Episode 5 of Gangland Undercover is the most intense show so far in this mini-series about Charles Falco. Earlier episodes focused on Charlie being arrested for dealing crystal meth. In place of going to prison, Charlie struck a deal with the Feds to help infiltrate the Vagos Motorcycle Club and obtain evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Ironically, Charlie ends up in prison anyway.
In this episode several Vagos, including Charlie (Damon Runyan), are in prison awaiting a hearing after a huge bar fight involving Vagos chapter president Schizo (Paulino Nunes). Now Charlie lives in fear that his role as an informant on the Vagos could lead to a violent end. Charlie must also navigate the hazardous prison culture where everyone self-segregates by race and a white supremacist gang exerts tremendous influence over white inmates like Charlie.
Using the skills he has developed while under cover, Charlie learns the ropes from his lunatic cell mate Thor. He soon finds out that his association with the Vagos is an asset behind bars. However, when ATF agent Koz visits Charlie, he's informed he'll be locked up longer than expected, and he will have to deal with a former drug associate.
This episode has some important flashbacks where Charlie's former life is covered. Most important is his past association with Bernard, who helped Charlie become a huge meth dealer, but now wants payback for messing-up their operation.
As in other episodes, each scene packs a lot of action into it. While the show undoubtedly skips over a lot of events that occurred to Charles Falco, it conveys enough to give viewers a good idea about what he endured. Although Damon Runyon continues to portray Charlie as low-key and unafraid, his occasional narration reveals how frightened Charlie actual was as an undercover infiltrator surrounded by hardened criminals.