WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Watch, Season 1, Episode 5, "Not on My Watch," now available on BBC.
In the latest episode of the show, "Not on My Watch," BBC's The Watch continues to test Captain Vimes (Richard Dormer) emotionally as he struggles to understand how to carve out a path toward happiness. He's trying to kick his alcohol habit — not to mention he's tasked with saving Ankh-Morpork from an evil wizard and an apocalyptic dragon. However, in the episode, a familiar face returns and offers Vimes words of encouragement that will redefine his future.
Vimes doesn't want Lord Vetinari or anyone wielding Wayne, as they'll all use the dragon to control — or worse yet, raze — the city. As a result, he heads to a supernatural pond outside of the city to dissolve the weapon. However, the defense mechanisms there start infecting his mind with cerebral magic. This sends his consciousness back decades, where he witness a younger version of himself being protected by his current enemy, Carcer. The two had a falling out after Vimes promised to be his spy in the police service and free their rebels, only to end up betraying him.
As Vimes barely grips his sanity, he looks on at both boys in the orphanage, racked by guilt that he couldn't save Carcer from going down this dark path. However, just as he's about to give up and let the mystical poison flowing through his brain and veins kill him, the orphanage's dog speaks to him. It's revealed to be Death, Carcer's old friend, who appeared in the first episode.
Death tells Vimes that he needs to forgive himself, fight and believe that he's meant for something greater. It ties into their first exchange when Vimes was in limbo and Death sent him back, making it clear it wasn't his time. Death represents more of a guardian angel figure, subverting expectations as the character who ends up convincing Vimes to be a hero.
This spurs him to break out his trance because he knows Death's infatuation means more; the Grim Reaper is actually setting up fate to play out as it should. While they're accustomed to cheeky banter, but seeing as Death also saved Lady Ramkin from making a hit in the Assassins' Guild that would have cost her her life, it's clear the Reaper needs Vimes and Sybil to be together. They have a key role to play in saving reality, and this will affect the souls Death needs to mark off its list.
The Watch is executive produced by BBC Studios' Hilary Salmon (Luther) and Phil Collinson (Doctor Who). The series, which will run for eight episodes, is written by Simon Allen (Das Boot). It stars Richard Dormer, Anna Chancellor, Lara Rossi, Ingrid Oliver, James Fleet, Marama Corlett, Sam Adewunmi, Jo Eaton-Kent, Adam Hugill, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Ruth Madeley, Bianca Simone and Ingrid Oliver. The Watch airs Sundays at 8 pm ET/PT on BBC America.
0 Comments