Final Space: Chapter Three Review

"Dude, are you crying?" "No... no, I'm not crying, it's... space pollen."

In discussing the first two chapters, I wisely opted to skip around the idea of talking about the show's narrative, something that I've deemed my Achille's heel. With that being said, though, this is Final Space, and the plot is just as important as the characters, if not even more so. They aren't mutually-exclusive; they go hand-in-hand, and "Chapter Three" manages to find an exciting equilibrium. Don't get me wrong: this is a particularly loaded episode, but the interconnectivity of every arc occurring on the screen catapults it to success, all while allowing for a visually-diverse episode that keeps you engaged.

Consider the fact that there are three distinct plots going on in this episode (Gary and Avocato try to provide sanctuary for Mooncake; Mooncake gets forced to fight in the Deathcropolis; Quinn ventures out to the gravitational disturbance), and even more bubbling just below the surface. Again, that could so easily set the show up for failure, but they exist to let these things settle in, basically laying their claim for later episodes to explore. What Final Space does is put its most immediate plot at the forefront to take up the meat of each chapter, though with plenty of space to allow all of the other story elements to simmer and slyly loop back around; that's how Olan gets you hooked.

The Lazarus trap sequence–this episode's main course–is a particular highlight. Sure, the idea has, in some ways, been overdone, transporting our heroes to a realm where everything they imagine comes true, but there's a reason it's played around with so much: it's an enticing way to take a look at the characters' psyche, and the sequence perfectly demonstrates where both Gary and Avocato stand as a team. They act as if the two functioning halves of a comedic duo, with Gary being maniacally excitable and Avocato being decidedly no-nonsense, with the inevitable duty of helping keep Gary in line.

We also get hints of something that Olan's been dropping hints of, with slight cracks at the show's emotional capacity, all of which make the characters feel more real in allowing us to empathize. There's something particularly powerful, for instance, about Gary, when confronted with the apparition of Quinn in the Lazarus maze, saying he'd rather not wake up; it's an underplayed moment given very little room to breathe, but the one line points to just how isolated and internally-frustrated Gary is that he's willing to throw away his entire life.

Similarly, Mooncake is the subject of some interesting development, too; while the Necropolis duels and monster sacrifice of his plot are all stunningly animated and action-packed, it also shows further internal struggle as he becomes increasingly fatigued, facing a moral dilemma with regret for what he's committed, even on the verge of sacrificing himself (that is, before Lord Commander swoops in to claim his bounty). These are all quiet bits of character work, but their effect is astounding, and all of this, of course, gets funneled into a sweet conclusion. Gary takes an especially great victory here, reminding Mooncake that just because he's aware that the little guy is a planet destroyer doesn't mean their dynamic is changing. As the show makes greater leaps and bounds and tackles more serious conflict, these moments of honesty and sincerity point towards a promising future.

Equally astounding, to reiterate, is just how everything ties together. It can be a bit disorienting at first, but at a certain point, every fragment clicks, and we see the full picture. I want to pinpoint Quinn's sub-plot, finding her setting out to address a dangerous gravitational disturbance against her higher-ups and subsequently being caught. For the past few episodes, she's been fairly disconnected, arguably to a concerning extent, but with the hint that the events of this episode will reunite Gary and Quinn, there's a lot of exciting potential. All the while, the Lord Commander is becoming more and more clear in his motives, as we learn that he's slowly dying and that Mooncake serves as the key to unlocking the totally-not-ominous-sounding Final Space. Everything about the way he's deployed is curiously methodical, and it fits his character perfectly while allowing the show to carefully pace itself.

Honestly, the most interesting thing about "Chapter Three" is that it just feels... comfortable. I know that's a word that can suggest a show is just coasting along, but it's interesting to see just how concise and realized Final Space is as a project that, by its third episode, it's virtually airtight and knows what it's doing, as well as how to accomplish that. Mind you, this is something that takes a lot of other shows a whole season to figure out; Final Space is just spectacularly ahead of the program, and as it continues to branch out over the course of the season, who knows what could transpire?

Quotes and Notes:
-As a disclaimer, discussing Final Space, let alone in a concise manner, is a daunting task, so I apologize for neglecting to mention several key components of the episode. But at the same time, if you've already seen the show, I don't want you to merely read a regurgitation of what happened with "I liked it" written to the side; you already know what happened. I'm sure we'll get more into the groove as time goes on, anyway. (For the record, I do have all of the episode synopses meticulously written out for personal reference because I am devoted.)
-The subtle detail of Mooncake flying behind Gary, wrapped in a towel, presumably seeing some rather unsightly anatomy, was a delightful discovery on rewatch.
-"So no chocolate treasure coins?" "Are you referring to cookies, Gary?" "Yes!" "Oh. Then no."
-"Why did you tell me sooner?!" "Why didn't I tell you sooner? That is the question, isn't it? The answer, I've been busy."
-"Guy straight up ghosted through that wall." "Live with it." "I can't, the guy. Just ghosted. Through that wall, yo!"
-The return of douche-canoe was well-awaited.
-One final thought on KVN: what an interesting character. He's designed to be grating, but the character is designed to be, to some degree, incredibly important. Here, for instance, he saves Gary, Avocato, and Mooncake's lives from the Lord Commander's ambush, but he also possesses the chip from Nightfall (or future Quinn) that can save Galaxy 1. For now, he's a bit of comedic relief, but for the future, he'll stealthily slip into the position of becoming a key player, whether Gary likes it or not.
-Oh yeah, and Gary's dramatic pout is always a fun gag.

FINAL GRADE: A-. While the first two episodes set the stage, "Chapter Three" shows Final Space taking advantage of where its foundation lay while expanding upon it to a spectacular extent. We're done putting things in place, and we finally get to see the show running at full-power, and the outcome leaves me even more excited about where the show could possibly go next.

For the review of the last two chapters of Final Space, CLICK HERE.