Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-25396609-20191207154319/@comment-37625872-20191207163953

You hear "Salem can't be beaten" a lot, and I'm beginning to think that has a lot less to do with her seeming physical immortality than it does with the fact that she's just a way better strategist than anyone she's up against. This destabilization of Atlas is working like a charm. Her response to the setback at Haven has been decisive so far.

Oh, sure: our heroes will find a way to overcome (this was never going to be a series in which the good guys lose in the end). But I'll be very surprised indeed if we see a scenario of saving Atlas by out-thinking Salem. If Atlas survives this, it'll be some sort of tactical victory by combined force of arms (Ruby managing to unite all the feuding factions, anyone?) or even a (literal) deus ex machina, although after this episode, I'm less worried about the writers over-relying on an all-powerful Penny-Sue.

I'm not complaining about this, mind you. Salem is a lot better villain when she's both personally devastating and a capable strategist. This is good stuff...

Oh, and I suspect I'm not the only one who let out an audible sigh of releif when Fiona was okay. =)