Tribe Leader Episode Recaps

Series 3, Episode 04

Previously on the Tribe: Bray was tortured by the Guardian and agreed to ask the Mallrats to join the Chosen for their own good. At the last second, he instead urged them to fight against the Chosen and was dragged off by a furious Guardian.

Outside the Mall, shackled prisoners are being led around by the Chosen. Lex and Ebony crouch behind a wall and check out the situation. Ebony sarcastically calls it "a piece of cake." They share a look and a sigh and head off.

Trudy, meanwhile, is sitting under the furious stare of the Guardian trying to justify her faith that Bray was going to support the Chosen. She's very defensive and tries to turn it back on him, saying he believed Bray too. She demands to know if he's accusing her of doing it on purpose and what she would possibly have to gain by it. The Guardian points out that Bray "has considerable appeal. The blood of Zoot runs in his veins, and you are a woman." The implications here are hilarious. First, that Zoot was hot stuff, and because Bray is related to him, Bray must be hot stuff too. Now, Zoot was edgy, but hot and sexy? But because he's the centerpiece of this zany religion, he must have been attractive to boot. And second, he totally calls Trudy out on her Bray crush, which she reacts to as if he's called her an axe murderer. She stands up slowly and shouts that she's the Supreme Mother. He is unimpressed and shouts back, "And I am the Guardian of the cause! And I will destroy all those who seek to divert its path, regardless of their status." The last bit he gets right up in her face to whisper menacingly and Trudy is shocked and speechless.

Having shut her down, the Guardian then proposes that she prove her loyalty to the cause. She's offended that he would call her loyalty into question, and then, at his prompting, spouts off the tenants of this religion with accompanying flowy hand gestures: "What is Zoot? Zoot is love. And how do we win Zoot's love? Through power and chaos. What is the key to power and chaos? Devotion." The Guardian will allow her to perform "the ultimate act of devotion." He is planning to reunite Bray with his brother, and who better than to perform that reunification than Trudy. In other words, Bray's going to die, and Trudy's going to kill him. She is, once again, stunned speechless.

There's so much irony in this relationship. The Guardian kidnapped a terrified Trudy and brainwashed her into believing his view of Zoot and that she's the Supreme Mother. He probably tempted her with the power inherent in being that figure. Now that she believes it and is wielding the power of her position, he's smacking her down and telling her basically that she has no power. Again, he's using terror to control her, which is a large part of most cults' methods.

The Mallrats are discussing Bray's speech and exit at the point of a dozen Chosen blades. Alice was impressed and says that Bray "told it like it is," whatever that's supposed to mean. May is quick to point out that the Chosen will get rid of Bray, just like they plan to get rid of all the Mallrats. Dal thinks they should respect what Bray did and keep their cool and Tai-San agrees with him. They need to stay optimistic, "No matter what." Luke and a couple Chosen goons enter then and single out Ryan. He's told to come with them and Salene panics. He promises her he'll be okay and goes with them, leaving Salene to collapse in tears with only May to comfort her. May bitchily asks Tai-San what she was saying about optimism.

Ebony and Lex are still lurking around outside the Mall trying to figure out if "they're" in there. I'm assuming they mean Bray and Tai-San, since those are the only ones the pair of them care about. They take cover when Luke, Ryan, and a bunch of other prisoners come out. Ryan is shackled to the rest of the prisoners and they're told to return in 2 hours with as much produce (except Luke calls it "praw-juice") as they can carry. Ryan wants to know what makes the Chosen think they'll come back at all. "Zoot tells us to trust is to triumph," which makes no sense. What does trust have to do with power and chaos? Luke "trusts" that Ryan won't allow any of the others to escape, and Ryan knows there should be an "or else" tacked on to the end of that. Luke sends them off and Ebony and Lex have the idea to follow them.

Back inside, the Mallrats are huddled together, depressed and hopeless. Tai-San assures Salene that Ryan will be alright. Patsy asks if anyone else has noticed that the Chosen keep taking them one at a time. They only take the guys, KC comments morosely and gets a shove and a warning look from Dal. May drops a bombshell in the conversation when she declares that it won't get any better until the Mallrats cooperate. Horrified, Ellie reminds her that Bray is about to lose his life for standing up to the Chosen and he'd want them to fight back too. Dal again says Bray deserves their respect. The whole conversation is sad and they're all clearly shaken up. Patsy says, "Poor Bray," and wonders if they'll let them say goodbye. It could already be done, KC guesses, but when they see the Guardian entering the room, Tai-San thinks not.

She's right. Bray is still alive for the moment and the Guardian is offering one of the Mallrats a chance to witness the execution. He asks for a volunteer but none of them wants to see Bray die. How can they appreciate life if they don't appreciate death? Dal, unthinking of the consequences, tells the Guardian that Bray is their friend and leader and wonders how the Guardian can expect that of them. "I don't expect; I insist." Dal's just bought himself a ticket to Bray's execution.

Out on a farm, Ryan is standing around watching over the other prisoners. Or at least, that's what I'm assuming, even though there are Chosen guards around too. Except, wait, it's actually footage of a guard reading Ellie's anti-Chosen propaganda flyer in episode 14. Interesting. Anyway. So I guess Ryan is watching over them. Lex sneaks around a building and throws a rock at Ryan, heh. Ryan is thrilled to see Lex and Ebony, despite a sarcastic opening remark from her. With his back to them so as not to draw attention, Ryan fills them in on the situation: the Mallrats are all being held in the Mall under armed guard, including Bray, though he is separate from the rest of the group. More "recycled" footage of the guard reading Ellie's flyer (although technically it hasn't been used yet, so it's not really recycled).

Lex asks if Tai-San is okay, and Ryan assures him they're all okay, all except Bray that is. And Jack, who was taken away. Ebony wants to know the Guardian's location, which is on the top floor though he comes and goes. Ryan gets back to Bray and tells them that he stood up to the Chosen and is being executed for it, today. Lex shuts his eyes and shakes his head, but whether that's in regret at the news of Bray's imminent death or incredulity at Bray's stupidity, we'll never know. He does tell Ryan to pass a message along to the Mallrats that "we're working on things." He seems to know it's inadequate, but maybe it will give them some hope. He starts to give Ryan a message for Tai-San as well but asks Ebony to give them some privacy. When she's disappeared around the edge of the small building he hands his ring over to Ryan and whispers a message to him that we're not supposed to hear yet. Before Lex leaves, Ryan gives him the news that Salene is pregnant and Lex tells him congratulations.

The restraint in this conversation is touching. Lex clearly knows he should offer more excitement, but any excitement would get him caught. Ryan is happy to have been able to tell his friend, but knows that the dangers around them are still great. They can't even hug and both end the conversation slightly sad.

Salene rushes into Trudy's room at the Mall two steps ahead of the Chosen guards. They grab her arms to drag her out of there even as she begs Trudy to stop Bray's execution. Trudy, lounging on the couch and apparently over the ordeal of her earlier conversation with the Guardian, tells the guards to let Salene go. She is sarcastic and patronizing. Just as the Guardian takes out his frustrations on people of lesser power - Trudy - she does the same to Salene, who has no power at all. She asks if Salene has an appointment and dramatically bemoans the fact that anyone can walk into her room. Salene looks at her incredulously and guesses that Trudy is mad, as in stark raving. Far from it, Trudy says. "Now, what was it you wanted? And, bear in mind, I'm busy." Heh. Her delivery is excellent, especially since she's lounging on a sofa. Salene begs her to save Bray, but Trudy is short with her: She can't; anything else? But Salene appeals to her again, saying that she and Bray have shared so much and Salene doesn't believe that Trudy feels nothing for him. Trudy brushes her off and Salene begs again, offering to do anything, give her anything. Trudy smiles pityingly at "poor Salene." She guesses that Salene is still pining for Bray and asks if Ryan knows. In a bored tone, she calls the guards to take Salene away. All the way out the door Salene begs Trudy not to let this happen.

After she's gone, Trudy remembers finding Bray and Salene kissing in Series 1 and is unable to fight back her tears. This seems like an odd flashback to me. Wouldn't a scene like that just increase her anger at Salene? Seems like a scene of Bray's kindness to her would have been more appropriate.

The rest of the Mallrats wait in the atrium when the Chosen enter to drag Dal off to Bray's execution. No words are spoken, only despairing looks and attempts to comfort each other in the face of their friend and leader's imminent death.

Bray is being led up a rocky path by the ocean to his execution. Dal hurries to catch up with him at the front of the line of Chosen and they exchange a look but no words. What more is there to say at this point? The Guardian and Trudy watch as Bray is tied to a stake with firewood at the base. There are also two little children present, dressed as Chosen disciples. I have no idea who these kids are or where they've been up to this point. Clearly they're there for effect, but it seems clumsy to me. Whatever. They are adorable though, which increases the heartbreak of these two darling children bringing additional brushwood at the Guardian's bidding to the base of Bray's pyre. Bray shakes his head at them, begging them with his eyes not to be involved in this. They merely back away, staring at the traitor to Zoot who is to burn for his crimes.

The Mallrats are again huddled together, sitting on the stairs in the atrium. When Ryan enters smiling, Salene jumps up and hugs him, happy that he's returned safe and sound. He notices Dal's missing and Ellie has to tell him that he was taken to witness Bray's execution. Ryan's quieted by that thought, but then tells the group about seeing Lex and that he's "mad enough to rip someone's head off." He also relays that Lex was with Ebony and that they're working on things. When KC lets out an expression of joy, May is quick to smack it down and points out that there are only two of them. What can two people possibly achieve against the Chosen? Except that the rest of the Mallrats have known them far longer and know that they're capable of quite a bit. Ryan delivers Lex's message to Tai-San: He loves her and gives her his wedding ring to wear until she can put it back on his finger. She's on the verge of crying and kisses the ring reverently.

Meanwhile, Bray is being subjected to a speech by the Guardian. It's bad enough he's to be burned alive, but making him listen to that drivel about Zoot the Great One is just cruel and unusual punishment. Apparently Zoot came to him in a dream the night before. He told the Guardian that Bray would be welcomed into "the higher place," and that "the Chosen would be blessed with this reunification." The Chosen disciples shout, "All praise Zoot!"

Now, this is interesting. The Guardian called it a reunification earlier, but I assumed he was being sarcastic. He's actually trying to spin this as a good thing, which makes me wonder if the rest of the Chosen have been told about Bray's activities. Some of them witnessed his speech to the Mallrats and it had to have gotten around. But there's no mention of Bray being punished as a traitor or anything of that nature. Perhaps the Guardian didn't want to "execute" anyone carrying Zoot's blood and so decided to spin it in a more positive light. If so, that says a lot about his hold over the Chosen and the limitations of that power.

Lex and Ebony are hidden behind nearby rocks and so have an excellent view of the Guardian gesturing for the torch. Trudy is trembling and breathing heavily, clearly terrified at what she knows she will be forced to do. He asks Trudy if she's ready to prove her devotion to Zoot and hands her the blazing torch.

Tai-San appears to have drawn strength from the news of Lex and his gesture of love. She rises and stands in front of the Mallrats. She tells them they can't be there with Bray, but they can send him their thoughts, wishes, and love. The others join her and join hands in a trademarked Tai-San prayer circle.

On the beach, the Guardian and the assembled Chosen shout "Power and Chaos!" as Trudy slowly and fearfully approaches Bray with the torch in her hand. Bray tries one more time to reach her, asking if this is the way she wants it to end. She seems pretty lucid, though, when she tells him that if she doesn't light the pyre, the Guardian could have her executed next, or even Brady. Then she tearfully , and hilariously, asks him to forgive her. Yeah, it's okay, go ahead and set me on fire, I don't mind. He says her name incredulously, like, are you freaking kidding me? He reminds her of how he was the one who found a safe place for her to have Brady. She's turning against him, and he laughs despairingly before begging her to turn against the Guardian instead and she'll see what kind of fake he is. Trudy struggles for a moment, fighting with herself and her newfound belief system, and the Guardian watches impassively. He's not worried at all; he knows she'll cave. A part of Trudy clearly wants to do as Bray says, but it's a weak part. Her fear is too great and she can't or won't overcome it. Her lips begin to move, repeating something silently, over and over, until her voice rises and Bray can hear she's made her choice: "Zoot must be obeyed. Zoot must be obeyed." She begins to move toward the pyre.

Before she can set fire to Bray, however, the cavalry makes its move. Pride silently grabs one of the Chosen and yanks them back behind a rocky outcrop. Strange animal sounds, like the roars of a lion, ring out over the ceremony and the Chosen whip around in fear and surprise. Someone screams repeatedly. Lex and Ebony jump out from behind the rocks and begin attacking the Chosen with staffs. Thinking quickly and taking advantage of the ensuing chaos, Dal climbs up behind Bray and unties him just as the Guardian orders the Chosen to stop them. Bray jumps down and immediately swipes the torch from Trudy's hands. And then Pride comes up behind one of the Chosen standing on top of a rock and knocks him off with his staff, eliciting one of the funniest cries I've ever heard. It sounds like someone is strangling a duck. Bray grabs Lex and asks him, "What was that?" I'm assuming he means the animal sounds, but Lex tells him to forget it and get out of there. Good advice. In an attempt to slow the Chosen down, I'm assuming, Lex knocks over one of the lit braziers that the Chosen have in every ceremony. Flaming oil spreads over the sand and smoke drifts up in front of the Guardian, protected by his Chosen warriors. The idea that this little bit of flame and smoke would stop the Chosen from pursuing them is ridiculous, by the way. Pride gives the scene a last triumphant look before disappearing into the woods behind the others.

Unconscionably, the Guardian returns to the Mall and tells the Mallrats that the deed is done, Bray has been executed. May's first and only concern, lacking any thought of Bray or Dal, is how they know if they join the Chosen that they'll be treated any better. Ellie, typically, tells her that's not even an option. All new Chosen, the Guardian assures them, lead "privileged" lives. Alice's comment, also typical, is hilarious and bizarre: "You can take your privileged life, roll it into a small ball, and shove it where monkeys shove their nuts." The Guardian orders her taken away, but Tai-San interjects. She blathers something random about harmony and spirit, and the Guardian perks up, impressed that she speaks religious philosophy gibberish. They both get their ideas from the spirits of those who have gone before blah blah blah, let's start a club. He asks if all the Mallrats follow Tai-San's path, and Tai-San answers for them that they have harmony. "Each time our group is fragmented, our harmony, it grows stronger." It's a great dig at the Guardian, but patently untrue, as the events that follow in the next episodes clearly show. Regardless, the Guardian gets his own parting jab in, and a much more effective one. "Today, it seems, I have made your harmony a little more powerful. The one called Dal, he is also dead."

The Guardian's strategy here in telling the Mallrats that Bray and Dal are dead is smart on the surface. He's using a disaster to his advantage, covering up the fiasco and breaking the Mallrats' spirit at the same time. But I have to wonder if his control over the Chosen is so very strong that not one of the 15 or so people present would accidently let it slip that Bray and the others escaped and made the Guardian look like a fool. If they did, it would backfire enormously. As it is, when later it is revealed that they are not in fact dead, the elation it causes boosts the Mallrats' hope considerably.

Meanwhile, Bray, Ebony, Lex, and Dal have fled into the woods. Slightly out of breath from running, Bray asks Ebony if she's trying to make a habit out of saving Bray's behind. "Complaining," she asks. Nope, thanks. (This is a far cry from his attitude towards her a little bit later in the series, however, but we'll get to that.) Lex is glad to see Bray (really?) and Dal, who wonders about the animal sounds that caused the diversion. It was Pride, without whom, Lex points out, Bray would be barbeque. Pride has a way of disappearing, Ebony says, but he'll show up when he's good and ready. Apparently he's ready, as he silently appears behind them.

Trudy is once again being blamed for something that is really not her fault, but is poetic justice nonetheless. The Guardian feels personally betrayed and believes that the escape had to have had help from someone, i.e. Trudy. Though she denies it, he accuses her of giving information on the execution to Lex and Ebony and not wanting Bray to die. His proof is that she hesitated in lighting the fire, fed "his followers," and allowed Bray to give his rebellious speech to them. "Is it you who seeks to disrupt the cause?" She points out that she was the one who infiltrated the Mallrats and allowed the Chosen to take over the Mall, hardly the work of a traitor. Trudy hasn't convinced him though. He viciously tells her that his punishment for those who don't believe in Zoot - I'm thinking he means Bray here - is nothing compared to what he would do to a traitor. He orders the guard to keep Trudy confined to her room, leaving her, once again, stunned and sputtering in frustration and fear.

The Mallrats have separated into their little groups and are trying to process the news the Guardian delivered. May sits alone, biting her nails, as Salene joins her and tries to commiserate. May is thinking about Danni, Bray, and Dal and wonders what they got out of resisting the Chosen. Self-respect, Salene offers. But that doesn't keep you alive. May thinks they could make things easier for themselves and "play these sad monkeys for suckers" if they cooperated. Salene isn't sure and May plays the baby card. How long will any of them last, especially pregnant Salene, the way things are now. Salene gives the first sign that she might be willing and tells May that maybe she's right.

Luke brings a tray of food to Trudy and tries to make a speedy exit but is thwarted. She demands to know how long she is to be kept prisoner. Luke, ever trying to be diplomatic in the dark cavern of extreme discomfort and power-mongering that is between the Guardian and the Supreme Mother, tells her "not longer than necessary, I hope, Supreme Mother." She thinks that's a fine way to treat the Supreme Mother, to which he responds, "It is…regrettable." She asks then after Brady, the Princess, and Luke promises to try and find out what he can. It's a little like watching Mommy and Daddy fighting and the poor child stuck in the middle trying to navigate the treacherous waters without pissing anyone off. Poor Luke, he's rapidly becoming the character most worthy of respect on this show.

Salene is in the room she shares with Ryan, lost in thought over May's suggestion. Ryan comes in with a four star dinner: a potato. Fortunately, Salene isn't paying any attention to his bad joke but he does snap her out of her fog. She asks him if she thinks the others might still be alive if they'd been more "flexible." You mean, if they'd give up, he asks? She means if they make the Chosen think they've given up. He's not buying it, but she thinks there's a benefit to lifting some of the pressure from them and getting some decent food. And the baby needs decent food. She tells him that she thinks May is going to cooperate with the Chosen and if she does, Salene plans on joining her. Ryan just doesn't know what to say.

The way they handle this topic is pretty good I think. They do a good job of showing the agonizing indecision over whether to cooperate with the invader, or stay strong and resist. Those they care about have already given their lives for their ideals and they respect that, but at the same time, they're the survivors. And if they want to keep surviving, they will have to make compromises. But how much of a compromise is too much? At what point do you cross the line that separates you from your soul? And the reasons you tell yourself you're doing it, to fool the invader, may be just an attempt to fool yourself.

In the woods, Bray swaggers over to Pride and thanks him for providing the diversion that saved his life, to which Pride humbly replies he did what he could. Lex can't wait to ask how Pride made those snarling animal sounds but Bray is all business and turns the conversation around to the Guardian. They want to know if Pride knows anything about the Chosen. Pride kneels down and begins outlining a map of the city with a stick. He points out where groups of the Chosen are positioned and Lex suggests they approach from the Northwest side where there's less chance of being seen.

This is useful information and perhaps crucial to their purpose, but Bray can't focus on that. His eyes are drawn to a ring hanging from a cord around Pride's neck. He flashes back to Amber giving him the same ring in the Mall right before Tribe Circus attacked them. It was her father's ring, and there is no mistaking it. He demands to know where Pride got the ring. A gift, he says. Bray angrily calls him a liar and Lex puts himself between them, trying to figure out what's going on. Bray demands to know if Pride's hobby is grave robbing as Bray put that ring on Amber's grave on Eagle Mountain. He accuses Pride of stealing it and starts to attack him but is pulled back by Lex. Ebony doesn't get what the big deal is, it's just a ring. Except, she knows very well that's it's a big deal. Lex gets in on the action and asks Pride what else he took from Eagle Mountain. His first wife's grave was also there and he's furious at the thought that anyone might have messed with it.

Pride tells them calmly but forcefully that the ring was a gift from his tribe leader. Oh right, Eagle, Lex says sarcastically. But Pride focuses on the name Bray mentioned, Amber. Ebony doesn't want anyone to focus too much on this tribe leader and tries to convince the others to take the ring and go. Unfortunately for her, it's gone too far at this point. Pride tells her to wait and says that Eagle once had another name, "one she was known by in her other tribe, the tribe that abandoned her."

Her name was Amber.