Ok. It's been awhile... long enough that I think I/we can/should talk more about this more. If for no other reason than because I think there are too much gold to mine, too much fruit to leave on the vine, that could inspire more content and discussion.
By now, I'm hoping no one is still waiting to watch it... but if so...
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
I watched it again to refresh my impressions of this episode.
I think there is a lot of potential here to be mined for future content. I feel like there were several elements that demonstrated ideas that would be worth fleshing out as inspiration for future movies all on their own. Overall, I think the concept incorporated several attractive themes that are worth exploring more in future stories. I certainly think the overarching plot has more to offer and I would love to see the Alien overlords return for more stories.
In short, I think there is a lot of great ideas here and they deserve exploring. At least, *I* would like to see more of them any ways.
First, the overall concept of fatalism. The idea that someone is resigned to an inescapable fate is a regular theme in this fetish (and an attractive one IMO). Here, our protagonist begins in denial of their implied fate, to be consumed by an alien race. She rebels against the implication, but ultimately succumbs to it and the twist; she wasn't coerced into it, but chose it out of her own free will.
The dream sequences stood out to me (huzzah nakid Jolene!) as a highlight and not just because of nakid Jolene. The idea of being in a state of conflict between two opposing basic drives inside the mind. I wish we were able to explore this in greater detail in these scenes. Perhaps in a future episode.
This scene reminded me of a classic movie scene in which a woman is abducted in the night by aliens and taking aboard the mothership. While aboard, the aliens induce a hallucination in her mind to pacify her with a positive perception of her surroundings while they "probe" her. However, her subconscious begins to reject the fabrication and dispels the hallucinations to reveal the true horror of her reality.
It's like Galva's conscious side is aware and opposes the alien agenda, but the Kanamits are using her dreams to subconsciously seduce her into accepting them. Or perhaps, Galva is experiencing inner turmoil because some part of her is attracted to the idea of submitting to the Kanamits, and the aliens are exploiting this. Either way, its great.
Then there is the idea of agency over ones surroundings. I think it is disconcerting to feel as if you have no control over ones own fate; that some one or some thing else commands your destiny. To be an idle passenger on this journey of life is unnerving. Galva is clearly confident in her sense of agency, and she goes to sleep thinking she is wise to the Kanamits intentions and has the upper hand, only to wake up onboard the ship to discover that it appears the Kanamits have been in control the entire time. Thus, perhaps, deflating her morale as it bring into question how much control she ever had. 3
The next scenes of Galva being shown the process of what the Kanamits do to humans invoked the feeling what it would be like to foreshadow ones fate in another, as it happens, knowing you are next soon afterwards. Watching her friends meet (meat?) grisly ends. Many stories play on this theme really well. Just the thought of being caught up in something, advancing towards the abyss one step at a time. Obviously, an important influence that affects her ultimate decision that follows soon after.
My favorite scene though, is the last, watching Galva accept her fate. Allowing herself to be converted, before turning over to receive her brand, marking her as chattel for the appetites of the Kanamits. Again, just something about the symbolism of willingly stepping off a precipice into the unknown depths of the abyss. It is so contrary to every natural instinct. We are supposed to be ingrained with an inherent sense for self preservation and to consider circumventing it or watching someone abandon it is so very alien to witness. Plus... huzzah nakid Jolene!
So... overall... The Garden was a great effort and was worth experiencing it. If for no other reason than to stimulate more discussion about the fetish, especially the philosophical elements that sometimes I think are overlooked in the quest for the carnal presentations.
I hope we can do this again... there are so many good stories floating around that I think could be good inspiration for future movies.