Ghosts of the Forest
Beastmaster Episode Review
In which Tao is bummed.
What Happened
Tao is feeling bummed about the psychotic blood-thirsty priests who took over his home being kicked out by the slightly less psychotic King Voden and his Nords. Voden wants to make nice with Dar and thinks that they will get off on the right foot if he captures a bunch of tigers and forces Dar to come to Xinca and rescue them.
A tiger released from a pit trap turns out to be Ruh's dying mother Tiala. Ruh asks Dar to escort Tiala on her final journey, and he agrees. They are followed by Arina, who is sent along by Voden and saddled with a pushy flunky who picks fights with her.
The quest to guide Tiala inspires Tao to reconsider his goals in life. He decides to call together the scattered Eirons and try to find a way to retake Xinca. As Tiala dies, Voden catches up with Dar and Tao. In a show of good faith, he releases a captured Eiron and promises Dar he can come and go from Xinca as he wishes.
What We Learned
- Don't insult those who are better than you are.
- Embracing one's destiny will bring ever greater rewards.
- A man who confronts his enemy in anger has already lost.
- Tigers get very unreasonable when you harm one of their own.
- Let's not get too dramatic. It's a small tent. It could go up in no time.
- Tao has a brother named Kim.
- Danger isn't high on Dar's list of concerns right now.
- It doesn't matter if a man falls, as long as he rises and goes on.
- Voden finds martyrs intriguing.
- It takes great skill to turn defeat into purpose.
Best Lines
Tao: "I've been thinking."
Dar: "I will take that as sign you're feeling better."
What Did I Think?
Less melodramatic than the one-line synopsis would suggest. Voden is a very different kind of enemy for Dar.