Maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but the final scene is not only painfully contrived, it's yet another "Let's rush this to a conclusion" moment. Or, who needs a believable finish to a fantastic plot? (Actually, an injection of logic can only help this type of story.) Yes, Jim's preternatural powers of persuasion triumph again. All he needs to do, in this case, is inspire Dr. Arcularis' test subjects to fight the bad doctor. Who would have thought? This also provides room for a jokey ending, with Jim and Artie debating whether or not they should save Arcularis. Luckily, the preceding action is tense, serious, and expertly paced. I'm a fan of Scott Marlowe, so it's nice to see him on WWW, and to have him playing a morally conflicted character. On one hand, he hates the peace plan, anticipating a series of betrayals to come for his people (and, unfortunately, he's correct). On the other hand, he can't help admiring West's courage. Thus, he saves West by confessing his part in the plot, and mainly because West has earned his respect as a noble warrior. The torture scenes are more harrowing than anything to come in the succeeding seasons, and it's quite a novelty to have Jim (almost) crack under pressure. And the Artie/Jim fight is memorably pulled off, even if Martin's stunt double doesn't look all that much like Ross.
Review of The Night of the Howling Light
