‘Time Bandits’ Recap: ‘Ice Age’ & ‘Home Again’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Kal-El Tuck and Kiera Thompson as Kevin Haddock and Saffron Haddock in Episode 107 of ‘Time Bandits’ – ‘Ice Age’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episodes Seven and Eight of ‘Time Bandits’. To revisit the previous two episodes, clickhere.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that family can sometimes be overwhelming. Courtesy of stressful moments in our household or the general, and sometimes ugly, disagreements that happen. All of which leave us eager to just get away from them all. Not because we don’t love them, but because sometimes… we just need a minute apart to clear our heads and bring down the temperature. So, so we can be reminded… of how important our family is to us, and that in turn helps us to resolve and reconcile with our family. Which is important to do, because we only get one, and they are special people that mean the world to us, and well, that particular truth is top of mind today, because it was featured in the next block of episodes of Time Bandits on Apple TV+.

A feat that ‘Ice Age’ and ‘Home Again’ accomplished, by way of some awkward family reunions to say the least. For we learned that the shaky portal from last week’s tales did indeed transport the entire team… into the heart of the Ice Age. A place they have been before but this time around… there was a surprise present here. In that, the cavemen that populated this era spoke some rudimentary English, mostly slang, and that was because Saffron had spent three years of her life in the cold. So, she taught them how to talk and how to function and how YOLO was more than a catchy slogan, but a true mantra for life, and well… this reunion allowed for Kevin and Saffron to reconnect and understand how much they loved one another and how badly they wanted to save their parents.

Which prompted a trip back home, one that also went… in a weird direction. Because the map sent them to the 1990s, when their parents were still kids through and through. A move that really didn’t offer a grand opportunity to save them as they had hoped, but it did allow for internal reconciliation to take place. Since both Kevin and Saffron were able to be open with the kid versions of mom and dad and speak to what they felt in their heart. All of which… spoke to how time away from their parents gave them perspective and longing, and an understanding what family meant to them. Which really did bring forth fine lessons for all of us, and some tender moments. The kind that seemed bittersweet since Kevin wasn’t sure that anything that they accomplished in the 90s would save mom and dad’s lives in the slightest.

But the chaos that ensued in the 90s, courtesy of not one, but two Fianna’s chasing them about… did some good after all. Because it taught mom and dad to prepare for the moment she would arrive in present day 2024, and because of that, they were captured instead of cooked and were able to speak to their kids from the lair of Pure Evil. Who demanded a trade, the map for mom and dad’s precious lives, and well, just like that… the stage was set for an epic finale. One where Kevin and Saffron could potentially save their parents and all of space and time, and they might have real heroes to help them. Since the Time Bandits finally came into their own here and accomplished wonders in keeping Kevin and Saffron, and the family safe.

All of which made, for a pair of lovely episodes, that were filled to the brim with heart and magnificent lessons on the wonder and the majesty of family, and how time away helps to heal all things regarding them. Which gave us grand perspective and offered us some stunningly good laughs. Because let’s be honest, the running gag involving that goth gent, was the stuff of legend, as was the whole ‘GranDad’ sequence. Plus, Saffron teaching protohumans how speak slang was ridiculously hilarious. Since none of us had hearing a caveman say ‘sus’ on our 2024 bingo card. But it happened and it was amazing and well, now that the Haddock family has healed in one special way, the time has come to turn our attention to one epic season finale, where Kevin and his heroic friends will fight to save the ‘rents from Pure Evil’s clutches. Until next time.

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