BWW Recap: THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER Ties Up Loose Ends on Tonight's Season Finale

Alright, folks. It's season finale time, so let's just cut to the chase. Finales are all about tying up loose ends, and tonight's episode of THE BASTARD EXECUTIONER was no exception. First there's that little issue of vengeance that's been hanging over Wilk and Toran's heads since pretty much the pilot. Would tonight finally be the night to avenge their butchered wives? Well...Actually...No. And turns out, I am so okay with that, because all season long, I couldn't help but look at Leon and Locke and think, y'know what, they kinda seem...not...that...bad...? In the first of many showdowns tonight, Toran confronts Locke about his wife's slaughter. Locke admits that he acted under orders, but totally owns what he did. He takes responsibility, but he seems sorry for it--even if he doesn't come out and say it. He doesn't beg for mercy because he knows he doesn't deserve it. Toran, in turn, says that Locke has at least earned himself a fair fight. Which was really nice of him, but I don't think he actually expected to lose. Lucky for him, Locke is a pretty honorable guy and chooses to spare Toran's life, on the agreement that their score is now settled. So. There's Toran's vengeance. Check.

Meanwhile, Jessamy (oh, Jessamy!) is still locked away, milling about in Isabel's chamber under the false promise of seeing Luca like seriously right away, Jess, really, he'll be back any minute now. The delusion seems to work temporarily, at least--cuz I mean, come on, this is the same woman who believed Wilkin Brattle was literally her husband Gawain Maddox for like the entire season, is it so hard to believe that she'd buy the whole "Oh yeah, the priest took Luca fishing" story? But anyway, then silly Isabel (who I actually love, by the way? Have I mentioned that before?) leaves the key behind, and Jessamy, being the sneaky little thing that she is, escapes and finds her way to the dungeon. The woman really has a way with timing: she stumbles upon Lady Love, Milus, Wilk, pretty much everyone, really, going over Operation: Rescue Luca mission plans. She, naturally, flips out and attacks Lady Love, prompting a very quick response from knight in shining armor and all around good guy Milus "Corbie" Corbett (I desperately hope y'all speak sarcasm), who knocks her out and has her locked up--again.

Which brings us to Item #2 on tonight's To-Do list. Jessamy, in her fit of crazyyy, reveals Wilk's true identity to Leon--really, Jessamy, of all the times to finally get the Wilkin Brattle thing, you pick now? Again, the woman knows her timing. Anyway, Leon confronts Wilk about it, and Wilk's like, "Yup, it's true. My name is Wilkin Brattle. You killed me wife. Prepare to die." (To be read in Mandy Patinkin's voice, obviously.) Leon denies killing Petra right away, saying that he was ordered to kill her, yes, but he couldn't actually bring himself to do it. And again, all season long, I never really saw Leon to be a bad guy. He seemed, dare I say it, kind of nice...? Cue a very ethereal Petra hologram imploring her husband to spare Leon. Which, of course, he does. Leon tells Wilk that he only wears her cross to remind himself, "God before crown." I like Leon, guys. Let's keep him. So, like Toran and Locke, this vengeance goes incomplete, but settled, nonetheless. Check.

Finally, the last order of business: Luca and the priest. Wilk gathers an army for the rescue mission-though Milus would probably have me beheaded if I said he leads it--made up of himself, Toran, Milus and the Ventris boys, the Dark Mute, etc. Even Locke and Leon volunteer to join them, which was a nice moment, particularly when Leon returns Petra's cross. Aw. So the Archdeacon and his minions gather at the beach where Father Ruskin has told them they could find Annora and her mate. The Ventrishire crew soon arrive, along with the Wolf and his band of rebels. What?! What the heck are they doing here?! That's so weird! It's like he owed his half-sister a favor or something! Anyway, a big showdown is soon underway, with the Dark Mute kicking things off with a big explosion. Wooo, pyrotechnics! And then he lights himself on fire and runs through the Archdeacon's army, killing whoever he can, cuz y'know, that's just the sort of thing Kurt Sutter does. Although, I gotta say, for a guy who has, in the past, bitten off his own tongue and had his eye gouged out (RIP, Otto Delaney), I'm almost a little disappointed that that's all the Dark Mute did. But I digress. He goes out in a blaze of glory, obvious pun, most definitely intended--but I'm not convinced he's actually dead. He seems like the type who'd...not...die...Y'know what I mean? I was half-expecting him to regenerate or something. Am I thinking of a different show? That's sad for Annora if he really is dead--oh, speaking of! Guess what, guys? Not only is Annora Wilk's mother, but she's also got the blood of Jesus in her! Wilk's got the blood of Jesus, y'all! That's...that's probably the most pressure you could place on somebody, actually. Yikes.

The Archdeacon's guys go down fairly easily, it seems, or maybe I just say that because nobody we care abou t dies, except the Dark Mute (or does he??! Hmmmmm??!?!?) Luca, in a satisfying turn, kills the Archdeacon, and then gets chased through the dunes by a crazy Ed Sheeran. Yes, you read that right. And yes, it's as amusing as it sounds. Luca nicks him on the leg, which is enough to send the rascally ginge slicking off into the sunset. Slow clap for that guy. What an exit. And finally, Luca once again finds himself in Wilk's loving embrace. Mission complete. Check.

Oh, and did we all almost forget that Lady Love's been faking a pregnancy this whole time? She confides in Milus, worried about how much time she has left before anyone notices. Milus is like, "Just...just tell them the baby died, Love. This is, like, the Middle Ages. People will believe that. Duh." You can always count on Corbie for the solid ideas, although really, Love, even I thought of that. Poor Milus still crushing on the baroness so hard. It ain't gonna happen. Hmmm, who else is around for you to hit on...Oh! Isabel! ...wait, what? HA! ISABEL. Yeah, that's right. Just imagine it for a second. Isabel and Frenchie (who need more scenes together, by the way) help smuggle Jessamy out of the castle to send her to Pryceshire, under Milus' orders, of course, whatever that's about. And then as Frenchie and Jessamy disappear into the darkness, Milus is like, "Y'know, Isabel, we should totally do it." Milus, please. Cut to, Love and Wilk doing it instead. It's all very romantic. Blah blah blah.

And we all lived happily ever after. Check...?

To post a comment, you must register and login.