The fourth episode of the fourth season of Walker is aptly titled, “Insane BS and Bloodshed.” As a family drama, actual onscreen bloodshed is kept to a minimum, however, wildly disturbing circumstances are common. This episode deals with how the people handle things when they get even more horrifically bizarre. The quick answer is badly. They all react worse than they or the people around them thought they would, including…
Cordell and Larry
It’s never a good idea to lie about anything important to loved ones. But after the flashback that showed how bad Larry got the last time they were working on the Jackal case, it’s easy to understand why Cordell would think he needed to protect Larry. It’s almost painful watching the two be so happy before the truth inevitably comes out – Larry’s joy at the thought of being a father to a new baby, and Kelly and Larry betting on how Cordell and Geri would first say, “I love you.” It was great to hear that Kelly thought they were prudes.
Cap noting Cordell’s smile when he talks about Geri was also adorable. Jared and Coby are so fun together on screen, it was great to watch. They nail all the emotional beats.
It seems James’ happiness is infectious. Even though Cordell knows the other shoe may drop at any time, he lets his guard down. Walker goes to the bathroom and then to get drinks but leaves his phone.
That allows Captain James to find out the truth in the worse way, from a broken Cassie admitting to not telling him.
Unlike what Cordell hoped, Capt. James did not understand. Instead, he sees it as a betrayal and refuses to listen to reason. Larry calling it betrayal, after telling Cordell at the wedding that he couldn’t go down that road again, seems a bit unfair.
Still, Capt. James storms off, but not before he tells Cordell to talk to …
Cassie and David Luna
As soon as she finds out they were hiding the Jackal case from from Capt. James, Cassie is upset. She wants nothing to do with the case.
She is only slightly mollified by learning the Kelly requested it. She isn’t happy that the investigation is handed to her. Listening to the taped recording of Capt. James finding a victim has her so on edge that Det. Luna knocking on the window makes her jump. So, she bristles at Det. Luna trying to teach her the ropes.
She begins listing her impressive accomplishments when he asks her if she ever worked a serial killer case before. Ashley and Justin Johnson Cortez, who played Calian on Walker Independence, easily portray the combative chemistry between the two. This really shows when they are both amazing taking down the meth gang.
But when it comes to facing the grisly remains of the Jackal’s newest victim, the mother of a girl she had grown attached to, Cassie falls apart. Her breathing increases and her thought processes slow down.
Det. Luna has to ask her to call the Rangers. When Cordell doesn’t answer, she calls Capt. James. Almost in tears, she reveals they were keeping it from him until they knew for sure, and now they do. But she isn’t the only one who had a disturbing night. So has …
Stella, Sadie, and August
Any carjacking would be a traumatic experience. A carjacking by the man someone thought they killed must be another whole level beyond that. So maybe Stella can be excused for not thinking the straightest. Sadie, on the other hand, is finally starting to make sense. She actually is the one whose words are this episode’s title. Sadie calls it like she sees it – this is all so much BS over a bauble, a necklace.
She holds Stella as she breaks down into tears, and even drives because Stella is to shaken. Sadie wants to finally tell the cops, now that she knows a murder can’t be pinned on her by an untrustworthy system. It’s Stella’s turn to be the bad influence and not want to tell.
Stella has spent the last few months suffering from the guilt and pain of taking another’s life. Now that she’s free of that guilt, she will do anything to not feel that way again. She believes that if she tells her father now, Witt will die and it would be her fault again, because her father wouldn’t understand.
Perhaps Stella has a point, but many people in the audience didn’t understand her point. Sadie understood it on a surface level, but not truly because she is a different person with different experiences. Since Sadie isn’t yet that close to the family, she taps out and, almost literally tags in … August.
In their first real scene of the season together, August breaks through Stella’s defenses by saying they have been through so much together, and they were only able to do that by having each other’s backs. Stella grabs the lifeline.
Their conversation on the floor is so cute and heartwarming, harking back to a similar discussion in Season 1. Violet and Kale have grown so much since the beginning of the series, and so have their characters. When August introduces himself to Witt, it’s hard to miss the man he is quickly becoming.
This was another incredible episode of an amazing season. They have really kicked up the intensity while never losing the heart of the show. The addition of Det. Luna is a great one and, hopefully, he is in many more episodes.
4.93 stars out of 5.
Photos Courtesy of The CW. Screencaps by Raloria on LJ.
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