‘The Consultant’ Recap: ‘Elephant’ & ‘Hammer’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Seven and the Season One Finale of ‘The Consultant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past six episodes, the Prime Video series, The Consultant, has put on a masterclass examination regarding the nature of evil and what drives it in this world and how easily it can consume a person. A feat it has accomplished, by allowing for us to get to get to know the enigma that is one Regus Patoff and learn of his love of chaos and how he desperately enjoys inspiring darkness in others. Which in turn has brought forth our understanding of how evil grabs hold whilst chilling us to the bone. Since the story has also heavily implied that Regus is nothing more than a monster of sorts, one that knows how to yield a special power to influence people into the darkness.
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But while it has been fascinating to learn what evil lurks in the heart of humanity, we have all been quite curious as to where this exploration is going. For even the seventh episode in this saga, ‘Elephant’, leaned hard into the ease of which darkness can take over. A feat that story accomplished by having Regus push Elaine like never before. All by asking her to really think of an incredible way to publicize the game, and a glib remark on her part, about setting a giant elephant free in the city, put her in a bind. Because Regus loved that idea and demanded she do whatever she needed to in order to make that stunt take place and well… that meant fully embracing the darkness.

Because to make this happen, she would need unsavory people, and ‘off the books’ payments, and well… she accomplished that, and of course indulging in such darkness without giving it much thought, led to disaster. Because had to recruit her ex to make this happen and he of course wanted the world and Patoff’s desire to not pay him, put her in a tough place. Not to mention, the elephant died, putting that reality upon her soul. In fact, ‘Hammer’ was a story that brought forth the consequences of letting evil thrive. Because not only did Elaine have to reconcile the fact, she killed an innocent animal to appease the boss… but Craig came to learn his beloved was working for Patoff and well… that led to a powerhouse showdown. 

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One that saw Elaine rescue Patti at last while Craig taught Patoff quite the lesson. One where he made sure to inflict pain on a man that had inflicted so much pain on others and that ended… with a severed toe and big changes to everyone’s lives. Since Patti realized she and Craig weren’t compatible and Elaine managed to land the top job at CompWare as a gift for crossing the line, and evil persisted. Since despite losing a golden toe that Craig planned to enjoy retirement from, since he scooped it up, Regus found another job. Which really did make it seem as though this ending was a misnomer of sorts… one designed to wow instead of bringing this all together. But in reality, everything that happened in this finale… did do that in a supremely subtle manner.
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For in essence, this was a story that teaches us, the right way to combat evil. Which isn’t just beating the hell out of it and into submission. It’s more about learning the warning signs and understanding how it gets under our skin and into our minds and how we need to be vigilant regarding that. Because to not question what is asked of us, to not resist decisions made in the name of money or standing, informs evil that it has hold of us and can do as it pleases. But when we fight back by saying no, by risking standing to keep it at bay, that is how we weaken it and that is how we destroy it and that made this, a fascinating season of storytelling. 

One that truly took us on a wild ride through both the philosophical and the supernatural, since clearly… Regus was something otherworldly and well… this is a season that will leave us with plenty to think upon when all is said and done. Simply because it really did offer up a quality analysis on the nature of evil and what makes it tick and what helps it to persist in our world and did so in a manner that was compelling and fascinating and truly entertaining and well, it will be interesting to see if Prime Video grants us more adventures with Regus and his special brand of evil… or if this unique story is where we part ways, but either way, at least we were able to enjoy a complete and original story. One that truly offered up a thoughtful and twisted adventure, with dynamic characters, that learned some valuable lessons from the strangest consultant to ever grace the business world.  

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