The Island

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which there be monsters. Which is why you should not go there, you know?

What Happened

Tao leaves Dar's camp to continue his journeys. When he arrives a new village, however, they recognize him as an Eiron and add him to a boat taking prisoners to an island inhabited by freaky bat-creatures who kill all who are left there.

The Good

• "I'm talking to rats as if they would understand the importance of such things." Tao had a bit of ego there at the start.
• Tao's garden and Dar's reaction. There was some tension between them and the contrast was nice.
• "I don't care what you think. I'm talking to myself." Ruh used to have a personality; all the animals used to be more than props.
• "Mouth faster than a cricket's legs"? "Weak and scrawny"? Not very flattering descriptions of your new best friend, Dar?
• Drawing and quartering Dar? These villagers need to stop making their own fun. The head guard didn't seem especially upset that Dar broke free and kicked the snot out of his flunkies. Guess he thought the show was worth it.
• Okay. The Bat-People were creepy.
• Flightless bats watching the birds, like the people of the village and their flightless thoughts. Nice theme.
• Yeah, you don't mess with Ruh, bat-folk.
• "Falling is something you do so well." Don't talk Dar. You just got rescued by your ferrets.

The Bad

• "Eirons are master tricksters." That had been lost by the time we actually met more of Tao's people.

The Cliche

• Monster movie walkabout.

What Did I Think?

An average plot, but there are so many elements here that got lost later on, like, say, during most of season three?