Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger - S1E3 - Stained Glass

Previously on Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger, “First Light/Suicide Sprints”

After a turbulent series of events for our young leads during their two-episode premiere, this week Tandy and Ty were given a respite (of sorts) as they sought answers about their powers - and uncovered the strength of their unwanted psychic connection. Through their surrealistic visions, Tyrone and Tandy gained a deeper sympathy for one another while encouraging each other to begin a new path to overcome their respective fears.

“Stained Glass” takes place immediately after the events of “Suicide Sprints” yet was edited in a non-linear fashion; the first images we saw were a the unfocused whirrings of a 3D printer constructing something that would no doubt be unveiled by episode’s end. In the meantime, Tyrone did his best to convince Tandy she wasn’t the target of his bullet when he suddenly vaporated in front of her ride. Of course we know this won’t be the last time the two cross paths but it’s clear whatever force has drawn them together won’t allow them to stray far - solely in the hope of easing them of their guilt.

Like the first two episodes, things developed from a slow burn yet became steadily engrossing once Tandy and Tyrone delved into one another’s psyche after their last encounter. Suffering from a concussion after her crash, Tandy somehow jumped into the “other dimension” and for most of the time was an undetected observer within Tyrone’s subconscious. Ty delved back into the zone as well and witnessed Tandy’s fears and anxieties, though he received help from his classmate/unrequited crush Evita (Noëlle Renée Bercy) and her aunt Clarisse, a Vodun practitioner.

Through their shared dream sequence/vision quest, the pair realized their inner strife aren’t entirely dissimilar. Both are riddled with guilt over what occurred that fateful night, events they surely had no control over, left them severely traumatized as seen with the powerful imagery that looped over and again in Ty and Tandy’s minds.

Once more we saw the teens as their younger selves, beginning with Tyrone and his hopeful dream of his brother Billy deciding to spend time with him on the court than go with his friends. Sadly, the reality of the situation is very much present as young Ty is inundated with uncashed checks written by his brother but he doesn’t accept them because he feels unworthy of any good fortune.

In turn, little Tandy was seen giving communion to a handful of men - including her attacker Rick (Mike Donovan) and partner Liam - who collapse soon after receiving the host. From what can be gathered, Tandy believes herself toxic. Any man who gets close to her, be him a mark or a potential love, will be harmed by her inadvertently or otherwise.

However, the worst of it seen by both were their present selves repeatedly enduring the worst moments of their respective lives. Desperate to seek revenge for his brother, Ty repeatedly chooses an item from an ornate table in the hope it will finally dispatch Officer Connors for good, however it always ends badly for himself and his parents. Meanwhile, Tandy watches her father surrounded by his Roxxon associates and her mother as he’s waterboarded, proceeds to run away but loops back to the scene every time. Thankfully Ty and Tandy were able to affect one another’s nightmare scenarios by using their powers to comfort and empower each other to finally change the outcome as they wish.

Regrettably, the same can’t be written about Detective O’Reilly (Emma Lahana) and her investigation into Rick’s attempted murder. It didn’t take long for O’Reilly to determine the scratches on Rick’s face were defensive marks and he was being elusive about the reason why he was found dying in an alley with his pants unbuckled. Not surprisingly, Connors gave O’Reilly the ID of a known offender and claimed that was the suspect, taking Tandy off the hook - however placing her in Rick’s family’s sights for possible reprisal.

Though Det. O’Reilly appeared to fail Tandy, at the very least she can begin to rely on Tyrone after their intimate experience throughout the episode. Now emboldened to overcome their fears, Tandy and Ty have accepted they’ve a connection… but haven’t a clue what it is and why it presents itself in such a manner. Clearly “it” has plans for the duo, and hopefully in time, both of them will listen more intently.