Legion – S2E6 – Chapter 14

Previously on Legion, “Chapter 13”

The fallout from Amy’s death is put on hold this week, but she, and her importance to David, feature prominently in an episode that explores the what might have been.

Various alternate realities in David Haller’s life depict the many ways mental illness can impact a person’s life and the lives of those around them. In one, David is homeless and destitute, ignored by all those who pass him on the street. When he is acknowledged, it’s to be pitied or bullied. When he uses his psychic powers to obliterate a couple of street thugs, he is put on Division 3’s radar. When they can’t contain him or bring him in, Kerry slices him in half.

Another David leads the life of a child in constant needs of supervision and care by his sister Amy. He’s highly medicated as he goes about his mundane job. One night she’s late to pick him up from work and this leads to an encounter with police who seem ill equipped to deal with David’s mental illness. As such, they view him as a threat and try to arrest him. Amy arrives and is knocked down in the scuffle. This sends David into a rage he cannot control and he kills two cops before more arrive to gun him down. David then lives a life of a paraplegic relying on Amy to do everything from feed to bathe him, well into old age.

Only one reality sees David master his power and use it to rise in the ranks of a major corporation becoming one of the richest men in the world. This David is more like Amal Farouk and believes he’s a god and the only one who can unify the world. Amy is still around in this life, but now she’s dependent on David, and he treats her — and his employees — cruelly.

“Chapter 14” did little to move the story forward, but was a much needed, though heartbreaking, calm before the inevitable storm.