EPISODE CONTEXT

Sitting at the exact midpoint of this 22-episode series, Episode 13 functions as a palate cleanser and reset after the escalating conflicts of the first half. The previous episodes ramped up stakes and character collisions considerably, and this recap gives the audience a structured moment to consolidate motivations and relationships before the back half accelerates toward its endgame. It's a deliberate structural choice that reinforces the show's meta-storytelling identity while ensuring viewers enter the second cour with a clear understanding of every faction in play.