This episode finished up the "Village of the Gray Wolves" arc fairly well, I thought. The clues were pretty honest, without any huge red herrings, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that the plotting was actually "tight." The physical confrontation at the end, especially, was not very convincing, but that's not generally been a high point of this series anyway.

The "evidence" that convinced Derek to confess was pretty weak. They were throwing those nuts all over the place, so their presence at both scenes seemed less than definitive. However, I've seen confessions coerced by evidence just as weak in eveything from "Perry Mason" to "Columbo," so I'll cut 'em some slack. I guess what was important is that Derek believed it.

Regarding the Elder's murder, the gold left about was an indication it was not a robbery, which left some type of crime of passion -- which made Harminia stand out. The very fact that she purported to know how the killing stroke was delivered was also a clue -- that I missed. The clock not striking was a clue, though not in the way I thought. There was really no way to figure out her motivation ahead of time, but I didn't find it unbelievable after the fact. It's not clear why she thought killing the prophet would change the prophecy, but 15 year olds are not noted for their cool, rational thinking. (With a...ahem...notable exception, now and then.)

I don't really understand what the deal was with Herminia's confession. I guess her sense of guilt made her hear what she was afraid of hearing???? 'Cause it didn't seem to be what Kujo actually said. I think we could've used a few more details there.

I was right that Mildred was simply following Victorique and "reporting in," but I would have bet she was NOT reporting to Grevil -- so I blew that. Though they even gave us a clue when Kujo earlier noted, in reading the article in the paper, that Grevil had not arrested the criminal. Still...I just find it hard to believe that Grevil was sharp enough to "catch" Mildred at anything...unless, she wanted to get caught? Nah, probably over-thinking things again. Just like I'm sure it's a complete coincidence that both Mildred and the Magician have flaming red hair.

Speaking of the Magician, I have little doubt who the petite blond standing beside him on the cliff was, but I'm fascinated as to what their relationship with each other is. Is he someone she met during the war? Husband, lover, or just a comrade-in-arms?

I don't think the Magician is Brian Roscoe. Roscoe was supposedly a native son of Seyrun, and so one would expect him to be a blond, though there are always exceptions to every rule.

For being so athletic in tackling the fleeing thief at the beginning of the episode, Grevil was totally useless against a girl with a sharpened stick. Was that poor writing, or because he wouldn't have been displeased with a tragic outcome? I really have no idea what his true motivations are (or his level of intelligence). On a related note, Kujo's father should have been giving him lessons on how to fight girls. He's REALLY bad at it. This is the second time a girl's whipped his butt. Hell...I think Victorique could take him.

I was rolling my eyes at MOST of the action at episode's end. Why didn't Grevil take a part? Why didn't he have a gun? Why didn't the three of them rush Herminia simultaneously? Could Victorique really have held Kujo's weight, even momentarily? Why didn't someone come to help her pull him up? (Yes, regarding the latter, I know it was an important "dramatic moment" -- which often suspends the rules of logic -- but I wish they had choreographed it less unrealistically somehow.) This was the weakest part of the episode, in my mind.

The very ending was just a little bit corny, but it worked for me. Big time.