‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ Recap: ‘Episode 3’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ -- Episode 103 -- Pictured: Anna Próchniak as Gita Furman in Auschwitz -- (Photo by: Martin Mlaka/Sky UK)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there one particular question each and every one of us have asked ourselves, regarding the horrors of the concentration camps that existed in the Second World War, it would have to be... how did the survivors of those camps keep it together, mentally? Because we know those places were just… awful. For death surrounded so many, and suffering was the norm. Not to mention… fear was the other meal of the day since one never knew when a soldier might snap and just kill a prisoner for the fun of it, and they often did. Which would be enough to break any person’s spirits and lead them down their own path of darkness. So… how did they do it?

Well, it just so happens, that the next episode of The Tattooist of Auschwitz on Peacock, explored just that. For the darkness was beginning to descend upon Lali the longer he stayed in this place. After all, in this episode he was tasked with the most dangerous game of helping the Nazis to get items he needed, a move designed to mess with him psychologically, just because that was the order of the day for the men that saluted that little monster with the mustache, and that darkness was pushing him… to be like them. Since he was nasty to the new folks that joined his living space, and as judgmental of them as the Nazis were of him. Giving rise to real worry that this place had him tight and was only going to suck him in further and ruin him. 

But alas, that’s where we came to learn how Lali and so many survived, and it was through acts of resistance and a fight for something worthwhile. For Lali recognized his slide and changed course and fought back. Which was why Lali was quick to sign up a man being bullied, as the new tattooist when his mentor vanished as people did in this place. To stick it to the Nazi jackass that was bullying him. For that put his new friend under protected status, for the most part, one that was not to be touched by the lowlife that bothered him. Granted, suffering for that man still happened in a different way, but the principle of sticking it to them mattered more. As did collecting booze, candy, other contraband. Just so people could have that sliver of joy that was supposed to be denied from them.

Not to mention, Lali also perfected this art by helping his love survive. Because he took part in his uncomfortable act to get Gita the medication she so badly needed. So, she could live, so she could see him, and he even managed to get her on a better assignment. Where he could see her daily, and that led to so much joy in this joyless place. To the point where this duo was able to finally express their feelings and share in the wonder of that in every way imaginable. Robbing the Nazis of the sorrow they wished to impart and well… those little acts of resistance made for one satisfying tale. One that was still brutal and of course, still ominous, since the Nazis discovered Lali’s secret stash of contraband at the end of this tale but satisfying none the less.

Just because, those pigs didn’t get the better of Lali. He hurt them where he could, found joy where he could and so did others. Which informed us, that is how one survives such madness, and this is how one fights back without an army to support them. Because that does ruin things for the jerks in charge and they know it, as evidenced by the gross retaliations that took place, and that will likely embolden further resistance, further joy. Because no one here wants to let them win, and well… watching these poor individuals find agency and joy, really was quite the delight. Make no mistake about it though, this episode was still rough and still badly rattles your psyche, but you take the wins where you can, and it will be interesting to see how Lali continues to resist, post-punishment of course, as this series continues along Until next time.

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