episode 7 and you know how i made a blue sky so i could thank martha so she could thank the producers for including indigenous adjacent practices in their futuristic sci fi? not making it all just western stuff??? WELL after episode 7 I had to thank them again because it DELIVERED so heres my episode 7 reactions thoughts etc:
THATS A YARNING CIRCLE THE OPENING OF THE EPISODE IS A CULTURAL YARNING CIRCLE!! THAT! IS!! AN!!! INDIGENOUS!!!! YARNING CIRCLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!! points points points I was LITERALLY JUST AT ONE (yarning circle in Aboriginal Australia but I understand Circle Talks are also present in Americas Indigenous communities so its probably being based off those but it STILL RINGS VERY STRONGLY).
I think it's really cool of Gurathin that he is trying to participate in the activity, even if he's confused and uncertain and bailed halfway which is fair yarning circles get emotional. That's really cool of him, he gets some points.
The perimeter patrolling hanging from complaints to joking about it to genuine empathy of "maybe it needs a break?" tones. It's been a consistent theme, the team are noticing, maybe realising how draining they are.
Ratthi physically coaching SecUnit through its "softer approach" on getting people to MOVE. Absolutely hilarious that they successfully read each other in that moment (Ratthi that SecUnit is trying to help, SecUnit at realising the headshaking is to adjust what it is saying).
Really enjoyed Ratthi overall in this episode, being so solidly on SecUnit's side despite his own jumpiness. Including his multiple approaches to trying to include SecUnit as a team.
Arada speaking about how SecUnit has gotten them out of shit and Bharadwaj's thoughtful face. I hope this means next episode she will reconcile with it. I desperately need Bharadwaj to reconcile with SecUnit.
Laughed at Gurathin asking Mensah if she has feelings for SecUnit and her reaction is basically "wow we really need to get you to the hospital". Also chuckling in anticipation of that becoming a running theme in future seasons because ohmygod.
So many heightened tensions and snipping at each other, no-one is immune, and leading to the almost confrontation circle I so badly want these conversations resolved and not interrupted by something attacking them but they're getting there! Each argument-discussion gets slightly further each time! Shout out to Ratthi getting the ball rolling.
The way as soon as SecUnit steps away from the circle, even Pin-Lee starts being empathetic and encouraging about discussing emotions/not avoiding emotions.
The parallels betweens the teams strong objection to shocking the creatures for behaving like creatures while at the same time they are upset at a secunit behaving like a secunit (and their ongoing fears about it NOT being under their control by being auto-shocked by a govmod). oof
SecUnit appreciating their pitiful attempts at helping, I wonder if it WAS feeling concerned they might abandon it and then in the action moment they FIGHT for it.
Small joys during the episode:
The people side-eying the yarning circle is on point.
Snapping fingers instead of clapping! Neat little cultural change.
Leebeebee's dead body covered (poorly) by a rug.
Really impressed with Ratthi's slightly shaken faith in SecUnit.
Bharadwaj and Gurathin cuddle pile is pretty cute ngl.
SecUnit's inability to talk to the team without sounding like it is threatening them.
Mensah just throwing it out in the open that SecUnit has been subjected to forced labor, violence and abuse.
I wonder if SecUnit can manipulate its data to see its imagined self growing vines?
That SecUnit is already thinking about running away and leaving.
The silent waiting treatment working on SecUnit is amazing.
SecUnit trying and failing to use the silent waiting treatment immediately after on the PresAux team is also amazing.
The way it just keeps slowly turning its head further and further away from the group.
I think it took it's helmet off because Mensah acknowledged it is trying to help, not that it is a person.
I also think it hears better without the helmet on, because as soon as it was off it was troubleshooting the sound.
The scientists/biologist being all nerded out about the creatures haha
The little egg sacks wiggling away and the offended mother rescuing them.
Mensah (accidentally) threatening to abandon SecUnit on the planet with another SecUnit's body.
The parallel. Two episodes ended now, lingering on a headless body.
I really enjoyed the world/CGI/graphics of this episode.
Cons that are kinda pros:
That heavy squirmy feeling the leitmotif during the end of episode 6 left with me still isn't fully resolved, although it's nice to see that some of the team is trying to bridge the emotions.
and I don't like that this episode also ended with the team at odds with SecUnit. Because I desperately need some resolution.
So cons for being negative emotions but pros for making me feel emotions i just wish they weren't back to back negative/sad/worried emotions but also I can see how the extended mistrust will lead to a book-aligned ending but the process hurts me.
Bonus, tallied all the times perimeter was mentioned and who//why:
Mensah: 1 (factual) 2 (joke+ factual)
Gurathin: 1 (complaint) 1 (mocking)
Arada: 1 (joke/empathy?)
Ratthi: 1 (confusion) 1 (joke)