Summary
“Proverbs 14:1” takes its foot of the gas as the remaining Sisters prepare for a final mission, and the shadows of the past continue to haunt them.
This recap of Warrior Nun season 1, episode 8, “Proverbs 14:1”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
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Warrior Nun episode 8 treats us to the next chapter of Areala’s story in tinted flashbacks of the Crusades, as Beatrice, reading aloud from the tome discovered in Sister Shannon’s secret room, reveals that the tomb of the angel Adriel is beneath Vatican City. Within that tomb is the demon-controlling power that Cardinal Duretti covets, hence why he has been trying his best to install a warrior nun loyal to him; he needs the Halo-Bearer to phase inside.
It’s time to ask an expert how to find the tomb among miles of catacombs under the Vatican, and who better than Kristian? The former OCS head to Arq-Tech to propose this deal to Jillian, who could perhaps use angel bones to power her machine — just so long as she’d be willing to provide what was necessary for the break-in. All that time spent characterizing Jillian as a doting mother going to great lengths to save her son makes sense now; she’s being repositioned as an ally, with Duretti emerging as the season’s Big Bad.
According to Kristian, the Medicis commissioned a map of the Necropolis, but it was stolen and found its way onto the black market — something that Father Vincent can, apparently, help with. Meanwhile, at the Cat’s Cradle, Lilith, looking rather worse for wear, snoops through the remnants of her own memorial, and Ava trains in Jillian’s lab, discovering that the further she has to phase, the harder and more dangerous it is to pull off.
“Proverbs 14:1” also reveals Father Vincent as a much more badass clergyman than first appeared. He and Mary go to visit a contact, Esteban, who can help, and since time is of the essence, Vincent has no compunctions about rolling up his sleeves to reveal forearms covered in ornate religious tattoos and breaking the wrists of security guards. He learns that the map is with a private collector whose name and address he acquires. Back at Arq-Tech, a ragged-looking Lilith arrives, unable to remember anything between being skewered by the Tarask and returning to the Cat’s Cradle. She has a nasty-looking wound from the impalement and a splitting headache. The idea that God has granted her another life, suggested by Camila, seems a bit naive.
The next step of Ava’s training is breaking through her personal pain, which Warrior Nun episode 8 justifies by having Beatrice read from the journal the story of Sister Melanie, a previous Halo-Bearer who had been interned at Dachau concentration camp during World War 2 for being gay and eventually succumbed to her hatred, which exacerbated the Halo’s power. It’s the same step Ava herself must take, and the story moves Beatrice considerably, having spent her own life being persecuted for her differences. It’s a heavy-handed scene, but a moving one and makes plenty of thematic sense.
Father Vincent and Shotgun Mary retrieve the Medici’s map, while Ava speaks with Lilith, who is candid about Duretti having played on her pride. But it’s difficult to believe her apologies. Ava is finally able to pass through 20 feet of wall with some urging from Beatrice, who coaches her through that pesky personal pain by assuring her that she’ll never again be alone, whatever happens. Her Sisters will be with her. This is the motivation Ava needs, and while doing so almost depletes all the Halo’s energy, she’s able to make it through the wall. For a second I thought she and Beatrice might kiss, but it didn’t happen.
While bonding with Camila, Lilith is once again beset by the high-pitched ringing. Sloping off to the bathroom, she picks at the scab of her wound and uncovers what looks like a miniature version of a demon portal. Using the map, Kristian is able to pinpoint the location of Adriel’s tomb, and Michael makes ominous prognostications that “the other door” will “change everything”. He’s a creepy kid, but one imagines he’s probably also correct.
While Ava dreams, she speaks with Sister Shannon and happens on a new idea: To destroy the Relic of Adriel and thus end of the cycle of demons, death, and warrior nuns. That’s the only way it ends. Using the Halo, she’s able to melt down her Divinium dagger, proving she can destroy the artifact. Warrior Nun season 1, episode 8 ends as the molten metal trickles between her fingers.
