Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 6 Review: B Sides
Justin Carreiro
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Tandy's latest adventure brought her face-to-face against her version of Freddy Krueger. (Without the sharp knives and burned face, of course.)
The mind is a powerful world, and Andre knew exactly how to manipulate its ability on Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 6.
Just like Tandy, we were brought deeper into each new layer of her dreams and her nightmares. But just like a nightmare, this trip took us on a wild ride.
"B Sides" pleasantly shattered the fear of this becoming a filler episode.
With the entire story taking place in the mind, the progression of Cloak and Dagger Season 2's plot looked like it would be taking a break for the week. Plus, the "What if?" scenarios would've been the perfect way to fill the hour with interesting scenes until the main story returned.
Tandy's first encounter with the "perfect day" eased us into a sense of calm.
It presented a red herring that the focus of her journey would be in this alternate timeline. And that she would need to overcome her demons to save herself from the ambulance.
But, as she moved through each new scenario that kept getting worse, the reality of there being a sinister reason involved became an unsettling discovery. Not just the fact that she got kidnapped, but that someone manipulated her mind.
I liked that Tandy's journey through these realities had a significant purpose for the development of the overarching story.
We discovered the Big Bad, reunited with a few forgotten characters, and Tandy got to the core of what she held deep within her heart. Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 6 made big and essential strides for the progression of a co-lead.
Visually, the use of the ambulance props was a nice touch to show Tandy's struggle against Andre's powers.
Whenever she got closer toward breaking free or when the world was at its weakest, an element appeared to give her a hint of the truth. Like, the ambulance doors on the oil rig or the appearance of the ambulance during the car chase.
The best was when the screen flashed in tones of red, blue, and purple. The scene subconsciously sent out its warning signs of the real danger hiding underneath.
Her intuition and powers were giving her the hints that something was amiss. If Lia hadn't kept drugging her or Andre didn't manipulate her mind, Tandy would've been able to wake up and escape.
Andre may be strong, but Tandy is stronger!
Similar to the ambulance visual cues, the merging of the worlds created an interesting stylistic theme.
As Tandy fought against Lia and Andre's drugging, the lines between realities blurred. Worlds mixed, and elements of one nightmare found its way into the other.
Related: Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Rabbit Hold
These subtle changes perfectly symbolized Tandy's growing fight against her captors. While this trope has gotten done in the past on other TV shows, the inclusion worked well here as it supported Andre's nefarious motives.
He wanted Tandy to breakdown and slowly go crazy as she progressed through each world. Each new layer of these nasty realities continued to chip away at her until there was only darkness.
It's a satisfying effect that worked due to the sum of its parts.
Tandy's perfect day, which got introduced during Cloak and Dagger Season 2 Episode 5, had all the heartwarming drama elements to bring the feels. I would say this dream was their "This Is Us" moment. (Lots of emotional scenes to tug the heartstrings, but mostly tears.)
Everything seemed too good to be true, and everyone was basking in the bliss of their perfect lives.
What's sad about this reality is that this could've happened if only a few things had changed.
Tandy: I couldn’t swim to shore by myself, but you saw me. Nine years old and you dove in to save some random girl. You saved my whole family in the process.
Tyrone: Okay, you’re over-hyping it.
Tandy: I’m not! That whole crash made my folks get their s*** together. I mean now look at them. You saved us and you STILL want to keep on giving.
Tyrone: So?
Tandy: So, compared to that, what am I doing with my life?
Tyrone: Right, “Prima Ballerina” hasn’t accomplished anything?!
Tandy: Ha-ha.
Tandy could've become the professional ballerina, and Tyrone could've joined the police force. He might've ended up with Evita without any drama. Tyrone's parents would still be together, and Tandy's parents could've worked out their issues.
An alternate world where everything worked out for the heroes.
The "light" timeline had everything Tandy wished for in her life, but it would always be out of reach. She's working toward her dance career, so hopefully, she'll be able to dance for the New York City Ballet one day.
The encounter with the racists and misogynists in the store was an intense moment. Even though it was a hidden nightmare created by Andre, this moment earned a spot on Marvel's Cloak and Dagger's Top 5 most intense confrontations.
Everything escalated quickly once the racist saw Tyrone's police-issued gun.
What I like about this superhero TV show is that it doesn't shy away from real issues or the hurdles its characters are faced with on an ongoing basis. Even in Tandy's "perfect day," evil still reared its ugly head and proved that nothing is ever perfect.
I can't wait until real-life Tandy and Tyrone get their payback with a bit of harsh justice -- and punches.
You could tell that Andre's plan to breakdown Tandy was thought out and a calculated move based on the progression of the alternate realities. Each one became darker and unsettling as the hour moved on.
The second reality came across as the more realistic-but-negative reality. A world where Tandy entered the engineering field like her father, Mina ended up working at Roxxon (and hating it!), and Tyrone took a job at the oil rig seemed like a feasible outcome.
Nothing was perfect or happy. Life moved forward with all the bitterness and anger influenced by the people who hurt them (i.e., Nathan and Billy).
Mina: Was I subtle? You’re not welcome!
Tandy: You’re putting your whole crew in danger.
Mina: Who the hell do you think you are?!
Tandy: Look, Mina, you gotta listen to me...
Mina: Why do you keep talking to me like you know me? What? Nathan Bowen’s little princess gets to act like we’re best friends?!
Tandy: No ... no, I don’t know why but...
Mina: My name is “Dr. Hess” as far as you’re concerned.
A world where Mina is hateful and bitter is not a scenario that I would want to live in.
Her anger toward Tandy came from a place of transference; in this nightmare, she most likely has a grudge against Nathan Bowen. The fact that she disregarded all of Tandy's warnings before the place went into chaos didn't seem like her at all.
The third world reflected closer to Tandy's previous life before she met Tyrone. Whereas I didn't believe Tyrone would be hijacking a car with a screwdriver (his pre-Tandy life was on the straight and narrow), Tandy could've still been a con artist and pickpocketer.
Had she not turned things around with Melissa, this reality had all the elements of her previous future.
Related: PLL: The Perfectionists Season 1 Episode 7 Review: Dead Week
The biggest surprise was seeing Liam again. Will we ever see him again outside of the dream or is he gone for good?
As a clean-cut preppy guy, he looked even cuter. And he would make a great match with Michayla if they gave it a chance. (But that's neither here nor there.)
Hopefully, Liam returns in the future. There needs to be closure to his story with Tandy before she moves on to Tyrone.
Liam took off without a trace; there must be an update about what happened to him.
Andre's reveal as one of the Big Bads wasn't surprising. Once Lia emerged as a villain, the connection to Andre seemed like an inevitability.
Though, what was shocking was Andre having supernatural powers too, like Tandy and Tyrone.
Tandy: So, what? You get inside peoples’ heads? Make them feel pain so it can take away yours?
Andre: Ninety percent of the time, the people that come my way are helped. I give them counseling, choices, shelter ... but the other 10%, they can’t be helped. So they help me.
Tandy: You’re despicable.
For all we knew, the pair were the only ones who got infected from the initial Roxxon oil rig explosion. But with this discovery, this could mean that other people are hiding in New Orleans with superpowers.
The city could be beaming with enemies ready to take on Cloak, Dagger, Mayhem, and Brigid. I love the potential for this storyline.
Andre's power suited his hidden agenda.
With the ability to create pain and darkness, he could easily prey on the weak and helpless to heal his wounds. He drained all their hopes and left them with only nothingness and sorrow.
He is the epitome of hopelessness. And, he's a smart and intelligent criminal too.
Andre: It’s too late. He’s dead.
Tandy: I’m so sorry!
Andre: I’m sorry too. He’d still be alive if you hadn’t brought him into this. You hurt everyone you touch. Now is the time to give up before you hurt someone else.
[Tandy hands Andre her white dagger]
Manufacturing the last-minute vinyl in the Darkforce to manipulate Tandy's fears was absolutely genius! He knew exactly how to toy with her emotions and make her give up.
The entire scene of him "killing" Tyrone cemented his position as a puppet master. Regardless of Tandy nearly escaping, he thought on his feet and figured out how to achieve his desired result.
I'm not cheering or celebrating the villain here, but he mastered how to manipulate people. Tandy trapped in the darkness summed up his powerful levels of manipulation.
He is the most dangerous enemy that Tandy and Tyrone have faced yet. (Nothing against Connors and Scarborough, but they played in a sandbox compared to this.)
Last Thoughts From The Dream World:
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Since Andre and Lia's hideout is at the motel, could the rest of the kidnapped girls have been under Mayhem's nose this whole time?
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Adina has a great singing voice!
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I was waiting for the moment for Tandy to break free from her restraints and fight Lia/Andre. "B Sides" focused heavily on building up toward this climax that never happened. Total red herring.
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Tandy and Tyrone's connection broke the barrier every time they touched. Their bond might be stronger than Andre's power. Tandy will need to remember this for the future.
- Regardless of the scenario, Tyrone and Tandy always found their way back to each other. Their tender friendship always makes their scenes together even better.
Now, over to you, Marvel's Cloak & Dagger fans!
What did you think of "B Sides"?
Which alternate reality was your favorite? What do Andre and Lia have planned next for Tandy? Will we get to meet more people infected with powers from the oil rig explosion?
If you missed the latest episode of Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, you can watch Cloak and Dagger online via TV Fanatic. Come back here and share your thoughts in the comments.
Justin Carreiro was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.
