Amazon's Iron Flame's ending is a testament to that. However, while most of the reveals in Yarros' books have a solid foundation, there's one that doesn't feel particularly necessary or earned: Jack Barlowe's resurrection. Jack's return in Iron Flame is surprising, but not in the satisfying way such a major twist should be.
Jack is among the worst characters introduced in Fourth Wing, as he's mean-spirited and hellbent on killing Violet Sorrengail. It's a relief when she seemingly kills him instead, but the triumph of that moment is short-lived. Jack reemerges as a venin in the second Empyrean Series book, something that doesn't seem possible and is hardly explained. It's possible Fourth Wing adaptation should learn from the books and address this plot twist even earlier.
The Fourth Wing TV Show Can Handle The Series' Jack Barlowe Twist Better Than The Books
The Series Can Lay The Groundwork For This Development Earlier
Jack Barlowe's return feels like it comes out of nowhere in Iron Flame, but Amazon's Fourth Wing show has the ability to change that. While the series will undoubtedly keep this major reveal from the books, it can lay the groundwork for it from the very beginning. Jack's death should still be convincing when it happens, but a later scene or post-credits moment can tease his survival somehow. The TV adaptation can also allude to the fact that venin are humans whose souls are tainted earlier, making Jack's and Xaden's Iron Flame twists feel more natural.
Amazon's Fourth Wing TV Show Will Struggle To Capture The Best Part Of The Books
The Fourth Wing TV show is highly anticipated, but there are many fantasy elements within the novels that the series will struggle to get right.
Such things will help Fourth Wing handle The Empyrean Series' Jack Barlowe twist better than the books, making it feel less outlandish in the process. In Iron Flame, Jack only reappears briefly to save Violet, and his survival raises more questions than it answers. It doesn't help that Jack's personality seems completely different, adding further confusion to the situation. And these aren't the only reasons Iron Flame's Jack Barlowe reveal is The Empyrean Series' most ridiculous development. It's frustrating on multiple levels, so hopefully, the TV show approaches it better.
Why Iron Flame's Jack Barlowe Resurrection Is The Empyrean Series' Most Ridiculous Twist
It Undoes A Major Fourth Wing Moment & Isn't Properly Explained
There are a couple of reasons Jack's return is The Empyrean Series' most ridiculous plot twist, starting with the fact that it undoes an important Fourth Wing moment. Violet killing Jack is a huge development, marking a triumph for her — even if she isn't necessarily happy with what happens. Still, readers are left feeling satisfied when Violet finally stands up for herself and shows the extent of her power. And even Violet's guilt over killing her enemy plays an important role in her Fourth Wing arc. Bringing Jack back takes away the impact this moment has on her and the readers.
The other reason this Iron Flame twist is so questionable is that it doesn't feel well-established or earned.
The other reason this Iron Flame twist is so questionable is that it doesn't feel well-established or earned. There aren't many hints leading up to this turn of events, and Fourth Wing's sequel fails to explain Jack's venin status or give it any purpose in the plot. It almost feels like Yarros could have waited until after Iron Flame to drop this twist, though it helps set up Xaden's shocking ending. Onyx Storm seems likely to dig deeper into what's going on with Jack Barlowe, but as it stands, his Iron Flame return is lacking.
Onyx Storm Will Probably Fix This Twist, But Fourth Wing's TV Show Can Do It Right The First Time
The Empyrean Series' Jack Twist Will Likely Make More Sense Later
Onyx Storm will debut in January 2025, and there's little doubt that the next Fourth Wing sequel will properly address Iron Flame's Jack twist and explain the reason for it. Readers haven't seen the last of the character, but it feels frustrating that such a major reveal isn't set up earlier or addressed until a book later. Fourth Wing's TV show can do Jack's return right the first time, improving on the book storyline. This starts with the foundation for such a development. Fourth Wing's first season must drop more clues about this looming twist.
Onyx Storm is set to hit shelves on January 21, 2025.
Fourth Wing season 2 should also spend more time on Jack's reappearance when it happens, even if it doesn't offer up all the details immediately. Violet and her friends should at least spend more time speculating on Jack's venin status, though it'd be nice to get further input from him as well. Perhaps the Fourth Wing adaptation can accomplish this by including a few scenes from Jack's point of view. However it does it, the Amazon series needs to ensure Jack's comeback isn't as jarring or disappointing as it is in the books.
Based on the novel series by Rebecca Yarros, Fourth Wing is an action-adventure fantasy series in development for Prime Video. Announced in 2024, Fourth Wing will follow the adventures of a young woman named Violet Sorrengail, who has been taken from her peaceful book-reading life and thrust into a world of danger when she is forced by her mother to an elite group of dragon-riding warriors.
- Seasons
- 1
- Creator(s)
- Rebecca Yarros
- Where To Watch
- Prime Video
