‘The Ark’ Recap: ‘One Step Forward, Two Steps Back’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE ARK -- "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back" Episode 105 -- Pictured: Miles Barrow as Trent Baylor -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Normally, television shows that feature great mysteries and secrets, follow specific edicts when the truth about those elements begin to come to light. For instance, they tend to reveal the truth near the end of the story, to genuinely wow the audience. Or… they tend to make the mystery/secret, epic in nature. So big in fact, that the show has to dedicate a great deal of time to exploring the significance of the truth and the fallout that likely comes with it. Which is why the SYFY series, The Ark, is of note. Because this is a series that is loaded to the gills with secrets and mysteries surrounding the crew of Ark One, but as those secrets begin to spill out into the open, the show is making sure to handle them in a vastly different and surprising manner than we are normally used to.
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Take for instance the follow-up regarding the reveal that Lieutenant Garnet is in fact… a souped-up clone. Because that should come with some serious fallout, the kind that makes people uncomfortable, and the opening of ‘Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back’, made it seem as though this episode was going to explore just that in great detail. Since Lieutenant Lane discovered the truth and immediately brought it to the bridge crew’s attention in the hopes of demoting Garnet and assuming command himself. Only to have that… blow up in his face. Because no one was eager for a leadership change at the moment, in fact… Garnet was finally handed her proper title in support of her: Captain. Which promptly resolved this matter and that was quite fresh and original since this kind of secret would normally have major fallout for episodes on end.

But the series wrapped that up quickly, so it could delve into more new territory regarding secrets and mysteries, a feat that it accomplished by having another crisis come forth aboard the ship. Because the attempt to get the engines running to near light speed, led to a massive radiation leak. One so deadly that the crew had to be evacuated to the bow of the ship and where the bridge crew, had to scramble to figure out a way to activate the safety systems that could solve this crisis. Which all boiled down… to the sacrifice of a crew member. Because someone had to pull the lever to save lives and no one would survive that amount of radiation and well, the crew was presented with quite the surprising volunteer for that doomsday mission. Because in between the chaos of moving the crew to the front of the ship, Felix finally completed his investigation into the murder that has been haunting him.

As it turned out, Trent was the one responsible for this after all, and he also leaked the video of Captain Garnet. Because he believed this ship required balance and the right minds in the right places and was willing to go the extra mile to ensure that. But when presented with the reality that the mission was going to fail without a volunteer, and because he had the expertise to deal with broken technology, he volunteered for the mission… and saved the day. Which led to redemption for Trent and the solving of another mystery in a prompt manner and really… that’s where the story decided to offer up a unique and fresh direction regarding such matters. For Trent’s passing and subsequent ability to even complete this mission, came from Lane’s decision to vouch for the young man and demand his redemption. All because, Trent’s willingness to save others came with a caveat.

One that involved Lane picking up the mantle for the mission that Trent and Imaginary Ingram discussed last week. Wherein Lane and his desire for order and perfection aboard this ship, made him the new steward of William Trust, who just so happens to aboard the ship after all. A reveal that added new mystery and secrets to this story, one that made it clear… that we are in for a rollercoaster ride in the back half of season one. Because this series wants to keep the intrigue and the tension going and the only way to do that… is to shake up how a series handles such matters. Which means minimal fallout explorations and an even faster reveal and resolution to what already hangs over this story. So, we can get to the big surprises and secrets, the kind that clearly involve the brain behind this program and well… that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode as painful as it gets. Until next time.

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