Watch & Remark: Class, Part 2

This show was beautiful, made me cry several times, and makes me wish desperately that a second season will be announced any day now. Lasting only eight full episodes, Class follows a certain group of students at Coal Hill, who deal with issues far above what they should have to, have wonderful relationships, and struggle with aliens from what seems like every corner of the universe.

I really love this show. It has great representation, and is a master class of diversity in a semi-real school-based situation, with students who look a little old, but not too old (which is a relief, since Tanya is only supposed to be 14). Meanwhile, they deal with real issues, questions of friendship, love, and morality--things that teens deal with in different contexts every day.

Episode Five: "Brave-ish Heart"

April and Ram are stranded in the realm of the Shadow Kin, carnivorous flowers are taking over London, and the new Head Teacher Dorothea Ames is trying to make Charlie use the Cabinet of Souls to kill the flowers. Thankfully, Charlie's hard decision is commuted when April defeats the Shadow Kin King and, as their new king, orders them to destroy the flowers. However, the connection between April and Corakinus is mostly severed, and leaves us in worry for the rest of the episodes.

This one was interesting. It was full of conflict, plotting, and hard decisions, difficult things for adults to deal with, let alone teenagers. Charlie especially has a difficult choice to make, because the Cabinet of Souls contains the souls of his own people--and most of his enemies, and even some of his friends, want to use it to destroy their enemies. Charlie, a precious baby, doesn't deserve this.

Episode Six: "Detained"

Quill places the group in detention, and leaves to do her own thing. Meanwhile, a strange asteroid lands in the classroom, knocking the group somewhere out of time and space. Whenever one of them picks up the asteroid, they become a conduit for something trapped inside, that makes them tell unfortunate and angry truths about their feelings. Finally the group manages to make their way back to the right location, where Quill returns--and shoots the asteroid with the gun she shouldn't be able to use. Then she faints--and we see that she is heavily pregnant.

This episode really tests the group's friendships, and makes you worry about their future as a solid group. It doesn't quite settle, even at the end of the season, which makes me worry.

Episode Seven: "The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did"

This episode is an explanation for Quill's appearance at the end of the last episode. After she locks the students in the classroom, she meets the strange Head Teacher Ames, who has promised Quill that she knows of a way to take the creature out of Quill's brain--the creature that is her punishment, ensuring she protects Charlie. Ames brings on a shape-shifter as a surgeon, and the three embark on their own adventure with the metaphysical engine. However, on the final trip, only one can make it back--and Quill must choose between her own life and that of her surgeon.

This episode is dark and scary. Quill gets her wish, and is free of her punishment, but she loses so much as well. She starts questioning her faith, gets a large scar on her face, and loses some of her life while trapped in the Cabinet of Souls. It's a struggle, but a great episode, that leaves some questions for the future of the series to address.

Episode Eight: "The Lost"

The final episode of the series is a rough ride. Corakinus returns through a tiny cut in the universe, and kills two of the group's family members, causing discord and mistrust among the group. Tanya seeks Quill's help to protect her brothers, and they suceed--but Charlie is still forced to his ultimate decision--using the Cabinet of Souls to destroy the Shadow Kin once and for all, and probably losing Matteusz in the process. April falls, to awaken in the body of Corakinus. Quill looks like she's going to pop at any moment.

And at the very end. Ames returns to the Governors--and we discover that they are working under a deadly enemy--the Weeping Angels.

This episode is an interesting conclusion. It clearly leaves some loose ends, giving us hope for a second season. Quill is still pregnant, April is in a different body, and everyone is shaken by their final conflict with the Shadow Kin and what they were forced to do to stay alive.

(I mistakenly watched episode eight before episode seven. I'm kind of a mess. But it was interesting!)

This entire show is amazing. It has real relationships, great actors, and amazing narratives. I dearly want a second season, and I hope the BBC gives it to us. Until the next time we see this amazing group, watch your Shadow, and Don't Blink.