DOTA: Dragon’s Blood Season 1 Episode 8 Recap – A Game of Chess
BY Harris
Published 3 years ago
A band of Dragon Knights led by Kaden is on Davion’s trail. Bram is also with them.
Davion’s party reaches a Coriel’Tauvi settlement, where they find dead elves hanging on trees. They cut them down and bury them. The village has become worse. The soldiers find them, but they recognize Mirana. She asks for an escort so that she can return the lotuses. Fymryn offers to join and is granted safety by the princess’ orders. Mirana promises to end the conflict so they can come home soon.
The Sage’s Terms
Back at camp, Luna receives them and asks to speak with Mirana. Mirana hands her the box, but it won’t open. Mirana explains the Invoker’s terms. The box will only open if they leave the enclaves, as ensured by the Shopkeeper’s contract.
Luna derides her naivety in bargaining with a “devil,” but Mirana condemns her violence and destruction in return. Luna reasons the stolen lotuses and the Invoker’s return will end all things. They blame each other, but Mirana accepts her failure and wishes a better outcome.
We later find Luna’s actions are weighing in on her conscience. She cannot even begin to pray to Selemene. Luna returns to Mirana and tells her she will take the lotuses back herself.
Now that their mission is over, Davion struggles to say farewell. Mirana offers him to come to the Nightsilver Woods, but he refuses.
Fymryn sneaks into the rebel leader’s prison. She admits that stealing the lotuses was her fault. It is time for her to make things right, but the leader refuses. War is imminent.
Scarlet Moon
Mirana and Luna perform the ritual to return the lotuses with everyone as witnesses. The box opens, the lotuses rise to the sky, and the crescent moon glows deep, ominous red.
This magic dispels Selemene’s blessing to her army. The rebel leader is freed. Tensions arise as the rebels smell their enemies’ weakness. Mirana pleads with them for peace, but the rebel leader appears and hurls a javelin at her. Things escalate, and a bloody battle ensues.
Back in the Nightsilver Woods, the head priestess transforms while performing a ritual. She turns into Terrorblade, taking over her body and soul. The demon’s power is strong; he puts everyone in his presence under his control.
Selemene appears to fight the demon.
Love and War
Fymryn calls Davion back to help the battle at Coriel’Tauvi. Fymryn fights Luna to avenge the death of her pod. Davion runs in to help Mirana, but he becomes surrounded by an army. Desperate, he lets go of his necklace and shifts into his dragon form.
In Terrorblade’s battle with Selemene, the demon keeps taunting her of her past. He reminds her of Filomena, whose death has led the goddess’ heart to rot. She then realizes everything is the Invoker’s doing. Selemene is outmatched.
Davion flies over the battlefield in dragon form, helping Mirana escape. Dragon Knights appear; they hook and restrain him to the ground. Kaden uses a contraption to negate Davion’s dragon form. He takes Davion with them. Fymryn sneakily picks up Davion’s necklace and follows the Dragon Knights.
Mirana, Luna, and their troops find refuge in a cave. Luna is badly wounded, so she asks the princess to lead their people.
As Selemene is at her last breath, the moonlight returns to normal. The Invoker appears and asks her: “Do you love me?”
Our Thoughts
I like it, but I admit the episode could have been better. There’s some wonky CGI in the final battle, and Davion’s dragon form could use a design overhaul. But overall, we get a satisfying arc for our main characters. Although most of them are in worse shape than we started, this is a good setup for the second season, and I find myself wanting to watch immediately. What’s up with that cliffhanger ending, though? I rate this a 3/5.