Final Space: The Sixth Key

"There's no turning back now. We're going in."

Season 2 has been an interesting beast. Whereas Season 1 was an exclusively linear straight-shot with one character's story arc in mind (Gary's), this season's been intent on branching everything out, incorporating a larger cast with more varied backgrounds and working to do justice to each and every one of them, all with a more episodic format. It's admittedly been more of a mixed bag, creating some of the strongest and weakest entries in the series so far, but with "The Sixth Key" tying everything together, I'm happy to consider the past season to be, by and large, a triumph.

Last season's finale was the peak of Season 1's tragedy, a massive downer that picked through the show's cast and left them, at least by (incorrect) assumption, for dead. With Season 2 being a more optimistic season overall, though, it makes sense that it would end on a more hopeful note. It's a pleasant surprise, and while no doubt filled with some heart-wrenching moments, it's never too cruel; there's a sense of progress, and of all of the past twelve episodes' work gelling into one concentrated effort.

So much happens over "The Sixth Key's" runtime, but the best place to start is with Sheryl. She's really come into her own over these past few episodes, which have been working tirelessly to demonstrate that she's more than just a cliched bad parent, and "The Sixth Key" presents the character at her finest. With the help/watchful eyes of Fox and Tribore, she takes a visit to the Virtulasium to relive her most painful memories and learn about what could've been if she hadn't betrayed John.

I'm sure there will be some people miffed by the evolution of her character here, with her realizing that even if she lost the chance to be a part of so many memories, there's still new ones to be made with Gary; abusive parents are a difficult thing for any show to nail, and I've certainly seen a handful that couldn't get it right at all. But Season 2 has made a valiant effort to flesh out the character's personal struggles and her flawed moral code, and even given occasional hints that she still possesses some level of guilt, however buried in the back of her mind. We've seen Sheryl at her absolute lowest, but Final Space is a show that believes in redemption, and once she joins up with the team-squad, she's taking those first few steps to right her wrongs in her own, characteristically-badass way.

In a sense, too, the briskness with which Sheryl redeems herself mirrors Avocato's dreaded return; it seems sudden at first, but looking at the season in retrospect, everything that occurs feels well-deserved. Unlike a lot of other like-minded shows, Final Space isn't one to chew scenery, and that ability to always get straight to the point keeps its narratives tight without coming across as melodramatic, all while never losing the ability to surprise. Though he makes a quick appearance towards the start of the episode, trying to shoot down the Crimson Light on its journey to Inner Space, the meat of his comeback is a fantastic fighting sequence within Inner Space itself, where he mercilessly weeds through every member of the show's cast under the control of Invictus.

That's where the episode's greatest revelation comes into play. While Gary and the crew may have assembled the five Dimensional Keys, Bolo admits that there's a sixth one, and it takes the form of the sacrifice of life (which sadly doesn't include K.V.N.). It's as brutal of a reveal as they come, and that Nightfall assumes that position is an even harder pill to swallow.

Nightfall's one of the most empathetic and crucial members of the series' cast; in a lot of ways, she became the voice of reason and the beating heart of the show, bringing reassurance to everyone else in spite of her own flaws and shortcomings. In that sense, her sacrifice makes her the season's undeniable MVP: everything happens for a reason, and her loss is as filled with devastation as it is with purpose. With one teary-eyed blast from Mooncake, she and the other Dimensional Keys free Bolo, and overwhelmed with emotions, Ash—Nightfall's closest contemporary, all things considered—blasts Avocato with enough power to shoot Invictus right out of his body. In a season that's struggled with its character exchange rates (the give and take of bringing back and taking away members of its cast), this is the most painful but worthy trade-off.

With Bolo free, though, there's still one thing left on "The Sixth Key's" itinerary: venture into Final Space and rescue Quinn. The Arachnitects weave an opening into Final Space at Bolo's command, and there's no turning back. The final three minutes of the episode are almost completely dialogue-free, yet they're the series at its most emotional, as our newly-reformed supergroup launch into Final Space to an uncertain fate with nothing but themselves. They encounter Quinn, floating in space surrounded by the corpses of Gary's failed timelines, and cleverly mirroring the ending of "Chapter Ten," a beam of light hits her—the Crimson Light. Gary emerges from the ship, and at long last, they're back together, and it's as perfect of an ending as we could possibly ask for.

Well, almost. Suddenly, Invictus appears in the background, glowing red as the score becomes more terrifying, before cutting straight to silent credits. It's a moment that gives you goosebumps and a reminder that we're still far from a happy ending, with Season 3 gearing up to be Final Space's most intense season yet. Olan's stressed that he wants to incorporate more horror elements into the series, and with Bolo's declaration that he'll massacre all of the other Titans in Final Space, there's a hell of a lot loaded on the series' plate, and no clear conclusion in sight.

For however many bumps there may have been in the road throughout the past three months, Final Space is in the position to become the greatest version of itself. It's explored strict serialization in its first season and loosened up in the second, so I'm confident that Season 3 will find the perfect middle ground between both extremes. The fact, too, that many of the season's weaknesses—Clarence's prominence in later episodes, the lack of focus in "The Happy Place," and so on—were a product of network interference to shape Final Space into a more approachable, marketable show, should be a nice reminder to its executives that Olan and his team of writers and artists know what they're doing, putting into consideration the overwhelmingly positive feedback of their risk-taking.

In other words, Final Space is far from a perfect show, but it's never been better, and few shows have left me as perpetually captivated. Here's hoping that, with its third season, it finally gets more of the credit that it deserves.

Notes and Quotes:
-The Crimson Light apparently features, among the amenities that Gary was never informed of, a bowling alley, a video arcade, and a soda parlor with Waffle Wednesdays. The debate over whether the Galaxy One or Crimson Light is better rages on, though I'll admit that I'm a sucker for the latter's sleek design.
-"Oh Lordy, those bowls. Are they crystal, or a plastic I need to learn more about immediately?"
-In one of the episode's most poignant moments, Ash clings to Nightfall's helmet as the Crimson Light launches into Final Space. Of all of Season 2's new characters, Ash certainly left the greatest impression, and I can't wait to see what she brings to Season 3.
-"Ooh, he says he gon' kill them all!" "I heard him, Jeremy." "I know, but I was inspired."

FINAL GRADE: A+. "The Sixth Key" is the pinnacle of a season of hard work, and it pays off spectacularly. Everyone in the show's cast finally feels realized, and nothing goes to waste, with the end result being a compelling, action-packed half-hour of television that offers both the sweetest resolutions and the most terrifying realizations. What sets Final Space apart from other series working in a similar vein is the fearlessness of its storytelling, and "The Sixth Key" is as great of a reminder of that as they come. Best of luck with Season 3, guys—I'm sure it'll be fantastic.

For my last Final Space review of "The Descent Into Darkness," CLICK HERE.

Additionally, you can access every Final Space review I have ever written HERE.

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