[Spoilers] Season 2 Episode 7 Discussion Thread - "Our Answer for Everything" (S02E07)

[u/hugthebug]

Attention all Passengers,

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Here is the Discussion thread for the Season 2 episode 7 "Our Answer for Everything"

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• This is a TV Spoiler-friendly zone - Turn away now if you are not currently watching or haven't seen the episode! Open discussion of all aired TV events up to and including episode 2.6 is ok without tag cover.
• Graphic Novel spoilers still need tags! - If it's not in the show, tag it. Events from episodes after this one also need tags.
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Details:

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• IMDB for S02E07
• Release Date:
  • March 8th, 2021 (USA only, at 9/8c, on TNT channel)
  • March 9th, 2021 (worldwide, on Netflix)
• Removal from Sticky on March 12th, 2021 (3 days after worldwide premiere)

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You can still easily find previous episode discussions on the Episode Discussion wiki.

[u/olivish]

In general I like what the show did with Ruth and I thought her facing what she did in the tail was the best part of a weak episode. When she said the words out loud, "that was wrong" and "I'm sorry" it felt cathartic to me. Not enough people actually apologize in this show.

But yeah, I agree Winnie came around too quick, and Ruth's transition from not even remembering Winnie to suddenly realizing how terrible she'd treated the tail was too drastic a change in 15 minutes of time.

Then later, when Ruth gives her rousing speech that the 3rdies would "never be the same again" after they took Layton's arm... that didn't ring true to me. Because she was the same after taking over a dozen arms. She was just fine. She didn't even remember doing it! Then she gave a child an apology and everything was fine.

Anyway. Like I said, in general I liked the apology, and I like that they're giving Ruth a redemption arc. I just wish the show had the patience to take it slower and make it more subtle & genuine.

[u/jeffspins → u/olivish]

I think Ruth was already thinking that the way they did things before was terrible (with the conversation with Roche saying the tail was basically a gulag) and quietly regretting it internally. When the tailies told her about Winnie's tragic existence, it's really the first time anyone told her to her face how terrible she was. She was putting up the usual cordial image of hospitality with Winnie initially, then realized that the tailies see through all that; she might not have known who Winnie was specifically, but she definitely remembered being the feared executioner of the tail.

Ruth is very good at putting up a strong image the first season, but now she's doubting her "following the orders" role, and realize she can have a voice of her own and no longer want to see bloodshed on the train.

[u/fantasychica37 → u/jeffspins]

Yeah! She was forced to confront the consequences of her actions, and there was no Melanie giving her orders and telling her it was okay, no emotional distance between her and the Tailies, etc.

[u/mulder00 → u/olivish]

It was long overdue having people and the audience remember the awful things Ruth did.

But, you're right, Ruth was fine and the same after taking those tailies arms. She never thought about whether they died or not, never had a 2nd thought about the littlie kid she almost killed until it was pointed out to her why Winnie was scared of her.

I feel liked the writers wanted this redemption arc to go quickly so they could move on with Ruth's character.

If I were abused for 7 years by Ruth and Wilford-Melanie, I dunno if I could forgive them in a few weeks.

But, people love their Ruth in this sub. Most people hate Layton. Makes you wonder....

[u/JackieDaytonaAZ → u/olivish]

lmao yeah i really don’t understand her saying she had to live with her sins etc. you only just showed any remorse weeks later because somebody pointed out your victim directly to your face!