LEGION — “Chapter 4” – Season 1, Episode 4 (Airs Wednesday, March 1, 10:00 pm/ep) — Pictured: Dan Stevens as David Haller. CR: Michelle Faye/FX
When we left David Haller, he was unconscious while his girlfriend Syd Barrett and their fellow mutants – Melanie Bird and Ptonomy Wallace – had returned from their trip inside his mind with no apparent side effects.
In Chapter Four of FX’s Legion (Wednesdays, 11/10C), the search is to find David and bring him back to the ‘real’ world.
Chapter 4 opens with a new character, Oliver (Jemaine Clement) in a cool blue room, talking about the two stories we tell ourselves – one to illustrate empathy; the other, fear.
When all their efforts to awaken David (Dan Stevens) fail, Syd (Rachel Keller), Ptonomy (Jeremie Harris) and Kerry (Amber Midthunder) look for clues in the real world – visiting David’s ex-girlfriend, Philly (Ellie Araiza) and his former psychiatrist, Dr. Poole (Scott Lawrence).
LEGION — “Chapter 4” – Season 1, Episode 4 (Airs Wednesday, March 1, 10:00 pm/ep) — Pictured: (l-r) Dan Stevens as David Haller, Rachel Keller as Syd Barrett. CR: Michelle Faye/FX
Ellie has a message for David, should they find him, ‘They’re watching!’ Dr. Poole is whole ‘nother story.
Meanwhile, Amy Haller (Katie Aselton) meets Dr. Kissinger (David Ferry) in an unexpected way.
Oliver, it turns out has something in common with David – and his realtor ex, Ellie. In three words, ‘Location. Location. Location.’
Once again, The Eye (Mackenzie Gray) plays a pivotal role in confusing things and Rachel is forced to take action in her own inimitable manner.
LEGION — “Chapter 4” – Season 1, Episode 4 (Airs Wednesday, March 1, 10:00 pm/ep) — Pictured: (l-r) Dan Stevens as David Haller, Jeremie Harris as Ptonomy Wallace. CR: Michelle Faye/FX
Written by Peter Calloway and directed by Tim Meilants, Chapter 4 is as much a complete mindfrak as the preceding three episodes.
Thus far, Legion has done a masterful job of taking a character who appears to be clinically insane (with paranoid schizophrenia) and asking the question of whether he is actually not insane – and then asking if, because of his unique abilities, he might actually have become insane.
Then there’s the whole conscious mind/unconscious mind/subconscious mind thing – if David isn’t present in his slumbering body in any perceivable way, does that mean there’s another, deeper part of his mind, or has he escaped to another undetectable plane?
A new piece of real world information also casts some intriguing light on David’s friend Lenny (Aubrey Plaza) and the possibility that David may have tampered with his own mind – taking the concept of repressed memories onto a whole new level of weirdness (key hint: a dog named King).
LEGION — “Chapter 4” – Season 1, Episode 4 (Airs Wednesday, March 1, 10:00 pm/ep) — Pictured: (l-r) Bill Irwin as Cary Loudermilk, Jean Smart as Melanie Bird, Rachel Keller as Syd Barrett. CR: Michelle Faye/FX
While there’s a couple of sequences that feature action (Kerry’s fight sequence outside Dr. Poole’s home; an action sequence inside it), Legion steadfastly remains a series about ideas, thoughts and memories – and the tricks they can play on each other – as well as the connections made between people, regardless of their race, gender or age.
Even as the overall story progresses in a linear manner, the side trips and excursions into the past hold as much weight as anything happening in the present in the real world – or any other.
Chapter 4 is possibly the most fun you can have watching a comic book-related show without actually doing the good acid. Each of the worlds I depicts has a unique feel and, on top of that (and within the universe of the show) feels completely real and really complete.
Chapter 4 is compelling evidence e that Legion is one of the best shows on TV right now.
Final Grade: A+