Dominion Season Finale – "Sine Deo Nihil" Review. Fare Thee Well.

Alex flexes his God given powers to an army of 8 Balls

Season 2 Finale

Airdate: Thursday, October 1, 2015, 10/9c on Syfy

Rating: ★★★★★

It’s the end of the season and Dominion pulls out all the stops to blow viewers’ minds with major twists and shocking revelations. “Sine Deo Nihil” is the culmination of a long journey for many characters, but none as significant as Claire (Roxanne McKee), David Whele (Anthony Head), and Archangel Gabriel (Carl Beukes). What amazes me about this episode is the manner in which all the story lines from the entire season impact one another—from tiny moments like Noma’s (Kim Engelbrecht) near encounter with Lucifer (Hakeem Kae-Kazim) after her escape from New Delphi in “Reap the Whirlwind” to Julian’s (Simon Merrells) hidden agendas. Nothing is quite as it appears to be in Dominion, making the end of this season two finale nail biting and aggravating to behold. The Syfy Network has yet to announce a third season for Dominion, but considering the last few minutes of “Sine Deo Nihil,” I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The Hand of God

The Latin phrase “sine deo nihil” translates to “nothing without God.” I cannot imagine a more appropriate description for the season as it relates to the characters’ reactions to God’s absence. Angels, like Michael (Tom Wisdom) and Gabriel, are orphans, desperate to reunite with their “Father;” meanwhile, fervent religious believers, such as David, lose their faith altogether.

The incorporation of Lucifer among the chaotic events swirling around Vega’s downfall is brilliant, and provides another interesting element of “Sine Deo Nihil.” Fans of Black Sails will recognize Kae-Kazim, whose sly portrayal of the Devil presents a nice change from his character on Black Sails. Although Lucifer presents himself late in the season, Kae-Kazim delivers a compelling performance in his character’s approach to the manipulative fallen angel.

While Lucifer continues his head games with Michael, a sequence of flashbacks sheds light on Alex’s (Christopher Egan) past, including the connection he has with Noma. Once upon a time, Noma, Gabriel, and Michael were the best of friends. Michael claims Noma was one of the closest people to his heart while Gabriel only appreciated her if it satisfied his own needs. I’m curious as to Noma’s history, which should help explain her course of actions better. I understand Noma has orders from Michael to protect Alex, but as much as I love her relationship with “The Chosen One,” I can’t help feeling things between them are going to get complicated down the road.

Claire’s reunion with her father, Edward Riesen, is bittersweet

Picking Up the Pieces

Death—oh Lord, there are so many deaths this entire season, I don’t know where to start. What I do know is as much as I would like to be numb to it, death never gets easy to watch. It’s hard to believe a year ago, the city of Vega was at its zenith of power in comparison to most other surviving cities. Now, House Riesen and House Whele are in ruins. Although the social categorizing of its citizenry under a “V System” created a huge disparity among the classes, it often reminded me of the indulgences of ancient Rome. I’m glad to see the V System gone, and I admire the idea of seeing what kind of society will rise from its ashes once Vega recovers from “The Darkness.”

Speaking of darkness, Edward Riesen’s (Alan Dale) arrival in Vega sets off several dangerous situations for Alex. Since Edward’s decision to embrace his dyad side, it was only a matter of time before he reunited with his daughter Claire. Poor Claire, she has experienced so much loss, and with her father under the control of a higher angel, I don’t think there’s much left for her story. It’s as if every possible spectrum of emotion has been explored with Claire, leading her character to be written into a corner. With Alex’s heart set on Noma and the loss of her father, Claire really has nowhere to go from this point on. In a way, she’s become a martyr, the face for Alex’s new mission to take back Vega from Julian’s 8-Ball army. Claire’s last scene with Edward goes by so quickly. Yes, it adds shock value because I didn’t see it coming, but it doesn’t allow the viewers to fully appreciate the painful decision Claire makes at the moment. Claire’s dark side is a part of the season I completely loved watching; it’s a shame Arika (Shivani Ghai) stands being the resident femme fatale…then again, Noma might just give Arika a run for her money.

David makes his last stand for Vega

Overall

There’s a lot to digest in “Sine Deo Nihil.” The action sequences and the extent of how strong Alex’s powers have grown are fascinating to watch. Series creator and writer Vaun Wilmott masterfully creates an emotionally manipulative story that takes everything we love about these characters and turns it upside down by revealing their dark sides. Director Deran Sarafian holds nothing back in optimizing every scene to fit Wilmott’s vision of this enthralling season finale. From the script to the mesmerizing performances, this is Dominion at its best.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, in regards to the theme of sacrifice and the lengths one will go for a loved one, I have a feeling, if a third season comes about, the majority of the emphasis will center on redemption because there will be plenty once the dust settles. And when you place Lucifer into the mix? Anything is possible.

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

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