Krypton Review: ‘The Word of Rao’ S01E04

Krypton returns this week, with episode 4: The Word of Rao, and a decent amount of key plot elements that will become critical as the series progresses. (BEWARE! This review contains SPOILERS!)

After last week’s more action orientated episode, this week we start to see more of the politics behind the scenes, and some motives emerge.  The story follows up on the failed ‘Rankless Initiative’ and the ‘Voice of Rao’ wants a scapegoat; not knowing that Lyta-Zod (Georgina Campbell) and Seg-El (Cameron Cuffe) are in love, Daron Vex (Elliot Cowan) sets up Lyta to take the fall, thinking she’s expendable.  What emerges though is that Nyssa Vex (Wallis Day) and Daron have a plan to overthrow the Voice of Rao, which requires Seg to be on board, which won’t happen if Lyta is executed.

This is the first reveal of the Vex family plan of treachery, and is entirely in keeping with what we know about them so far; they are clearly quite capable of manipulating any situation to their needs, and it seems that the binding to Seg, and an alliance with the El name is part of that longer term strategy after their power grab.  Obviously, the Vex family try to justify their plan as for the greater good, but it is a thin disguise.  At the heart of it, Wallis Day continues to give a strong performance as the devious Nyssa, displaying the right amount of cynicism, and contemptuousness that you’d expect for a self-centred political figure.

Signs of Kandor being effectively a religious dictatorship are in evidence again, as the Voice of Rao isn’t interested in finding out any objective truth, but just wants someone’s head to roll for the failure if the initiative.  He has also instigated the ‘Nova Cycle Celebration’, a religious tradition focusing on ‘rebirth’ several weeks early, using it as a tool to attempt to quell any unrest, which seems a touch insincere.

When Lyta is accused, Seg asks Nyssa to help, further playing into her hands, and then somewhat impetuously rushes off with the intention of giving up Rhom (Alexis Raben) to show that something else is happening and save Lyta; after arguing with Adam (Shaun Sipos) and before he can get there though, he is taken by a mysterious group, that interrogate him for information on Brainiac (Blake Ritson).  Led by an unknown leader (Colin Salmon) with connections to Black Zero, they seem to have their own agenda, and nothing will get in their way.  This is the first bit of plot where the wider Brainiac problem is being discussed and where we feel we may get some answers, so it definitely seems like a positive move.  The always great Colin Salmon gives a solid turn as the unnamed leader, with a mixture of menace and an unhinged nature, so hopefully he will remain in the series.

Unfortunately for all concerned, Rhom is unlikely to survive, so Kem (Rasmus Hardiker) has the horrible task of making Ona (Tipper Seifert-Cleveland) understand that her mother isn’t returning.  During the beginning of the Nova Cycle Celebration however, she makes an offering directly to the Voice of Rao and he takes her in as a trainee disciple; this seems a little contrived at first, as just a way to make it so that Kem doesn’t have to look after for the rest of the series, but actually ends up being a decent plot device which leads to Brainiac’s Sentry infecting the Voice of Rao himself.

This felt like a much more rounded and solid episode than we have seen in the last couple, and it seems like the series is finding its feet.  The main heroes are finding a rapport which works on camera and they are gelling into a likeable unit, which bodes well.  The appearance of Colin Salmon and his mysterious group, as well as the revelations about the Vex’s political manoeuvrings, open up the show and make it much more interesting.  As the details get filled in, it becomes more compelling; It’s on the rise!