Volume 6: The High Priestess (2019) User Reviews (6)

Refn steeps this episode in surreal eroticism

[darkreignn · 9/10 · 29 January 2021]

"Volume 6: The High Priestess," goes back to the roots episode two set up, once again making the cartel and Jesus the stars of the show. But this time, Jesus' wife, Yaritza, has a much more prominent role, and with it, episode six oozes an unbelievable amount of erotic tension.

Nicolas Winding Refn, without a doubt, made sensuality the focus of this episode; multiple scenes are steeped with eroticism - long takes of women posing seductively in lingerie, of muscular, shaved men who are sunbathing, glistening in sweat, of a man slowly putting a skirt on a half naked woman. This emphasis was an interesting dichotomy to the previous episodes that focused so heavily on violence, and in some cases, sexual violence. Where "Volume 5" uses sex as weaponry that is used to inflict harm on others, and monetize off of that harm, "Volume 6" poses sex as something to be admired; the shots of scantily clad men and women are so erotic, and last for so long, that the sequences are no doubt meant to titillate.

The character progression of Jesus and Yaritza is explored, with both of them becoming more cold blooded in their business dealings in order to further their personal needs. Yaritza adds a lot of suspense to certain scenes - she's utterly gorgeous, but also extremely menacing, and you always sense that her violent side can boil over and explode at any time.

"Volume 6" also looks the best out of any of the episodes thus far. There are marvelous scenes featuring neon strobe lights that cast their glow on rooms and outdoor locations, giving everything an otherworldly, ethereal look. The music is, as always, fantastic, and really sucks you in to what you're seeing on screen.

Episode six was masterclass in its story progression - everything seems to be colliding, and ready to blow. With only four episodes left, I'm looking forward to seeing how Refn concludes his show.

Magical

[sackofwhine · 8/10 · 13 May 2020]

Volume 6 follows Yaritza and Jesus back in LA where certain things are about to happen.

This was the most surreal episode thus far, yet also offered some more direct character development and plot progression. I definitely enjoy where this storyline is going but what gives me more satisfaction are the moments of pure visual bliss that are as always being flexed on this show. There are certain scenes here that transcend you into a dreamlike state more so than in the previous episodes.

Everything about this show is so intriguing, its hard to perfectly put into words what works so well about it.

I have to say that Yaritzas character bothered me here, simply because she is such a silent and undefined character where I don't know what to do with her. I hope the next episodes change that for me.

I couldn't come up with much to say, but...

[LegendaryFang56 · 9/10 · 26 July 2021]

It's about to hit the fan. I'm having trouble with writing lengthy comments, I always have, not just with this show and its episodes, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. That may not be worth much, or apparent much given that frustrating, general problem of mine, I'm aware. It is unfortunate, but I can't seem to do anything about it, not that I'd even know where to start, and even if I did, I doubt any progress would be made.

the otherworldly priestess

[sjsufan-4 · 10/10 · 26 June 2019]

Well it seems my wish was granted, as this episode refocuses on Jesus & Yaritza. they get married and head off to L.A. to get their revenge and said word out to their soldiers already in the city to take out Damien and send a message. when the job goes wrong, Jesus must step up and be a leader and take control of the cartel for himself.

this may be the most surreal episode yet, as Yaritza's looks and demeanor absorb each scene with hypnotic suspense. we also get a deeper insight into Jesus and his past, more specifically his relationship with his mother and the strange bond they had. i struggle to really describe the episode, as i feel that most of what i would explain will spoil some of the jaw-dropping moments here. all i will say is this show continues to impress me with each new episode, feeling as if each one is better than the last.

some may get frustrated at this episode as there are a lot of scenes that don't exactly make sense until they're explained later. i enjoy getting lost in the wonder and mystery of it but i also understand that sort of thing may not be for everyone.

ultimately, i cant wait to see what happens when Martin and Jesus finally meet. if these episodes from the latter's perspective tell me anything, its that the detective is screwed.

The man and the woman

[samekj_jurado · 10/10 · 10 October 2020]

The trama presents us to Yaritza and Jesus moving into L.A., the "sicario" system and the power that both man and woman can posses. The gender perspective is just fabulous. Come.

Last of Three "Better" Episodes

[ThomasMuf · 6/10 · 24 July 2019]

TOTDY is a pretentious, self-indulgent, narcissistic,navel-gazing, misogynistic, slow-moving mess that does look great but offers nothing in the way of plot, character development, nuance, real tension or, indeed, meaning. It's what happens when a studio (Amazon Prime) just hands out money to a self-professed auteur without any restrictions. So far, so bad.

In this, the last of the three stronger, arguably more meaningful episodes of TOTDY, the attention again shifts to our less-than-lovable Cartel boy, Jésus, and his return to LA, accompanied by his wife, Yaritza (Cristina Rodlo), aka, "the "High Priestess of Death". That is how she calls herself, and if you think that it's stupid and unintentionally funny, that's because it *is*. But, as pointed out before, we're not dealing with real human beings and their behaviour in TOTDY. They're just puppets in the Nicholas Winding Refn universe.

However, this episode has some rather powerful moments (they, like all the other, weaker moments, are again drawn out ad nauseam), as well as an all-too-brief, but funny cameo by Morgan Fairchild. The episode is also important because it finally ties the two main story lines, that of Martin, and that of Jésus, closer together. The conflict between the two will reach a crisis point, as well as a resolution, in the very next episode.