phuum

Gopal Divan as Dr. Fareed Bhansali and Assad Zaman as Armand

(Finale spoilers ahead)

The final episode did not benefit from having a twist. It wasn’t even a twist, because twists require set up.

In season 1, it was Armand’s reveal. They planted seeds that he was a vampire all season.

In season 2, it was Armand directing the trial. There was every reason not to trust Armand throughout the second season.

Both times, a general air of suspicion was created.

Armand was effectively not in this season. They did not give sufficient reason for us to believe he’d have anything to do with Louis and Regina, or that Regina was suspicious at all beyond taking advantage of Louis’ grief (though he still very much held the power in the dynamic.)

It was out of character for Armand to be that violent. His kills are silent and almost peaceful and when he is overtly violent, he has his own reasoning behind it. Twisted reasoning, but it makes sense to him. This includes the TVA lines they pulled.

But okay. I can see him being pushed where he was in this episode. Louis took responsibility for that. You have to show us Armand spiralling. He is clearly deeply unstable and not doing well. Everything to do with the cult and his mindset in general happening off screen. This is not a twist. You did not set up this twist. If you are going to make him behave out of character, you have to justify it and let us see how badly he’s doing after Dubai. Do not give him Daniel to fall back on. Do not give him anything and let us see how much he’s suffering. Show us the desperation you keep talking about.

Dramatic irony would have been infinitely more powerful than a twist. Let us know Armand is unravelling but Louis does not. Let us see the danger coming Louis’ way, while he has no idea. Why was Armand such a mystery this season? There was absolutely zero point and zero pay off. I do not understand this decision at all. You’ve turned him into the manipulative mastermind caricature that he never was but people who hated him pretended he was. And for what? What was the point? One line about his abuse?