“End This Way,” the tenth episode of the fourth season of Walker, has the women take the lead as it explores the meaning of family. This episode marks the end of the season’s secondary plot about the necklace, which was Stella’s storyline. That is why “End This Way” focuses on her and the Walker women and not so much …
Cordell
Though not in the episode much, every scene with him is impactful. He had gone to a motel to focus on the case, because the empty nest he feared wasn’t actually empty enough for him to focus. Whether he meant to make himself bait, keep his eye on a possible Jackal haunt, or just get away to a place where he can more think like The Jackal is unknown. Whatever it was, as soon as he gets the call his little girl is in trouble, he takes one last glance at the evidence and then goes to find her. 
Sadly, his focus on her, and every one else’s focus on her, means that he is captured by The Jackal and no one notices, not even him. Even in his digoxin induced dream, he is searching for her.
Of course she’s in his dream, as is August, and even … Emily. The dreamlike sequence is devastatingly intercut with the brutal reality of Cordell’s torture at the hands of a serial killer. 
Once again, Jared’s ability to show pain elevates the scene and creates mixed reactions among the audience. It’s ironic that the serial killer who goes after negligent parents kidnaps Cordell when he is being a good daddy and trying to find …
Stella
This is Stella’s episode, the end of her separate storyline for this season. Starting with an excellent Stella Blue and Stella Red scene with an amazing song in the background, Stella proves to be her father’s daughter by going up against hardened criminals and winning. 
While she is far from having it handled, she takes everything in stride and with help, is able to save Sadie, herself, and even Joanna, the person who has been terrorizing her. 
Though her “signal” is hilarious, it is her outsmarting Joanna to get the necklace and hiding it from her that is most impressive. 
The best part, though, is how she realizes what she did wrong and apologizing to her family for it. Family that also includes …
Sadie
When she first appeared last season, Sadie’s reception by the fandom was mixed to say the least. Many people suspected her of being a villain or an accomplice to the villain. After “End This Way,” she feels more like family, the chosen kind. A lot of that feeling comes from how she is treated by her actual grandmother, Joanna. 
Kidnapped and threatened by her own grandmother, poor Sadie goes through a lot, and she maintains her sassy sense of humor throughout it all. Her grandmother doesn’t think family means anything. Luckily, Sadie grew up with a mom and grandparents who loved her. Sadly, they have passed on, but now Sadie has Geri and the Walkers, the same way her father did. 
They give her the space and the strength to break the generational trauma that she shows by deciding to give the heirloom necklace back to the museum. This earns further respect and approval from…
Geri
She has been called part of the Walker family for a long time. “End This Way” proves how, not only is that true, but also that she is the rock of the family. Twice, she had to calm Liam down, once as he was waving a knife.
She wisely tells him to start forgiving Stella, and follows her own advice.
She gets through to Cordell over the phone without freaking him out, getting him to leave the case he’s been fixated on. She is even the one who realizes where Stella went.
She is also the one the girls feel they can talk to, because as she promised, no judgement. 
It is nice seeing her be the rock of the family, because usually that falls to…
Abeline
One can’t mention Walker women and family without talking about the matriarch of the Walker family. Usually logical, but also passionate, so it is fascinating watching her turn borderline murderous at the mention of Hoyt’s birth mom’s name. Abby still harbors anger over how Joanna abandoned Hoyt and made him feel. 
Now that Joanna is also threatening her granddaughter, it’s no wonder that Abeline ends up pointing a shotgun at Joanna’s face. 
But honestly, the discussion she has about how wonderful Hoyt was and how lucky Abeline feels to have been able to raise him probably affects Joanna more than a gun pointed at her, which is something she is used to. 
Anger, Joanna understands, isn’t pity.
A review of “End This Way” wouldn’t be complete without praise for Sharon Lawrence who plays Joanna Rawlins brilliantly. 
Not only does she have the presence to be truly terrifying, she can also show the pain she has endured to make Joanna the way she is. Kudos are definitely deserved.
Despite missing Cordell and Jared this episode, “End This Way” overall is one of my favorites of the season. It has some of the funniest moments, and also the most heartbreaking.
The loss of Hoyt weighs heavily on people in this episode. So many shows kill off characters and don’t speak of them again. Walker mourns and eulogizes them seasons later. Just another way Walker is different. It will truly be missed.
4.95 out of 5 stars.
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