The Black Lotus didn’t show up in Into The Badlands until the third and last season, but what an appearance they made. From behind the shadows operatives to key players in the conclusion of a story arc, they made their presence known. With all the action and mayhem on screen, though, it may have been hard to piece together the full story of who they are, what they represent, and how they went from villainy to heroics in just a few episodes. Their backstory, in fact, explains most of the story arc of all three seasons.
Despite the fact that the series was canceled after three seasons on AMC, streaming on Netflix seems to have given it a new life and made it popular again. Some fans are still calling for season four.
10 The Black Lotus Cult Is More Than 500 Years Old
The history of the Black Lotus was explained in one episode of the third season – and you may just have missed it in between the action. The Badlands has a long backstory, including that of the Black Lotus cult, which formed more than five centuries ago expressly for the purpose of removing The Gift from every corner of the Earth.
Along the way, Black Lotus members have developed the skills that allow them, as normal humans, to go head to head with those who have The Gift.
9 They Are Trained In Many Specialized Skills
Over generations, members of the Black Lotus have passed on specific skills and abilities that give them an edge over other human beings, and let them actively pursue those with The Gift. That obviously includes training as a martial artist, involving both hand-to-hand and weapons training with swords in particular.
They are also trained in interrogation methods, which begins with questioning and psychological manipulation, and ends in physical torture methods.
8 They Don’t Necessarily Kill The Dark Ones
Although their mission is to cleanse the world of The Gift, they don’t always terminate the Dark Ones that they capture... right away that is. Many Dark Ones are brought as prisoners to the Black Lotus headquarters at Razor Ridge, where they may interrogate/torture some key information out of them.
In some instances, the Black Lotus may also study the Dark Ones, with a view to finding better and more efficient ways of finding and exterminating them.
7 Bad Guys Or Good Guys?
They’re really neither good nor bad – but are capable of both when the moment is right. There is actually a good reason to want to eliminate the Dark Ones from the world. The Old World was lost because Pilgrim – who was called Taurin at the time – uncovered a meridian chamber.
Henry’s power was transferred to him, but he’s not meant to have it, which makes him into the insane killer he is. Even though their methods are ruthless, it’s hard to argue with the idea that the Pilgrim should be stopped.
6 Their Garb Is Based On Ancient Roman And Samurai Warriors
If you’ve been wondering about what exactly inspired the iconic red armor worn by members of the Black Lotus most of the time, it has a couple of influences, including ancient Roman and Samurai designs according to show designers.
Red armor was often favored by Samurai warriors, and even Romans wore a red garment underneath their armor. It's the color of war. The shoulder armor resembles Roman designs. Swordplay is, of course, a big part of a Samurai's arsenal.
5 They Came Back To Face A New Threat
The Black Lotus were active even back in the Old World, albeit during its dying days. Naturally, no one listened to their warnings about the Dark Ones until it was too late. That’s when they went underground to work in the shadows.
It is the rumors that a new city is going to be built on the ruins of Azra that bring them to the surface. The new city will be a haven for Dark Ones, so they start the search for Azra to make sure that can’t happen.
4 Azra Is The Connection Between The Black Lotus, Sunny And Kannin
Kannin and Sunny, or Sanzō, are siblings. They lived in Azra, which was a kind of haven left inside a ruined city – destroyed along with the rest of the world by the Dark Ones. Magnus disguised himself as a scribe and got Ankara to help him find it.
That's when he betrayed her, left her for dead, and then brought in the rest of the Black Lotus to destroy the city. At one point, Magnus is captured and Sunny is supposed to kill him – but instead lets him go. It's the beginning of the end for the city.
3 The Black Lotus Gave The Pilgrim His Quest
In Azra, the Pilgrim was known as Taurin, and as children, he played with Sanzō and Kannin. After Magnus convinces Sanzō to let him go and the city is destroyed, Sanzō, Kannin and Taurin are the only survivors. That’s why the Black Lotus – and Magnus in particular – have been hunting down all three of them ever since.
The experience turned Taurin into the Pilgrim, and gave him his new life’s purpose – to recreate Azra and make everyone accept The Gift. It can lead you to reconsider what happened in season 2.
2 The Black Lotus Separated The Siblings
It’s ironic that Sanzō/Sunny ends up battling Taurin/Pilgrim – but not the Black Lotus, at least at first. While he doesn’t remember it until the third season, it’s Magnus and the Black Lotus’ mission that separates Sunny from his sister.
At one point after the fall of Azra, the Black Lotus close in on the siblings in a ship. After the Black Lotus kill everyone else, Kannin lets them take her in to spare Sanzō. Kannin is kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and turned into an assassin.
1 The Souvenir From Azra
When Magnus challenges Kannin to activate Sunny's long-dormant dark-eyed powers, he takes an hourglass with sand and turns it over. "You have until the sand runs out to turn him," Magnus says, and he calls the hourglass a "souvenir from Azra".
Back in Azra, when Dante told his son Sanzō that he has to kill Magnus, he used the same hourglass as a timer. It's yet another reminder that Magnus and the Black Lotus have been behind most of the plot action since the beginning of the series.