Dominion – "Day of Wrath" Review. Ashes! Ashes! We All Fall Down.

Michael, Claire, Arika, and Noma realize they still have bigger problems ahead of them!

Michael, Claire, Arika, and Noma realize they have bigger problems ahead of them!

Season 2, Episode 12

Airdate: Thursday, September 24, 2015, 10/9c on Syfy

Rating: ★★★★★

Dominion’s second season ends next week and after watching “Day of Wrath,” I know I will have to stock up on more popcorn, soda, and tissues. That said, I couldn’t help reflecting on the incredible moments leading up to this penultimate episode. Week after week, I beheld many characters I have grown to love either die or undergo some form of torture to protect Alex (Christopher Egan), “The Chosen One.” To what means are these ends justifiable? It is a question I am still asking myself after another major story line takes a dark turn. The recurring themes of hope, faith, and love—although heavy subject matters throughout the second season—are underscored deeply in “Day of Wrath.” It is like watching a house of cards crumble after a few small actions shatter some of the best laid plans.

No Light at the End of This Tunnel

Make no mistake about it, the ‘wrath’ all the core characters experience in “Day of Wrath” is a psychological one that ranges from the aftermath of David Whele’s (Anthony Head) near death experience to Archangel Gabriel’s (Carl Beukes) volatile confrontation with Archangel Michael (Tom Wisdom). The flashbacks are meticulously placed by director Deran Sarafian in order to build what is simply a surprising turning point mid-episode as secrets begin to bubble to the surface.

The type of trauma left in the wake of The Darkness and Julian’s (Simon Merrells) 8 Ball army on Alex, Michael, Noma (Kim Engelbrecht), Claire (Roxanne McKee), Arika (Shivani Ghai), and William Whele (Luke Allen-Gale) provides so much suspense. I couldn’t tell whether Claire and others were back to normal or still delusional. Sarafian is amazing at setting up a scene and shooting it for full emotional impact with the right angle and degree of closeness. “Day of Wrath” marks the third time Sarafian has directed an episode of Dominion. The first two, “Heirs of Salvation” and “Mouth of the Damned,” provided a glimpse of the season to come whereas “Day of Wrath” puts many of the initial story lines to rest.

A look into the past holds the key to the future

For I Have Sinned

Oftentimes the use of flashbacks in an episode as a means for exposition bothers me because I love watching the subtlety of a story evolve; I like to reach my own conclusion about a story than be told through flashbacks how to feel. There are exceptions, of course, and in this case, episodic writer Tom Harthan does a brilliant job of incorporating Michael, Gabriel, and Noma’s past to parallel the events currently taking place in Vega. Although there are key revelations to how the war among angels and human began on Earth, it is fascinating to observe Gabriel’s ulterior motives for essentially starting it. The significance of the flashback showing Gabriel breaking the Seventh Seal that initiates the apocalypse is important to note since it brings many of the season’s initial story lines full circle. Gabriel is one of a few to receive tremendous character development. The producers and writers are brilliant in detailing Gabriel’s progression from innocence to anger due to mankind’s cruelty. It is difficult to hate him entirely knowing what he’s gone through—it’s why his battle with Michael is so distressing.

Father and Son

In light of the overwhelming story lines in episode 11, “Bewilderment of Heart,” I didn’t think William and David would be at the heart of “Day of Wrath.” Poor William, I had high expectations for him. William is another painful casualty this season when a violent confrontation with his father ends tragically. Learning of the torture he goes through in the desert just broke my heart, and to find there is no healing from that pain makes his death hard to take. What’s powerful about “Day of Wrath” is David’s confession to William about his regret for abandoning him; the need for David to purge his sins and ask for forgiveness demonstrates a vulnerable side rarely seen. I also enjoyed an earlier scene where David is with Claire and they talk about the loss of a child; it pairs very well with his scenes with William towards the end of the episode.

Head and Allen-Gale are mesmerizing to watch. In a final gesture that comes across as a mercy killing, David takes matters in his own hands to put his son to rest. What bothers me the most is the potential William might have afforded the other story lines had he lived.

William’s return is bittersweet and tragic

Overall

Not only does “Day of Wrath” tie up many loose ends, the suspense, as well as the dark atmospheric tone, are palatable from start to finish. I do have some issues with the way the Whele family story line ends; I felt to some degree that William would make an impact upon his return. When he vows vengeance, I expected him to move further along with his plans. Instead, it is never really about William as much as it is about David. William’s return is more for the development of David than his own. It’s disappointing because it would have been nice to see William heal from the trauma of his experience in the desert before making his final departure.

There are not as many shocking scenes in “Day of Wrath” as in “Bewilderment of Heart,” but the few present have you staring at the TV screen dumbfounded. The performances are great, and the cliffhanger leaves room for what I predict will be an exciting season finale. I thought I’d become desensitized after seeing so many emotional losses this season but time and time again, the team behind Dominion proves me wrong.

What did you think of “Day of Wrath?” Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @conallen.

Tune in to the season finale of Dominion on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 10/9c, only on Syfy.

Follow the series on its official site at www.syfy.com/dominion, where you can also watch videos and clips of the episodes. Also, like Dominion on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DominionSyfy.

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