The Dragon Prince Rewatch 3.4, "The Midnight Desert"

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If there's a theme in this episode, it's the danger of infighting.

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3.4, "The Midnight Desert"

Written by Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond
Directed by Villads Spangsberg

Synopsis

This message contains information intended only for the
use of the above-named company / party...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Ethari's message to the Queen of the Dragons speeds along until it is intercepted by a winged figure over a black-sand desert.

Meanwhile, Rayla, Callum, and Zym proceed through the forest, Callum finding difficulty with his mount as he tries to comfort Rayla. It does not work well; she resists the idea of talking about her emotional state.

This kind of thing never works out well.
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

In Katolis, Ezran receives Kasef once again. The prince offers an ultimatum, demanding the military support of Katolis under threat of military invasion. Ezran refuses the demand and is told that Katolis will be besieged. And in the dungeons, Viren receives a strange gift from Aaravos, one for which he had not asked.

It ain't Honeycomb, but it's still big...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

As Callum, Rayla, and Zym proceed, they encounter Nyx, who claims to be an emissary of the Dragon Queen. Rayla is not pleased, while Callum takes the opportunity to perform foolishly. Nyx purposes to take Zym; Rayla refuses, and Nyx offers to conduct the lot of them across the titular Midnight Desert. Nyx lays out the problems of the Desert, its daytime heat and nighttime terror, and offers the solution of an "ambler," a large beast that can insulate the group from the hot sand as it crosses the hostile waste. They reluctantly accept.

He really is young, isn't he?
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Ezran watches the Neolandian delegation depart, and he confers with Opeli about next steps. She notes that the Katolis army is superior in training and support, but Ezran rails against the expectation of tens of thousands of casualties. He contemplates the cost of so many lives spent, and one of his courtiers proposes a solution.

As the ambler proceeds, Rayla contemplates events. Callum again offers some comfort, only to have it refused as the ambler encounters a problem. Nyx makes to clear the issue, something like a pothole occasioned by burrowing serpents (and a callback to earlier work from the writers and Callum's voice actor attracts attention). That done, the ambler proceeds to a magically shielded oasis where the group makes camp for the night. Callum explores as Rayla sees to the beasts and their own disposition as they settle in. It is an uneasy night, full of revelations--and the abduction of the Dragon Prince.

All according to plan...
Image taken from the episode, used for commentary.

Ezran stealthily enters the castle kitchens, where he confers with the cook over jelly tarts. He asks the cook to see to Bait; the cook agrees, of course, and takes the beast in hand. Sadly, he departs. That evening, Viren receives the awareness of his gift--magically enhanced vision. Ezran sets aside the crown, refusing to lead his people to war or to let them be destroyed by the other kingdoms, allowing himself to be imprisoned as Viren is released and takes power.

Discussion

While the conflict between the Pentarchy and Xadia has deep causes that are hinted at--the use of dark magic and long-time oppression--and the immediate conflict is based in (an inaccurate and soon to be addressed) blood feud and false flag attacks, there is something of a Crusader mentality among the human kingdoms that emerges in the episode. Given the Orientalism already established as present in the series (note here, here, here, and here), the overwhelming thirst for war against the eastern Others rings of "Deus vult"--all the more problematically so against the broader backdrop of white supremacist deployment of Crusader imagery to bolster their execrable positions. Since the Crusades often epitomize "the medieval" in popular conception, even their tacit invocation--because it is not called a crusade, as such, and the parallels are not entirely exact--does much to further the medievalism of the series--not that it was or has been in any doubt.