“Havoc in the Hidden Land” is episode seven of season one of Marvel’s Inhumans.
In the previous episode, “The Gentleman’s Name is Gorgon”, Gorgon brought Declan’s lab down on both him and Mordis, to stop Mordis from killing everyone – Mordis had a fairly natural reluctance to being locked up again. This killed them both. This episode opens with Auran and the rest of her Inhumans, accompanied by Declan, running through the woods. However, they get cut off at the road by Black Bolt and Lockjaw. Declan gets accused of being a collaborator and he explains that Maximus, who he has never met, was funding his research so that the transformations could be replicated. The royal family realise that’s why Maximus wanted them out of the way, so that he could go through terragenesis again. Although the genetic council would still never allow it. Unless they were dead.
Black Bolt wants to send Maximus a message. Medusa wants to know what kind of message. Karnak snaps Auran’s neck – that’s the kind of message he wants. Besides, she will get better. Although, according to Declan, eventually she won’t. Medusa tells them it has to stop, they can’t kill everyone. She asks Black Bolt what sort of king will he be, what sort of kingdom will he have, if he kills his own brother. Actions have consequences. which is the message Karnak wants to send to Maximus.
Maximus is in the throne room despatching the Royal Guard to see if there are any other members of Tibor’s ill-fated revolt when Crystal arrives along with his Inhumans. She tells Maximus that Black Bolt demands parlay, and they are returning Maximus’s team as an act of good faith. Maximus wants to know what has changed. He is told that Gorgon is dead. Maximus agrees to meet at midday and, after Crystal and Lockjaw depart, says that he is getting what he wants. His family is coming to him for the first time in his life and, once they are all together, Maximus will have the advantage.
Medusa wants to parlay, to try diplomacy to stop the bloodshed. Crystal tells them that Maximus thinks they are weak and exhausted, and will take advantage of that. Medusa asks what if they are? Not weak, but tired of the killing. Yes, Maximus sent assassins after them, but where will it end? There has to be more than mere survival.
Before leaving, Black Bolt has Lockjaw take them all to the sea. Where there is something in the water. Triton. Who was assumed to have been killed after going into the water in “Behold… The Inhumans”. Triton explains that Black Bolt set up a meeting place in advance in case something went wrong. And it was best if Maximus thought his plan was working. So, it looks like Black Bolt expected this. The others were kept in the dark about this. Medusa is not happy.
The next place they are going is home. To the royal bunker. Which most of the others have never seen before. It has weapons and equipment. Crystal wants to know why they have a royal bunker. Which is a bit of a silly question really. Declan is still with them and at first he thinks they are joking about being on the Moon. Then accepts it as just one more thing. Medusa is still not happy; she wants her say as queen.
Auran returns to life again to find Maximus waiting for her. He pontificates a bit and she asks if becoming Inhuman was his motivation for all this. Maximus doesn’t see why she should care. Auran says she admired him because he overcame everything, despite being human. Maximus says that being human is to be treated as something less. He plans to become the most powerful Inhuman ever. That the lowest can be raised to the highest. In the bunker, Declan is showing Karnak his research. He wants to know why he is here, as he can contribute nothing towards a war. Karnak, who probably understands more of Declan’s research than Declan thinks, says that Black Bolt must see some value for him.
Before the parlay, Maximus speaks to some of the other Inhumans, to honour Gorgon. Which is something he planned to do out of pure manipulation. Maximus claims to feel grief for Gorgon’s death, but that Gorgon never saw him for what he truly was. Nor did Gorgon, the royal family, see any of them for who they are.
Outside, at the parlay, Auran gives the terms and that there will be no bloodshed. Black Bolt says – via Medusa – that he will extend grace to Maximus, give him Declan and grant his wish to undergo a second terragenesis. Black Bolt will reclaim his throne and Maximus will not be punished. Maximus agrees to the terms but, once Declan is on his side, shows he was lying. Black Bolt warns Maximus but Maximus says he is in no position to warn anyone. Maximus is king and will remain so. He agreed to the terms to help Declan, as he would do anything to help his friends. So he declines Black Bolt’s offer. And Black Bolt tells his brother that next time he sees Maximus, he will kill him.
Medusa is unhappy with how things are going and Crystal wants to try a normal life. Maximus’s position is perhaps not as secure as he thinks. Black Bolt had set up plans prior to Maximus seizing power, and these include undermining the city. However, Maximus has also made plans. Karnak wants to try something using Declan’s research, something he admits is risky. Black Bolt refuses him position, but it looks like Karnak will try it anyway. Auran looks to have become disillusioned by Maximus – he doesn’t seem to be the man she thought he was, the man she followed. Maximus himself wants to go ahead with the second terragenesis, despite Declan’s concerns. And Maximus also wants to get the powers of multiple Inhumans.