King Philip’s evil twin joins the party
Philip has the grail and is in a great, conciliatory mood. He feels bad about that nasty business with Joan’s maid, and offers Joan a compromise: he’ll acknowledge and raise Landry’s child as his own, if she’ll agree to start over and pretend like everything is fine and dandy. Joan is a grown-ass woman. She’s not willing to play make believe anymore, and rejects him. I’m not sure what kind of reaction she was expecting, but Philip makes it very clear that a) she belongs to him, and ergo b) she will do as she’s told.
A question for the ages. Source
When she later overhears his plan to massacre Landry and his knights, she decides that maybe a little make believe is in order. She oohs and ahhs over the grail and smiles prettily at Philip, but he can’t be fooled. He goes FULL PSYCHO and tells her in gruesome detail how he’ll kill Landry and her child. Remember that weak, anxious king from episode one, who was bummed that his wife hadn’t slept with him in two years, and had to ask the Pope to make a major political decision for him? Yeah…that guy’s gone. Something tells me Evil Philip is here to stay. Joan agrees-so she beams him with a candlestick and makes her escape. YOU GO GIRL.
The Templars battle the Red Knights
Under the Pope’s orders (who is, like, suuuuper sorry about their whole misunderstanding) Landry leads his knights toward Paris to re-claim the grail before Philip can announce that he has it. It’s a small crew- the Templar Grand Master refused to send the entire French order along to help. Gotta protect their reputations, you know, and Landry is dirty, no good adulterer now. Queen Joan rides out of the mists to warn them just in time that Philip knows they’re coming and has sent the mercenaries. She collapses and is sent to safety right as the mercenaries arrive. Templars…PREPARE FOR GLORY!!!!! Er….I mean, for the glory of God.
Finally managed to work in a Jim Halpert gif! Source
The Red Knights are led by none other than that dirty traitor Gawain. He talks some serious smack. Fights Tancrede. Talks more smack. The mercenaries definitely appear to have the upper hand when who should appear from the forest but the entire French Templar order! I guess they decided that brotherhood was more important than keeping up appearances. Their numbers help turn the tide, and Gawain orders the mercenary army to retreat.
King Philip’s Evil Twin beats the snot out of Landry
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Landry has been surrounded and herded to a more secluded setting so that Philip can vent some of his frustration out on Landry’s face. . He doesn’t really believe in fair odds, does he? It hurts to see the place these two have arrived at. Was Philip always this evil? Or did circumstances and betrayals set him down that path? Even if he was just playing at being nice for the last 10 episodes, I will miss seeing his and Landry’s friendship. Although, their mutual hatred and quests for revenge will make for some really good television in Season 2.
Philip’s punchfest is interrupted by a very-much-in-labor Joan, who begs for Landry’s life. Philip agrees; Landry’s life will be saved…at the expense of her own. I did not even see that sword coming, guys.
Queen Joan survives impalement for a ridiculously long time
I was completely unprepared for this. We knew Philip was descending to (or maybe just unveiling) new levels of evil, but this takes the sadistic cake. I get that he feels betrayed-he has every right to. I get that he’s furious-again, every right to. His wife cheated on him with his best friend. You don’t just shrug that off, BUT YOU DON’T KILL YOUR WIFE EITHER.
Realizing that the battle is still lost, Philip leaves the lovers to their goodbyes. And it’s so damn sad. They finally realize that they would chose each other above all else, but not until it’s too late. Draper says that nothing can be done, but Landry remembers that Joan has the grail and desperately has her drink from it, to no avail. She dies peacefully in his arms. (But only after going on…and on…and on..about poppies and horses.)
While clutching Joan’s body Landry feels the baby move. Did the grail work after all??? Draper performs a (waaaay too life like) field c-section and safely delivers Landry’s baby girl. Awwwwww. $10 says he names her Poppy. Landry will make a good dad. And a very attractive one. Hurry up Season 2, I miss that beard already.
Confession: This love story was one of the weakest aspects this season, in my opinion. Joan and Landry spent most of it apart, and they had just so-so chemistry or momentum. While Joan’s death was shocking and tragic, I’m okay with their relationship being cut from the story, and am looking forward to Season 2 focusing on other plots.
The Holy Grail is destroyed and nobody even cares
Devastated by Joan’s death and pissed off at an inanimate object that didn’t heal her massive sword wound, he throws it in a fit of rage. The cup that Jesus drank from. The most holy relic in Christendom. HE CHUCKS IT AGAINST A TREE. And what do all the Templars do?
Seriously, I don’t even think they notice that it’s now in a hundred pieces. Whatever, dudes. We don’t see it again until the very end, when another Templar secretly removes a hidden scroll from within the grail itself. Now how did he know that was there? The scroll appears to be a list of names (in the English alphabet, which makes me believe that maybe it’s not from Jesus’ day), and the last name on the list is…Landry’s.
That is some Lost-level intrigue right there. What are the names on the list? Are they pre-destined keepers of the grail? Prophesied descendants of Jesus? And where is that Templar gonna hide it next when he poops it out tomorrow? So many deep questions.
We’re still waiting on official confirmation for Season 2, but obviously I think there’s a lot of great material for them to work with going forward. And history has a lot to say about the downfall of the Templars, history I hope we get to see brought to life on Knightfall. So fingers crossed, and I’ll see you next season!
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