WARNING: This post contains spoilers for Legion Season 1. Proceed with caution.
Legion is returning and we have more than a few questions for this trippy show. But, one of the things fans are aching to know more about is the Shadow King. The Season 1 antagonist was revealed as the show went on, but we didn’t learn a whole bunch of details about his past or what his greater plans for David are.
Well, the second season is promising that and more when it comes to the show’s big bad. But, are there other enemies to look out for as well?
Amahl Farouk
Before we get to those other potential antagonists, let us touch on the Shadow King first. We learned that his true name is Amahl Farouk. Through a mental analysis from David Haller, we were told that Farouk battled David’s father, Charles Xavier, and was defeated by being banished to the Astral Plane.
As a method of revenge, Farouk eventually inhabited the mind of David when he was just a baby. Using his powers, Farouk took advantage of David and altered his memories so David would believe he was mentally ill instead of a highly powerful mutant. Farouk then took many different forms over the course of David’s life in order to either terrify or manipulate him.
We know that we’ll be seeing Farouk’s original form in Season 2, but it’s important to remember that his powers allow him to appear in many different guises. We’ll get back to that later because it could be a crucial hint ant where Season 2 is headed.
Division 3
It’s been revealed that Division 3, the government agency that was pursuing David and his friend during Season 1, will be returning in a very significant role. A year has passed since the end of Season 1 and it seems that the mutants are working with Division 3 to capture the Shadow King.
Within this organization is Clark, the interrogator who was burned by David in the previous season. Though he seems to be a shaky ally, it’s possible he could be revealed to have his own ulterior motives. Not to mention his husband Daniel, who surely feels some sense of revenge against the mutants who caused such grievous harm to his spouse.
With the mutants falling under Division 3’s roof, it’s possible we’ll see new Division 3 agents become antagonists. However, they might all fall victim to a greater threat…
Lenny Busker and the Legion
In Season 1, the Shadow King primarily took the form of Lenny Busker. At the end of Season 1, we see that Lenny has transferred her consciousness to Oliver Bird. Exactly what the relationship between her and Oliver is going to be will play out in Season 2. But, it raises a very interesting question about the show’s mythology.
In the comics, David Haller is a mutant with multiple personalities that live inside him. Each personality has its own set of mutant abilities. If we are going to see Amahl Farouk in his regular form, does this mean that Lenny is no longer the avatar for the Shadow King? Has she disconnected from him in some way? Is she one of David’s multiple mutant personalities?
If this is the case, it will be one of the first steps the show takes to showcasing this facet of David’s abilities. The only other scenes that have hinted at this are when David talks to a calmer version of himself that also speaks with a British accent. Could Season 2 finally begin to explore the idea of the many different identities hiding inside David’s mind?
If that’s the case, Lenny Busker could become her own separate villain from Amahl Farouk. Perhaps she is a figment Farouk created and some piece of his real self is still inside David? Could Lenny have been holding back all the other personalities hiding inside David? And if she’s been disconnected from Farouk, does she have her own plans for David?
There is a lot of ground to explore and we’re confident that Legion is going to be even bigger, better, and weirder than ever.
Legion airs Tuesdays 10/9c on FX.
