The Tree is the sixteenth episode of HBO Max's science fiction drama television series, Raised by Wolves and the sixth episode of the second season.[1] It aired on March 3, 2022.
Synopsis[]
As they try and fail to open the seed box, Sue and Paul realize they need Marcus’s help. Sue makes a plan to break Marcus out of the brig while Mother is distracted with the imminent birth of Tempest’s baby. But when Sue, Paul and Marcus finally open the seed box, they make a horrifying discovery.[1]
Plot[]
Campion tries to establish himself as a leader among the workers. However, he struggles to get his words out, stuttering and fumbling as his confidence betrays him. Sadly, even his joke doesn’t land either.
Meanwhile, Mother joins up with Sue as they conduct a baby scan on Tempest. It turns out her pregnancy is moving along faster than anticipated. Specifically, she’s going to give birth the next day. She’s worried and starts to panic, but Mother offers to look after the child for her until she’s ready, which she vehemently declines. With Mother now in charge of the colony, the “murderer” Marcus is brought before her. Just prior to this, Lucius found a metal card in his shoe. Anyway, Mother tells Marcus to renounce Sol and tell everyone that this is a fantasy. In exchange she’ll set him free. Despite Paul rushing up and hugging him, Marcus does no such thing, challenging her authority and promising that he has faith, “something a robot can never have.”
Elsewhere, Father heads in to see the ancient android which speaks old mithraic after Campion touches its hand. It turns out this is the light that Campion saw, and it wasn’t Sol after all. However, Mother figures out where Campion is and catches them both with the android. Campion reveals he’s called this android ‘Grandmother’ because it’s very old. Mother believes she’s dangerous and turns into her necro form, intending to stop the creature in case it attacks them. Mother is distrusting but when the android passes out, Father reveals exactly how he “grew” this android. He also repeats the ancient mithraic tongue the creature uttered, which Mother just so happens to translate. Apparently it asked Father “why aren’t you wearing your veil.”
Mother and Father continue to disagree over whether this creature is harmful, as they run more tests together. It would appear that instead of a weapon system, the ancient android has something else going on. Mother is concerned and decides to keep the kids away from her until they can determine exactly what she is. That night, Mother's Child starts screaming, prompting Campion to head inside its cage and try to calm it down. This is a consequence of Sue and Paul attempting to open the ancient box outside. While they blast it with lasers, this seems to upset "Number 7".
Sue makes her choice and frees Marcus from his cell. Before he goes, he speaks of the tree and eventually leaves the settlement, where Paul happens to be waiting for them by the side of the acidic lake.
Out in the open is Tempest, who ends up giving birth by the sea. She actually bites off the umbilical cord too, given how sudden the labour is. Unfortunately the cries from the baby bring a strange creature out from the lake, dripping in acid. It snatches up her baby, seemingly consuming it inside itself and diving back into the lake. Tempest is understandably distraught and begins screaming and crying.
Mother reflects on what’s happened when Tempest is brought back. She’s concerned that they’ve all become too human for their own good, and that’s why this occurred. However, when she finds out Sue and Paul have gone, she has no words.
Later, the trio are camped and as night draws on, Paul asks Sue to sing her a lullaby. In doing so, this actually opens the box, where Sue finds a seed inside. When she touches it, it seems to absorb inside her, and she stumbles away. Possessed, she begins digging with her bare hands, eventually screaming to the heavens.
When Paul awakens, he finds the box open and in the distance, blocking the sunlight, a large, monstrous tree. Paul wakes Marcus up, who marvels at its sight. Marcus finds a seed on the floor and after opening up its hard shell, takes a bite. In doing so, he notices the tree pulsating. As tears fill his eyes, he drops to his knees and reaches out.
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