For our review of the last episode of Knightfall, click here.
Synopsis: Now back in the Knights Templar Order as an Initiate, Landry continues his training under the harsh guidance of Talus, the battle-hardened Initiate master. DeNogaret implores King Philip to build a legal case against the Knights, seeking the aid of a former Templar to help carry out his plan. Prince Louis is tasked with a shocking secret mission. (History)
Writers: Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris
Director: Samira Radsi
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 60mins
Airs: Mondays at 10pm on History
Welcome fellow history buffs to the second episode of Knightfall season 2. This one opens with a flashback to 1279 AD. A young boy is forced to watch his parents burned alive by Father Benedetto (Simon Haines) for being Cathars, a Christian religious group persecuted by the Catholics. After that things go back to present day and the plot certainly thickens. Here’s what went down in “The Devil Inside.â€
Landry and his fellow initiates are still dealing with the wrath of Talus and his teachings. They bond over distant father figures, but this moment is quickly interrupted by Talus reminded them of Templar chewing habits. The initiates are then forced to train in the rain and tasked to climb a large stone tower. With no idea what to do, Talus gives them a riddle from the Bible and Landry manages to solve the problem. They must work as a unit to climb the tower as a human ladder which in the end impresses Talus.
However, the initiates are chastised when Rhone is found to be keeping a scroll from his past. The initiate who gave Talus this information is thrown out of the order for not protecting his fellow Templar. Landry tries to convince Talus that the scroll is his, but the Templar Master is not easily fooled. Instead, the entire group is forced to chop down a tree. When they head into the forest, things get a bit sticky as they run into a group of Luciferians sacrificing a woman on a cross.
They try to keep quiet, but the Luciferians spot them and engage in a fight. In the ensuing battle, Brother Quentin (Michael James) is wounded and unfortunately dies upon arriving at the stronghold. Most of the knights blame Landry for bringing bad omens to their brotherhood and decide to brand him with a cross hoping it removes the devil from him. The Templars decide to send out a group into the forest to find the remaining Luciferians.
Meanwhile in the French courts, King Philip refuses to bury Queen Joan given his knowledge of her infidelity. He instructs his son Prince Louis to travel throughout the land and kill every baby that might be her bastard child. This allows Louis to go from village to village and do as he please including killing priests and the Templars to steal their clothing. He hopes to pose at godly men to make the people more loyal to state rather than church.
And this plays into the other problem that the French royals are facing. Pope Boniface (Jim Carter) comes to pay his respects to the Queen, but in doing so reminds King Philip that he is the leader of France, not the king. King Philip does not like this and instructs DeNogaret to deal with it so that someone more loyal to the crown may replace him. He ends up getting Gawain to help him kill the Pope’s guards and then strangle him in a satisfying manner.
Although it is more satisfying to DeNogaret himself as it is revealed that the flashback was in fact the story of his life. DeNogaret was the young boy and Father Benedetto was a younger Pope Boniface showing that their lives were always intertwined. While DeNogaret hasn’t been the most redeeming character, this twist in his backstory gives a little more sympathy to someone screwed over by the church.
Templar’s Journal
- How long until Talus comes to respect and mentor Landry?
- Will Landry be able to protect his daughter from King Philip?
- What was DeNogaret’s proposition to Gawaine?
- Will Prince Louis discover the truth of his mother’s death?
- How long until Landry is re-knighted as part of the Order?
- Who will become the new Pope?
Overall, The Devil Inside was a great episode. The parallels of fatherly approval between the initiates, the royals and the church itself all bring some strong themes to the center of this story. Landry continues to show his acceptance of his punishment as he atones for his sins. However, this dedication may have caused a few grumpy Templars to smirk, but for the most part they still are not convinced. With the killing of a major player in this time period, it will be interesting to see how state drives to further divide itself from church and drive a wedge between the royals and the Templars.
Score: 9.5/10
What did you think of “The Devil Insideâ€? Let me know in the comments below!
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