Visual Parallels: The Full Moon and Mastermind
It's mad scientist mode time ya'll.
The visual references to other episodes in Mastermind are wild. People have already beautifully pointed out how the duet sequence references Blitz's "Truth Seekers" hallucination and "Just Look My Way," and makes the two inner worlds mesh.
"The Full Moon" is also heavily referenced. I first noticed it in this shot of Stolas . . .
Which is repeated quite similarly a few times in the trial scene, and looks a lot like . . .
The camera angle (if there were a camera) is pretty much identical.
This made me realize that the whole sequence (the duet and Blitz getting pulled away afterward) has them positioned with Blitz facing Stolas and Stolas's back to Blitz, with a similar distance between them to what we see in "The Full Moon."
And as I rewatched both, I saw more and more.
An attempt by Blitz to touch Stolas, and Stolas not turning around, having already decided his course of action.
(Is anyone noticing a similar color palate yet?)
And a forced exit, based on a decision that Stolas makes:
So this very well might show that Stolas is holding a lot of the power in their relationship. But also, the similar elements in these scenes aren't identical- they simply rhyme.
There are some interesting differences with Blitz's physical expressions of desperation. Even though he's set away from Stolas against a bright red background when he's expressing himself in both.
In "The Full Moon," well . . .
He's guarded. His hands spend a lot of their time in fists. He's moving toward Stolas but not giving all of himself until it's too late.
But in "Mastermind . . .
It's like he's drawn by a magnet to Stolas while being forcibly pulled away. He's fighting the forces that would keep them apart, that would harm Stolas. He's fighting with everything he has. His hands are open the whole time he's fighting. The walls are gone.
Doors are also interesting in their contrast.
In "The Full Moon," we see Blitz bursting into the room like this:
In "Mastermind," the door behind Stolas serves as Blitz's exit point, but the camera angle, again, is very similar . . .
I don't know what to make of this one, honestly, except that these moments seem to reverse each other. I think there COULD be symbolism here (barriers and who creates them), but I'm not sure there's enough evidence that it's intentional like the others.
Now for a few key things "Mastermind" has that "The Full Moon" needed. Our boys weren't ready yet, but now they are.
Obviously the duet . . . but did you notice that their movements synchronize too? They're not looking at each other, but literally and figuratively, they're in tune.
2. Eye contact. FUCKING EYE CONTACT. It's so brief you could miss it.
There's recognition there. They each see that the other feels the same way.
Even though Stolas never turns around, and still has A LOT to learn about Blitz, they meet at the core of the matter. "Harriet, don't get on that train. It's going to London, and I CANNOT BE WITHOUT YOU."
