‘Wilderness’ Recap: ‘Repent at Leisure’

10/23/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jenna Coleman as Liv Taylor in Episode 103 of ‘Wilderness’ – ‘Repent at Leisure’. (Photo Courtesy of Kailey Schwerman/Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Wilderness’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

There is a dark part of our souls… that sometimes ponders upon how far we would be willing to go to find justice in this life and safety if our family’s lives are threatened and well, it informs us that we would do anything. Because the thought of losing people or seeing them come to harm when we could do something, or enduring great personal pain when we could have stood tall, are an unsettling set of concepts indeed. So, we think that we would have no problem crossing the ultimate line to fix that, but perhaps… we should question the reaffirming peace that little voice promises us when we ask ourselves that question. Because to take a life, is no small feat, and it will stay with us forever. So, it might be worthwhile to really truly think logically about that line of thinking, so we can figure out if that is actually something we can live with.

Because that is quite the act, one that can absolutely damage a person’s psyche and riddle them with a deserved guilt. And perhaps the time has come for storytelling to deeply explore the consequences of giving into that line of thinking, to hammer home the need to think twice about harming someone in the name of our own peace, and that’s why the next episode of Wilderness on Prime Video is of note. Because ‘Repent at Leisure’ took the time to ponder upon the consequences of giving into the moment and those thoughts of murder in exchange for peace. That is… after toying with us for a little while.

Because this particular story picked up the morning after Liv shoved Cara off of a cliff in the middle of the night, meaning now she had to live with her actions and the consequences, until she didn’t.
Because panic from Garth regarding Cara’s whereabouts brought forth the authorities and a search and rescue team. Which also meant, Liv and Will needed to make up, because they were asked to help and that gave Liv a chance to retrace her steps, hide evidence, and breathe a sigh of relief when Cara was discovered and alive. Barely, of course; because her body was quite broken. But that made it seem as though Liv was not going to face any charges or trouble for her actions. Because Cara was going to live, without a single memory of what happened. For she did struggle to recall the night’s events and undoubtedly would keep some of it secret since it involved a desperate attempt to sleep with Will once again. Making it seem as though Liv dodged a bullet and the lesson at hand would never come forth.

But alas, as Liv began to ponder upon her future with Will and what she needed to do to heal from all of this ugliness, the news came through. In that, Cara succumbed to her injuries and died in the hospital, hurting Garth, and leaving Liv beside herself. Because now… she had in fact, taken a life, and every single day going forward, she would have to live with that. Which immediately was no easy task, for she was inconsolable and incoherent, and she was so broken and so eager to do something right, she even covered for her hubby. Because he slept the night off elsewhere in the hotel and did get an in person request to meet Cara, and if the police were to learn of that, he would be a suspect. But she needed that moment of good, of levity, and she claimed he was with her all night. An act that gave her no comfort and prompted her to sink further and well, that bleak moment wrapped up one bleak episode, one truly hammered home the need to think on the gravity of violent acts.

Because we might in fact, take a life, and that is an irreparable act that will have a greater impact upon us than we give it credit, regardless of what bravado and bluster our mind tells us otherwise. As evidenced by the bevy of emotions that Liv went through here, and wow… did that make for an engaging tale. One that was akin to a waking nightmare that there was no escaping or waking up from, and well… this episode deserves our awe for that. For it was raw, visceral, angry, and emotionally devastating. Which would undoubtedly reflect taking part in the ultimate act and it also set the stage for one incredible journey ahead. One riddled with guilt, echoes of that fateful night and the ultimate question… what if? Until next time.

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