Krypton Review: Savage Night S01E08

The fightback continues on Krypton, with episode 8: Savage Night.  (BEWARE! This review contains SPOILERS!)

With the attempted coup still causing the city to be in lockdown, the conspirators are firmly in hiding and planning their next move.  The public display of his transformation by the Voice of Rao/Brainiac’s Sentry (Blake Ritson) has enthralled the populace, and it’s only those closest to him, such as his acolyte Sevi (India Mullen) who can see the truth.  It is from Sevi that they learn the full extent of what the Voice of Rao is doing.

KRYPTON — “Savage Night” Episode 108 — Pictured: Georgina Campbell as Lyta-Zod — (Photo by: Steffan Hill/Syfy)

Based on this information they come up with a very vague plan, which as General Zod (Colin Salmon) states has far too many ‘ifs’ in it to ever work.  However, sort of work it does, and that includes going out to find Dev Em’s (Aaron Pierre) body in the icy outlands.  To their surprise he is still alive, although quite why he hasn’t tried to go back to the city, rather than just wander around in the same place, is a mystery.  That they eventually manage to both use his connection to the rest of the controlled Sagitari (‘Red Shard’), and then remove that controlling device, begs the question of why there is never a discussion of incapacitating the ‘Red Shard’, rather than shooting them.  Surely they can also remove their devices?

KRYPTON — “Savage Night” Episode 108 — Pictured: (l-r) Colin Salmon as General Zod, Ann Ogbomo as Jayna-Zod, Hannah Waddingham as Jax-Ur — (Photo by: Steffan Hill/Syfy)

The plan they concoct involves needing back up from Black Zero, so a deal is struck with their leader (Hannah Waddingham) that she can have Daron Vex (Elliot Cowan) at the end, after they have the dead body of the Voice of Rao.  This doesn’t seem an issue with anyone, even Nyssa (Wallis Day), as his betrayal of her obviously cut deep, although she might have expected it.

KRYPTON — “Savage Night” Episode 108 — Pictured: Colin Salmon as General Zod — (Photo by: Steffan Hill/Syfy)

Within the group there are still tensions, mostly between the ‘love triangle’ of Lyta (Georgina Campbell), Seg (Cameron Cuffe) and Nyssa, as Jayna (Ann Ogbomo) and General Zod seem to have a half-decent working relationship.  Through all this, Lyta does not come across as the warrior, but more as a whiny child, and Nyssa seems to have more mettle.  I’m not sure if this is meant as her vulnerability, or insecurity showing, but it doesn’t ring true with what the character is supposed to be.  I’m not sure you’d want her as your back up as you go into battle!

Alongside all of the resistance action, we get a glimpse into Adam’s (Shaun Sipos) back story, and how he ended up on Krypton.  There are some discussions throughout the episode, shown in flashback, with alien voices, only identified as Sardath and Alanna, with Sardath doubting that Adam is of any use whatsoever.  If anything we have seen so far is any indication, then Sardath is right and the fact he gives Adam a chance is probably very misguided.  I think we’re supposed to see Adam as a man struggling to make his mark and do the right thing, but he just seems like a petulant child at times.

KRYPTON — “Savage Night” Episode 108 — Pictured: (l-r) Elliot Cowan as Daron-Vex, Shaun Sipos as Adam Strange – (Photo by: Steffan Hill/Syfy)

Having already arranged with Kem (Rasmus Hardiker) that he would set up a meeting with Seg, Adam gets impatient when Kem is distracted by trying to find Ona (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland).  Even after helping Kem talk to Ona, he still doesn’t try to talk to Seg and instead goes straight to Daron Vex and sells everyone out.  There is at least some logic behind his actions, but it doesn’t seem properly thought out, and more of an impulse action.  This betrayal will no doubt come out in future episodes and be the driver of a few plotlines.

The ‘success’ of their mission is a bit of a cliché in its aftermath, as while they do manage to shoot the Voice of Rao, he falls off the top of the Genesis chamber plinth and falls to the bottom of a huge shaft.  When the leader of Black Zero says ‘no one can survive that fall’, every viewer will have rolled their eyes at that statement, knowing that won’t be the case.  Sure enough, next scene, in he walks.  It’s a TV classic; as soon as someone says ‘no one could have survived’, it means they did.

If there is a saving grace of this patchy episode, it’s that Adam does at least do something worthwhile and heroic at the end, which also opens up a new mystery.  This bodes well, as Krypton generally has been on an upward momentum, keeps us guessing, and it’s not quite clear where it will end up.  Enjoy this one for a few good performances and as a stepping stone to the next episode.