Ep 7. Last Words

A fictionalized and humoristic account of the story of abolitionist John Brown, The Good Lord Bird series reaches its seventh episode with a bang in "Last Words."

After last episode's cliffhanger, where the town of Harpers Ferry is taken over by Brown and his small army of fighters, the situation is tense and precarious. Brown, played superbly by Ethan Hawke, is still determined to start a slave revolution and enlists the help of newly freed slave Bob (played by the excellent real-life rapper Daveed Diggs) to gather more soldiers.

Meanwhile, Onion, the young boy who has been posing as a girl and following Brown's group around, is still hiding his true identity while developing a deeper relationship with Brown's daughter, Annie. The tension between the two is palpable, as Annie is becoming more and more disillusioned with her father's tactics and Onion is struggling to reconcile his admiration for Brown with his own growing sense of self.

In "Last Words," the action reaches a crescendo as Brown's army is under siege by local Virginia troops, and Onion finds himself in grave danger. The episode is tense and emotional, with each character's motivations and beliefs being put to the test. The writing is razor-sharp, injecting humor even in the darkest moments, and the acting is outstanding all around.

As the episode's title suggests, the theme of death permeates throughout, and it's a testament to the show's ability to balance humor with pathos that even in its most devastating moments, it never feels maudlin or overwrought. The show has always been a masterclass in tone, and "Last Words" is no exception.

What makes The Good Lord Bird such a compelling series is its ability to merge historical events with a fictionalized account without losing sight of the humanity at the core of the story. The show doesn't shy away from the horrific reality of slavery and the violence that was necessary to abolish it, but it also doesn't forget that these were real people with complex motivations and beliefs.

Overall, "Last Words" is one of the best episodes of an already amazing series, and it's a sign that The Good Lord Bird is not slowing down anytime soon. With its witty dialogue, fantastic characters, and impeccable acting, this episode will leave you breathless and craving more.