Into the Badlands season 3, episode 2: Moon Rises, Raven Seeks

In the latest episode of Into the Badlands, we get to see Pilgrim in action. Meanwhile, MK learns something that may change everything.

Last week, we were introduced to Pilgrim and his people and this week we got to learn a lot more about them. In the aftermath of Sunny realizing Henry has the gift, we learn how this is a possibility and where Sunny must go next. Meanwhile, the Widow sends Nathaniel Moon to hunt down Bajie so they can unlock MK’s gift, while MK is ready to give up on himself.

All of this and so much more occurred in what was a very busy episode. The longer season has fortunately not led to the showrunners slowing down the pace one bit, so let’s get into the details.

The first temple

At the start of the show, Castor is having issues with his abilities. Nix is concerned for him but Pilgrim reassures them both that things will be fine. It is at this time that Cressida walks into an open field before we see what she was looking for. It’s a building on a small island in the middle of a lake. Cressida refers to it as the first temple of Azra.

MK meets Moon

Back at The Sanctuary, The Widow gives Nathaniel a new hand. It has a retractable blade and Moon loves it. That’s when MK appears, upset that his opium has been taken from his room. The Widow tells Moon that MK has been skipping out on his training and she’d like them to train together. Moon obliges, fighting MK with no weapon besides his new hand. MK has a sword but they fight to a near-draw before Nathaniel compliments MK. When he asked who trained him he learns that it was Sunny and he doesn’t seem surprised. MK gets cocky however and Moon has to put him in his place. He quickly drops him and knocks him unconscious.

The Gift and the Mad Witch

At the refugee camp, Bajie, Sunny and Lydia are discussing what to do about baby Henry. Bajie confirms that the gift is passed down through the blood and he’s willing to bet it came from Sunny’s side and not Veil’s. Lydia says that Sunny was found with the symbol of Azra around his neck so she agrees that it came from his bloodline. She then suggests that they track down the Mad Witch to learn more.

As appears to be the case with everything, Bajie knows the way. Unfortunately, they’ll have to go through the front lines of The Widow’s war with Chau to get to her in Vulture’s Peak. Sunny asks him about the Mad Witch, Ankara. She was his first master but she was obsessed with finding Azra. She eventually went mad but before then Bajie thought that he was the chosen one and spent his life hoping that the people of Azra would show up like angels and fix everything that was wrong with the world. It’s clear that this is why he hates religion now.

Moon’s new mission

With MK down for the count, the Widow sends Moon to hunt down Bajie. As a side mission, she tells him about the Iron Rabbit. She says that “he” has been hitting her transports and that he took Bajie this time. Previously she just thought he was a nuisance but now this is a problem. It’s clear she doesn’t realize this is Tilda.

Babou Ceesay as Pilgrim – Into the Badlands _ Season 3, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan/AMC /

The first temple

We make our way back to Pilgrim and his people and the building they saw was apparently an old museum. There are dinosaur skeletons and other displays throughout the building. Some of their people start to question if they are in the right place and Cressida notices. She tells Pilgrim that they must make examples of the non-believers before the flock loses its way.

Pilgrim agrees and asks anyone who has doubt to step forward. Four people do and Pilgrim blindfolds himself and drops to his knees asking them to strike him down. He says that all he has is blind faith to protect him. Three of the men surround him and he makes short work of them. He kills the first one with just one punch. By the time he gets to the fourth, who never swung, the man says he is a believer now. Pilgrim hugs him before walking off and saying:

“Remember. A man is only as strong as his faith”

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Nathaniel arrives at the refugee camp.

Sunny sees Tilda but before he can strike her, Bajie stops him and says she saved him. Tilda apologizes to Sunny for not standing up to the Widow sooner but their meeting is cut short when Nathaniel arrives.

Lydia tries to stall him but when Sunny accidentally knocks something of her desk, Tilda has to step out. She introduces herself as the orphaned Calliope and Lydia hands her Henry to keep her from attacking Nathaniel. Instead, Lydia leaves with him to get him out of her camp. Everyone lives to see another day.

A history lesson

Back at the museum, Nix and Castor look at pictures of old world landmarks. The Statue of Liberty, Great Wall of China, and things of the sort. He asks Nix what she thinks happened to the old world. She tells him that the people ignored the signs of their destruction, so fate decided to punish them.

That’s when she notices that his ear is bleeding and he asks her not to tell Pilgrim. Castor doesn’t think he’s going to live to see the promised land and Pilgrim overhears all of this.

Pilgrim’s doubts

Pilgrim and Cressida speak privately and it appears he has his doubts as well. He tells Cressida that they need proof because the museum is not what he expected to find. The Catalyst sent them the symbol but he is not there.

Cressida retells the story of how she nursed him to health after finding him. When he expresses concern over Castor, she also reminds him that the “black-eyed ones” don’t live long lives and that he’s given Castor’s life meaning.

Aramis Knight as M.K. – Into the Badlands _ Season 3, Episode 2 – Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan/AMC /

MK’s revelation

With his opium gone, MK is going through withdrawals. He has one of the butterflies sneak him some opium with the plan of overdosing. However, he instead has the dreams that he had when he was trying to unlock his gift. Dark MK tells him that suicide is the coward way and that he is trapped inside him because MK is convinced that he killed his mother. He tells MK that he did not and proceeds to take him back to the day it happened.

There are men in MK’s village killing everyone before his mother comes up to him and tells him to run. That’s when a sword goes through her back and she goes down, revealing that it was Sunny who killed her.

MK drops to his knees and when he looks up his eyes are black.

Lydia and The Widow

As Nathaniel and Lydia arrive at The Sanctuary, Nathaniel hints that there may have been some history between them. It appears he tried to run away with her and she turned down the offer.

Lydia questions The Widow’s motivation behind her war before she is given a proposition. The Widow tells her that she’ll make her a Viceroy and let her manage the poppy fields if she gives her The Iron Rabbit. We don’t see Lydia agree or disagree but it appears that she is considering it.

Next: Into the Badlands Season 3 premier recap

Conclusions

At the end of the episode, Tilda approaches Sunny again and offers him the uniforms that she took from The Widow’s men. She’s trying to make up for the fact that Veil was killed but he tells her that some debts are never paid.

Back at the sanctuary, we see that MK is still unconscious so he only unlocked his gift in his head. We have no idea what state he’ll be in when he wakes up.

At the museum, Cressida and Pilgrim are carrying out a ritual. He puts hooks into her back and raises her toward the ceiling. He asks what she sees and she simply says that she sees “everything.”

There was not a single slow moment in this episode and we learned a lot. We learned that Sunny killed MK’s mom, that MK carries the gene for the gift, and what happened to the world. Going into next week, we know that Moon is still hunting Bajie and The Iron Rabbit, MK may have his gift back, and Sunny is on his way to the Mad Witch. I expect next week will be just as fast-paced.

Into the Badlands returns next Sunday at 10/9 central on AMC.

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