Now that Kevin (Kal-El Tuck) and Saffron (Kiera Thompson) have prevented their parents from being turned to coal, the mission goalpost moves once again. Although the Time Bandits insist being captured by Pure Evil (Jemaine Clement) is worse, Mike (James Dryden) and Lisa (Felicity Ward) Haddock don’t really seem to mind the chains and occasionally being set on fire.
RELATED: Catch up with our recap of the previous Time Bandits episode, “Home Again”
And, better still, rescuing parents from the “Fortress of Darkness” is a more doable plan than the no plan the kids had for living with a couple of barbecue briquettes for guidance and income. But first comes the “Pell-Mell” of finding the missing corner of the map. The season finale episode duo answers many questions while revisiting some of the Time Bandits previous adventures.
Time Bandits’s “Pell-Mell”
As the map’s corner containing the Time of Legends went missing before Kevin met up with the Time Bandits, retracing their steps is a complicated exercise. Drawing on the resourceful abilities of friends they’ve made along the way, Kevin and Saffron (!) provide direction and clarity, respectively, in deducing their path forward. Er, backward. Well, in any case, they definitely move the plot along.
Some long-arc plot threads that also extend back beyond the initial meeting in Kevin’s bedroom include Penelope’s missing fiancé and the tragedy of Susan, the lost Time Bandit. Expect to learn more about them as the season ricochets through time and space in search of the missing map piece.
RELATED: TV Review: Time Bandits Season 1
Also, the Supreme Being (Taika Waititi), realizing the Time Bandits’ plan to walk the map into Pure Evil’s inner sanctum, steps up his game. Since capturing Judy (Charlyne Yi), he’s learned that Kevin is key to the group’s functionality. Figuring that a kid with parents being held hostage would be an easy mark, he makes a pitch for the map.
This involves a great deal of fast talk, quick costume changes, and some clearly disingenuous promises. Take note: The Supreme Being LIES. But he’s undeniably charismatic and leaves Kevin with a lot to think about. (Would’ve been fun to see The Supreme Being try this with Saffron. OMG, she’d show him hectic and have him jog on. LEGEND.)
Time Bandits’s “Fortress of Darkness”
It’s only fair that Pure Evil gets equal time to argue for giving him the map so he can turn the world evil. Once he has Kevin, Saffron, and the Time Bandits in his lair, he presents them all with their deepest desires. Those glimpses into their secret, or not-so-secret, hearts are pretty insightful for a guy who impulsively immolates first, and asks questions later.
Of course, The Supreme Being isn’t going to let that stand uncontested. Prepare for a proper showdown between the personifications of creation and destruction, Light and Dark, … Superego and Id?
Meanwhile, Kevin and Saffron are looking for any opportunity to unshackle their weirdly compliant parents and get them home. The Time Bandits are preoccupied with avoiding the attention of The Supreme Being. And there’s even a third party of interested individuals involved. They cause a little mayhem on their own which is a clever throwback to the O.G. movie.
RELATED: Read our Time Bandits recaps
All in all, for a fantasy adventure, we get a satisfying resolution. As a season finale, there’s a lot to laud and some things you just have to shake your head at. It’s been a fun ride and no one ended up dead (for long) so let’s call it a win.
Time Bandits streams on Apple TV+, with Season 1’s final two episodes dropping on Wednesday, August 21.
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