In this episode of Mahabharata, Bhishma is defeated at last! Although he isn’t dead, he is effectively out of the fight. Everyone pauses the war to mourn him. Dhritharashtra however, cannot stop feeling sorry for himself.
Duryodhan appoints Dronacharya as his new General-in-Chief. Dronacharya allows Karna to rejoin the Kaurava army. Bhishma lets Karna in on the reason why he benched the latter. Bhishma pleads one last time for Karna to defect. Karna refuses.
Tropes found here are
- Epic Fail: For all of Duryodhana’s bluster about his Army never letting Arjun get anywhere close to Bhishma, Arjun gets within archery range of Bhishma, five minutes in to the episode.
- Due to the Dead: Bhishma isn’t dead yet, but everyone behaves as though he is. He therefore gets a half episode worth of weeping, grieving and paying of respects.
- Heroic B So D: Arjun has a major one after defeating Bhishma. Later, Vidhur has one too.
- Human Pincushion: Bhishma becomes one after being shot with many arrows.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Many of Arjun’s arrows pierce Bhishma through and through. Thanks to Bhishma’s invulnerability, they are not fatal, but they do pin him permanently to the ground.
- It's All About Me: Even when Kunti goes to him and Gandhari in order to mourn Bhishma’s imminent passing together, Dhritharashtra just cannot stop complaining about how he has been “unjustly treated” and gets No Sympathy.
- Manly Tears: This episode may well be called “the war stops so everyone can weep uncontrollably”.
- You Are in Command Now: Dronacharya becomes Duryodhan’s new General-in-Chief.
