The Better Man - Recap

At a castle, Torrid prepares to summon a beast from the Second World. The Triad watches from hiding and try to come up with a plan. The Alchemist calls upon Torrid to stop opening a portal, but it doesn't work. Torrid summons a hellbeast, but it grabs him and throws him back through the portal. The triad launches their attack but Jefferson's physical abilities and the other's mystical powers prove useless. Suddenly the Outrider emerges from the portal astride his mount, Black Lightning. He stabs the hellbeast in the eye, destroying it, then resurrects the dead Jefferson and rides off. Dr. Orpheus explains that the Outrider stole his wife.

At the Venture compound, Dean is putting on a suit and Hank figures he's dressing up for Triana, who is helping her father piling up crap on the yard.

In the garage, Jefferson is going through a monster-killing training course. He gets 85% but wonders what the point is when he's useless due to his lack of magic. Outside, Orpheus is using common lawn items to build a portal to the Second World. Triana and Dean are watching, and Triana explains that the Outrider is married to her mom, and it's an ego thing for Dr. Orpheus. Hank arrives with the Alchemist and Jefferson and tries to figure out if the Alchemist is trangendered. He isn't. Dr. Orpheus casts the ritual but there's nothing but Triana's cat, Simba.

Orpheus goes to see his Master, who has taken on the form of Tatjana, Orpheus' wife. The Master points out he should be used to the Outrider showing him up by now, but Orpheus insists that the Outrider has outstripped him.

Dean goes to see Hank, who is unhappy that they're no longer trotting the globe since their father has decided to stay at home. When Hank notes that Triana isn't actually doing anything with Dean, Dean realizes that it's a dead end. Hank offers to take him to see the native girls and get out.

Dr. Orpheus complains that the Outrider was a lazy student, but the Master tells him to find a portal and go beat up the Outrider. He complains about a headache and asks if Dr. Orpheus has anything for it. Dr. Orpheus doesn't.

Hank takes Dean to the local mall and tries to talk to girls. They ignore him but Hank insists that he is trying to keep it casual. He tells Dean to try talking with someone and directs him toward a blonde. It doesn't go well, and Dean goes home.

Orpheus returns back through Triana's closet door and Jefferson and the Alchemist are waiting for him. The Alchemist figures that the Master wants them to use the original portal at Torrid's castle. They emerge and discover Triana outside in the hallway. She wants to know why they were in her room, and they hastily cover their actions and teleport away. Triana goes into her room and notices the glowing portal door.

The Triad arrives at Torrid's castle and Jefferson complains that his non-magical powers are holding them back. Orpheus insists it isn't him and prepares to open the portal. It opens on its own and they hide as Torrid returns, his mystical energies drained. The Outrider comes through behind him and Torrid begs him for death to spare him the suffering of Hell. However, it's a trick and Torrid grabs the Outrider and damns him to Hell, draining his mystic force and teleporting away. The Triad rushes to the Outrider's side and Orpheus realizes that he was wrong and his rival is noble and good. He vows to save the Outrider from Hell.

Triana enters the portal and finds herself in the void, and discovers that the Master has taken the form of an adult Dean Venture to show her the future. He explains that their baby is deformed because of Dean's cloned genes. The Master explains that Triana has been there before and had her memories wiped.

Hank goes to the mall to find Dean and sees Dermot dumping garbage. Dermot lies about working at the mall and wonders what Hank is doing there. Once Hank explains, Dermot points out that Dean is nearby, talking to a girl.

The Triad takes the Outrider back to their base in Orpheus' kitchen and Orpheus explains the Outrider must return through the same portal he passed through. When Jefferson complains he has a headache, Orpheus remembers the Master's words and realizes that the Master was hinting that the Outrider performed brain surgery on himself.

Dean tells Hank about the girl he was talking to. Dermot actually gives good advice, telling him to just talk and not worry about kissing her.

The Triad calls in Master Billy Quiz Boy, who opens up the Outrider's skull and finds the Eye of Osiris inside. Orpheus explains the Outrider places the Eye inside of his own skull to allow him to open a portal to the Second World. Billy removes it but the Outrider remains divorced from his soul. To pull him out, Orpheus channels the hellish visions of his teammates. The Alchemist tells a story of using cotton balls as toilet paper and the Outrider's body glows… and the Alchemist and Dr. Orpheus find their spirits trapped halfway into the spirit world.

Triana admits she doesn't like Dean as a boyfriend. The Master tells her to set Dean free or they'll end up married. He tells her that he's the Master, her father's omniscient mentor, and she needs to get on with her life. The Master points out that she has a mystic gift and she should live with her mother and begin her training as a sorceress. Triana agrees but the Master points out she'll forget it all happened again.

The Outrider arrives to welcome the Alchemist and Orpheus to Hell. Orpheus admits he was jealous and apologizes to the Outrider, who explains he idolized Orpheus. He took the quick way to enlightenment. Orpheus admits he was a rotten father and blames himself. The Alchemist says they should leave, but the Outrider warns they are all three in Hell and only someone partway between the two worlds can bring them out.

Dean goes to see his father and says he's been out with the guys. Dr. Venture wonders if he's okay but the newly-confident Dean says that he's pretty good.

As Dr. Orpheus and the others try to figure a way back from Hell, Jefferson manages to hear them thanks to his newly awakened mystic gift. He reaches out his hand and pulls them back to the real world.

Triana is in her room stroking Simba and considering the closet door. She gets up and leaves.

The Outrider, Billy, and the Triad share drinks and stories. Triana comes in and tells her father they need to talk.

As Triana prepares to leave with the Outrider to train with her mother, she assures Dr. Orpheus she'll contact him regularly. Jefferson tries to use his new magical powers to levitate luggage, but it doesn't work. Dean draws Triana aside and says that it's time they should see other people because long-distance relationships don't work. Triana agrees and kisses him on the cheek, and Dean has second thoughts…

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