I really like this episode, but especially coming right after the greatness that were the last 5 episodes I do think this episode is underwhelming in areas and it has some issues.
I like how Shane and Army really have to do a lie detector. Lem telling Army to get out of this life after he's done with the polygraph is pretty sad realizing that Lem has been wanting to leave this life too but he just can't leave his family. Especially after Lem messes up by taking the heroin for collateral last episode. Army expectedly refuses to take it after being so scared about it, as I expected. He has some of Shane's worst elements as he learned them from Shane himself. Army's definitely selfish and annoying, but it definitely makes sense from his perspective, and it reflects back at Shane. Shane similarly "trained" (and I use that in quotations because is corrupting really training...?) Army like Vic did with Shane, but Vic was able to breed a true sense of loyalty, while Shane couldn't. Army hasn't matured in the same way Shane has. Rawling's outburst when Army refuses is another great scene. She's always so controlled so when she losses it, it feels extra impactful. I love how we really get to see the political side of the seizures plan. Especially when everything begins to unravel for her these last few episodes.
It's really nice to see the Strike Team finally being together this episode, properly even if they're not the strike team officially. Their banter is slowly coming back, and it's extra enjoyable because of everything that's happened. "It's okoye with me if it's okoye with you." There's some great subtext in some scenes that show the differences between Vic and Shane. When Shane is in Vic's car, Shane lights a cigarette and Vic doesn't let Shane smoke, but later on when Shane's in his car Lem asks him to put it out and Shane refuses, "Come on, this is my car!" This may seem like a pointless line of dialogue initially but I'm quite positive it was purposeful. Why else create a parallel between these scenes? It shows how Vic always has to be in control and does have restraints, while Shane usually pushes things too far, and how fitting that it's Lem telling Shane to stop.
Billings has been a character who has appeared in the background with a few lines here and there but I love how we get to see more of him this episode. He witnesses a murder but doesn't interfere. There's a great scene where Claudette and Dutch figure out it was him, and confront him about it, but Billings just explains how it wasn't worth getting involved, he's just trying to survive. And if he stayed there and did nothing about it he would've been ridiculed. "They give us this badge, and a gun, and expect us to act like Superman. Like I'm not some middle aged guy who can use a few more hours a week on a treadmill?" I hope to see more of him. Meanwhile, Vic finding out that Dutch is getting together with his Ex Wife is another odd storyline, but it actually makes for a pretty good scene when she breaks up with Dutch since he partially did it to get back at Vic.
My main gripe with this episode is how they suddenly introduce some Russians as some of the people responsible and involved in the cop killings. Honestly it just felt kinda forced especially for this season that felt so well set up and plotted. I definitely feel like after tying up things so well last episode they didn't execute these last few episodes as well as they could've, and included a few weaker storylines, in particular the random addition of the Russians. However this was still a really great episode, I'd probably give it a 9/10 if it didn't just come off of one of the best episodes.
I like how Shane and Army really have to do a lie detector. Lem telling Army to get out of this life after he's done with the polygraph is pretty sad realizing that Lem has been wanting to leave this life too but he just can't leave his family. Especially after Lem messes up by taking the heroin for collateral last episode. Army expectedly refuses to take it after being so scared about it, as I expected. He has some of Shane's worst elements as he learned them from Shane himself. Army's definitely selfish and annoying, but it definitely makes sense from his perspective, and it reflects back at Shane. Shane similarly "trained" (and I use that in quotations because is corrupting really training...?) Army like Vic did with Shane, but Vic was able to breed a true sense of loyalty, while Shane couldn't. Army hasn't matured in the same way Shane has. Rawling's outburst when Army refuses is another great scene. She's always so controlled so when she losses it, it feels extra impactful. I love how we really get to see the political side of the seizures plan. Especially when everything begins to unravel for her these last few episodes.
It's really nice to see the Strike Team finally being together this episode, properly even if they're not the strike team officially. Their banter is slowly coming back, and it's extra enjoyable because of everything that's happened. "It's okoye with me if it's okoye with you." There's some great subtext in some scenes that show the differences between Vic and Shane. When Shane is in Vic's car, Shane lights a cigarette and Vic doesn't let Shane smoke, but later on when Shane's in his car Lem asks him to put it out and Shane refuses, "Come on, this is my car!" This may seem like a pointless line of dialogue initially but I'm quite positive it was purposeful. Why else create a parallel between these scenes? It shows how Vic always has to be in control and does have restraints, while Shane usually pushes things too far, and how fitting that it's Lem telling Shane to stop.
Billings has been a character who has appeared in the background with a few lines here and there but I love how we get to see more of him this episode. He witnesses a murder but doesn't interfere. There's a great scene where Claudette and Dutch figure out it was him, and confront him about it, but Billings just explains how it wasn't worth getting involved, he's just trying to survive. And if he stayed there and did nothing about it he would've been ridiculed. "They give us this badge, and a gun, and expect us to act like Superman. Like I'm not some middle aged guy who can use a few more hours a week on a treadmill?" I hope to see more of him. Meanwhile, Vic finding out that Dutch is getting together with his Ex Wife is another odd storyline, but it actually makes for a pretty good scene when she breaks up with Dutch since he partially did it to get back at Vic.
My main gripe with this episode is how they suddenly introduce some Russians as some of the people responsible and involved in the cop killings. Honestly it just felt kinda forced especially for this season that felt so well set up and plotted. I definitely feel like after tying up things so well last episode they didn't execute these last few episodes as well as they could've, and included a few weaker storylines, in particular the random addition of the Russians. However this was still a really great episode, I'd probably give it a 9/10 if it didn't just come off of one of the best episodes.
