Slayer's Return

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which Dar needs new friends. And new family.

What Happened

Dar's little friend Zuraya is engaged to marry a sleazoid of a King named Rolan, despite the fact that her wolf Slayer hates his guts and keeps trying to bite him. One night, Slayer gets out of Zuraya's chambers and runs into the woods, where he gets shot by a poisoned arrow.

Dar feels Slayer's pain, making him and Tao wonder if something has happened to one of his missing family members. He and Zuraya find Slayer, but Rolan refuses to give them the antidote, claiming Slayer tore the throat out of a serving girl. Dar sends Sharak for Tao, hoping that he can save the wolf.

Rolan and his priestess insist that Zuraya continue preparing for the wedding. It's very important to them because they believe that Rolan will be reborn in his son. Dar overhears Rolan commenting that it is too bad Zuraya won't survive the birth and tries to warn her, but she doesn't believe him.

Tao manages to cure Slayer, who backs Dar up when he crashes the wedding. After Dar disarms Rolan, Slayer attacks and kills him. Taking the wolf back to Arrakan, Dar explains to Zuraya that he believes Slayer is his brother and she agrees to leave him behind.

What We Learned

• Zuraya has thought about Dar. A lot.
• But Dar is just a friend.
• No, really. She loves Rolan.
• Zuraya deserves to be happy.
• Once an animal has tasted human blood, it won't turn back.
• Last time he looked, Tao didn't have wings.
• The scope will be very useful... one day.
• On TV, poisons take forever to kill you, but antidotes take effect instantly.
• Zuraya's heard of Eldar. Even if Tao hadn't.

What Did I Think?

I'm still a little fuzzy on how Zuraya's curse worked. Who curses someone with loneliness, anyways? But I will give them credit for brining Slayer back instead of creating some random animal. Work with that backstory. Good for you.