Change Your Image
redmckenzi
Reviews
Walker: Bar None (2021)
Not as good as 5 but I still really enjoyed it
This episode has a much slower pace than last week's and focuses around the Side Step, the bar that's been a recurring location throughout the first five episodes and has been established as a place Cordell and Emily often hung out. It felt a little rushed at the beginning, with Geri just straight up announcing over the phone that she was selling the bar, but the pacing evens out and flows well from that point as Cordell uses fixing the bar to both work through his own feelings concerning the anniversary of Emily's death and his stress about an upcoming evaluation for his behavior in the pilot (it took me forever to figure out that's what he and Micki were discussing, though, since I couldn't remember the name of the guy Walker beats up). It was really gratifying to see Walker realize that running from or trying to smooth over his issues won't do any good. He needs to own up to what he did wrong and use it as an opportunity to be a better Ranger.
I did find the camping plot with the kids and grandparents to be a little boring but I'm still not sold on Abeline in general and it mainly centered around her. The actress is doing a great job, her character just rubs me the wrong way and has from the start. I'm warming up to Bonham more and more, though! It's interesting to see Mitch playing a "good guy" after only being familiar with him in the role of Samuel Campbell in Supernatural, a character I wouldn't really describe as "good".
Now, the ending. That I really enjoyed. Between the arrest of Micki's mother (definitely didn't see that coming), that Stella's new boyfriend is the son of the man Cordell put in jail when he was Duke, and the reveal that the man in prison for Emily's murder is being paid off AND that the money is coming from Geri (I wanted to trust her but I KNEW she was too good to be true), the end of this episode was a roller coaster! It feels like this may have been planned to be a midseason finale, before the addition of extra episodes that came with the renewal for season 2. I'm really hyped to find out how Geri fits into this. Did she kill Emily? Did she have Emily killed? Why? What would have driven her to murder her best friend? I'm looking forward to seeing Geri fleshed out as more than "Emily's best friend" and "the pretty face behind the bar" as we delve deeper into the truth of that night.
Walker: Duke (2021)
Hands down my favorite episode so far!
This episode has a much faster pace than the other episodes so far, which is great, and the "case" feels much more rooted in the characters as Cordell is forced to go back into his undercover role. Seeing Jared switch from Cordell to Duke and back was so good. Jared has always impressed me with his ability to play different "versions" of a character (he does it several times in Supernatural to great results) and this is yet another excellent instant of that. We get to see more of what Cordell's life was like during the months he was away from his family, in addition to building more on his relationship with Micki and, in the end, his children. I especially love the moment after he yells at August when Micki grabs his hand and reassures Cordell that August will forgive him. Their dynamic as partners is quick becoming one of my favorite parts of the show. She grounds Walker, centers him on his job and the task at hand, and I think that's something he really needs when he's struggling to find his footing again with his family.
As I mentioned in my ep 4 review, I do find it extremely frustrating that August had to go digging and invading his dad's privacy, as Cordell may not have had to return to being Duke otherwise and none of August's worries about Cordell leaving again would have been stirred up. Something I realized when discussing the episode with friends afterwards, though, is that Liam explicitly states in the first (or second?) episode that August has been doing everything in his power for the whole time Cordell was gone to keep from rocking the boat. So now that Cordell is home, all of August's locked up and shoved down emotions are breaking free as he struggles to cope with his mother's death, his father's absence, and now his overwhelming fear that his father will leave again. August clearly is dealing with some abandonment issues that I hope will be addressed as the series moves forward. I have hopes that they will be, with the way the show is centering more on the family and their dynamics than on cases the way many cop-centric shows do.
Walker: Don't Fence Me In (2021)
A little weaker than episode 3 but still good! (small spoilers for ep 5 included here)
I really enjoyed the insights into Micki we got in this episode (though the "familiar resemblance was a liiiiitle shaky and not my favorite way of solving the case but oh well). I'm especially digging her relationship with Trey. I love how when Micki messes up with him, she immediately recognizes that she's done so and is doing better about talking through these conflicts. We also learn some more about the issues between the Walker grandparents, which I mentioned in my episode 3 review was something I found myself enjoying. Something I found extremely frustrating by was August's behavior, digging into his dad's stuff and stealing his old phone. Clearly that was something Cordell wasn't ready to tell him about yet, so August should have stepped back and waiting until Cordell was ready. Instead, he invades Cordell's privacy and single-handedly puts everyone in danger in the next episode when his actions force Cordell to have to go back undercover. August is only 14 (I think? He's young), so I understand him not really having a good view of the big picture but I still found his actions extremely frustrating.
On a not-plot-or-character-related note, everyone keeps bringing up the music and saying it's louder than the dialogue? But I, someone with ADHD who deals with auditory processing disorder, haven't had a single issue with understanding what's being said. Maybe my system is set up differently? Or the audio levels are different on the CW site, where I've watched all the episodes except for 6? If you've been having trouble with the audio levels in the live episodes, maybe check out the CW site and see if that makes a difference.
Walker: Bobble Head (2021)
Getting better and better each week!
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. It does a lot to flesh out the pasts of the characters, especially Walker in the form of his long time, troublemaker best friend Hoyt (who is introduced in a stripper scene that I definitely did not mind. Wow. I may be adjusting my opinion on glitter xD). In addition to digging a little deeper into Walker, we got to see a softer side of Abeline that has me warming up to her more and more. We've also been introduced to some cracks in what seemed at first to be a solid foundation on which the Walker family was built. It's clear not all is well with the Walker grandparents and I'm surprised to find myself genuinely interested in learning more about them.
Knives Out (2019)
Always a Favorite
Coming back today to review this film in honor of the great Christopher Plummer, who will be sorely missed. Knives Out has become a comfort movie for me in the last year and was actually the last film I saw in theaters pre-quarantine (on NYE with the theatrical director's commentary that was available for download on the Knives Out website). I absolutely love it, from the unique yet believable characters to the intriguing location filled with new details to notice every time you watch to Daniel Craig's accent and Chris Evan's sweater. This is a film that never fails to take my mind off my worries for a couple of hours. I will always recommend this film to anyone who asks.
Walker: Back in the Saddle (2021)
Strong second episode
There's definitely a lot for this show to improve upon as it continues but I think episode 2 did a good job of building on the foundations the pilot laid. I was surprised at how quickly they wrapped up some stuff but overall? I'm still definitely enjoying the show. I'm like Stella more and more as we get to know her, and I especially enjoy Walker trying to figure out how to navigate two very different children and realizing how their issues didn't start with Emily's death, that just catapulted them into the light. I look forward to seeing how Walker finds his way back to being the father his children need him to be.
Walker: Pilot (2021)
Already in love!
Came to this show for Jared, staying for the rest of the incredible cast!
Is the pilot episode perfect? No! Of course not. It's a pilot. They never are. There's lots of exposition, some clunky dialogue, the usual. It does, however, lay a solid basis for the Walker family and the Rangers Cordell will be interacting with regularly. We don't delve too deeply into any of them but the foundations have been poured and I can't wait to see where they take things!
One thing I really love is that they're trying to establish right from the start that this isn't a show about a Ranger who also happens to be a dad. This is a show about a father and widower who also happens to be a Texas Ranger. I wasn't quite sure I would believe the ages of the kids in comparison to Jared and Genevieve, but Kale and Violet were so good, I forgot about that concern very quickly. Violet especially impressed me. She has some real talent!