With the arrival of Marley and the other Paleskins, tension splinters leadership amongst the islands. Ka’iana takes matters into his own hands, despite Kamehameha’s peaceful invitation to the foreigners.
Two minds of thought emerge on the island of Hawai’i as Captain Metcalf and Marley arrive on shore with ulterior motives. Kamehaemeha’s rule of peace welcomes them for trade, but Ka’iana warns they are not to be trusted. Ka’iana seeks to handle them alone, but Kamehaemeha receives word of his plot, stopping him from bringing any harm to the foreigners.
Not only do Ka’iana and his chief view things differently, but the division erodes familial relationships. Ka’iana and Ka’ahumanu become closer, striving to steer Kamehameha in the right direction. However, their pairing may spark other feelings they did not expect. This partnership places distance and distrust between Kupuohi and Ka’iana. She sees how the Paleskins have changed Ka’iana, no longer the chief she once loved.
After ignoring Kamehameha’s word to leave, Marley and the captain bring their violent tendencies to innocent villagers along the bay. Canon fodder slaughters men, women, and children; a final sign-off before sailing back to the States.
The events of this episode were inevitable as Ka’iana’s two worlds violently collide. The age-old adage states that the oppressed cannot defeat their master with the master’s tools, and it is evident that embracing the outsiders’ way of life is diminishing that of Ka’iana’s people. The episode does a great job of building tension until it explodes in the tragic ending scene. Taula’s lamenting can only signal what terror is yet to come.
Rating: 7.5/10