"Oversight"
Bonnie is dead. Who would have guessed that Bonnie would be felled by such a tragic fate? Oh wait, I could. For those of you who have read my previous blogs should have noticed that much of my focus was about Stanley, Mimi, and Bonnie. I felt that their lives were too perfect and they lost the inner conflict that once made them interesting characters. I also commented that despite the strength of the bond between Stanley and Mimi, they were far more interesting as individual threats to the new government. I even went as far as to specifically speculate that Mimi should use her new position as a Jennings & Rall accountant to uncover any criminal activity. With enough analysis to television shows' writing formulas, every viewer has the ability to subjugate any doubt about different characters' motivations. However, showing viewers the tranquility of the Richmond farm WAS necessary to evoke the appropriate response from Bonnie's death. My complaint lies from the previous episodes, where these three characters were dramatically overselling their love for each other. The writers might as well have put target symbols on the characters' foreheads.
"Oversight" brings the storylines of Jake and Hawkins closer together as they now fight a common enemy. The corrupt Goetz is using his unjust jurisdiction to prevent Dale from "illegally" importing supplies to Jericho. This episode's most fascinating scene involves a clandestine meeting with Jericho's most vocal citizens at Bailey's Tavern. Despite mentioning the Boston Tea Party during this scene, it was not far fetched to decode the allegory that was being shown. The parable between Jennings & Rall and King George III's England was an excellent storytelling device because the well-known story of the American Revolution helps the viewers empathize with Jericho's struggle.
Another great moment happens when Jake and Hawkins bring Heather into their exclusive "club." They need Heather to remove a document from Major Beck's files, which would have revealed the location of a nuclear bomb in Jericho. Hawkins' mysterious benefactor, only known as John Smith, informs Hawkins that he will be caught within 24 hours if this evidence isn't confiscated. Since Heather is the only civilian with access to Beck's office, she is the only person Jake can trust to destroy the papers. This gives
Jericho a newfound opportunity to utilize this wonderful character to a greater potential.
After bestowing amnesty to a resident of Jericho that is willing to betray Dale, Goetz acts as judge and jury by sending Dale to prison. Much like my speculation with the Richmond family storyline, the writers are intentionally making Goetz more deplorable with his every appearance. Goetz is the Sheriff of Nottingham to Valente's Prince John. When Stanley and Mimi get their revenge (and they WILL!), it will be a moment so grandiose that my tiny analogue TV will not do it justice!
I actually had a lol (laugh out loud) moment when I shouldn't have. But it was so silly! Let me explain. Eric, Mary, and Emily decided, after seemingly much deliberation, that Dale does not need to go around the checkpoints to get his products into town. They told him that he would be able to go through the checkpoints safely, but then the scene ended and we didn't find out until later what their plan entailed. It turns out that Mary would use her sexual wiles towards a military officer based at a Jericho checkpoint. Mary doesn't have the natural beauty to pull a stunt off like that, and it was laughable that this was Eric and company's best plan of action. As my sister says, "Mary's just not that pretty."
