Let’s just call the Killjoys season 4 finale what it was — wildly satisfying and ominous. It would seem that for all the effort put into trapping The Lady in The Green, methinks she made it out, at least judging by the episode’s final scenes and the trailer for season 5. By the way, was that little Zeph there at the end? Sure looked like her…you know, controlling everyone.
Episode 410, “Sporemageddon,” seemed very focused on memories and how they go about coloring and shading lives moving forward. Oh, the show offered more than that, I know, but I couldn’t help but notice how much of this episode rose and fell on the basis of memory.
Pree has a great moment with Zeph when she’s wanting to test her “cure” for the infection on Westerley. She asks him how she gets over Pip’s death and he has some advice that felt like a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come, as well as insightfully right on point for us all.
“Oh sweetheart, you don’t (get over it). Life isn’t about getting over or letting go, it’s just moving ahead. There’s nothing behind you but shadows,” he tells an obviously grieving Zeph. But his words weren’t simply about Zeph, but about the episode as a whole – overcoming the shadows being used by The Lady. In that heartfelt, poignant line of dialog, he summed up this episode in an insightful and clear way.
It was incredibly on-point writing delivered by an actor who makes a joyous habit of just killing it every….single….time. I admit, I got a little misty-eyed for Zeph while also shaking my head in agreement with the power of Pree’s words. Shadows, indeed. Thom Allison and Kelly McCormack, you were sensational together. Just powerful, emotional stuff from you both. Gads, when does S5 start? Withdrawal engaged.
KILLJOYS — “Sporemaggedon” Episode 410 — Pictured: (l-r) Aaron Ashmore as John, Luke Macfarlane as D’Avin — (Photo by: Christos Kalohoridis/Killjoys IV Productions Limited/SYFY)
But that was just a small nugget of “great” in an episode that had me more than once kind of bobbing and weaving trying to keep it all straight. And I loved it. I suspect most of you did, too. There were twists and turns aplenty in the episode and I recall a couple times wondering how they were going to bring this thing to fruition with all these threads kind of floating loose out there.
I mean, as a viewer, you had to be willing to trust the writers and actors in terms of storytelling because we had quite the fun little run going on and sometimes, honestly, it was a bit baffling. But there’s that trust thing. And in the end, those who helm this little diamond of a show once again left us with a gem of an episode. Satisfied with this one? You bet I was.
So what happened? Well, it would appear that the spore the kids were infected with, and subsequently infected the people of Westerley, was all part of The Lady’s plan to create a mindless and subservient group that she could remold into whatever she wanted. I do not like seeing Pree sick and I certainly didn’t like seeing he, and the rest of those infected, start to lose their memory. However, it makes perfect sense if The Lady did, indeed, skulk her way out of The Green.
And it all looked so promising when Aneela was stalling The Lady topside while Dutch used the memories of the green to get the poison compound in her hands and use it. Aneela seemed to have gotten the better of The Lady in what I’d like to say was a wonderfully badass fight.
Love the editing there where Aneela has the upper hand before Dutch, D’Avin, and Johnny emerge and they all take off together…but Aneela had apparently been defeated and been stashed behind a wall. Off run our intrepid quartet…only it would seem not to be the “correct” quartet, right?
KILLJOYS — “Sporemaggedon” Episode 410 — Pictured: Hannah John-Kamen as Aneela — (Photo by: Christos Kalohoridis/Killjoys IV Productions Limited/SYFY)
So, what do we surmise? That The Lady has made an escape via the help of Team Awesome Force? At least that’s what I took away from the hand extending through the liquid and the subsequent tease for next season where everyone is doing and being something else. Intriguing, don’t you think?
I admit I didn’t see that coming, and we’re not sure that’s what has happened. But in keeping with this episode’s subtle theme of memories, the chance that season 5 has to do with altered memories and the race to rediscover their true selves, could make some sense. Or not! I’m just spitballing here.
As season finales go, there wasn’t a hornet’s nest of shooting and explosions going on, but more of a subtle game of cat-and-mouse between our heroes and The Lady, a game that, it would seem, hasn’t been finished yet. No, this was an episode of subtle shifts of power, highs and lows, overcoming the power of memory being used against you, and the hope and trust that comes only in those times where it’s desperately needed.
Isn’t Hannah John-Kamen a shining beacon in her dual roles of Dutch and Aneela? Same person, two distinct personalities and, more importantly, two distinctly effective vibes. I can’t imagine the focus and concentration it must take HJK to pull off such compelling characters who, particularly in this episode, play off each other so closely.
You know, the writing, directing, editing, acting and overall vibe of this show continues to astound me. Kudos to all. Yes, you on the grip, you too. And the assistant director, whoever you are — you’re killing it.
KILLJOYS — “Sporemaggedon” Episode 410 — Pictured: (l-r) Thom Allison as Pree, Gavin Fox as Gared — (Photo by: Christos Kalohoridis/Killjoys IV Productions Limited/SYFY)
As I’ve said before, Killjoys pushes the boundaries of this genre so wonderfully and effectively, yet remains wildly entertaining. Damn good stuff. And again, it’s not easy to do humor when the episode is so rife with tension and potential disaster, but Killjoys makes magic with those little lines, those precious moments, when a quip here or an observation there speaks to the gravity of the situation, but also makes you smile (or chuckle. I’m a chuckler, so that’s my thing).
“Hey, we’re having a standoff over here,” Turin.
“Guys, seriously. Lot of guns here,” Johnny.
“Oh, so now someone likes my Poo face,” D’Avin.
I’m not going to go into all that was going on in this final episode of 410 because you probably watched it and have questions about “What’s Next?” just like I do. I assumed the good guys would win, or at least exact a toll as they inched closer to victory. The Lady has proven to be a formidable foe and one that, at least on the surface, appears to possibly have made it out. And that should wreak all kinds of chaos if true.
I”m also curious about the final scene with Aneela as Dutch and the gang head out to escape the green. Behind her stands a silent (and vigilant) Khlyen. Perhaps the final chapter of his and Aneela’s involvement is yet to be written. I mean, let’s face it, when Khlyen pops in, there’s usually some fairly heavy lifting that’s about to go on, so I’m taking his appearance as a good sign as we roll toward Season 5. Come on Khlyen, in the end you’re going to help get this thing done, right? Right?
The work of HJK, McCormack, Allison, Gavin Fox, Aaron Ashmore, Luke Mcfarlane, and the rest of the actors has been superb this season. Also, special shout out to Mayko Nguyen, whose turn as The Lady in the finale was really intriguing. An enticingly attractive malice was how I’d describe her and her scenes as The Lady with Aneela. I just thought she was wickedly wonderful.
So, we already know that season 5 is coming and we’ve seen a little preview for the future. As usual, things look unsettled and dangerous for Dutch and her cohorts, but I’m curious to know if The Lady has emerged and changed everyone’s grasp of who they are, or if there’s something else going on. Regardless, I thought season 4 was a really good, thoughtful and dynamic step into what could be an epic final season of Killjoys. At least, that’s my fervent hope. Great job, everyone.
Follow Killjoys on these social media sites: Facebook and on Twitter @Killjoys.
Follow me on Twitter: @jbakeR2D2 and @threeifbyspace.
Like us on Facebook or Subscribe
Share this article using our Social Share buttons above
