“…And Finally: Black Bolt” is episode eight of season one of Marvel’s Inhumans and the season, and series as it was not renewed, finale.
In the previous episode, “Havoc in the Hidden Land”, the royal family had started operating against Maximus. Meanwhile, Karnak, with Auran’s assistance, had gone ahead with something Black Bolt told him not to do – he had attempted to use Auran’s regenerative DNA to bring Gorgon back from the dead by having him undergo terrigenesis again. It looked to have failed, and the two had to leave when Maximus and others approached. Later, it seemed to have succeeded – bit whether it was truly Gorgon is yet to be determined. Triton killed Maximus’s guards and took him to Black Bolt. However, Maximus has set it up so that if he dies, Attilan will be destroyed. If those who followed him had heard that, they would probably have second thoughts.
The episode opens in the royal bunker with Maximus telling Black Bolt, Medusa, Crystal and Triton if he doesn’t place his palm print on the scanner in the control room the power will cut out and the dome will begin to fail. This needs doing every hour. No, cutting his hand off will not work. Medusa says if only the people of Attilan could know just how self-serving Maximus is. Maximus claims he didn’t steal the people from Black Bolt, Black Bolt abandoned them. Now, Maximus will go through terrigenesis again and will lead all of Attilan to Earth as a conquering army.
Black Bolt tells his brother – via Medusa – that he is a fool. He has no idea of the enemy he is facing. Maximus is not as afraid of the humans as Black Bolt is. Only Black Bolt was not talking about the humans. Maximus says they have no other enemy, and it looks as if the others didn’t know what Black Bolt was talking about either.
It’s already half an hour since Maximus last scanned his palm and he says the royal guard will be patrolling every inch. They will never get to control and the guards will shoot them on sight. Triton suggests using the tunnels and Black Bolt asks Medusa to set up the evacuation. As a last resort. Inside the palace, Karnak stumbles across two royal guards and he tells them he could kill them three different ways. The third behind Karnak makes that more tricky, and he is locked in the quiet room.
Medusa arrives on Earth in Louise’s room, teleported by Lockjaw who then leaves again. Louise hugs Medusa and, seeing the case that Medusa is carrying, asks if she is moving in. Medusa says not exactly and Louise assumes that Medusa wants something. Because she isn’t the type to just drop by. Indeed, Medusa does want something. Louise would like something in return – to go to the Moon. However, Medusa tells her it isn’t safe, and all the Inhumans might be leaving. Louise asks where they will go – and that’s the thing that Medusa wants.
Gorgon is throwing stuff around and Declan is trying to talk to him. Gorgon isn’t listening and, when Declan holds out something to try and defend himself, Gorgon hurls him into the terrigenesis cubicle, breaking it and sending both across the room. Killing Declan in the process. Some of the royal guard enter and manage to stun Gorgon. Gorgon is tossed into the quiet room where Karnak is, and Karnak is pleased to see him alive. Only Gorgon is definitely not himself and comes close to attacking Karnak. Then asks Karnak to help him.
Black Bolt and Maximus are in the tunnels – Triton having gone to deal with some guards following them – and they seem to be lost. Which Maximus pontificates about. Maximus tells Black Bolt it is his fault. He betrayed Maximus, promising that Maximus would be king instead. Maximus’ desire for the throne means he was a really bad choice anyway. According to Maximus, Black Bolt changed his mind for no reason at all. Only there was a reason. Black Bolt remembers Kitang speaking to him after their parents’ death, telling Black Bolt is the only one who can protect them against their greatest enemy. In the present, Black Bolt wants to talk to Maximus, who it seems knows his sign language. Black Bolt tells Maximus he had to be king, but Maximus doesn’t believe that. Because Maximus wants to be king, and can’t see why anyone else would be king for any other reason. The dome is currently fluctuating, causing the city to shake.
Karnak is telling Gorgon that it is his fault, which causes the latter to lose control again. Karnak calms him down, saying that Karnak was broken but is getting better and he will help Gorgon. First they have to get out of the quiet room. Which Gorgon attacks. Karnak tells him that he built the room to contain the most powerful weapon in Attilan – then realises that the weapon was sonic waves whilst Gorgon’s is brute force. Just before Gorgon smashes through the wall. Karnak points out it would have been easier to smash the door.
Maximus and Black Bolt come out of the tunnels to find some other Inhumans, and during the brawl Maximus gets away. Maximus heads to find Declan, saying that he needs to undergo terrigenesis. Only to find Auran with a dead Declan, and the terrigen crystals are gone. Maximus summons Bronaja, who can’t direct his gift the way Maximus wants. But does see something – Maximus, the undisputed king of Attilan. And Black Bolt is gone. ‘Gone’ does not necessarily mean dead, though, it can just mean gone, and the way things are going, Maximus could be king of a ruined city. Maximus then broadcasts to all of Attilan, blaming the latest problems on the others.
Louise and Medusa are speaking to Ashland. Medusa has 1,400 people to bring to Earth. Louise wants to speak to their boss, but she doesn’t have the number. Ashland thinks she has gone from eccentric to insane. So Medusa uses her comlink and Crystal and Lockjaw teleport in. The story is more believable now. Ashland, once he regains the power of speech, says he will go and speak to the boss, but it needs to be kept quiet. The box Medusa has contains the terrigen crystals. She tells Louise how precious they are to Inhumans – and asks her to look after them. Medusa says she has no friend she trusts more. Crystals says Medusa doesn’t have many friends; neither, Louise says, does she.
Triton, Karnak and Gorgon are in the control room. Karnak has found the flaw in what Maximus set up. Namely that Maximus doesn’t know what he did and thinks he can stop the dome collapse at any time. Karnak does not believe that’s the case. They will know when the dome collapses and they all die. Black Bolt arrives and he wants to address all of Attilan. Medusa want to go and speak to Maximus, with a terrigen crystal to bargain with. Auran will help there.
Maximus is revealing his true self, and why he makes a terrible king, but not to the populace. He does reveal to Black Bolt the truth about how their parents died. The enemy Black Bolt mentioned is never gone into any more detail, even though there is a probably-connected thread. However, as the series was never renewed, this isn’t explored. Fortunately, it doesn’t have a cliff-hanger ending.