Thoughts and reactions to last episode here.
In less than an hour, I’ll be watching the episode that comes after, but while I have time, here are my thoughts on this one…
Detective Mark Trent
He’s good eye candy. Fine. And the character is fairly consistent in terms of a person who considers himself to have integrity. He’s definitely Team Law-and-Order in a black and white way (except for when he thought he had a chance of sleeping with Gabi again). Speaking of whom — Trent still looks like he loves Gabi sometimes, which is confusing because it’s adorable, but also, how dare you? It’s probably just an acting choice, and if so, good job, actor! Make us wonder; keep giving us something to chew on even if it’s not scripted. As for Trent’s latest lover…
Heather
I like this actress so far, and I like the character. There hasn’t been much to go on, but she adds intrigue and gets theories churning, which keeps things interesting.
“Ambitious women are a trigger for you,” she said to Trent, point blank. Dang, Heather! So she comes with the fire, too. She’s a fun watch so far. So obviously up to something. And spicy.
Zeke and Lacey
Zeke is quite a provider, it seems. That ‘snack’ he offered was a whole charcuterie and crudités platter.
Coy Lacey was so cute; it was so obvious Zeke likes her, but good for her making him be the one to make the move.
Journey to the Past – Maggie & Co.
The husband seemed oddly chill considering the circumstances of a missing son.
Margaret, on the other hand, is also fairly consistent and liable to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat, lol. She went off at that gathering! And she might have been right — the kidnapper was likely among them. And whether she had anything to do with it or not, that babysitter came across too flirty, so her interaction with Margaret’s husband made it look like they were secret lovers.
Some viewers think the husband might be involved because of his too-cool demeanor, and after this episode, how quick he was to shut Margaret’s analysis and interrogations down. I’m not sure yet. But her kid is definitely comfortable with whomever took him and kept him.
And the look on his face when Margaret referred to the kidnapper as a monster…her Margaret vision is failing her.
The Case of the Week
This is my favorite case of the week. Partially because the mystery had legs over a few episodes, but mostly because it was such a feel-good one! The odds weren’t great, but all those missing kids turned out to be alive! Very bittersweet, considering some family members who passed without knowing what had happened to them (that poor mom who lost her boys), but how cathartic to see the emotional reunions with the ones who were still around. The brothers… sigh 💞So sweet. And Mr. Dockins! That poor man; no good deed goes unpunished, eh? But he was freed in the end. Yes, the reunion scene made me cry. And also cry. And what a great job matching the kids to their ethnicities (or vice versa)! For example, I took one look at the melanated girl and went, East African.
A small part of me suspected the old lady of being the culprit simply because the formula usually includes introducing the perp early.
Speaking of perps…
Evans vs. Evans?
The prevailing theory has been that Heather is actually Lena, the half-sister of the Evans brothers. But in their first scene together, Hugh Evans and Heather, the criminal attorney don’t seem to know each other on a personal level.
Were they both putting on a performance since the guards were there, and they like to talk, as Hugh once said? Or does Hugh not really know they’re related, but she does? Or perhaps she’s not the sister after all…
I look forward to seeing how this plays out.
Other Thoughts
Captain Mallory was really annoying this episode, as intended.
For a moment, I wondered if Dhan had killed Christian, but it was a coincidental pan to his face after Lacey mentioned Christian jumping; it only looked like Dhan knew different.
Trent is probably going to regret his lie to Gabi, and I look forward to that fallout. But this show has a few problems that are getting harder to ignore.
Found Problems
There is a serious lack of character development here. The characters need to be more well-rounded, and yes, I know each character is probably going to get the Margaret treatment or so, and there will be a dive into their past. But I mean, in the current day.
We’ve seen a lot of Lacey. And we’ve seen a lot of Gabi. But most of Gabi’s development has been in the deep past. And there is a disconnect between the young version and the current version; they don’t really feel like the same person. And the current version is kind of one-note, and as the lead, there should be more than a throwaway line regarding other aspects of her.
Somehow, even with all of these characters, the show still feels so insular.
Too much tell, not enough show.
Yes, it’s a long 22-episode season, but there could be more meat. It’s tougher to swallow the more ridiculous stuff when substance is lacking.
I’m watching until the wheels fall off, but I hope the writing gets tighter, the more compelling aspects are played up, it becomes less…cartoonish in ways.
But again, it’s a long season, and the second one. No surprise there’s a bit of a slog.
Okay, off to shower before settling in for the next episode…