The Ark 1×12 Review: “Everybody Wins”

Though several conflicts are resolved in the season finale “Everybody Wins,” Ark-1’s troubles are far from over.

Sharon’s (Christie Burke) escape from Ark-15 with most of the hostages in “The Last Thing You Ever Do” appeared to be leading to a final showdown between Ark-1 and Ark-15. The season finale “Everybody Wins” instead opts for a more diplomatic approach between the two ships, leading to closure for many of the season’s storylines. However, a final crisis (in a season of many) teases a dramatic upheaval in the already announced second installment.

The most satisfying conclusion of the episode comes early on, as Dr. Kabir (Shalini Peiris) and Alicia (Stacey Read) assess what went wrong in their attempt to cure James (Richard Fleeshman). They quickly discover that the spider venom degraded when exposed to Ark-1’s artificial air, and that the spiders must bite James directly to mix their venom in with the cure’s other ingredients. James, scared of spiders, hates the idea but reluctantly agrees. The spider bites are worth it when Dr. Kabir confirms that the cure finally worked.

Refusing to leave Spencer (Reece Ritchie) behind on Ark-15 and armed with the news of the successful cure, Sharon negotiates with Evelyn Maddox (Jelena Stupljanin). Though neither side fully trusts the other, Maddox agrees to trade Spencer for the cure. Maddox and Spencer travel to Ark-1 via their shuttle, but Sharon nearly calls off the deal when Kelly (Samantha Glassner) is discovered hidden aboard the shuttle. Maddox explains that her daughter wanted to be with her in case the cure didn’t work, and Sharon agrees on the condition that Kelly is handcuffed despite her justified mistrust of the two.

The cure works once again for Maddox, but Kelly breaks free from her restraints in the ensuing moments. Once free, Kelly tries to kill Angus (Ryan Adams) for his betrayal, but Alicia knocks her out with a shovel to save him. In the aftermath, Alicia and Angus bond over being betrayed by their first kisses. Alicia suggests that their next kisses be special, but Angus seems oblivious to her feelings for him. Though it’s clear the two will end up together, the show makes the right decision to hold off on the moment. Particularly since having it happen so quickly after Angus’ ordeal with Kelly would feel far too rushed.

Elsewhere, many of the other crew members also get some satisfying resolutions. Sharon reinstates Spencer to his position on the bridge, as she and James welcome him back aboard. Sharon also releases Cat (Christina Wolfe) from house arrest after she shows remorse for her part in the mutiny as well as her previous assistance in dealing with Ark-15. James and Eva (Tiana Upcheva) share a passionate kiss as they have a private moment. After all they’ve been through, it’s great to see them find happiness now that James has been cured.

Unfortunately, William Trust (Paul Murray) is not quite as forgiving of Maddox for Kelly’s murder of his wife. As he administers his programming to get their destination planet to rotate, Sharon realizes that Trust has altered it so that Ark-15 would perish in the attempt. Sharon orders him to fix the situation and continues to argue with him as they work to resolve the crisis. Soon after, she bonds with Maddox over their mutual dislike of Trust. Though the finale doesn’t end with a final battle, and it’s unclear if Maddox is truly trustworthy, the newfound alliance between Ark-1 and Ark-15 still makes for a solid resolution to the season’s conflict.

The alliance between Ark-1 and Ark-15 comes at a perfect moment, as an unforeseen miscalculation sets the planet on fire and destroys a portion of Ark-1 in the ensuing explosion at the end of “Everybody Wins.” Sharon is unable to confirm whether the rest of the ship survived, but Maddox agrees to have the remaining members of now uninhabitable Ark-1 move onto Ark-15. Though the newfound situation will likely cause new tensions between the two Arks, the shake-up will provide intriguing storylines for next season.

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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