In light of its impending finale, Under the Banner of Heaven has still left a ton of things unanswered. Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield) and Detective Bill Taba (Gil Birmingham) have still found little success in uncovering what has come of Dianna (Denise Gough) and Matilda (Chloe Pirrie). Ron (Sam Worthington) and Dan (Wyatt Russell) have also yet to be located and questioned, which is an essential part of the series’ ending. “Revelation” does very little to answer these questions, but does provide additional insight into what their fates may be.
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Under the Banner of Heaven’s previous episode included a remarkable scene between Ron and his father. Ron’s newfound conviction as a stronghold in the Lafferty family proves to be burdensome, as his true focus remains on his family. He wants Dianna and his children to return to him but is forced to realize that they won’t. In “Revelation,” it is learned that Ron embarked on a self-proclaimed “journey of truth” in Oregon. There, he met John Bryant to discover true Mormonism. Bryant implements practices that Ron, his family, and many other Mormons had been taught to abstain from, including drinking wine and polygamy. Under the Banner of Heaven’s previous episodes have demonstrated that Dan and many of the other Lafferty followers have begun to advocate for polygamy, but Ron’s focus has remained on Dianna.
“Revelation” also reinforces Ron’s reputation as “the one.” His mother regarded him as “the one mighty and strong,” and Ron’s meetings with Brother Onais confirms this. Ron’s words that threaten Dianna if she fails to return to him are confirmed by Onais and the rest of the School of Prophets as words from God. “Revelation” is the first official sighting of Onais. His name has become a cryptic piece of Pyre and Taba’s case, and he proves to be just as dangerous as the Laffertys. Right off the bat, Onais is not only seen advocating for polygamy but spewing racist sentiments that many of their followers appear to buy into. As a Native American, Taba is not met warmly by Onais and the ending of “Revelation” suggests Taba might be in danger in the finale’s opening.
Recent episodes of Under the Banner of Heaven have strayed from Brenda and her involvement with the Lafferty family, to focus on the Lafferty brothers. “Revelation” returns the focus of Under the Banner of Heaven to the young woman and her daughter. A rift between Brenda and Allen (Billy Howle) is found, as Allen struggles to abandon his brothers and their philosophy as Brenda asks him to do, and he strikes her. Letters between Brenda and her sister reveal that Brenda and Allen met with the church to try and solve their issues, but that Brenda ended up requesting a divorce. Instead of encouraging her, the church sent her back to Allen and essentially, sent her on a course that was inevitably going to collide with Ron and Dan.
Brenda buys store-bought butter, milk, and bread despite the knowledge that the wives had been required to make things from scratch. As expected, it doesn’t go over well with the Lafferty men, who send Matilda to Brenda’s doorstep with a haunting message. Matilda warns Brenda of blood atonement and that anyone that encourages a man to be away from his children, may be forced to answer for their crimes with their blood. With the help Brenda has given Dianna and extends to the other wives, along with Brenda’s fate, it’s impossible not to see what Matilda has been tasked to relay. In Dianna’s final scene of “Revelation,” she warns Brenda that she isn’t safe there, but Brenda insists she has work that must be done.
Unlike the previous episodes of Under the Banner of Heaven, it is difficult to pinpoint a sole star in “Revelation.” The episode leads many roads in the direction of Ron and Dan while returning the focus to Brenda and Erica. The return of Edgar-Jones reminds viewers of what has set Under the Banner of Heaven into motion. When paired with Howle’s performance, the two deliver a completely different tone than in their first scenes together. The once loving and doting relationship between Brenda and Allen has become distant and strained because of the influence of Allen’s older brothers. Worthington and Garfield also continue to shine in “Revelation.” Ron and Pyre have both reached a breaking point. Ron appears to have finally found who he is within his family and the purpose he is meant to serve. Pyre has nearly lost his faith, struggling to wrap his head around what he has long since cherished.
The scenes with Brenda in “Revelation” are exceptionally powerful. In the face of adversity, Brenda has proved that she is not one to back down and demonstrates complete trust in her faith. The events of “Revelation” are chilling not only because of the fate viewers know Brenda has succumbed to, but because she expressed an interest in going to Missouri to continue her broadcasting work before her sister had guided her back to the church to fix her issues with Allen. The weight of faith and what that looks like for those involved with Under the Banner of Heaven are what drive its narrative, and it carries an eerie echo of how significant the separation of church and state truly is.
Under the Banner of Heaven is now streaming on Hulu.
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