After a brief hiatus, we're back with (what Netflix calls) Season 3 of Arthdal Chronicles. We pick up where we left off, with the Wahan Tribe's promising saviors learning how to wield power. Ascending to the Great Shrine, Wahan's Great Mother, Tanya, proves that she deserves the power that her ancestor granted her, and she learns that power can promise liberation. Our protagonist, Eunseom, also learns more about the meaning of power, and although he doesn't realize it yet, he's amassing power through his relentless generosity.
Before we dive in, let's do a quick tl;dr recap of parts 1 and 2 (obviously includes spoilers): Arthdal is a kingdom built by three tribes that created a union after defeating the Neanthals, the blue-blooded native beings who were brutally massacred for their land. A handful of Neanthals and Igutus (half Neanthal/half human) survived, but they live in the shadows. Three children were born on the day of the Azure Comet, supposedly an omen of destruction. Two of them were Igutu twins, one of which (Eunseom) ends up joining the Wahan Tribe in a faraway land. The third child, Tanya, is the future Mother of the Wahan Tribe, and as the direct descendant of Asa Sin, Tanya is the rightful High Priest of the Asa Tribe.
The Wahan are eventually enslaved by Tagon, the glorified hero and eventual union leader of Arthdal. But Tagon has a secret: He's an Igutu, and he raised an Igutu (the other twin, Saya) after saving the baby from slaughter. Tanya meets Saya, a member of an illicit group called the White Peak Mountain's Hearts, who preserve the rituals and beliefs of the original Asa tribe. After loads of political turmoil and tension, Tanya is brought to the High Court and must prove that she is the direct descendant of Asa Sin.
EPISODE 13 RECAP
Wahan's Great Mother, Tanya, identifies the location of the mystical star bell and breaks the shell her sling. She picks up the bell and announces to the crowd at the High Court: "I am Tanya of Wahan, breaker of the shell, descendent of Wahan's Great White Wolf, who is Arthdal's Great Mother."
Tanya delivers the message from Asa Sin, that life and death are determined by greater beings. We see that she practiced in the caves with Taealha and decided that she would end with the words of the Wahan people about living in harmony, without claims of power or conquest. She says that just as the gods have provided the world's first crops, they have provided a cause for seemingly meaningless things.
Tanya rings the bell, and the crowd bows in reverence. Tagon thinks back to the written message from Taealha and the imprinted nail marks that changed the message. Beyond the written ink, Taealha communicated that Mihol didn't know that Tanya knew where the star bell was. Saya remained suspicious that Taealha could be lying, but Tagon also found an encrypted message of laughter — a sure sign of confidence.
In the hearing, Taealha smiles at Tagon and announces herself to Tanya. She recounts that Asa Sin sent the union god Aramun Haesulla and asks when the god will make his promised return. Tanya says that Aramun already passed by, but they did not recognize him. Then, Tanya summons Tagon, the one who recognized and protected her, and announces that he is Aramun Haesulla.
As the crowd at the hearing lays prostrate in honor of Aramun Haesulla's return, a soldier runs out and delivers this message to the guards outside. The guards deliver the message in synchrony (with choreographed actions), and the White Peak Mountain's Heart followers erupt in joyous exclamations.
Among the White Peak Mountain's Hearts, Moobaek takes off his hood in relief and thinks to himself in confirmation that Tanya was indeed the bell (of the three omens of destruction: the bell, mirror, and sword). Then, the guards announce that Tagon was identified as Aramun Haesulla, and Moobaek looks dubious.
The Daekan warriors on standby are notified of Tanya's confirmation as Asa Sin's descendant and of Tagon's appointment as Aramun Haesulla. The Daekan celebrate and tease Moogwang about hiding for the next new moon, which will be the day his heart gets ripped out, according to Tanya. Now that Tanaya has proven herself as a true mystic, her prophecy of the new moon carries more weight.
