Plot: In season three, almost a year has passed since Baba Voss defeated his nemesis brother Edo and bid farewell to his family to live remotely in the forest. But when a Trivantian scientist develops a new and devastating form of sighted weaponry that threatens the future of humanity, Baba returns to Paya in order to protect his tribe once more.
Review: When AppleTV+ launched in November 2019, See was one of the marquee series that premiered with it. Led by Jason Momoa, See was designed to be Apple’s equivalent of Game of Thrones replete with warring factions, palace intrigue, and a good amount of sex. With the added twist that the post-apocalyptic series existed in a world without sight, Steven Knight’s epic show would have a unique twist to set it apart. After a slow-paced first season, See came back with an improved sophomore season that benefited from Dave Bautista joining as the antagonist. Now, See debuts it’s third and final season which is the best yet thanks to Jason Momoa’s excellent central performance. While it still fails to be as good as it could have been, See comes to its conclusion by delivering on the open storylines that have built up for two years with an unforgettable final chapter.
Set almost a year after Baba Voss (Momoa) defeated and killed his brother Edo (Bautista) at Greenhill Gap and Maghra (Hera Hilmar) took the crown from her sister Sibeth (Sylvia Hoeks). While peace exists between the Payan and Trivantian tribes, it is short-lived when a new weapon is revealed that could devastate the world as we know it. All the while as the various tribes exist around each other, Baba Voss has exiled himself after the death of his brother. Existing in isolation, Baba Voss is drawn back in when bombs rock his home and he learns his skills and leadership are once again needed to end the war once and for all. Mixed in all of this back and forth are the continuing lives of Bab Voss and Maghra’s children Kofun (Archie Madekwe) and Haniwa (Nesta Cooper), both of whom are blessed with the ability to see.
Over the eight-episode third season, See continues to mine the story for emotional connections between the various characters we have come to know including Tamacti Jun (Christian Camargo), a significant antagonist since the first episode, and Wren (Eden Epstein), a sighted warrior introduced in season two. With new characters and factions introduced this season, it sometimes seems like this story is ending prematurely since there are additional layers we must learn about in order for this season to make sense. While the first two and final two episodes are very strong, there is a lull in the middle that almost derails the momentum of this season by adding too many dialogue-heavy conflicts that take away from the impending endgame that takes up the bulk of the series finale.
As much as this series has relied on its ensemble cast, See has relied heavily on Jason Momoa’s shoulders. None of the charismatic actor’s previous projects have utilized his presence effectively alongside his acting abilities other than See. Since the first season, Momoa has made Baba Voss a relatable and reluctant leader, father, and warrior. Momoa’s physicality is also stronger this season than it has been before with a lot of intense fight sequences, especially in the final episodes. Momoa channels his experience in Game of Thrones and even the remake of Conan the Barbarian to make Baba Voss a frightening opponent for any of his foes in this world while Momoa still makes him a sympathetic hero. I cannot think of many actors who could pull off what Momoa does in the series finale, an epic half-hour of television that will be hard to rival this year.
After helming seven of the first sixteen episodes of See, director Anders Engstrom oversees the entirety of the final season. While creator Steven Knight receives no credits this season, Jonathan Tropper shared duties on scripting half of this season’s episodes. Bringing all of the plots of the show together and creating a satisfying conclusion must have been a challenge but the crew overall succeeds. The scale of See has benefited from Apple’s deep pockets and it shows on screen with sweeping sets and natural landscapes. The explosives key to this season’s story are massive and the bloodshed is as vicious as ever before as this story reaches its natural conclusion. There is no denying that See has improved over the uneven first season and built on the much stronger second.
In the end, See manages to neither exceed expectations nor defy them. A decent show that looks far better than it ever should, See rode on the wave of AppleTV+ and their initial slate of releases. Not as well-written as For All Mankind or carrying the genre cred of Servant, See will go down as a well-made story that just didn’t build enough momentum when it premiered. Like AMC’s similar Into the Badlands, See is a niche story that those who found it really enjoyed. I definitely found this last season to be the best of the bunch and Jason Momoa has delivered his strongest performance to date. If you have invested in the first two seasons, you will not be disappointed by this third. There is still potential for this world to be visited again at some point but thankfully the story they set out to tell has reached a worthy conclusion.
The third and final season of See premieres on August 26th on AppleTV+.