The Ark Season 3 Episode 2 Gives Us Hope About Brice

Critic’s Rating: 3.75 / 5.0

3.75

The Ark remains true to form in moving the story along.

Rather than really giving anyone a chance to mourn James Brice, the series quickly brings problems to both Homebase 1 and Ark One.

There’s another Ark in the equation, and this one promises to have a villain that will rival Maddox. I don’t think we really thought that possible.

Of Course, Admiral Ben Hammond Wants Control

The Ark Season 3 Episode 2 opens with our core group attempting to mourn Brice’s loss, but there isn’t really time to do so.

Admiral Ben Hammond is extremely quick at taking control, and he doesn’t see a problem with it.

This isn’t surprising. He’s an admiral, and he has no idea what Ark One has already been through.

He’s quick to step down when the truth is pointed out to him, but as Ian notes, it’s a little too quick.

Sharon also plays into his hands a little too easily by asking him to become her No. 2. 

Sure, it’s a mark of respect due to his experience leading Ark Four, but she’s overlooking loyal crew members.

What I do love is that Ben isn’t someone who is looking to make friends with anyone on the ship.

He’s not moping around or trying to make up for the fact that two people sacrificed their lives for him, and he isn’t playing the victim of a lost Ark.

Instead, he’s pragmatic and focused on keeping the whole safe.

Many of us have pointed out that Sharon made a mistake going to Ross-128. She sacrificed two for one, and it wasn’t a good deal.

He’s quick to point that out. The math doesn’t math, and he isn’t someone who will just sit around and allow it to happen again.

So, when Ark 22 shows up and demands that Sharon and Ian come to them, Ben isn’t going to just sit around and wait for that Ark to fire on him and those who are now his people.

Is it right? Well, the way Ark One has become a found family, definitely not, but when it comes to military orders, yes!

If this were Sharon leaving Ben behind, everyone would likely be on board with it.

Of course, nobody on Ark One is going to stand for it, and when Alicia can’t quite get the shields or offensive systems to the level Ben demands to be able to go back, it’s time for Plan B.

That involves knocking Ben out and taking over the ship. In other words, mutiny.

It works, and it’s expected. What’s also expected is that Ark 22 isn’t where they left it.

I’m happy to see that this episode’s main adventure will take more than one episode to resolve.

Usually, each episode of The Ark features a standalone adventure that involves the problem, the solution, and the execution of that solution.

It feels a little more realistic when it takes more episodes.

How Many Clones Are There, Exactly?

As for the problem, it involves getting Sharon and Ian off Ark 22, which turns out to be filled with clones.

It’s always fun watching actors take on different personalities, and we certainly see that for Christie Burke and Reece Ritchie, as they show off their acting abilities.

There are different clones dotted around the ship, whether it’s the captain’s wife, the doc, or the suave Roger, and it’s possible to tell that they have been raised completely differently from Sharon and Ian we know.

Yet, it’s clear as we see more and more clones — and not just of those two — that there is something fishy going on.

Out of all the clones, the leader, Drake, hasn’t found any who look like him.

He is a clone of the creator of clones, and it stands out that he’s the only one on the ship. That has to be by choice.

Is he actually the creator of these clones, or was there only one of him created? Alternatively, does he kill all the other clones out there?

These are questions to answer in a later episode. After all, Sharon and Ian may have fought their way out of Sharon being sliced and diced, but they aren’t off the ship yet!

We’re left with a lot more questions, such as what is so special about Sharon that this Drake guy wants to cut her open.

How will the other Sharon clones feel when they find out that only she is the special one he’s wanted all this time?

Just like there is animosity toward Ben on Ark One, there is sure to be animosity toward Sharon once the clones find out the truth. And they have no way of getting home just yet.

Not wrapping this up has me eager for the next episode in a way that most other episodes of The Ark couldn’t quite manage.

Homebase 1 isn’t as safe or as cozy as it would initially seem, and again, I don’t think we should be surprised.

There was always something iffy about Ves, even after she stopped being under Maddox’s mind control.

This is a woman who shows no emotion and has no concern about fights between the GSA and EF or anyone bullying Kelly simply because of what her mother turned her into.

I thought we’d have to wait a little longer to find out why that is, and there is sure to be more, but we do get a few details.

It turns out that she’s having a secret affair with Milan, the new sheriff of Homebase 1.

Of course, she is! She was far too quick to suggest that he become the new sheriff when Felix shared how overworked he was during The Ark Season 3 premiere.

On top of that, Milan is Kabir’s ex-husband, and I’ll admit that I didn’t see that one coming.

I thought, for sure, that he was going to turn out to have some sort of illicit relationship, but I didn’t think that he would be connected to the past of anyone on Ark One.

It creates some great drama and tension on Homebase 1, especially for Kabir and Marsh, as he just wants to protect his love and keep the tale at home from getting a little too stale.

Do we need that drama? That’s the bit I’m on the fence about.

We have a lot more going on. Angus and Kelly are in some sort of constructed cave.

There are high-pitched screeching noises, a door that opens to a lava pit, and green lights with an alien-like feel.

Ves and Milan have an idea of where they are or what happened to them, but Felix is off to figure it out.

Mixed with the tablet, this is sure to create a fun and intriguing mystery that could take up the entire season.

Then there’s Brice, who may not be dead.

If this were real life, I’d definitely say that Eva was just hoping that her boyfriend was still alive.

Seeing things like a body just disappearing is the denial stage of grief.

This is TV, though.

We didn’t exactly see Brice die, and there was always going to be some hidden meaning behind Eva’s request for the footage.

I called it during my review for The Ark Season 3 premiere, and now I’m really hoping, like Eva, that Brice will make it back. His absence was felt throughout the hour.

So now, we wait. With the way the last two episodes have gone, the next one is definitely going to be worth it.

This is where we turn it over to you!

Independent journalism thrives when we all work together, but that’s not the only reason we love hearing from you!

We’re fans first, and that means we love chatting with you about the highs and lows of every episode.

So, sound off in the comments about this installment of The Ark, and share what you hope to see moving forward!