‘The Ark’ Recap: ‘The Painful Way’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE ARK -- “The Painful Way” Episode 109 -- Pictured: (l-r) Stacey Read as Alicia Nevins, Christie Burke as Lt. Sharon Garnet, Richard Fleeshman as Lt. James Brice, Pavle Jerinic as Felix Strickland, Tamara Radovanović as Jelena Griff -- (Photo by: Aleksandar Letic/Ark TV Holdings, Inc./SYFY)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Nine of ‘The Ark’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that the SYFY series, The Ark, is one of the best science fiction shows on television right now. Simply because this is a bold sci-fi series, one that loves to push its characters and push the envelope and it has of course… provided us with epic surprises upon epic surprises, and it also features one engaging plot. One that is grounded in science and explores a scary future where our inability to take care of our planet has come around full circle. Adding depth to this series, and it has also allowed for some incredible commentary to come forth. The kind that has pondered upon whether or not there is hope for humanity and its future and if it is remotely possible for us to work together as a species toward a better tomorrow.
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In fact, those musings are critical and vital to our discussions today, simply because… they are something that has gone the wayside a bit in the story, and rightfully so. After all, coming to discover another Ark, and that a rogue Ark was out for blood in the stars, definitely takes priority. But it finally returned to the forefront of the story in quite the bold and dynamic manner. For last night’s episode of the show, saw Captain Garnet be forced with a tough decision. For Alicia came to discover where Ark Fifteen was located in ‘The Painful Way’, and sadly… it was heading straight for Proxima B. Which meant conflict awaited the crew of Ark One, and well… the options in surviving the obvious fight ahead, were to either find a new home or try to deploy an experimental shield that Trust was toying with, and there was no guarantee it would work.

So, Garnet opted to fire up the FTL drive and head to a new location. A move that did not guarantee that the ship would make it to their destination, but it would give everyone time to think and time to breathe and sadly… bad thoughts came forth, first. For Helena Trust began to sow the seeds of doubt in Garnet, and William echoed those and soon… there was a full-on mutiny aboard the ship. One that saw Garnet and her closest associates be captured in the expectation that the shield would hold and that Ark Fifteen could be dealt with upon arrival at Proxima B. A plan that fell to pieces when the Trusts were a little too brutal with Garnet and her friends, prompting a flip and surrender from those disloyal to the captain and while Lane and Eva, and other mutineers did the right thing in the end… they were in a precarious place going forward. 

All of which really did dig deep into that central theme of the show, but before we explore that in greater detail, we’d be foolish to not discuss, this week’s surprise twist. Simply because so many of us have been wondering what Kelly is about and where her loyalty lies and, in this episode, we found out. For she revealed in a harrowing manner that she wasn’t the sole survivor of Ark Three, but a spy from Ark Fifteen. One that apparently was eager to find William Trust and of course, did so, and was quick to signal her ship. Which put the shield to the test, wherein… it failed. Setting the stage for new revelations, and a showdown with Captain Garnet. Who won’t stand for any hostilities against the crew she’s worked so hard to protect. But while we wait for more answers and surprises, we can revel in a story that truly tackled the grand questions at hand.

Specifically, is there hope for a future for us and can we as a species can come together, and this is a story that reminds us… why we worry about that. Because everyone was once again pulling in different directions here and worried about their ego or agenda over the greater good… the survival of humanity. And while this episode didn’t directly answer those questions, plunging us back into the chaos that people create served to remind us… that the key to answering yes to those questions, is learning how to put those differences aside and finding a way forward, together. Something the crew of Ark One has done in the past and well, in the end, this epic and intense tale informs us… this series is about to go hard into its central theme and answer that question in either a harrowing and cautionary way or a noble one that gives us hope. As to which one we get, time will tell but that will definitely motivate us to tune in and learn those answers from a dynamic science fiction series that continues to wow us and leave us thinking. Until next time.

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