KILLJOYS — “How To Kill Friends and Influence People” Episode 210 — Pictured: Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch — (Photo by: Ian Watson/Syfy/Killjoys II Productions Limited)
The second season finale could have been a series finale with a very few adjustments, but with the show’s renewal, it is, instead, a really good season finale.
How To Kill Friends and Influence People offers answers to burning questions; lots of action and banter, and unexpected sacrifice. If Eric Frank Russell were alive today, he’d definitely approve.
Killjoys’ second season finale opens with a fairy tale about a man who wanted to be a king, living in a magnificent castle with his beautiful daughter, who lost everything by trying to save it. The green plasma is involved.
Next, we learn that Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen) is being tortured in Old Town by our old friend, Herin (Stuart Hughes) – who wants to know where Jelco (Pascal Langdale) is. When bar owner Pree (Thom Allison) tries to intervene, Dutch talks him out of it – even though Herin’s method is flooding her blood with micro-leeches that cause her to cough up when she lies.
Cut to the night before.
KILLJOYS — “How To Kill Friends and Influence People” Episode 210 — Pictured: (l-r) Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch, Morgan Kelly as Alvis — (Photo by: Christos Kalohoridis/Syfy/Killjoys II Productions Limited)
Dutch, John (Aaron Ashmore) and D’Avin (Luke Macfarlane) are trying to shut down the wall surrounding Old Town from the main controls in Jelco’s offices – which leads to a certain amount of mayhem before Jelco, with Dutch about to blast him, persuades her that he knows stuff (knowledge is what keeps a middle management type like him alive).
Before long, Fancy Lee (Sean Baek), the Black Root, Anila (also John-Kamen) and Khlyen (Rob Stewart) are all involved; Lucy makes a joke and answers are given – in particular, about the green plasma and Khlyen’s real agenda. Which, in turn, leads to Scarback priest Alvis (Morgan Kelly) and his sacred book.
Oh, and three people die (one of whom richly deserves it).
Written by series creator Michelle Lovretta and Jeremy Boxen – and directed with a deft touch by Peter Stebbings), How To Kill Friends and Influence People is probably the best episode in a season that, generally speaking, was better than the first.
We find out who Anila is – and what she wants; what the real purpose of the green plasma is; how Pawter Sims (Sarah Power) is both incredibly smart and equally naïve and empathetic; how territorial Pree can be; visit the Quad’s ultimate bank (Death Star sized and possessed of a unique vault and security system), and learn what the ultimate purpose of The Nine is – and learn more about Delle Seyah Kendry’s (Mayko Nguyen) brand of cutthroat politics.
KILLJOYS — “How To Kill Friends and Influence People” Episode 210 — Pictured: (l-r) Rob Stewart as Khlyen, Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch — (Photo by: Ian Watson/Syfy/Killjoys II Productions Limited)
Unexpected alliances are made; others broken, and everyone plays the hand they’re dealt – some better than others.
The season finale is beautifully paced, the effects are solid and the cast is almost ruthlessly good (and things get very confusing, emotionally).
In its second season, Killjoys has lived up to the potential its first season – the balance has been mostly on the mythology and that has worked to its advantage. The characters have gained much more depth and idea of a coming war/choosing sides has been played out with suitable delicacy underneath the surface banter and action.
How To Kill Friends and Influence People could easily have been a series finale with a couple of judicious tweaks, but its renewal sets the stage for a whole different universe of action next year.
If it’s as good as season two, season three will be killer space opera. I can’t wait!
Final Grade: A+