In her quest to bring down the sex trafficking ring, Tandy finds herself in a difficult and strange situation. Not sure what is going to happen, she always has Tyrone to lean on, no matter what the circumstance.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Freeform's Cloak & Dagger.
"B Sides" was written by Kate Rorick & Pornsak Pichetshote and directed by Lauren Wolkstein
Are Tyrone and Tandy the only people keeping hope alive for each other? That is the central question being asked in this reality-bending episode. Their lives changed dramatically when they met each other again as young adults. They have been set on these new paths as heroes who protect the city from the criminals who wish to exploit it. And yet, they have lived isolating existences as well. The abandoned church has been their sanctuary. They have both spent a lot of time alone there. It's because they felt it was impossible to return to their ordinary lives. Tyrone feels that pressure because of the warrant out for his arrest. He makes no progress on getting that investigation dropped here even though Connors is back in the city trying to make amends. Tyrone saw his fears and understood that he should trust him at his word despite how corrupt his entire family has always been. That gives him a drive and passion though. He wants to get back home. Of course, his family unit won't be the same as it was when he left. His parents have split. They too are living separate lives. He goes to them for support but he also sees radically different people than the two who raised him into the man he is today. He is still questioning so much about the world. He has a kindred spirit in Tandy. He cares about her so much. She feels the exact same way. She has aspired to stability this season. She wanted to forgive her mother for the lies she told. She wants to find a way to forgive her father's abusive actions. She doesn't want to forget about them entirely. But now, she has once again been betrayed by two people close to her life. Lia and Andre presented as allies who could help her cope with her difficult feelings about these personal traumas. They appeared as people who could help refocus her energy and better understand the world in less black-and-white terms. Tandy has always fought with the ideals that strength comes from not being accepting of a bad situation. She has long viewed her mother as weak because she never left her abusive husband. That still permeates throughout her mind. And yet, it's so difficult for her to navigate this mind palace because she can sense that things aren't right but she doesn't know how to put into words what she is feeling. Andre is the one manipulating reality in order to destroy all sense of hope within her. Tandy has taken hope from people before. Those are the visions she receives when she touches people. It has offered her a new form of communication that can be very beneficial. She could channel those powers for her own personal benefit. That makes it difficult when she lashes out at Andre for his abusive actions. He is abducting women to serve his own personal agenda. He wants to believe he's a good guy who helps the majority of people looking for it. But he still hurts those he deems expendable and lost causes. He sees Tandy teetering on the edge. He doesn't believe it would take much for her to get lost in despair. That's the headspace she needs to be in for whatever they have planned next. And yet, Lia and Andre aren't expecting her powers and how much strength they give her. They are taken aback by how many realities she dismantles. But all it takes is Tyrone's death to reveal that she really does only have one connection in this world. She places so much of her hope on him. That's not fair to him and all that he is going through as well. He understands the impulse though. He is worried about her. Everything will need to intensify around this search for what's happening with her. But Tandy also seems likely to return as a different women after being broken in this significant way by those looking to take advantage of the most vulnerable in this world.
