Walker serves up a "heartwarming" episode whose job it is to fill out the characters and move all of their plot lines forward a nudge.
However, this penultimate episode also manages to slide in additional villains right at the end. So while I tend to like the action eps better, there is still a reason for people like me to watch.
---
We open seeing the ribbon cutting for the Horse Rescue and the family getting Larry's good news that Kelly said "yes" to re-marriage.
Thus, cue the Walker men (minus Bonham) going camping for Larry's bachelor party redux. And the series of funny and fun images were over the top.
---
The montage of riding in and setting up camp was lovely and all the shots were in character.
Both DJ(Joshua Brockington) and Auggie (Kale Culley) are involved and really fill things out well. The writers skillfully seed in foreshadowing about Auggie perhaps deciding to enlist, but don't go fully into it yet.
Trey (Jeff Pierre) turns out to not love the outdoors, which adds to humor.
Liam (Keegan Allen) and Cordell (Jared Padalecki) have some great brother moments, with Liam the first to figure out something's off.
---
Because, yes, Walker writers don't forget to follow up on PTSD and mental health issues, even in the midst of fun.
Cordell ends up "seeing" his younger self (Colin Ford) in various visions, much as he did Emily all three seasons.
Unlike Emily, who is his voice of reason and counsel--his better half, if you want--Young Cordell is there for Cordi to forgive himself.
By the end of the episode, this is accomplished by saying goodbye and cutting ties to Coop (David Meadows) which I dare you to get through dry-eyed.
However, the best scene of the entire episode, possibly this (already amazing) third season, is Jared Padalecki and Colin Ford facing off.
Have the entire box of tissues ready.
This season started with a huge episode and now is ending on yet another master class in acting. Every time I think I admire Padalecki too much, he gives me reason to admire him more.
---
But that was "just" the A-plot.
On one of the B-plots, Stella and Sadie decide to go out while everyone else is busy. And in a twist, new character Sadie (Saylor Bell) isn't on screen as much as returning guest Gabriela Flores (Bella)
I really got very excited that Stella got to see Bella again. Violet Brinson's character has had such growth and needed to face that she'd really not been the best friend a couple years back.
She'd basically ghosted the girl she called her bestie, and the awkwardness was deserved. Good on her, however, for recognizing it and showing the maturity to apologize.
Honestly, kudos to the writers for taking us on such a character building arc as Stella has had.
Good job all around.
---
Also, we get a huge dose of Bonham (Mitch Pileggi) and Abeline (Molly Hagan.) Which, honestly, the more story these two get the better.
Totally integrated into the new couple's impending nuptials, we see these two remembering their own youth. And they haven't lost the fire.
Plus, how true to ranch life that they put off a honeymoon because the harvester broke. How I hope that they still get a second chance to go now when their life quiets down.
I adore them, their love, their light.
I adore Bonham getting a little red sports car and asking his wife to "run off."
---
But will life quiet down?
We get one of Walker's patented last five minute jaw droppers when the villains (introduced innocuously enough earlier) roar in.
From what was said, next episode will see the action pick significantly up.
---
So why not a ten then?
For me, the bachelorette sections were sincerely annoying, so I'd personally recommend you watch on dvr and just scroll through those parts.
(No, Florida doesn't have year round hurricanes, Kelly is sure to have friends in a town where she lived before, and women don't have to be over the top rando thirsty.
In fact, the ending's datedness reminds me of 2001, Legally Blonde where it was still considered cool for people of any gender to require employees to dress some sexy sort of way because the Girl Boss "just liked to watch." So NOT cool now. Call HR, stat.)
These inserts are brief, but don't add anything to an otherwise stellar episode.
Minus them, heartily recommend.
However, this penultimate episode also manages to slide in additional villains right at the end. So while I tend to like the action eps better, there is still a reason for people like me to watch.
---
We open seeing the ribbon cutting for the Horse Rescue and the family getting Larry's good news that Kelly said "yes" to re-marriage.
Thus, cue the Walker men (minus Bonham) going camping for Larry's bachelor party redux. And the series of funny and fun images were over the top.
---
The montage of riding in and setting up camp was lovely and all the shots were in character.
Both DJ(Joshua Brockington) and Auggie (Kale Culley) are involved and really fill things out well. The writers skillfully seed in foreshadowing about Auggie perhaps deciding to enlist, but don't go fully into it yet.
Trey (Jeff Pierre) turns out to not love the outdoors, which adds to humor.
Liam (Keegan Allen) and Cordell (Jared Padalecki) have some great brother moments, with Liam the first to figure out something's off.
---
Because, yes, Walker writers don't forget to follow up on PTSD and mental health issues, even in the midst of fun.
Cordell ends up "seeing" his younger self (Colin Ford) in various visions, much as he did Emily all three seasons.
Unlike Emily, who is his voice of reason and counsel--his better half, if you want--Young Cordell is there for Cordi to forgive himself.
By the end of the episode, this is accomplished by saying goodbye and cutting ties to Coop (David Meadows) which I dare you to get through dry-eyed.
However, the best scene of the entire episode, possibly this (already amazing) third season, is Jared Padalecki and Colin Ford facing off.
Have the entire box of tissues ready.
This season started with a huge episode and now is ending on yet another master class in acting. Every time I think I admire Padalecki too much, he gives me reason to admire him more.
---
But that was "just" the A-plot.
On one of the B-plots, Stella and Sadie decide to go out while everyone else is busy. And in a twist, new character Sadie (Saylor Bell) isn't on screen as much as returning guest Gabriela Flores (Bella)
I really got very excited that Stella got to see Bella again. Violet Brinson's character has had such growth and needed to face that she'd really not been the best friend a couple years back.
She'd basically ghosted the girl she called her bestie, and the awkwardness was deserved. Good on her, however, for recognizing it and showing the maturity to apologize.
Honestly, kudos to the writers for taking us on such a character building arc as Stella has had.
Good job all around.
---
Also, we get a huge dose of Bonham (Mitch Pileggi) and Abeline (Molly Hagan.) Which, honestly, the more story these two get the better.
Totally integrated into the new couple's impending nuptials, we see these two remembering their own youth. And they haven't lost the fire.
Plus, how true to ranch life that they put off a honeymoon because the harvester broke. How I hope that they still get a second chance to go now when their life quiets down.
I adore them, their love, their light.
I adore Bonham getting a little red sports car and asking his wife to "run off."
---
But will life quiet down?
We get one of Walker's patented last five minute jaw droppers when the villains (introduced innocuously enough earlier) roar in.
From what was said, next episode will see the action pick significantly up.
---
So why not a ten then?
For me, the bachelorette sections were sincerely annoying, so I'd personally recommend you watch on dvr and just scroll through those parts.
(No, Florida doesn't have year round hurricanes, Kelly is sure to have friends in a town where she lived before, and women don't have to be over the top rando thirsty.
In fact, the ending's datedness reminds me of 2001, Legally Blonde where it was still considered cool for people of any gender to require employees to dress some sexy sort of way because the Girl Boss "just liked to watch." So NOT cool now. Call HR, stat.)
These inserts are brief, but don't add anything to an otherwise stellar episode.
Minus them, heartily recommend.
