Tribe Leader Episode Recaps

Series 3, Episode 05

Previously on the Tribe: Bray was almost burned alive, at Trudy's hands, but was saved by Lex, Ebony, and Pride. Bray noticed that Pride was wearing Amber's ring. It was a gift, he said, from his tribe leader, who also used to go by the name Amber. The Mallrats mourned for Bray and Dal, who they were told had died, and May and Salene questioned resisting the Chosen.

We pick up right where the last episode left off, Pride having just dropped the bomb that his tribe leader might very well be Amber. Bray, in the snottiest voice possible, snots snottily that Amber died and they buried her. But if she did die, how did she give Pride her ring? And if Pride is lying, how did he know her name? Dal immediately wants to believe that Pride's story is true, while Bray doesn't even want to discuss it. Ebony points out, reasonably, that whoever stole the ring could have stolen her name right off the cross at her gravesite.

Bray is royally pissed off about this whole conversation and concludes that there are only two possibilities: Either Pride's "so called great leader" is a liar, or Pride himself is. If Pride will hand over the ring to Bray, however, he'll let it go. Pride refuses, saying he will never give up the ring. They're at an impasse, and Dal attempts to head off any violence by reminding Bray that Pride saved his life. He should let it go. Bray can't really attack Pride at this point, but he can't deal with being thwarted either. He stalks off angrily.

The Mallrats are gathered in the café as the Chosen bring their prisoners what amounts to gruel and a small slice of bread. May bitches and moans about how the Chosen are well-fed and they're served crappy soup. Reading my mind, Tai-San tells her to shut up and eat it. They all need their strength and this is likely to be all they get for awhile, especially if May doesn't shut up about it. May compares it to torture and wonders why they don't just kill them already. She's completely self-absorbed and ignorant of what real torture is. Their friends were just killed, in what could have been horrible ways, and she's griping about getting thin soup. I'm surprised someone doesn't just belt her in the jaw. Ellie and Alice try to lighten the mood a little with a joke and May mocks them for it, telling them they won't be laughing after a few weeks of this. Seriously, just reach over and punch her.

Tai-San tells her to shut up again, but May thinks they know she's right. They could be slaves of the Chosen "forever." What are they trying to prove by resisting and trying to be heroes? Alice wonders if she'd prefer they be beaten without a fight. "But we are beaten, Alice, don't you get it?" she snaps harshly. Less surprisingly than it should be, Salene backs her up. How are they supposed to fight back if they're too weak to stand? She thinks their best option would be to join the Chosen. "It's not giving in; it's playing along." Alice would rather starve than play along. She pushes her bowl away and Salene shakes her head and goes back to her tasty, tasty soup.

I would think this would be one of the most difficult parts of being in a situation like this. You would want to keep morale up, because at this point, that's all they have. They have to stay hopeful in order to survive and to continue to resist. But then you have someone like May who's spreading her poison all through the group. She's bitter and frightened and won't shut up, absolutely won't shut up because she wants to collaborate, but she doesn't want to be the only one. She has to convince the others to take her side. But you can't isolate her from the group either because you all need each other. And really, how would you even go about it. If the Guardian found out why you wanted to isolate her, he'd know she was the weak link. But May has already gotten Salene to question the resistance plan, and where Salene goes Patsy and Cloe usually follow. Within the Mallrats there is a power structure. The chaos from the Chosen invasion and the losses of Danni, Bray, and Dal have crumbled the structure that was in place. Tai-San and Alice are trying to take over, but Tai-San is really not a great leader. Neither she nor Alice understand people as much, have as much strength, or more importantly, have as much charisma as Bray. And believe me, I don't think Bray is all that great a leader when it comes down to it. But he is a natural leader, which these two aren't. So the field is wide open for May to corrupt the others. May is also not a natural leader, but I think she understands other people better than Tai-San. She wouldn't be able to manipulate them if she didn't. It's just herself that she doesn't understand.

Another one who doesn't understand herself, Trudy, sits in her room staring at a tray of food on the low table before her. She looks tired and miserable and her stare is longing. When Luke comes to see her, as she requested, she's not far from flipping out completely. Extremely agitated, she yells at him that she wants to see her daughter. Brady needs her mother and the Supreme Mother demands to see her right now. Luke gently, but firmly, tells her that the Guardian forbids it. Trudy deflates, sad and lost. He notices that the tray of food is still full. Apparently it is Zoot's will, and obviously not Trudy's, that she fast. The Guardian is testing her, and if she fails, she will remain prisoner in her room forever. Even Luke is surprised at the cruelty of that. Why don't they simply keep food away from her? But then, Trudy notes, what kind of test would that be?

Back in the woods, Pride is standing a little ways off while the others decide whether they can trust him or not. I don't think Pride really cares what they decide, which makes it kind of funny. Lex advocates for trusting Pride, saying they have nothing to lose. Bray can't get past the ring. Ebony thinks they can't trust him and also that his being-one-with-nature shtick is creepy. But then it's certainly in her best interest to keep Pride and the others far, far apart. Dal has been quiet up to this point and Bray asks for his opinion. Speaking unemotionally, which Bray and Ebony are currently unable to do, he agrees with Lex that they should trust Pride. They can't do much against the Chosen on their own. And besides… no, it'll sound too crazy. Bray tells him to go on. "Well, ever since the explosion in the observatory, I've had this dream. I haven't told anyone about this…I dream that she, Amber, didn't really die after all." Ebony laughs silently at this and Bray looks off, not sure what to say. Dal knows it's crazy, but ever since hearing about Eagle, whom Lex recalls Pride describing as a natural leader, Dal has had a strong feeling. They wouldn't have to go far to find out if Amber's still alive. Lex incredulously says that Pride's territory is miles away, but that's not what Dal was talking about. Eagle Mountain isn't, and that's where Amber's supposed grave is. Ebony and Lex think Dal's out of his mind, but he persists that if they could just check the grave… But Bray has heard enough and stops him. He plans to rest the night in the woods and then return to the city tomorrow. They can join him if they want to. He's done with this conversation and stalks off. Ebony accuses Dal of being "so insensitive." Hello, Pot? Yeah, hey, this is the Kettle. Yeah, you're black okay?

KC bored and with nothing to do is a positive menace, but in this case he's kind of hilarious too. In the café still, he hands an empty bowl to Cloe who leans against a nearby counter. "Remember, just like I told you." She asks if "this" is going to work and he assures her it will because he saw it on a movie. Yeah, that's foolproof. He tells her she's got to smile too, real sweetly, which she sarcastically mocks. Never mind, he says, just do it, and gives her a good shove out the door to where a few Chosen guards are standing. She's looks back once at KC and gets another shove, hee! Bowl extended slightly, she approaches the first guard and submissively says, "Please sir, I want some more." More? Only the Guardian can give you more. Continuing with the joke, she asks him to ask the Guardian if she can have more. This is when it backfires, as it was bound to do. The guard, not amused, tells her she can ask him herself and starts to drag her away. KC grabs his arm and tells him he can't do that and to leave her alone. The guard decides KC should come along too, with him protesting the whole time. It was just a joke; hasn't he ever seen Oliver?? In the musical (and movie), about a poor orphan boy who says something very similar to the head of the orphanage, Oliver got about the same response as Cloe.

Bray leans his elbow against a tree, his fist resting on his forehead, lost in thought. Ebony approaches him and asks if he's okay. He's been trying to recall the events at Eagle Mountain but he was knocked out for most of it and didn't regain consciousness until after it was over. He admits that he too has had the dream that Dal shared with them, even after being with Danni. Nothing makes sense to him anymore. Ebony is playing the role of caring and concerned friend, and playing it well. She probably is concerned for Bray's pain to some extent, but her role in that is still to be revealed. Meanwhile, she gently tells Bray he needs to face the fact that Amber is gone. If he keeps thinking like Dal, that she's alive, he's going to lose Amber all over again. Is he prepared for that? Bray has a yearning and sorrowful look and flashes back again to the time before Tribe Circus attacked. He remembers how he gave her the "keys to his heart" and she gave him her ring. It was to all intents and purposes, a wedding.

In the morning, the Guardian comes to check on the Mallrats. Ellie tells him, since he asked, that they're as fine as they can be while "dying of starvation." Oy, you are not dying, drama queens. You've had some crappy food for a couple of days. You've got bigger problems right now if you ask me. Tai-San demands to know what he's done with KC and Cloe, who are apparently doing some work upstairs and are fine for the time being. "They'd better be," Tai-San says menacingly, "Or you'll pay." Oh for the love. What's she going to do to him? Meditate at him? Hold hands in a circle around him? What payback did she deliver for Dal and Bray? She's got no power and the Chosen outnumber the Mallrats like 10 to one. Empty threats just underscore their pitiful position. The Guardian asks if she's threatening him and she calls it a "universal truth." That doesn't even make sense. Shut up, Tai-San.

The Guardian tells them, "You must be more trusting, my Brethren." Ellie, of course, objects to being called that, but he tells her that situation can be rectified. As can the food situation. And this is what he's come to tempt them with. As there's not enough food to go around, priority will be given to those who have been Chosen. Though Ellie tells him he's wasting his time, he asks who will participate in a special service to be held that day. May wants to know what's involved in the service. Just prayers, though they will be given some instruction if they participate. Will that make them Chosen too, Salene wants to know. That choice is up to them. If they will open their hearts up to Zoot, He will guide them. To the others' shock, Salene and May say they'll do it. "You don't have to be so eager, guys," Ellie snots. "Take the trial membership, 6 months, no obligation to pray." Um, you can shut-up too, Ellie.

Pride has gone shopping in the woods and has found something edible. He also points out to Lex and Bray some inedible berries. Bray takes a few of the safe ones and seems to sincerely apologize for earlier, the ring thing threw him for a loop. Pride maintains he was telling the truth. He asks how they plan to rescue their friends from the Chosen. It appears Bray has given it some thought and says that realistically they can't attack the Chosen head on and win. They'll have to organize some kind of underground resistance if they're to have any chance. Lex tells Pride the offer is still open for him to join them. Funny phrasing: what's the offer? To join a bunch of disorganized kids with no plan to fight against someone you don't know for people you don't know? Gee, how can he resist such an honor? He does quite admirably though, merely laughing silently and shaking his head. He's way nicer, and quieter, than I would be.

Ebony interrupts their conversation to ask if they've seen Dal. Lex thought he was with her, and she suggests maybe he wandered off and got lost. He's not six, Ebony. Bray knows he doesn't get lost and another idea occurs to him. He tells Lex not to waste his breath calling out to Dal, Bray knows where he's gone. Meanwhile, Dal climbs up the slope of Eagle Mountain, stopping briefly to catch his breath.

KC and Cloe, as their punishment for KC's joke, are scrubbing the floors outside Trudy's room. They watch longingly as a Chosen exits her room with a tray full of food, surmising that she's got so much food she can't even eat most of it. He asks Cloe if he ever told her about the part in Oliver when he meets the Artful Dodger. She rolls her eyes, rightly so, knowing this can't be going anywhere good.

Ryan and Salene are at a table in the café and he's trying to talk her out of her decision to participate in the Chosen ceremony. He's also worried about the baby, but she's betraying Bray by joining them. Salene maintains that she's not betraying him, she's doing the same thing he did. He got the Guardian to believe Bray was on his side and then he used the opportunity to fire up the Mallrats with his speech about never giving up. Bray tricked him, she says, and that's exactly what Salene and May will do. I still maintain Bray wasn't faking his capitulation and that the speech was a last minute decision. Salene underestimates the power of intimidation and fear and also the lure of what the Chosen can offer. She reassures Ryan that they'll just be pretending to say the prayers required of them. Ominous music starts up as a few Chosen arrive to escort Salene and May to the ceremony. It's May, not Salene, who looks back at the rest of the Mallrats as they are led down the stairs.

The rest of them discuss the defection. Alice mocks Salene and Ryan comes to her defense. Salene had her reasons for doing this. The others still don't know that Salene's pregnant and so don't know her main motivation. She wasn't the only one who raised her hand. Tai-San remarks that May hasn't been a Mallrat for very long and so can't be blamed for looking out for herself. Alice, however, feels free to blame her. She points out that Tai-San is the one always saying they have to stick together. And they do, Tai-San says. The Guardian wants them to be divided, but there's more than one way to fight. Ellie and Alice, like eager disciples, are listening. The first thing they have to do, Tai-San says, is to control their anger. The Guardian thrives on their hatred of him, which she compares to his food. They have to starve him just as he is starving them. This all sounds great in theory, but this is where her deficiencies as a leader begin to show. It's not exactly a practical plan for defeating the Chosen, and this new age stuff isn't going to reassure the others that defeating them is even possible. Hence the defection of two of their number already.

A tired, and hungry, Trudy snaps at Luke and the Chosen with him when they re-enter her room, asking what they wants now. He's brought Brady to see her and she tearfully pulls her into her arms, ecstatic to see her daughter. Luke tells her the visit will have to remain their secret, and she wonders why he's doing this at all when the Guardian could have him killed if he found out. Some of them, the Chosen, don't agree with the Supreme Mother being held prisoner, even if she did have something to do with Bray's escape. Interesting, he's not acting alone. Trudy asks him what his name is. Really, she doesn't know his name? I find that difficult to believe, unless it's meant to underscore her self-absorption. She solemnly tells him that it isn't true that she knew about the rescue, but that she did hesitate to carry out her duty, and the hesitation allowed the escape. He questions why she hesitated and she says it was because she and Bray used to have feelings for each other. Well, that's not exactly true. The feelings were mainly on her part. But it's her story; I guess she can tell it like she wants, or how she probably remembers it. She says she thought she might still win Bray over to the cause. Luke eats it all up, but he still must take Brady away. She begs him to let her stay just a little longer, but he reminds her of the risk they're taking. Reluctantly she hands over the baby and tells her to be good and that Trudy will see her soon. One of the Chosen takes away the tray of food sitting on her table. Luke grabs a piece of bread off the tray as the guard passes by him and tries to hand it to her, saying that it won't be missed and no one will know if she takes it. But Zoot will know and she will eat only when her Guardian allows it.

This scene has a lot of interesting elements going on. First, that there is a small faction in the Chosen that doesn't agree wholeheartedly with the Guardian and is willing to perform at least small acts of rebellion. This tendency will appear more in Luke later, but it makes me curious about what else goes on behind the scenes of the Chosen. Could Trudy have leveraged this support and taken over the Chosen from the Guardian? They do refer to her at least once as "Majesty," after all. It's also clear from this scene, and I kind of go back and forth on this I know, that Trudy does at least partially buy into the Chosen philosophy. She sounds very devout and is willing to undergo some hardship in order to prove herself worthy in this religion. I wonder if some of that willingness is because of the awe and worship she gets from the Chosen seeking to understand her here. Trudy has always wanted attention and she certainly gets it here. Would she still be so devout in this scene if she was getting different feedback from Luke and the others? All very interesting questions.

Dal has finally reached Amber and Zandra's graves on Eagle Mountain. He contemplates the gravesite regretfully and remembers when Amber pulled Cloe to safety in the first episode. He'd told her they should leave Cloe, but Amber couldn't do it. They'd come so far together that he decided to stay with her anyway. Good lord, that was some really bad acting. In the present, he stands alone by the grave of his best friend, who may or may not actually be in there. Talk about messing with your head. If she is in there, she won't be looking too good after all this time and it would gross me out to have to look at her. Dal is a good friend.

KC and Cloe are still scrubbing floors and KC asks if she's ready. She's not sure, but he tells her not to wimp out on him now. Luke and the Chosen, the one with the tray in front, come out of Trudy's room as KC jumps to his feet and starts pitching a fit. He screams at them to let him go and throws his scrub rag at them. They grab him and try to restrain him as Luke tries to figure out what's going on. Meanwhile, no one is paying any attention to Cloe and she's able to slip a few pieces of bread into a napkin and hide it underneath her shirt. The two of them are taken away, the plan having actually worked without backfiring this time. At least, not on them.

The Guardian stops the Chosen carrying the lightened tray and notices the missing bread. He smiles nastily and takes the tray back to Trudy's room. She's curled up on the sofa, still upset over Brady being taken away. She smiles, though, when she sees the Guardian enter, thinking perhaps she'll be rewarded for her good behavior. She's wrong. He holds it out, demanding to know what's with the tray of food. She's confused and has no idea what he's talking about. He thought she was repentant, which she says she is, but then why did she eat when he hadn't given his permission. Again, she doesn't understand. He angrily offers to make her understand and abruptly tosses the tray to the ground, food flying everywhere, and advances on her until their faces are inches apart. "You must be pure, like your master; beyond desire, beyond pain. Power and Chaos! Say it!" She protests that she didn't eat anything, but she's wasting her breath. His face contorted in rage, he accuses her of being a liar and demands that she admit it. Trudy's terrified and begs to see Brady, but the Guardian won't allow it until she's proven herself worthy. She swears she will and begs him to forgive her for whatever it is she's done. Only Zoot can forgive her, he sneers, and yells "Power and Chaos!" once more before leaving her alone again. She breaks down, repeating "power and chaos" over and over, crying and lost in her own despair. It's pretty clear that the Guardian was basically setting her up for failure and was thrilled when he thought she had. Her weakness seems to incite a rage in him, but she's probably incapable of the strength he demands.

Salene and May return to the rest of the group, who appear to be innocently curious about the ceremony. They haven't had to pray to Zoot yet, but they were told what to say. What, like your mantra, Ellie asks. Yeah, our mantra, May snots back, and also a promise of a hot meal later. This is the last straw for Ellie. She disbelievingly tells them that Bray and Dal died and Jack got captured trying to make things better. They're betraying all of them. Salene is tired of defending herself and shoots back that Ellie's right: Jack did get taken away and Bray and Dal did die. Does that mean that the rest of the Mallrats have to do the same; is that what they would have wanted? KC and Cloe make a timely entrance with their stolen food and receive much appreciation for their efforts. They pass around the bread and Salene offers to get more for them when she and May get food. A tentative truce has been achieved, at least for now.

Dal has finished pulling all the rocks off of Amber's grave. He's contemplating the empty, empty grave when Ebony appears behind him, asking if he found what he was looking for. He tells her to get away from him, which is funny but a little puzzling. Why the sudden hostility towards her, unless he's supposed to suspect she knows more about this than she's saying? Pride, Lex, and Bray come up the trail and Dal is surprised they came after Bray's flat rejection of the idea. Bray stops short of the graves and asks Dal if Amber is in there. He's not sure how to say it and Bray tells him to just spit it out. "It's empty. The grave's empty!" Bray rushes over to see for himself and it is indeed empty. He wants answers, and he wants them now. Dal was too scared to look at the body so he knows nothing. Who pulled her out of the fire? It wasn't Lex, who merely shrugs a negative, so Bray turns to Ebony, demanding an answer. She says, rather weakly, that all she remembers is a lot of smoke and confusion. Bray turns back to Lex, sure that he knows something he's not saying. Lex is the one who told Bray Amber was dead. Bray gets increasingly agitated, asking Lex if this whole thing is an act, a setup. Is Zandra really alive too? He starts to attack her grave, but Lex grabs his arm and speaks in a low but deadly firm voice. He doesn't understand what's going on either, but he laid Zandra to rest himself. "And no one, but no one, will touch one stone on this grave while I'm still alive! You understand?" Bray nods and turns away, unsure what to do next. How do you process the fact that the woman you loved and thought had died may almost certainly be alive and you've been living with a lie all this time.

Pride kneels down by the cross with Amber's name on it, as confused as the others perhaps. (This cross, by the way, is new; Amber's name wasn't on it after her death in series two.) Dal asks again about Eagle, Pride's tribe leader; he said she rose from the grave. Um, he did? When did he say that? "She speaks little of the past," Pride says. "She speaks mostly of the future we'll build together, living off the land, being free." Dal remarks to Bray that the description sounds like Amber and he begs him to find out the truth. Ebony finally pipes up and questions their willingness to sacrifice their living friends in order to bring back a dead one. She thinks an empty grave doesn't prove anything and meanwhile the others are under the thumb of the Guardian with who knows what happening to them. Bray asks if they go back to Pride's tribe, will their leader, whoever she is, help them against the Chosen. But strangers aren't welcome in Pride's tribe; it's a question of survival. Pride's seen how the Chosen operate, Lex points out, and he could speak for them. Pride says he'll try and heads off to take them to the tribe he just told them didn't like strangers. Unfortunately, this seems to happen a lot, and I blame it on the writing: if someone objects to a course of action you have to actually show them being convinced, not just suddenly changing their mind for no reason. Ebony suddenly looks awfully worried about this change in events.

May and Salene attend the Chosen ceremony, which consists of standing in a dark room lit by candles with a bunch of other Chosen and initiates while the Guardian gives a speech. He praises Zoot, the almightly blah blah blah and blesses "those who embrace your spirit for the first time today." May and Salene look around them rather shamefacedly.

Stock footage of an eagle flying over the forest. Subtle. Lex, Ebony, Bray, and Dal have lost Pride. They won't be able to find his tribe without Pride and it'll be dark soon. Strange bird calls sound out and Bray and Dal seem to understand they're not birds, though how they know that I have no idea. They're city kids! They look around them and suddenly the empty forest isn't so empty. From behind the trees step out members of what must be Pride's tribe. Lex doesn't like their welcome, which so far is just silence and staring. Pride jumps in front of them and tells them it's alright, that the strangers are with him. He tells the Mallrats to follow him.

Back at the ceremony, the Guardian is still blathering on. He talks about reclaiming the city in Zoot's honor and how it's a testament to his enduring love and blah blah blah power and chaos. I'm sorry, but really. Do they even know what power and chaos mean? Because it seems to me the basic tenants of this religion don't go along with power and chaos. I think Zoot would have laughed in their faces had he still been alive, which is the irony of course. The crowd repeats "power and chaos" and "Zoot be praised, and to his followers victory!" May joins in, gaining confidence, but Salene still seems uncomfortable with this whole thing.

The Mallrats and Pride approach the tribe's camp. There are a couple cabins built in the trees and people move about engaged in their own business. Altogether it's a rustic environment but they seem to have adapted well to the forest. Bray, Dal, Ebony, and Lex stop walking and Bray addresses a girl kneeling near a fire. He asks if she's Eagle and introduces himself. He says they've come from the city and they need the tribe's help.

This totally cracks me up and it makes absolutely no sense. He asks the first girl he sees if she's Eagle, assumes she is when she doesn't speak, and then starts right in on his mission. Wouldn't you wait for Pride to introduce you since you have no idea who anyone is? And if you think Amber might be Eagle, wouldn't you maybe look around to see if she's there. It's a bizarre way to handle this scene.

The girl doesn't respond to Bray's comments and they stare at each other briefly until another voice, a female voice, sounds from behind the Mallrats. It asks why these strangers have been brought here. Bray seems to instantly recognize it and he and Dal turn with trepidation and expectation to behold Amber, alive and in the flesh. (And dressed in a huge amount of blue feathers and leather. How many blue eagle sacrificed their lives to clothe her?) She regards them impassively. "Oh my god," Bray murmurs, while Dal speaks her name in disbelief and joy.

Eagle is indeed Amber.