When the last episode ended, I was convinced that Miranda was dead. I was relieved to find out she wasn’t and that she was being hospitalized. I also found it interesting that we learn a little bit more about the ladder in this episode through the agent who had infiltrated the movement as a prospect or possible. When I saw that two elders of the movement who were with Cal in Peru were now at the camp, I was relieved. At least those two know what Cal is capable of, they seem to read him well. Not to mention, they also know of the founder’s true state.
We also see Cal being a total manipulative sociopath yet again as he talks to Miranda. He knows exactly what to say to her to get her to “unburden” as they say. Eddie is very concerned, as I’m sure anyone else would be when he found she was missing from the hospital. He knows when people disappear, it’s not a good thing… Alison taught him that.
As for Sarah, she seems still held up in Cal’s grasp. She’s helping him with the rich couple we meet previously and their addict son. The husband wasn’t so keen to find out about the Meyerist green juice treatments, which we find out is ayahuasca based. I knew that stuff was laced. What I didn’t expect however was to find out Cal is to be Eddie’s guide. And now, even after finding out about the truth of his trip and how he questioned the light, he’s pushing him to do the next step on the ladder. Cal is also pushing to change the use of the “medicine” as they call it. Perhaps because of Eddie’s vision of the real truth?
While there are all these secrets among the adults within the movement, Sarah and Eddie’s son Hawk has found himself with a secret life outside the movement. He has met a girl who is tempting him to look outside of the movement and all he has known. The once so pure poster child of the movement is slowly giving into temptation. It makes you wonder if maybe he would ever help his father if he were to try to fight back. Or is this maybe a more temporary lapse in judgment for Hawk? It’s hard to say.
Ascension Day also takes place in this episode. We see the base of their religion. They speak about the day the ladder was discovered and when their founder climbed it and brought back with him great wisdom. One of the elders who were there that day shows her hands and explains how she tried to follow him, but was burned. The followers were in awe as this carried into Mary telling her own her personal story of abuse. Even Agent Gaines was brought to tears. He has now seen, maybe, that the person he promised to help bring his daughter back to is just as bad as whatever he feels is going on in this movement.
As perhaps Agent Gaines is letting his guard down, it’s a good thing the elders, Felicia and Bill, put their guard up higher. Cal took them to see Miranda, who is clearly brainwashed. They seem frightened by his downright demand to be the new leader. He has told them he’s going to write things promised by their comatose founder, and judging by his extreme views this is not going to go well. At least they have entrusted the already suspicious Eddie to watch out for him and let them know what he’s up to. What better way to do that then to let him be his guide on this new step on the ladder. Or at least I hope that’s why he’s doing it, because if he really did get sucked back into this crazy cult, Alison is completely on her own fighting against them.