Last Updated on August 31, 2024 by “Talha Saqib”
Released on the 20th of May 2022, Love, Death + Robots was already on our list of top TV shows of May 2022. In the 8th episode ‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’, the series tackles the military thriller genre. However, in most of the stories in the anthology series, the entry incorporated some science-fiction aspects to explore some larger themes. The episode focused on a group of soldiers extracting a hostage but running into something really unexpected. However, the ending wrapped up on a major cliffhanger, so many viewers were looking for In Vaulted Halls Entombed Ending Explained.
If you’re also not sure how it all fits together, what it all means, or did harper survive or not? Here we have the ‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ ending explained just for you. So without any further ado, let’s get into it.
A little recap
A unit of MARSOC soldiers is on the lookout for a hostage somewhere in the Middle East. Inside a system of caverns that keeps going deeper and deeper, the squad tracks the hostage and the terrorists who hold. When the crew locates the hostage, however, neither he nor his captors are alive. They’ve been reduced to skeletons, with no evidence of a struggle or the use of weapons.
The group realizes that the tunnels they’re in are home to a swarm of terrifying spider-like creatures that feed on flesh. The team struggles through the swarm of insects, which are both too numerous and too powerful. Only Sgt. Coulthard, the squad leader, and the medical officer manage to escape until they run into another mythical creature. To know more about this mythical creature keep on reading ‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ Ending Explained.
Mythical creature: Cthulhu Explained
Origin
H.P. Lovecraft is a well-known and significant author of the contemporary period. He has influenced many other writers, singers, and even game developers with his work. This is why it is quite strange that there are so few true Lovecraft adaptations in cinema and television.
The mythical creature that we see in this episode of Love, Death + Robots is also one of the remarkable works of H.P Lovecraft. Cthulhu is a powerful entity that is beyond human comprehension, and in a more terrible implication, it has been imprisoned inside this jail by something even more powerful than it.
Cthulhu’s powers
Cthulhu is one of Lovecraft’s creatures, and it has the power to drive anyone who looks into its eyes long enough insane and under its control. This happened to the Sergeant and just as he was about to release the monster Harper stopped him from doing so. The flashbacks we saw inside Harper’s head were underlining the monster’s potential hold on her as well as the havoc and damage it has caused, may cause, and will continue to cause if it is released.
Ending Explained
We saw Harper battle with all her might to keep Cthulhu from taking over her mind after the Sergeant was taken out, but there was nothing she could do. With the guns she had earlier in the episode, she even claimed that she would spare one round for herself, but she used them all in a panicked and raged state.
Viewer’s discretion is advised for the image below
As she gradually calmed down and the firing ceased, it indicated that Cthulhu was trying to take control of Harper. The episode then fades to black and we see the female soldier with both her eyes and ears cut off.
Did Harper Survive in Love Death + Robots?
Of course, we can’t be sure as this was intended to be an open ending. However, we can discuss the possibilities regarding what happened to Harper at the end of the episode “In Vaulted Halls Entombed”.
Harper freed herself
One possibility could be that Harper didn’t let herself be controlled by the trapped monster by destroying her hearing and sight. However, the question arises that how was she able to escape the caves with no ears and eyes? Also, if we turn on the subtitles, it is written that Harper is talking in the Alien language as she makes her escape. So, what about that?
Let’s say she managed to exit the caves with fatal wounds because of her military instincts and endurance. Regarding her alien-like whispers, we can say that due to the influence of Cthulhu trying to control her mind, the soldier lost her sanity. It’s a tragic possibility but also an optimistic one as Harper succeeded in saving millions of lives.
The Creature took over Harper
This possibility is quite harsh. So, Harper tried to take out her eyes and ears in order to not get taken over by Cthulhu, but all went in vain. As the language she spoke of was indeed the words of the monster. So, now, Harper is essentially gone and Cthulhu is roaming free in the world aiming to wreak complete havoc. Pretty dark, right?
However, there can also be one other case that though Harper lost in defending herself from Cthulhu. But now with no sight and hearing, Cthulhu will again be trapped now in the disabled body of Harper forever incapable of influencing others with its powers. In this scenario, Harper also triumphed but at a great cost.
Final Remarks
In Vaulted Halls Entombed virtually conveys the same message as the episode “Bad Traveling” did, that minor sacrifices on an individual level are made for the greater welfare of humanity.
This was a fantastic episode that blurred the borders between reality and mythological beings, and it left me with a frightening vision of Cthulhu and the harper with no eyes, as well as the sacrifice she made. What do you think happened with Harper? Leave a comment in the box down below.
That is all on ‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ Ending Explained. To know about Love, Death & Robots episode Jibaro and Bad Travelling explained or for more entertainment, keep following Retrology.
‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ blends military thriller elements with science fiction and horror, similar to other episodes that mix genres. It explores larger themes through its narrative and leaves viewers with an open-ended conclusion. This approach is consistent with the anthology’s style of storytelling.
Sgt. Coulthard falls under the control of Cthulhu and attempts to release the creature. Harper stops him by killing him before he can free Cthulhu. His fate serves as a warning of the creature’s power.
‘In Vaulted Halls Entombed’ is an episode from the anthology series Love, Death + Robots that follows a group of soldiers on a mission to rescue a hostage. They encounter terrifying spider-like creatures and a powerful entity, Cthulhu, in a system of caverns. The episode ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving viewers questioning the fate of the characters.
The episode conveys a message about the sacrifices made for the greater good. Harper’s actions, whether successful or not, highlight the personal cost of protecting humanity from greater threats. It parallels the theme of individual sacrifice seen in other episodes like “Bad Traveling.”
The episode leaves viewers with a sense of unease and contemplation. Its blend of horror, science fiction, and open-ended narrative prompts discussions about the characters’ fates and the nature of the threats they face. The ambiguous ending ensures that the story lingers in the minds of the audience.
The alien language Harper speaks suggests that Cthulhu may have partially succeeded in influencing her. It indicates that despite her efforts, she might not have fully escaped the creature’s control. This adds to the ambiguity of the ending.
The episode explores themes of sacrifice, the unknown, and the limits of human comprehension. It delves into the horror of encountering an incomprehensible entity and the lengths one might go to resist it. The open ending emphasizes the ongoing struggle between humanity and the unknown.
Cthulhu is a powerful, mythical creature created by H.P. Lovecraft, featured in the episode. It has the ability to drive people insane and control their minds. In the episode, it is imprisoned in the caverns and attempts to take control of the soldiers.
Harper cut off her eyes and ears to prevent Cthulhu from controlling her mind. This drastic action was her attempt to resist the creature’s influence. The effectiveness of this act remains uncertain by the episode’s end.
A reddit user claiming he played Beaumont in this episode confirmed that it’s the second case.
https://www.reddit.com/r/LoveDeathAndRobots/comments/v0i9qh/comment/iaic8w5/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
oh, that’s interesting – if the claim is true. Also, it’s sad that we got the most tragic ending.