The first five minutes were amazing. First of all, I LOVE that opening scene with Woundwort's backstory despite its problems (foxes don't hunt in packs!). The creepy music and old-timey video, the horror of the foxes going on a killing spree, and Woundwort's left eye getting scratched before it smash-cuts to black and the episode title. Congratulations for getting me to cry a second time, that's my favorite scene of the miniseries. Then we get a tense standoff with Woundwort and an AMAZING shot of Kehaar flying in slow-motion. I wanted to cheer for him, it was so cool watching the rain beading off his wings. His squawk at the end turning into a roar was cheesy, since there's no way a gull squawk will ever sound ferocious to me, but I don't mind a little unintentional humor with such a triumphant entrance.
A few other scenes I liked were Kehaar's goodbye scene ("What's life if you can't tease your pal a little, eh?"), Hazel's motivational speech (it sounded like he chose his words carefully to be inclusive), and Woundwort's grin of insanity as he thinks he can take on a dog.
The use of blood is particularly strange in this episode. One moment there's nothing, then suddenly there's a lot of it dried on their face and fur. There was one poor Efrafan that I felt sorry for because I thought he had TOO much blood on his face and legs, like he was going to collapse at any second. It's nice they're acknowledging the wounds the rabbits can inflict, but that felt like a pretty big jump.
I was left hopelessly confused with the whole scene about Hazel having to run while Fiver remained pinned under the cat (Fiver was pinned for a long time, I didn't think a cat would leave him alive for that long) and Fiver magically coming back (I didn't comprehend that Fiver had been rescued and returned, I thought he was cat food and then suddenly he's alive again). I know Fiver later explains it, but I wish they showed the rescue and the person who saved him more clearly so Hazel's words about not all humans being bad would have some impact. Come to think of it, who did Fiver see in the car in his vision, was it Hazel or him?
At least the reunion with Fiver was adorable, Hazel and Fiver rolling together and Bigwig hugging Fiver.
I didn't quite agree with the last scene. Started off well with Fiver talking to Hazel, I think Fiver knew it'd be their last conversation. The Black Rabbit talks to Hazel, the camera pans down, then back up and they're gone. I thought we'd at least see a sparkly thing reflected in the water or some other way of his spirit departing, because he looked visible enough beforehand that he couldn't just vanish entirely ten seconds later. The other rabbits start telling tales of Hazel-rah and the others, but then for a brief moment there's a rabbit in the foreground who I thought was Hazel. They could have handled that better.
It's a weak end to the series, but it had its moments, and overall I'm glad for having seen the series. I'll particularly miss Kehaar, he seemed like the most entertaining character.
Topic: 4: The Siege (Read 1312 times)