Watership Down episode 3 recap: The Escape

“The Escape” finds the rabbits of Watership Down at their lowest point, where freedom is costly and loyalties are tested.

Watership Down falls to despair in its third episode, with Hazel (James McAvoy) lost and some of the others captured and enslaved at Efrafa under the command of General Woundwort (Ben Kingsley).

Fiver (Nicholas Hoult) searches his visions for his brother Hazel, but only finds the danger of humans in them, a strange cacophony of threatening images. But the image provides a drain tunnel at the end, and he informs the others. They all bicker, and Clover (Gemma Arterton) uses this to sneak off in search of Hazel.

The country has become bathed in dense fog, making the search nearly impossible. But when hope almost fades, Clover hears Hazel’s weak call and finds him in the drainage ditch. Bigwig (John Boyega) is heard nearby, and she goes to seek his help, but is captured by Efrafa soldiers. Bigwig, in turn, finds Hazel, and helps him back to Watership Down.

Kehaar (Peter Capaldi) the gull plucks the buckshot from Hazel’s hind leg as a plan is hatched to infiltrate the enemy and save their friend and anyone else needing help. Bigwig is chosen as the ruse, in order to use his size to become a soldier. Kehaar is meant to provide air support to cover for the escape. But before the plan can be fully finalized, a fox attacks the warren, and Bigwig leads it away. An Efrafa scouting party is caught in the middle, several of its members killed as Bigwig makes his way toward the enemy.

Clover is inducted into the ranks of the does, most of whom have grown defeated or disillusioned. She is called to General Woundwort’s quarters, where she is offered the role of queen. There is an interesting hint to Woundwort’s past in the scene, where he says in passing he was once a hatch rabbit, just like Clover. It’s a commanding scene, giving us our best look at Woundwort and his use of fear for power.

Bigwig arrives at Efrafa, and is quickly allowed into their ranks due to the losses from the fox. He finds Clover and tells her of the escape plan. Hazel and the others wait at the edge of the warren for their friends, but Hazel finds his wound holding him back. Bigwig leads the does from the warren, but they are caught while waiting for Kehaar, who never shows. Hazel and the others grow defeated their friends never arrived, turning back to head home.

Hyzenthlay (Anne-Marie Duff), one of the does, is blamed for the treacherous escape plan and is sentenced to execution. Clover tries to reason with Woundwort, offering to join him as queen if he spares Hyzenthlay’s life. Woundwort finds this amusing, as he says she has no power to bargain with, declining the offer.

At the execution, Bigwig is ordered to provide the role of executioner to prove his loyalty. He declines, fighting the soldiers and helping Clover, Hyzenthlay and the other does to flee Efrafa. They reunite with Hazel’s group as a storm brews, but before they can head back to Watership Down, they are surrounded by Woundwort’s soldiers.

Woundwort marches forward, looking to challenge Bigwig to a battle to the death. Bigwig readies himself to fight his much larger enemy as the episode comes to a close.

What did you think of the penultimate episode of Watership Down, “The Escape”?