The Shannara Chronicles recap: 'Reaper' 

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'The Shannara Chronicles' premiere recap: 'Chosen'

 see that ending coming tonight? Because I sure didn’t. But before we talk about the sad end of Manx and his owner, let’s check in with our favorite elves and the Rovers that bedevil them, taking a look back to…

Once upon a time, Prince Ander and Commander Tilton were in love. So in love, in fact, that they chose rolling around naked over being on time for his council meeting and her watch duty. Sadly, while they’re making kissy faces, members of the gnome rebellion sneak into the castle and attack Eventine. Aine, Amberle’s father, rushes in to fight alongside the king but is cut down just as Ander, Tilton, and the cavalry arrive.

So what did we learn from this flashback? Well, if Ander and Tilton hadn’t been putting the moves on each other, maybe they could’ve stopped the attack and saved Aine. And although we don’t know why they broke up, it’s an easy guess that their shared guilt over the attack tore them apart and drove Tilton into the arms of Arion, Ander’s brother and the certified worst.

We also learn that Amberle’s dad was an all-around awesome guy. We’ve been hearing about Aine for weeks, and now we get to see him being cool when Amberle and a tiny Lorin (RIP, abs!) sneak into the Ellcrys sanctuary. He’s also the first person who encouraged Amberle to become a Chosen. Oh, and Amberle had visions from the very first time she touched the Ellcrys, which means that tree plays a long game.

These developments all wrap their tendrils around the events happening in the present this week, starting with…

The Dagda Mor screams at the Changeling for not killing Amberle. Wait, didn’t Allanon kill the Changeling? Whatever. It offers to go back undercover to turn the royal family against Allanon. The Dagda Mor licks its cheek, which must mean “this proposition is acceptable” in demon. Also, another leaf falls, and another demon is released. This is bad news for the people on…

Poor Eretria looks half dead from running in chains behind the horses on their journey. Wil asks Amberle if they can’t unchain her, and Amberle snips, “Are you sure you don’t want her hands free for some other reason?” Oooh, princess burn.

She’s not the only testy one, though; Crispin, the expedition captain, refuses to listen when Wil warns him that the demons are serious business. “Your cowardice is noted, boy,” Crispin snarls. He also ignores Amberle’s suggestions about the safest place to stop for the night.

When they’re alone, Wil reminds Amberle that he’s on her side, and she blows him off yet again. But is it because the Ellcrys warned her to harden her heart against distractions, or is she still fuming about that little Rover indiscretion?

As Wil starts to apologize for letting Eretria take advantage of him, Cephelo’s Rover gang springs up from hidey-holes in the ground and easily overpower the elves. “Be honest, you missed me,” chuckles Cephelo, who thinks he’s hilarious.

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The Rovers take the Elfstones, the horses, and Amberle but leave the rest of the party tied up. Cephelo then slices open Crispin’s leg and leaves them to become food for the marsh wolves. Once they’re gone, Crispin promises that Eretria will burn for this. But seriously, how is this her fault? She had no say in where they went or when they stopped. Sure, the Rover band followed her, but she had no idea she’d become a prisoner on a mission to save the world, so there was no advance plan here. This feels like knee-jerk Rover blaming.

At the Rover camp, a bound Amberle tries to get Eretria to free her, first by mentioning their shared quest and then by offering to pay 20 times what Cephelo’s paying her. But of course, Cephelo’s giving Eretria her freedom, and she rides off while Cephelo gets all rapey with Amberle.

we were rooting for you! We thought you’d be the show that didn’t resort to rape as a plot device! But noooooooo, here’s Cephelo, tossing Amberle on the ground and fumbling at his pants while telling her he enjoys her screams. Look, I’m not mad, I’m disappoi — actually, no. I’m mad. Rape is the laziest way to emperil female characters, and this scene is no exception. We know Cephelo is a horrible human being. Nobody needed this character beat to prove it.

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