Destiny

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which there is a magic horse and Tao has good taste in women.

What Happened

Dar and Tao go to the fair to do some grocery shopping and spot some of King Zad's knights stealing a stallion from a circus performer. Niva wants to go after the animal, so Dar insists on going with her, in spite of a warning from the seer Olana. She claims that if he goes to Xinca, Dar will die.

Tao worries about Dar, but Dar realizes that Simtar the Stallion is one of his family and plots to find a way to rescue him. While Tao flirts with Niva's sister Pola, Dar and Niva sneak into the city. She wants to act immediately, but Dar counsels patience.

Zad wants to use the stallion to breed more war-horses, and Slythius claims that the true king will ride Simtar into battle and be victorious. Simtar won't let Zad near him, however, until Niva shows up and offers to train the animal. She's buying time for Dar to put his Clever Plan into action.

Dar finds a horse that looks like Simtar, then disguises the beast and tells Niva to lead it to Zad. Climbing on the animal's back, Zad's real pleased with himself until Slythius points out the deception. Dar continues the distraction and fakes being stabbed in the back to draw Zad away from the animals, fulfilling Olana's prophecy before making his getaway.

What We Learned

• Shadows never lie.
• That's no way to treat a lady.
• What would please Zad is not always hearing that his knights had let the Beastmaster escape.
• Zad distrusts coincidence when there is a kingdom at stake.
• A man as powerful as Zad can always get what he wants.
• Zad has never been Dar's king and never will be.
• The day is coming.

What Did I Think?

Don't know why they had to send Tao's girlfriend away. It's not like keeping her around would have gotten in the way. And she was one of the few appealing new characters we've gotten.