Director	Peter Burger
Writers	David Brechin-Smith, Peter Cox	Tweet
Starring	Renato Bartolomei, Latham Gaines, Gareth Reeves, Kate Elliott, Danielle Cormack, Scott Wills, Sara Wiseman, Rachel Nash, Andrew Grainger, William Wallace, Lisa Chappell, Laura Interval
Genre	Thriller
Tagline	None Listed
Country

Review

Having captured Annabelle in the previous episode, due to Sophie selling her down the river, Edward is almost immediately in need of her services as a Doctor. It was Ryan's turn to visit with Cynthia and after he had a tussle with the Two Gardens goons Cynthia is left concussed with a series head injury. Annabelle is going to be forced to administer to Cynthia as the bitch monster hasn't finished Andy's treatment for cancer. Meanwhile Ryan has escaped Two Gardens but has a stalker out to stop him from contacting his father.

In a series of flashbacks we learn how Edward was persuaded to join Momentum, and also the importance of some of the Liberators and that yellow flower have to him. As expected not everything is as it seems. With Sophie's help Edward and his goons capture the Liberators with the exception of Michael who is getting Nathan to an Auckland hospital. Given that Edward has a few Roos loose in the top paddock, that's not a good development. Oh and in a shock development Jenni is no longer comatosed.

After ten episodes we are finally presented with some answers to what is going down in Two Gardens, and to be honest they are not what you think they are going to be. Okay we got it right with Edward being more interested in Michael than Ryan, but got the reason for the interest wrong. In an episode that has all the impact of a wikileaks disclosure we learn Edward North has launched one of the most convoluted conspiracy plans you could imagine. He wanted certain people to come to Two Gardens and either convinced them to join his cult or enticed them by convincing family members or friends to join. Edward has zero interest in Momentum, doesn't agree with it's aims, and is using it as a front for his own end game. Sorry no spoilers, pick up the DVDs to get the full skinny on one hell of a twist. I can tell you it involves yellow flowers and what might be a sort of purgatory or the banks of the river Styx, okay said too much.

After last week's slight disappointment, returning Director Peter Burger kicks a major.

Beginnings revolves around the concept of trust, and betrayal of that trust. In a series of flashbacks we learn Edward was pulled into the Momentum fold, but his trust in the organisation was betrayed by Luke, who was envious of Edward's free thinking and effect on Morgan. Clearly the Liberators have placed way too much trust in Sophie, and the Cult is going down the same path, though one wonders if Edward isn't reserving judgement. And Saul, who has been nothing if not dedicated to Two Gardens and Edward, is having his trust slowly eroded by Edwards increasingly erratic behaviour. The episode finally sees Ryan waking up to the fact that there is something very wrong in Two Gardens, and deciding his almost naïve belief in Edward North has been used to achieve aims that have no place in Momentum philosophy. Interestingly enough when Morgan arrives on a fact finding mission she is surprised by Edward leading Two Gardens, calling the whole set-up into question, and showing Momentum's trust in the set-up and governance of the Downunder compound has been founded on very shaky ground. Sorry slight pun there kids.

Director Peter Burger, here back for his second stint behind the camera after directing episodes one and two, has the pace of the episode cranked up. Clearly we are building toward a final revelation of just what insanity Edward might be up to, and Burger is giving the viewer very little chance to analysis what is going down as loose ends are tied up, and the plot twists are screwed tighter. Don't sit back for a breather during this episode as there are revelations coming at you faster than a Channel 9 ratings related witch hunt.

Burger shows his worth to the franchise with some excellent money shots, Edward finding the yellow flower as the only colour in an otherwise drab muddy world is fairly well on the awesome side of the gushing. Likewise when Ryan is trying to escape through the bush Burger almost goes backwards slasher in the pursuit scenes. Wonder if he got the idea of the mobile ringing, and giving away Ryan's position, from the movie Cry_Wolf? Peter Burger is all over the episode with style, use of slow mo, and using metaphors for what the audience sees. It's an audacious approach that pays off with an excellent 45 odd minutes of television splendour.

I don't think I would be alone in calling Beginnings the best episode of season one of The Cult. The pacing is brisk, the revelations are impactful, and the acting is excellent. Director Burger has pulled one out of the hat and somehow raised the bar once again for what has been an above average television series. I can hardly wait to see what is delivered to my screen in the next episode, things are getting desperate for the Liberators and the Two Garden victims. Can Michael make a difference and will Saul rebel final? Catch you after episode 12.

ScaryMinds Rates this episode as ...