User blog comment:Mattalamode/A Second Opinion: The Roots/@comment-26215750-20171009152427/@comment-31194372-20171010053414

Mmm, sort of. I think "The Roots" is exciting because it deliberately rejects meaning by presenting us with this false, deceptive sense of importance only to betray that about 80% of the way through. That being said, it's definitely up there in terms of Darwin-centric episodes because of how well he's used. Who would've thought the day would ever come where he'd play puppet master to everybody else?

I think his sentience, or rather ignorance, here is less a demonstration of his moral compass, though, than the opposite of that. He's not being empathetic at all throughout; he's in it for himself, and even after he reveals his ruse, he still goes out of his way to keep the guilt trip up on Nicole (albeit to limited success).

The episode is itself pretty dark, definitely. I mean, the Wattersons pretty much commit child abandonment towards the end, but beyond that, it involves Darwin performing psychological manipulation on his family. It's like a Season 2 episode in spirit and I love it.

Can't wait for your next article! SPEEEED IT UP A LITTLE