Prize

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which the Sorceress has crap taste in men and the ferrets talk.

What Happened

The Sorceress and the Apparition get into a fight over which of them should be Balcifer's favorite, though why the Sorceress cares isn't explained. Balcifer is still in a snit over Dar, who is off helping defend a village of Tao's friends from a group of barbarians called the Rogan. It is decided that whichever woman gets Dar to abandon the village can claim victory.

The Apparition is sure that Dar can be turned by envy and/or lust, like any man. The Sorceress decides to appeal to his virtues, but explains that thinking as "Dar can be convinced to put his own interests before that of Tao's friends," which isn't really that different than the Apparition's theory when you think about it. The Sorceress offers to help Dar find his family, but threatens that he will die in the barbarian attack if he doesn't leave.

Dar remains and continues to train the villagers. The Apparition puts her own plan into action by increasing the numbers of Rogan into a horde, the leader of which offers to spare the village if Dar leaves. The villagers fight back and the Apparition's illusion is soon revealed. The false Rogan vanish and the rest run.

The Sorceress turns Kodo and Podo into humans so that she can question them about Dar and what he cares about. She persuades them that they need to convince Dar to leave the village. Kodo and Podo prepare to tell Dar that his pet ferrets are in danger, but the barbarians attack first. When the villagers win, the Apparition kidnaps Tao as bait to force Dar to leave. Kodo and Podo tell Dar what is happening and he confronts the Sorceress. With Sharak to back him up, he is able to guilt her into helping him.

The Sorceress concedes the competition and asks the Apparition what she's done to Tao. While Arina and Kodo and Podo (now back to being ferrets) save Tao, the Apparition goes to the village to gloat. Dar pops out of a house and warns her not to get ahead of herself, prompting Balcifer to remove her powers as punishment for failing.

What We Learned

• Arina has other gifts.
• This world isn't big enough for the both of us.
• When elephants fight, mice get trampled.
• Evil takes root in desperation.
• It can only flourish if we betray ourselves.
• Yes, opposable thumbs are nice.

What Did I Think?

I never liked the Apparition, so her going away was fine with me. It was kind of odd that the Sorceress, having rid herself of the Ancient One, would be so gung ho to become Balcifer's flunky, but she got over it, so... whatever.