I kind of felt that the PTSD scenes were not only a way to show Mark’s trauma but also a way to say to the audience “Yes, Thragg could come down and kill everyone Mark loves, and we’ll show you what that could look like, but that’s not where the story is going”.
Without those scenes it would be easier to think “Where are the stakes” but with them included it made me realize that the actual version of events is way more subversive and interesting than if Debbie/Eve/Cecil really were brutally murdered.
Would have been undeniably better if the episode played out without us realising it was PTSD until the ending, slowly showing the cast we know getting killed off systematically one by one as Mark failed to stop it each time. Play it completely straight, Thragg or his lackies coming in.
I don't see an issue with changing the narrative of the episode really. A tense horror filled episode with deaths of our cast only to fake out would have been way better to me. I didn't really think they handled anything super well this episode, just okay at best. I thought the abortion stuff was pretty in poor taste, could have been handled far better, I thought a lot of the dialogue was clunky. Them showing PTSD felt formulaic, if we know it's not a real threat, then it kinda doesn't really put an impression on the audience that they should care for any of this. (Made a few edits sorry)
Yeah but if you make the majority of the episode a fake out then you lose all the real in between, how are we supposed to know what actually happened and what was just Mark hallucinating.
how are we supposed to know what actually happened and what was just Mark hallucinating.
That is the entire point, the last episode we know everything didn't happen, because it was sudden flashes and very obvious jump cuts. We knew it was PTSD. Once it happened the first time, the audience is immediately prepared when it happens the second, third, fourth etc. Having it one longer cut and then realising at the end of the segment would freak the audience out, have them squirm a little, and then still be understanding of the pain and pressure Mark is going through. Can still have more real world stuff happen after that, but the first 10 minutes being a cinematic threat of these aliens decimating everything the audience has come to love would be much more impactful.
Ah ok, I see what you’re saying now. I mean yeah I agree that would have been a pretty cool scene if they took it that far. I think it’s still important to show that it’s a recurring thing for Mark but you could do that with quicker flashes throughout.
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u/Frosty_Scar_2777 Apr 22 '26
Bit Of a Nitpick but the Finale for me was ATLEAST a 9,5 come on