The Bastard Executioner
Season 1 Episode 8: “Broken Things/Pethau Toredig”
Directed by Ciaran Donnelly
Written by Ryan Scott & Kurt Sutter
Created by Kurt Sutter
Starring Lee Jones, Stephen Moyer, Katey Sagal, Kurt Sutter, Sam Spruell, Darren Evans, Matthew Rhys, Timothy V. Murphy, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Elen Rhys, Danny Sapani
FX
Air Date: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015, 10:00pm

Last time on The Bastard Executioner, Wilkin (Lee Jones) confessed all to his Lady Love (Flora Spencer-Longhurst), then said his goodbyes to his son, and really said goodbye to his fake wife (Sarah Sweeney). Love was having none of that, having only just found him. The most violent scene ever is the end of this episode, where we witness a man drawn and quartered (limbs ripped from his body), in all its gruesome glory. This man confessed to killing Baron Pryce’s wife (even though we know Wilkin did it) for his family to be taken care of. Father Ruskin and Annora’s (Timothy V. Murphy and Katey Sagal) scenes are quietly mesmerizing, as this warrior priest attempts to understand.

Spoilers below.

The Bastard Executioner 1.8 “Broken Things/Pethau Toredig” recap/review: Annora gives Father Ruskin the Book of Nazarene to read, which shatters his beliefs. This is the book that precedes the New Testament, and the mystery of Annora is falling into place. She is not pagan.

Annora shows Wilkin a vision, one that he has seen before, of a nun drowning a baby
We get to see (or rather not see) how powerful The Dark Mute is. He has many soldiers coming at him, Cut to Wilkin and Toran protecting Annora. Cut back to all the soldiers dead in a circle. That is magic.

Gaveston is now a wanted man and Love shows her savvy once again, impressing Corbett (Stephen Moyer), by making deals with the court. She wants to try to broker peace with the rebels. This was my favorite scene in the episode. Corbett wants Wilkin and his man to ferret Gaveston out.

Jessamy is happy after getting some from her man, but then freaks when she sees her husband and Lady Love kiss, yelling “I deserve him!” Her back reveals whip scars. Father Ruskin comes with a “tonic.” Love watches over her. That’s a bit weird.

The spying twins get what is coming to them in another game of “Disgusting Torture.” There’s a cage, and a hook and a weight and my imagination. For one of them anyway. I actually think it might have been too harsh a punishment, but alas, that is those times.

Father Ruskin is attacked and Luca is kidnapped.

Thoughts:

– Why did they want to steal the boy?

– I feel like Love has more chemistry with cruel Corbett than with Brattle. She can be saucy with him, in a way she can not be with the self-punisher.

– Every episode, I’m like, “How can they top last week’s violence?”

– The Gaveston confrontation is not going to be pretty.

– I’m pretty sure Jessamy is going to die. There’s no way out of a crazy wife.

– Warning to Sutter… no Milus, no viewers.

– I have to go Google who wrote the opening theme. I marvel every time I hear it.

This episode was chock full of intrigue and entertainment, and the Annora storyline makes more sense now. i just can’t imagine how they will tie up the rest in 2 more episodes.

The Bastard Executioner airs Tuesday nights at 10pm ET on FX.

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The Bastard Executioner – Next On: Broken Things / Pethau Toredig

Wilkin, Milus and Toran team up to hunt down a fugitive.