Reverie finally examines the darker side, in Episode 7: The Black Mandala. (Warning! The following review contains SPOILERS!)
In this week’s episode there appears to be the beginnings of a proper look at the issues surrounding the reverie technology, and how it could be misused. Unfortunately, the whole thing is very broad strokes and the story concludes in a very unsatisfactory manner.
As Paul (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and Mara (Sarah Shahi) are leaving a training reverie, Mara experiences a glitch and finds herself next to the exit door that looks normal, except for a black mandala on the handle instead of the usual multi-coloured one.
REVERIE — “The Black Mandala” Episode 107 — Pictured: Sarah Shahi as Mara Kint — (Photo by: Greg Gayne/NBC)
Going through it, she finds herself in a deserted warehouse, except for a locked cell with a teenager, Ehmet (Ben J. Pierce), handcuffed to a chair inside. Unable to open it, or convince him this is a reverie, she is mystified and can’t solve this riddle before the reverie disintegrates and she is ejected.
REVERIE — “The Black Mandala” Episode 107 — Pictured: Kathryn Morris as Monica Shaw — (Photo by: Greg Gayne/NBC)
As you would expect, this is a whole plot based around using the reverie program as an interrogation tool. I think that every viewer pretty much knew this episode would arrive eventually, due to the set up with the Defence Department, but even so, there is no subtlety. The whole story is very much cut and dried, with Emmett being innocent, simplifying any of the moral arguments and sidestepping any unease there could have been.
Although I’m sure we all come down against the use of torture, the idea of compassion towards your enemy vs ‘necessary action’ is completely dodged by making Ehmet an innocent. Admittedly, it does bring into focus the desire by some authorities to view refugees as terrorists by default, but this could have been included if they’d had more grey area, where Emmett’s guilt or innocence is unknown for longer.
REVERIE — “The Black Mandala” Episode 107 — Pictured: (l-r) Jessica Lu as Alexis Barrett, Dennis Haysbert as Charlie Ventana, Mac Brandt as Drew Sullivan — (Photo by: Greg Gayne/NBC)
The conclusion to the plot is also not handled that well, with Charlie (Dennis Haysbert) and Alexis taking the contractor, Drew Sullivan (Mac Brandt) to task and getting him shut down. This just felt unlikely, and particularly idealistic, especially given the ‘black ops’ nature of the project, and the environment we’re currently in. Obviously, in an ideal world this would be the case, but then in an ideal world this kind of thing wouldn’t be happening in the first place.
REVERIE — “The Black Mandala” Episode 107 — Pictured: (l-r) Jessica Lu as Alexis Barrett, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Paul Hammond — (Photo by: Greg Gayne/NBC)
On the positive side, there is some more interaction from Alexis (Jessica Lu), who isn’t just standing on the sidelines and apparently sulking. This time she gets involved and looks like she’s sulking! There is clearly more to come from this character, including her history with her brother, so hopefully they will utilise her more.
All in all this is a patchy affair, and should probably only be seen as the beginnings of the examination of the dark side of the Reverie program. It’s a misstep, but a step forward nonetheless.
