Iyanu 2×09 & 2×10 Review: “The Acolyte” and “The Conduit”

Iyanu triumphantly concludes its second season with some intriguing revelations in the two-part finale, “The Acolyte” and “The Conduit.”

With “The Battle of Elu” still underway, Queen Adura (Faith Gesiere-Agua) and advisor Boju (David Onwubalili) are close to accomplishing their objectives. However, Boju is hiding a dark secret agenda that threatens Iyanu (Serah Johnson) and the people of Yorubaland. Much like the rest of the season, the final two episodes are filled with dynamic action and strong character moments, with some interesting revelations that set the stage for the next season.

While Iyanu fights her way to the forbidden temple to stop Adura and Boju, the rest of Team Chosen finally arrives in Elu. Toye (Samuel Kugbiyi) reunites with Kanfo (Blossom Chukwujekwu) while Olori (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) reunites with brother Nuro (Femi Sowoolu). The emotional moments are broken up with levity through some humorous lines, particularly as Nuro provides a chilling warning to the group. If Adura and Boju succeed, The Fallen One will be completely resurrected and Iyanu will perish along with all the other ancient wonders.

At the temple, Iyanu and Adura face off as Boju puts his plan in motion. Iyanu’s new abilities allow the action of the fight to surpass their previous duel. Using her link with Adura and everything she’s learned about Adura’s past, Iyanu attempts to get Adura to stop her plans through empathy. Sensing that Boju has ulterior motives, Iyanu uses her new abilities to show Adura that Boju is part of a group of Acolytes of The Fallen One, that he is the one that betrayed Adura’s parents, and that he has been manipulating Adura the whole time. Though these revelations aren’t too shocking, the twists still pack an emotional punch and finally lead Adura to fighting on the side of Team Chosen.

Unfortunately, Boju begins to resurrect The Fallen One and Team Chosen can only watch as Iyanu disappears from right in front of them. Iyanu ends up in a purgatory-esque land called The Land Beyond and meets ancient god Joba (Babajide Oyekunie), last seen in Iyanu: The Age of Wonders. He shares with her that she can reseal The Fallen One as she is a conduit and her powers helped seal him all those years ago. 

Joba also advises her that family is everything before leaving so that Iyanu can face her final challenge. As Boju summons a series of monsters to face Team Chosen in the forbidden temple, Iyanu must face a shadow version of herself who attacks her by declaring her insecurities to be true. Iyanu overcomes the trial, declaring that her family and friends would still love her if she wasn’t the chosen.

Her success allows her to return to the temple to help her loved ones, stop Boju, and reseal The Fallen One once more. Even Adura assists her in the effort, but Iyanu stops her from killing Boju for his betrayal. Iyanu and Adura team up through a projection created by Iyanu to stop the fighting, but Kanfo is caught in an explosion before the fighting is stopped. Toye’s grief is a bittersweet moment, but the people of Elu and the Deep putting aside their differences and entering a new era of peace is a satisfying conclusion to the season long buildup of the longstanding conflict.

As enjoyable as Iyanu and Team Chosen’s victory is, it soon becomes clear that the battle unfortunately remains far from over. Though Iyanu and Biyi do their best to comfort Toye in the aftermath, his anger about losing his father is evident. Thankfully, the episode’s final moments reveal that Kanfo survived the explosion and Toye will be reunited with his father soon.

More concerning, Kanfo witnesses Boju reporting his failure to his mother, but she indicates that colliding the heaven and earth is another way to resurrect The Fallen One. In a shocking turn of events, Kanfo reunites with his previously believed to be dead wife, who tells him they need to prepare Iyanu and their son for what is to come. Though Toye has felt like an afterthought at times this season, next season promises to give him more focus as the stakes continue to rise in Iyanu’s battle to save Yorubaland.

Author: Jessica Wolff

Jessica Wolff is a graduate of Drexel University with a BS in Film/Video. She has a passion for entertainment and representation in entertainment. She currently resides outside of Washington, DC.

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