Such a great finale to this wonderful series. I will talk more about my thoughts about the series overall in the series review, but what I want to focus on here is the theme of revenge and how it is portrayed throughout the series

From the beginning, we have Edmond. He is such a good protagonist for reasons I do not have the time or energy to list here, but what I love about his character so much is the character arc. In being sent to prison, he is robbed of the life he could have had, and upon escaping he decides to make it everyone's problem. Icon behaviour. I think that the love Edmond feels for Mercedes and his father is what helped him not lose his mind and what became his purpose. Love, and revenge.

In the beginning episode, Edmond cites the words of Faria to Mercedes: "If you wish to seek revenge, dig your own grave first". When he first hears them, Edmond laughs them off, because revenge is his drive, his purpose. Humans tends to get lost without a purpose in life, and at this point, all Edmond wants is to avenge his years in prison. He is not going to let anything stop him from getting what he wants, so he puts everything else second. Among that, his humanity. Morale, what is right and wrong, and what destiny is is themes that gets explored throughout the show, and after every episode I'm left with many interesting though trains.  

There are many ties to religion in Edmond's quest, as we see with how he in the first episode rejects the priest who begs him to choose another path and let go of his hatted (to which Edmond says no), and in the way Edmond calls himself an instrument of God, which is his way of justifying to himself and others what he is doing in order to get his revenge. This comes to play early on in the finale, as Mercedes speaks to Edmond and warns him about the dangers of seeking revenge (ironically enough, she could be seen as the one who is on a quest from God here as opposed to Edmond, in spite of his claims to be doing fate's work). Edmond of course rejects this warning (as would any self respecting protagonist of a 19th century novel), only to have it proven to him that you should not play with destiny, as it is also playing with innocent lives at stake. Edmond has ultimately failed; failed himself, failed the universe and (maybe worse of all) failed Mercedes. Revenge is sweet, or is it; and is it sweeter than love?

But there are some things to be said in Edmond's defense. Because although he succeds in getting his hard earned revenge (but at what cost), he never lowers himself to his enemies' levels. He himself got convicted and sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit, but in his revenge on those who have wronged him, Edmond uncovers their other crimes, and ultimately it is their own actions that is the cause of their respective downfall. This, I think, speaks more than this entire mini essay I've written out, so I will leave it at this.

I'm terribly greatful for having watched this, and I think that it is if not a good adaptation of the book, then a story capable of standing on its own two feet. This is a cautionary tale of impeccable skill and talent, which gets the art of telling a compelling story while also providing commentary about one or more relevant themes done to the perfect detail, which I immensely applaud.