Moment of Truth

We learn about Viren's failures as a father. Viren turned to dark magic because Soren was born a sick child. The Star-Truth Ritual is cool. So, Kpp'Ar was coined because Viren needed Ziard's staff to do the spell but Kpp'Ar wouldn't let him. Lissa became terrified of Viren after she saw his corrupted face. Rayla is Callum's deep truth! Viren punished Soren for Lissa's departure with a lifetime of cold cruelty. The reason why Viren doesn't give Soren his letter is the same as the reason Kosmo didn't tell the truth about Aaravos's prison being fake: they didn't want to burden them as they need all their strength. Rayllum reenact the scene when they first met after 2 years, which is cute. The first Rayllum kiss after season 3.

This episode is hands down one of my favourites of the season and for good reason. Built upon parallel journeys, the show returns to its most favourable foils dynamic in Callum and Viren, showcasing it through Viren's reflection on and Callum's search for their respective truths.

For Viren, this means divulging his deepest, darkest mistakes as well as the shattering of many of his most important relationships, most notably with his wife, Lissa, who we finally see glimpses of.

For Callum, this means trying to rid himself of dark magic (not without potential costs or future set backs) and soaring to new heights. His and Rayla's relationship once again shines as a heartfelt, well developed dynamic that encompasses many of the most interesting and tender portions of their characters.

This is an episode that really needs to be split into two parts.

First, the part with Viren. It is amazing how this season handled Viren's character. Almost every scene with him, and by addition Soren, was phenomenal. Viren is broken, he's looking for forgiveness, and hopes that by telling his son about why he became who he is, and how it tied into saving Soren's life, that there would be penance and understanding. Not only do we learn more of Viren's past, but some of his best growth in the series takes place here. Where Season 6, and this episode, succeed perfectly, is Viren and his estranged relationship with his son.

Where it fails is where it has failed for the entire second half...Rayla and Callum. The theme of this episode, and the season, has been truth. However, despite the show's attempts to mirror Callum's storyline with Viren's, and have them tie into the same message, it fails. One baffling and head scratching choice by one of the supporting cast causes this message to fall apart, and while I won't go into spoilers, it is obvious to those who watch it. But what drags it down even further is how it not only ties into his relationship with Rayla, but results in them getting back together. None of the issues around their relationship are ever talked about. They were broken up and got back together, with no real reason given as to why they broke up. By that I mean, there was no reason to do it at all. Despite everything TTM and Season 4 set up, none of it actually comes to fruition. A million things should have happened, should have been discussed, should have been explored, but never are. The show ignores it, and just says that they're done teasing everyone and has them finally kiss and get back together. This cannot be the same staff that made Rayllum in the first half, because there is no semblance of the love, chemistry, and mutual growth that they had back then here. It's a damn shame to see one of the best romances in recent animation, turn into this.