All roads lead to Locerly in Britannia (Recap Series 1 Episode 7)

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix

There are two things that make this slow, moderately trippy episode of Britannia worth watching. The first was the conversation between Brutus and Philo after they sampled the stores of a witch doctor in Locerly. Yes, Brutus finally got Philo to speak, and when he did, he all but shattered Brutus' lifetime beliefs.

Britannia happened at a time of myth and magic. The belief of the people in the gods was so strong that a King like Pellenor was willing to endure a horrific death because he believed the gods willed it so. Philo spoke of different gods in different places. The only difference between the gods was where the believer was born, he said. For example, he believed in Pino, the god of boots. The Egyptians did not; to them, boots were just boots. If he were born in Egypt, he would not even know about Pino. What if boots were just boots, he mused. If they broke, it was not because he offended Pilo, it was just that they broke, and that was all. Brutus looked shaken as Philo murmured, 'We are alone, Brutus. We are alone.'

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix

The second thing that made this episode worth watching was the movement in the Divis and Cait story. Pwykka as Divis found Cait and her father Sawyer in Locerly. Pwykka dug up Islene's body and used it to speak to Cait. Cait figured out who she was talking to, and for a few moments, Islene broke through and spoke to Cait herself. 'You are the One', Islene told Cait. 'Only you can guide us into the light.'

When Divis reappeared, it was as himself. He told Cait the Romans came because Lokka wanted to destroy her. It was his mission to protect her. She must destroy Lokka. That was some narrative movement in an episode whose reason for existence I do not fully grasp.

There were actually three occupied huts in Locerly. The third one had Phelan and Ania, but their exposition and subsequent joyless sex was not that interesting. Ania said they were to travel to the Druids to visit Veran. It was Veran who wrote the prophecy about the fair haired mortal saving Brenna two thousand years ago, on the face of Ania's great great grandfather. Phelan was destined to father Ania/ Brenna's children, which Phelan was not happy with. 

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix

Early in the episode, when Cait became the child that she was and asked her father if they would ever be safe again, Sawyer spoke of a small island they could row to, an island his father used to take him to as a child. The best thing about that island, he said, was that there were no Romans. It was ironic to think that if the Romans came to Britannia to kill Cait, it was also the Romans who created her. The prophecy spoke of a girl with a blind father. Sawyer was blinded by Lucius. 

For the many things I am not able to explain about Britannia, I remain interested in it. There is no word yet on a possible second series. I hope there is, if only so I could continue to ponder on the meaning of scenes like Brutus's suddenly massive tongue.

Image from Britannia, streamed via iFlix

Strays

■ Sawyer said that from now on, Cait was in charge of the both of them.

■ Whilst they were high from the witch doctor's stash, Brutus could hear sounds of a massive battle, screams, elephants charging, and swords meeting.