Episode 7 of Sweet Tooth's second season kicks off with a barrage of haunting flashbacks, revealing Gillian's reckless pursuit of her research at Fort Smith. However, it's Birdie who steals the show, making a groundbreaking discovery in one of the unfertilized eggs - a faint but unmistakable heartbeat. While everyone else is busy partying outside, Birdie remains steadfast in her pursuit of knowledge, determined to unlock the secrets hidden within those eggs.
Her dedication eventually triggers a series of events that culminate in Richard's daring rescue of Gus from the compound. This time, the narrative shifts to Birdie's perspective, as she sneaks back into the lab, evading guards and scrambling to gather essential equipment. Richard's parting promise to find Gus echoes in her mind like a pulse - like the first heartbeat she discovered - driving her resolve to reunite with her lost friend.
Unfortunately, Birdie's escape is cut short when she's caught red-handed by a group of guards. Meanwhile, the present-day scenario unfolds as the bus navigates a chaotic landscape of flaming wreckage, courtesy of Dolly and her troops. Suddenly, they're ambushed by a hulking tank belonging to the Last Men.
But just when all seems lost, a cavalry of sorts arrives on the scene - the Animal Army, riding in on motorbikes like knights in shining armor. Becky leads the charge once again, but this time, she's joined by a powerful ally: Tiger. The tank, it turns out, is manned by Rufus and Bobby, the latter emerging to declare his triumphant return with a defiant "Bobby am back!"
The alliance is solidified as Becky entrusts Tiger with leading the Animal Army against the Last Men, while she herself joins the busload of children. The stage is now set for an epic confrontation, with Birdie's fate hanging in the balance and the future of the Sweet Tooth world hanging by a thread.
After a brief interlude, Gus engages in conversation with Aimee outside, as she slowly distances herself from the group. She assures Gus that she'll be trailing behind them closely, concealing her anxiety with a handkerchief pressed to her mouth. She confides that she's infected, likely a fallout of her stay in the laboratory, and we must await further revelations. Aimee's determined to shield the children from this truth, determined to uphold the illusion of a joyful road trip and reach the cabin before fate intervenes.
As the night gives way to dawn, the group arrives at Yellowstone and settles at Gus' cabin. The pace slows, allowing humor to trickle in, yet everything is tinged with a bittersweet melancholy, knowing that Aimee's condition is precarious and her days might be numbered.
Meanwhile, Jepp approaches Gus with the cassette tape Becky had entrusted to him. It provides deeper insights into the past, including the origins of the pandemic - a hubris-driven calamity rather than a bat-borne menace (a subtle allusion to Adi and Rani's fateful encounter there). It transpires that Gillian is Patient Zero. In a bid to advance science, she infected herself, unwittingly condemning the world to its doom.
She speaks of her grandfather, Captain James Thacker, explaining the mysterious moments from episode 1. James led an expedition to Alaska, afflicted with a rare degenerative disease. He sailed in search of the mythical "fountain of youth," hoping to find a cure. Gillian, too, has been on a relentless hunt for this elusive elixir, and she believes that Gus holds the key to sealing this Pandora's Box and saving everyone.
Birdie entrusts Richard to Gus, asking him to safeguard his life. This revelation sheds light on why Birdie never came looking for him. Instead, she ventured to Alaska to continue James' research and find a cure for this calamity.
Regrettably, General Abbot remains relentless in his pursuit of the children, and he succeeds in capturing Tiger and her comrades from the Animal Army. His determination to locate the secluded cabin and all its young inhabitants, hidden away in the vastness of Yellowstone, knows no bounds. Meanwhile, Gus's heart is set on Alaska, yearning to search for Birdie amidst the frozen tundra. However, Jepp persuades him to stay, reminding him that Birdie would want him to be safe, sheltered within the cabin's embrace. For the children, now more than ever, need their strength and courage, especially as Aimee's time draws to a close.
In the dead of night, Jepp is startled by the sound of someone stealthily heading into the woods. It is Gus, who has ventured all the way to the perimeter fence. Together, they sit in silence, gazing upward as the Northern Lights dance across the sky, a majestic display of nature's wonders.
Yet, this celestial spectacle is overshadowed by a looming threat. Abbot is poised for his final assault against Gus and their companions. Tiger, in a heroic effort, manages to escape and warns them of the impending danger, but her exhaustion and wounds are evident. Abbot has reclaimed the zoo, and now, his sights are set on Yellowstone. The stakes have never been higher, and the children's fate hangs in the balance.
