In what feels like another mostly transitional episode, more groundwork is established as characters focus mostly on themselves as they steel themselves for the finale. "Amberle" is centred much on Wil himself as the past finally catches up with him. In order for him - and for the show - to move forward, he has to finally accept his fate that he is a Shannara, and that the world needs him to stop the Warlock Lord. Central to the Shannara/Druid relationship is also Allanon and Mareth, who also contemplate their situations while the evil parallel found both in Bandon and Eretria follow suit. One of Shannara's strengths is its worldbuilding and strong character work. It's a show and setting that relies strongly on its sense of time and place, and of heritage and legacy. It's all around in the setting as the ruined post-apocalyptic world (which goes sorely unused, in my opinion) reminds us of a world left behind, or even in how events shape entire peoples rather strongly, and it's always fantastic when Shannara knows exactly how to hit those beats.
The titular episode brings back Amberle in what is her most significant appearance since all of season one. It's a bit of a shame that Poppy Drayton is underused in service of the plot of the show, as this episode finally shows her range as she's asked to play the familiar Amberle that Wil loved, and the incarnation of the Ellcrys in her image. Ultimately, it is in her reappearance that helps guide Wil back on his path. He's been rather reactive this season, as his journey was mostly dictated by the whims of those with more ambition than him. As he notes as he speaks to a figment of Shea, Storlock and his dreams of being a simple healer were all he wanted before the heritage of the Shannara was thrust upon him. He's been towed around by Bandon in attempts to help Flick, and he has mostly been reticent about his destiny despite Allanon's guidance. It's only until "Amberle" when he's asked to finally accept his fate, as well as let go of Amberle is he able to move forward. Having the Sword of Shannara become mended is as about as unsubtle as it gets, but it helps link together Bandon's shattering of the sword earlier back in "Crimson" to Wil's acceptance as a hero.
Allanon and Mareth also spend their time together musing on the role of the druids as we learn Allanon's time is slowly coming to an end and Mareth will have to assume his place in very little time. It's fantastic work that mixes well with world building as we learn why Allanon and druids seem to have to appear in a time of peril, and then have to disappear just as soon as the danger is over. It's with the guilt of Bandon that ultimately leads Allanon to his demise. There's a bit of the hint of the Jedi of Star Wars to the Druids in Shannara, seeing as they seem to follow similar tenants of a subset of people who are devoted simply to the safety of the world at large and must forego personal attachments. Of course, it's not as simple as we watch the father-daughter discussion unfold over Eventine's sister - Allanon's one love and Mareth's mother - and how she is the one thing that brings these two people together. It's also through the familial bond that causes Allanon to re-evaluate his life, even as he continues the burden that a druid must carry, ending in a powerful confession at the end of the episode as the Crimson send them to their deaths.
On the other side, Bandon faces similar hurdles as he establishes a connection with the newly revived Warlock Lord. Asking for him to revive Catania is an interesting request and despite his best intentions, it quickly turns into a lesson by the Warlock Lord instead to ask Bandon to kill what he loves (but also doesn't love him back). Catania was pretty much the last link to any humanity that Bandon had left since his mission. There's almost a glimmer of hope when you think he'll turn on the Warlock Lord for turning a newly-revived Catania into something of a thrall for his amusement. It's interesting that after his advances are rebuffed that Bandon doesn't do much to beg for his new master to return Catania to the woman he remembers, implying he's ready to leave behind his humanity.
Having Eretria's heritage come into play seems a little odd at this moment in the season, but it was bound to come to a head sooner or later since Cogline finally revealed what she was. There's little reason given to why a wraith or whatever kind of dark spirit murders all the Crimson soldiers as they descend on Eretria and the remainder of the Chosen, but it quickly turns wrong when Eretria tries to control the malevolent force. It's clear she's been possessed by the time Wil reunites with her, though for what remains uncertain. It would be odd if the show wanted to play towards similar beats as it did previously for Bandon's downfall, though much of it lines up as we're watching as a character attempts to wrestle with the darker elements of magic and come out from it changed for the worse.
And seemingly for the worse, it's a shame that Lyria is absent for this hour where the characters are forced to face the truth or their pasts. In a way, her mother had done so earlier an episode ago before her demise, but there's again little work on that front, especially for someone who seemingly has an important role to play in the events ahead. Even Slanter and Jax get a word in edgewise about the episode's focus. Riga of course, ends up having to face off with the Warlock Lord and losing his head over it despite his immunity to magic. It seems that for now the Crimson have come to an end, but hopefully rather than acting as a minor threat prior to the Warlock Lord's arrival, they persist as a force and perspective in the world of Shannara. Otherwise it would be a shame to see them disappear as the plot demands it, because despite their usual over-the-top villainy, they added some extra depth to the world.
Miscellaneous thoughts:
- Really surprised to see Tamlin's head guard got more to do of significance. Considering he would probably be most at fault for letting the Crimson (much less anyone else) slip through into the palace. How does he still have a job?
- I thought the show had established that Cogline was also a druid, though it seems that Allanon doesn't know much about it, or that he doesn't seem to care about it at all.
- In an interesting twist, it seems like Wil and Mareth's trip to Shady Vale in the past and meeting Shea were in fact real, as Shea reveals to Wil his reason for not making the ultimate sacrifice to kill the Warlock Lord was so he could see his wife and son again.
- On that above point though, I do wonder what the show is trying to say, if plunging the sword into the Warlock Lord is all you need to do, why did Shea decide to not do it?
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