When I think of Mal and Alina I can’t help thinking about World War I. The spectre of constant death as soldiers left their farms and crossed frozen fields to be razed down by a gun or choked by a gas they’d never heard of before. Industrialization wasn’t humane, but it was efficient and profitable. War is always traumatizing, but WWI incinerated everything that came before it. More than death there was fear of unknown, fear of technology, fear of the energy, and, ultimately, fear of yourself. Fear of what decent, common people were capable of when pushed to their limit.
Alina doesn’t feel complete without Mal, since she’s sacrificed so much of herself to stay with him. Maybe she fears becoming something unrecognizable to him, mostly likely because she is. If she becomes truly Grisha then social law dictates that she’s apart from Mal, an otkazat’sya (the Grishaverse word for muggle), and their planned lives together are over. She will join the Second Army, defeat the Fold, and live her life in the royal palace. In order to command her power, she has to be self-sufficient, and can’t rely on anyone else. She has to know her power and use it, not just believe. War takes a lot of happiness away, but sometimes it leaves behind a stronger person.
Kirigan is going through the opposite process. He’s never before had to rely on anyone else to accomplish his goals. The moment in the war room, as Alina lets the power of her light linger over them, has a touch of romance, he’s certainly looking at her with desire. But in his eyes is the desire for a thing he wants to possess, not love for another person. Alina feels a magnetic towards him and understandably get caught up in his enigmatic charm, but it’s all smoke and mirrors. He allows her unprecendented access to himself, yet everything still feels constructed. He often talks her, always wanting to return to the purpose on hand. Alina is important to his plan, she can’t be having ideas of her own.
What to say about the Crows except that I’d watch five hours of Inej doing aerials. The mini-heist of the Little Palace plans was a fun way to break down how plans work for this group. As all the pieces of the heist fall into place, every step starts to feel like an unnecessary block to get to the heart of what we want to see – the Crows kidnap Alina. But with Jesper’s attachment to Milo and Inej’s overwhelming competency, I’m having fun just hanging out with these kids.
The true hero of this episode is Mal. Because the S&B trilogy is told entirely from Alina’s perspective, we understand Mal’s motives, but only through how Alina interprets him. Now, we get a letter written from Mal to Alina highlighting how desperate he is once he feels like he no longer has a place in Alina’s life. He’ll get the stag she wants because it’s all he can do at this point, but it’s going to take a toll on him. Maybe, like war, he won’t feel like it was worth it.
NOTES w/BOOK SPOILERS
- The smashcut recap with the goat scream was entirely unexpected and amazingly funny
- Mal is less of a horndog in the TV show which plays a little bit too close to the monogamy myth for my liking. Alina’s sudden doubts about their relationship makes more sense though
- General Kirigan: What do you see?
Alina: I see a skinny little nobody with no past and no future. - Kirigan is employing Nina. Wonder what that’s about.
- Nina’s disobedience is goals.
- WHOOOOO WAS THAT HANDSOME FIRST ARMY GENERAL ON THAT POSTER? WHO COULD IT BE? THAT BLONDE GUY WAS HOT. I HEARD HE HAD, LIKE, THIRTY GODDAMN FLYING SHIPS.
- This might be it for today, I’m trying to pace myself.