew of the broken Ark One to the test last week, and it definitely had no problem with pushing the crew to their outright breaking point in this week’s tale. For ‘Like It Touched the Sun’ was a brutal tale to say the least, one that shockingly, seemed as though it was going to back off as stories in this vein are wont to do, early on. Since this episode opened with a simple inspection of the hull, to see what caused the disaster in question and to assess the true damage ahead of them.

A move that implied that things were stabilizing aboard Ark One and perhaps a sense of normalcy would wash over the crew. But the fact that greater damage from this ship killed a crewman and knocked out Lieutenant Lane, informed us that more tough days were ahead and just like that… we were plunged into a terrifyingly stressful time aboard this ship. Since we saw the crew… working tireless hours to put out more fires and prepare this vessel for a lean and mean run to the finish line. Which meant fatigue began to come into play and there were equipment failures abound. Some of which related to the damage, while others related to nefarious acts. Such as the knife that broke the piping in the new on-board farm. Which cost the crew tons of water. 

---

THE ARK -- “Like It Touched the Sun” Episode 102 -- Pictured: (l-r) Tiana Upcheva as Eva Markovic, Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Which in turn, led to some low points for everyone. Since fatigue and fear brought about physical fights aboard the ship and even outright emotional breakdowns. Which prompted Commander Garnet to enlist Cat’s help in improving the mental health of the crew, and to order sleeping shifts, all in the hopes of keeping this fragile crew from falling into the abyss and there were some positives that came from these decisions. Since Cat was able to help Eva cope with grief and push through some of it for the time being to get the water reclamation system working, so the crew wouldn’t die of thirst. A move that made it seem as though, perhaps the darkness was about to end, and more traditional happy times were about to come into play. But that simply wasn’t the case.
​
For we came to learn at the end of this tale, that the ship’s water supply was still in a dire situation and that the engines were offline as well now, since Eva tried to use the coolant in the engine systems to give everyone more of an absolute essential. Which ended this tale on a supremely dark note, one that spoke to real trouble ahead and a possible end of everything for this crew and that… while bleak and unsettling, was a brilliant way to end to a brilliant and outright incredibly intense tale. One that offered up a no holds barred look at the stresses this crew is now facing and was free of commentary as well. This was simply… an experience, and a powerful one at that. Because it left all of us, worried about this crew and whether or not they are going to make it.

Because despite some shady revelations here about the past, and how the ship was damaged, and possibly Lieutenant Lane, everyone here is trying to make a difference and be better and get to their destination. And we want to see that happen, and this show deserves a serious round of applause for taking us through an emotionally exhausting experience to further immerse us in these trying times in a raw and honest manner. For that is rare storytelling for certain, but it speaks to the fact that Dean Devlin and Jonathan Glasser want us to experience a supremely human science fiction story, and being there for the dark times, regardless of how long they last… is one impactful way to do just that. Until next time.  

---

Powered by JustWatch