The sixth episode of the second season of
The Ark is entitled
“Pretty Big Deal” and features an intriguing view on the concept of identity through cloning. The episode is an important one, and it does what many episodes manage to achieve: give us growth for the characters while also paying service to the large-scale sci-fi concepts that form the world of the show.
THE ARK SEASON 2 EPISODE 6 RECAP
The episode begins with the protagonist, police Lieutenant Spencer Lane
(played by Reece Ritchie), discovering that he is a clone. This revelation profoundly impacts him and causes doubt on the aspect of his lineage and his real family. It becomes worse for Spencer when he discovers that there are other clones like him, thus raising questions of his own identity. Having a ‘brother’ in the form of another clone does not help with his already complicated emotional status. In this episode the audience learns that Spencer’s father never told him about his clones and this makes a drastic change in his life and his mission.
At the same time, Lt. Sharon Garnet
(Christie Burke) also has problems connected with clones. As a symbol of the storyline, her role intensifies, especially when the issue of clone is detailed in the picture. This episode leaves the audience to believe that Garnet saga is a long way from being over, especially in the show’s underlying implication that her clone may cause new conflicts in the dynamics of the spaceship.
Dr. Sanjivni Kabir (Shalini Peiris) and Dr. Marsh (Jadran Malkovich) are shown performing the operation to take out the brain bomb from Evelyn Maddox’s daughter Kelly Fowler (Samantha Glassner). The procedure, which should be a high stakes operation, is sadly low key and the actual removal is somewhat low key as well. The audience suddenly jumps straight to the after effects of the event as Kelly’s bomb – the brain – is deactivated but this scene is not tense enough and one can tell that there is potential for more excitement.
The subplot featuring Kimi (Diana Bermudez), a former head of security from Ark Fifteen, still focuses on her espionage work. Kimi’s main focus is Lt. James Brice (Richard Fleeshman) with his prior operation and connection to the Eastern Federation being investigated. Kimi’s never-ending aggression increases doubts about her identity and loyalties. Her actions suggest she is up to something even bigger, maybe the Eastern Federation, but her goal or objective is left rather ambiguous.
One of the main themes of the series is the love story between Eva Markovic (Tiana Upcheva) and Lt. Brice. They have a conflict-filled history, including but not limited to; suspicion, and loss of a family member. During the rest of the episode, Eva’s misery is depicted, receiving personal losses while the pressure on her relationship with Brice is demonstrated. They seem to be headed for a love scene but other factors are looming to tear them apart.
On a lighter note, the episode focuses on the relationship of Angus Medford played by Ryan Adams and Alicia Nevins played by Stacey Read. The characters’ affection and warmth toward each other sets it apart from the other heavier plotlines between other characters. This subplot offers a ray of light in amongst the dystopia and gives the audience a chance to recharge before going back into battle in the episode’s final moments.
There is still tension and suspense at the end of the episode and no solution has been given. The relations and events of the cloning storyline along with Kimi’s investigating actions and the romantic relationships make the show prepares for future steps. Consequently, the audience follows the characters’ evolution, watching how they overcomes their individual problems and battles the global conspiracies of Ark One.
