Note: I won’t belabour the point of poor CGI in this episode; if you’re here, that means you’ve managed to get invested in the story and can get through the CGI.
The Journey (E01) ended with Captain Holly of the Owsla meeting up with the estranged rabbits on the down. Holly informs them that they’ve lost Sandleford, and that no one is safe.
In this episode, we’re introduced to Efrafa, a prison-like warren situated, fittingly enough, in what appears to be a broken-down industrial complex. This adds to the already bleak, concentration-camp feel of the place, making for a dreary presence. Efrafa is run by a council that is overseen by General Woundwort, the biggest rabbit ever seen, if storyteller Bluebell is to be believed. General Woundwort, introduced in the last episode, is given just about as many lines here, and mostly stands around looking menacing.
We’re also introduced to Peter Capaldi’s Kehaar, an ungrateful, unlikeable seagull that crashes on the down with a wing injury. With tensions running high in the down because of a lack of does, Hazel and the others nurse Kehaar back to health so that he can, in return, do some doe-spotting for them.
In the meantime, Hazel, Fiver, and Bigwig attempt to rescue a few does from the nearby farm, running into complications involving, dogs, cats, and violent farmers with guns. Fiver uses his future-sight to no avail, save for foreshadowing, and they get into trouble with the aforementioned dog, cat, and farmer with a gun, resulting in Fiver, Bigwig, and a doe named Clover getting away while Hazel gets… shot.
The world of Watership Down, and its warren, continues to expand, making for an interesting-enough work that is engaging and entertaining. However, having reached the halfway point of the season ,I’m still not quite sure the direction the show is heading and, hopefully, episode three will provide more answers.
The Average Viewer 