Our failures are the steps we climb

Cloak & Dagger immediately picks up from last week, where Tyrone (Aubrey Joseph) is telling Tandy (Olivia Holt) the events that just occurred. He gets discouraged about his brother’s friend dying and doesn’t think he’ll be able to take down Connors.  Tandy asks him to accompany her to where Mina’s (Ally Maki) father is so that they can get past the door she saw in his mind.

Once inside of Ivan’s (Tim Kang) mind, they quickly find out that he has no recollection of who he is anymore. They ask him about his daughter but he can’t remember her. They realize that they are on a loop of about a few minutes and in order for them to get out, they have to go down to the core. They hit a snag when Tandy finds out that the phone call Ivan receives is from her dad. She answers the phone and gets a chance to talk to him, which takes her mind away from the task at hand. Tyrone has to go and fix the problem on his own, but when he finds out that it doesn’t change anything, he decides that they should leave. When he exits Ivan’s mind on his own, he returns to get Tandy out.

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When he gets back inside of the loop, Tandy has already experienced talking to her father over 200 times. Now, Tyrone has to pull her back to reality so that they can figure out a way to save Ivan. After a heated argument between Tandy and Tyrone, Tandy finally comes to her senses. They realize that they only person who can complete the process is Ivan. So, the three go down to the core and while Ivan maneuvers the gears, Tandy and Tyrone fight off the workers who have been affected by the chemicals. They make it out alive and Ivan is out of his catatonic state. At the end of the episode, Tandy and Tyrone share a phone call, showing that this experience is a new development in their relationship.

We loved this episode and can’t wait to discuss all the filler goodness, so here to discuss is our Cloak & Dagger roundtable:

Christina (@cherry_1027) – sarcastic serial tv show watcher and dr pepper addict

Jess (@irissknowles) – Certified Candice Patton enthusiast, lover of comic book shows and movies.

Val (@spideysunwin) – Aubrey Joseph, Zendaya, and Tom Holland supremacist married to carbs and sleep

Kiki (@dayashiki) – 19. In the words of Issa Rae, I’m rooting for everybody black.

Noelle (@archiebettyotp) – alien obsessed, horror chick, and coffee first.

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1. Overall, how much of this loopy episode did you enjoy?

Christina (@cherry_1027): This was my favorite episode so far! From beginning to end, I was hooked. Can’t wait to see what next week brings.

Jess (@irissknowles): This episode was super trippy for sure, but that’s one of the reasons I loved it. The whole repeating the same situation over and over again had the potential to get super repetitive, but the writers did well with making each repetition drive the story forward and keeping it interesting.

Val (@spideysunwin): SO MUCH! All I can say is wow, wow, wow. I feel like I say every episode is my favorite but this episode was by far my favorite. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the screen. Finally getting to see Tyrone in full control of his powers and working together with Tandy to kick ass, whew, I was here for it!

Kiki (@dayashiki): I enjoyed all of it. It being a bit of a puzzler, made it all the more interesting. C&D always delivers episodes that you can go back and find something new to love. I especially liked watching the two hone their powers and work together.

Noelle (@archiebettyotp): ALL OF IT! This episode really hit my heart with a bulldozer from watching Ivan not remember his daughter to Tandy realizing she isn’t talking to her dad to hearing Billy’s voice.

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2. Tandy got a chance to talk to her father again. How do you feel about those moments?

Christina: Tandy talking to her dad pulled on all my emotions. I’m glad Tandy got to do that. I thought it helped her out mentally.

Jess: Definitely some of the most emotional scenes of the night – Olivia Holt killed it with her performance. I’m really glad Tandy got to hear her dad’s voice again. Hopefully, it will help her find some peace.

Val: My heart hurts still thinking about it. It was so raw and emotional and Olivia’s acting was superb! I’m glad Tandy got those moments with her dad and for her to be able to break away from that trance where she wouldn’t leave the phone, showed she was perhaps able to finally get some closure. That, paired with the justice she’ll be able to get for her dad once this Roxxon mess is over, will hopefully mean she’ll be able to finally move on and live her life to the fullest.

Kiki: It was bittersweet to watch, especially knowing that it wasn’t necessarily *real* but I think it provided her closure in a way.

Noelle: I felt it was needed. More than anything she wants her dad back, but that isn’t possible. So hearing his voice thinking you are talking to him like normal was something she needed. I understand her wanting to stay and be with her dad, but he isn’t her dad and that scene broke my heart. I’m glad the writers did it because for Tandy this was something she wanted more than anything.

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3. Tyrone helped Tandy face her truth. What are your thoughts on that scene? What do you think this says about their friendship?

Christina: I think this friendship is moving them closer. They really know what they are both going through. It’s that connection that pushed Tyrone to help Tandy face her truth. It was well written and both Aubrey and Olivia knocked it out of the park.

Jess: I absolutely loved this scene. It says a lot about how Tyrone and Tandy compliment each other – they both have the loss of a close family member in common and the way Tyrone was able to talk Tandy through the situation, make her realize that she wasn’t talking to the father she had once known, and eventually, help her to let go and face the real world was really beautiful.

Val: Well, I cried and then some. I feel like this episode was just designed to attack our feelings non-stop and that scene was no exception. They know more about each other than they should know, based on the fact they shared that experience the night of the storm and I think that’s what inevitably makes them great friends. They’re able to relate and comfort each other. The fact Ty knew enough about Tandy to be able to pull her out of that state speaks volumes. They have a really strong bond.

Kiki: As the episodes progress, you really watch Tyrone break out of his introversion a bit and fight for his main goal which is getting justice (or even vengeance) through the truth. It shows that he truly cares for her health (mentally). It shows growth in their relationship.

Noelle: I think they are only getting stronger together. It seems only Tyrone can bring back Tandy from the edge. He needed to tell her as much as she wants this to be real, it isn’t. I love that even he admitted to saying he would do the same thing if it was Billy– letting her know he understands her more than anyone.

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4. Tandy disclosed a lot of her feelings about how she’s felt since losing her father. How do you think Tandy’s depiction of loss stands alone from other shows?

Christina: It was so good to see Tandy getting out and talking about her emotions. She needed it. I think it’s pretty important to showcase this because sometimes we’re not able to feel our feelings like that out loud. So I’m glad it was shown how it was.

Jess: I’m glad we finally got to hear more about Tandy’s grieving for her father. The thing I think sets this show apart from others when it comes to this is that we see Tandy express it in such a raw emotional way– like the way she said it feels like no one truly cares about her or for her.

Val: With most shows, the character who’s suffered the loss usually has someone they can talk to or go to in times of loneliness. Tandy really had nobody, not even Liam, as she pointed out earlier in the series– they never really talked about her dad and her loss. She couldn’t even talk to her mother. Tandy was essentially on her own, dealing with this loss which I think makes her story unique as she’s had to fight for herself, by herself and deal with all the emotions alone, and from such a young age too.

Kiki: I feel like in other depictions of losses such as Tandy’s the protagonist usually has a lot more resources to grieve and express themselves. Tandy is largely dealing with this on her own in extremely trying circumstances, without a secure support system. So it shows a scenario of a trauma survivor that isn’t seen often.

Noelle: I think for Tandy it’s not only survivors guilt she feels but also the fact that this company Roxxon Corp has made her dad out to be a bad guy and blame him for an explosion that killed people. When Tandy lost her dad, she lost parts of herself and became someone he would be ashamed of but now, she isn’t being that person anymore. Her loss will not define her, the people who did this will pay. In the end, hopefully, Tandy gets closure. Unlike other shows, Tandy didn’t just lose her dad or her life as she knew it, but she lost herself, her hopes, and her dreams.

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5. We learned the truth about what Roxxon was doing on the rig. What are your reactions to the new information?

Christina: Finally, we got more info on this! I was relieved in a way that we don’t have to guess since the season is ending fairly soon. It’s gonna change a lot of things.

Jess: I really shouldn’t be surprised that we keep learning more shady stuff that Roxxon has done. I definitely think that the “pure fear” that was released by Roxxon’s drilling is responsible for Ty and Tandy gaining powers the night of the explosion.

Val: Honestly, I don’t know what to feel, that episode really messed with my head. I think I need to rewatch it a few times to get a grasp of what really happened because there was so much going on, but this new information could be a game changer.

Kiki:  I’m not at all surprised, I’m a bit inherently distrusting of huge corporations as is. And hopefully, Tandy can find resolution in the information she found.

Noelle: I am blown away. I mean drilling for energy is really dangerous and clearly, they knew that. I mean, they didn’t even care enough about the protection stuff Ivan requested because maybe they wanted this to happen or knew it would. I knew they were up to something more and what I found out confirmed that. It made me even angrier. People could have lived, they didn’t have to die.

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6. Now that Ivan is awake, do you think he will be of any help to Tandy in her investigation into Roxxon?

Christina: He will definitely help! He’s one of the ones that will push info to Tandy.

Jess: I think so! I think it will be especially helpful that now Tandy has someone who was on the inside of Roxxon as an ally. Hopefully, he can provide her with new information.

Val: I hope he’s able to. Tandy deserves to have one win and Ivan seems like a good, honest man. I feel like he’d want to clear Nathan’s name too.

Kiki:  I hope he would be able to not only do that but form a paternal-like relationship with Tandy and provide insight on her father.

Noelle: I do. He knows what lead up to the explosion. He knows her father probably better than anyone and once he finds out Nathan was the fall guy for the explosion, I don’t think he’ll want to stay quiet. But, will Roxxon Corp get to him first? Or, I feel like he won’t say anything to protect his daughter and so she doesn’t have to go through losing him again.

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7. Ty called Tandy after their interesting day. How do you feel about the final scene between the two?

Christina: The final scene was everything and more. It confirmed that they need each other. They are the only two who understand what each is going through. Tyrandy is going to hold on to each other through the end, keep each other anchored, and have a sense of safety.

Jess: Pretty sure I was smiling like an idiot throughout the whole last scene. I thought it was especially powerful since earlier in the episode Ty told her he didn’t even remember what Billy’s voice sounded like. So, the fact that Tandy was the first person he thought to call to listen to that recording with him was so heartwarming. Their chemistry was amazing all episode, but this scene especially.

Val: HEART EYES AND NOTHING BUT HEART EYES. I love these two so much, I can’t deal. I think it was a nice way to end the show after those hard-hitting scenes. It was nice to see these two as being calm and just enjoying each other’s company. My ship is rising! I’m so excited to see the next phase of their friendship…or more than friendship.

Kiki: I think their chemistry is so intense and natural. I almost felt like I was eavesdropping or being invasive. Again, you see Ty opening up and the ability the two have to provide each other comfort without even touching. The recording of Billy and Ty was adorable and was tear-jerking for some.

Noelle: It showed how much they understand each other and how much they need each other without even really realizing it. They are two pieces and when put together it makes a whole. I know they are connected by these powers but it is more than that. They were meant to meet each other one way or another.

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Who knew being stuck on repeat could bring people closer together

We said that we loved last week’s episode, but we think we loved this week’s even more! We know it was kind of filler, but it had so much character development that it didn’t even seem like it. The writers, Joe Pokaski and Peter Calloway, did an excellent job of making the repetitiveness of the episode engaging. They made sure we were able to still be intrigued by what was coming next and didn’t leave us watching the same moments over and over again. They also did an amazing job with the dialogue in this episode. We enjoyed all of the conversation and the brilliant way they tied the foreshadowing scene with Mina into it being the reason Ivan remembered himself.

We cannot go without mentioning all of the amazing acting between Olivia Holt and Aubrey Joseph! These two a really something special together and we finally got to see them have full-fledged scenes. These two acting off of each other, especially in the tension-filled scenes, showcase some of their best acting. Tandy and Tyrone are starting to lean on each other little by little in each episode. This episode was all about family and relationships. We saw more from Tyrone’s side how he felt his relationship with Tandy was already at a friendship level, it was good to see him push Tandy to realize that she does have someone who isn’t going to let her push them away when things get tough. Not because of who they are to the story, but on the basic levels of who they are, the relationship that will continue to grow between these two will be beautiful to watch!

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Also, great acting from Olivia on those phone call scenes. It’s always heartbreaking to see a character still grappling with a loss and Olivia acted Tandy’s emotions beautifully. Since the episode had so much Tandy and Tyrone, the final scene of the two on the phone really pulled the episode together. Tandy had mentioned that no one ever calls her and how she’s alone. Tyrone had said how he had forgotten his brother’s voice. It was a perfect moment to see the writers pull those two things together– ultimately, showing how connected the two are.

Next week, Tandy prepares to commemorate Nathan and Tyrone does the same for Billy. While one will use it as a way to figure out the truth, the other will have a struggle with their family. Only 3 episodes left!

Cloak & Dagger returns Thursday, July 19th on Freeform.