The world is chaotic at times. It’s messy, full of conflicting ideas and clashing goals, and these multiple sides simply can’t function in tandem when everyone has his or her agenda. So, you can either acquiesce or remain steadfast on achieving your goals before anyone else does; whichever decision you choose has its own set of consequences, its own set of moral dilemmas awash with uncertainty.
For Eleanor, her ledger is superficially all-important because of the information it holds about her and Galvan; on a more profound, emotional level, though, the ledger is symbolic of her unwavering singularity in a world that continually beats her down. It’s a tangible object to which she attaches her history, her goals, her accomplishments, and she won’t stop until she tracks it down because if she loses it, she essentially loses a part of herself. She loses what’s been with her this whole time. It’s not about Galvan. It’s about her.
Interestingly enough, this unwavering singularity is emphasized in a world that’s seemingly coming together at various points to go after people like her. Frye and Adriana are back together, Marco and Sonya are as well, and the CIA is cracking down. There’s power in unity, and those who’re running off on their own are eventually going to be caught up with; in fact, the episode ends with Eleanor Nacht crumpled in a heap at Sonya’s feet, with a wound in her torso and now captured by the government.
Of course, people will always find ways to fight back against the system, to fight back against the higher-ups who want to crush them. As we find out during the CIA meeting, Fausto’s nothing more than a lackey for them, but the end of the episode brings an act of control that combats the attempts to control him. He decides to kidnap Romina Cerisola, and suddenly, the balance of power is shifted once more. This is a guy who survives, and this is an act of vengeance, the likes of which he knows so well. It remains to be seen what his ultimate fate will be, but we know that as others close in on him, he’ll fight to his last breath to retain some semblance of control.
GRADE: B+
OTHER THOUGHTS:
-This is the show at its most tightly plotted and compelling, so I hope subsequent episodes maintain that style. It suits the show well.
-It’s interesting that Hank’s in a similar position here that Sonya was in last week: under the oppressive sunlight, weak, and about to be killed.
-There’s a poignant moment here with Sonya being able to connect with Jaime. She’s a cop and she’s tough, but at the same time, we’ve seen throughout the season that it’s plausible she sees some of herself in Jaime: someone caught up in the cycle of violence, someone who shies away from the aggressive tactics utilized by people like Marco or Nacht or Galvan.
-That’s David Wallace from The Office playing the doctor who revives Hank. He’s a nice, believable character, more so than most shady doctors we see who help out the bad guys in shows.
-Still no Eva and Linder. I really wonder what the writers have in mind for them this season. Not much time left.
-Three more episodes left in the season. So far, it’s shaping up very nicely, and if they nail the landing, this will be a significantly better year than the last (it’s not a coincidence that the season kicked it into high gear immediately following the death of David Tate). I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
Photo credit: FX, The Bridge
Polar Bears Watch TV 
Just gone done watching..perfect review..except I really like(d) Hank.. Eleanor freaks me out..I guess that’s the point! ha!
1. Eleanor has been cheating Fausto all this time! 2. So, we are back to the scene of Lyle Lovett entering the death house – I loved the music first time around much better. And, we know why and how Eleanor killed Yanni. 3. That’s 2 actors from “The Office,” Kevin and David Wallace. 4. When? did Sonya interact with Jaime before this season? 5. Hank is one tough old man.
One can arrive at an intriguing perspective if we consider that many of the main characters are placed on a pendulum in their story arcs – they swing back and forth from good to bad. If we use Sonya Cross as the center, meaning when the other characters are viewed through her eyes we see it with all the more clarity.
First Marco was good last season, then he lost his luster when he killed the cops (to protect Sonya). When Sonya believed that Marco was in Galvan’s pocket, he lost even more luster. But for Sonya, Marco hit rock bottom, when David Tate was murdered in prison. As she said, I can’t trust you any more.
Then Marco saved her from the contract killer.
Hank – a fatherly figure to Sonya as well as a respected and admired police officer. That is until Sonya found out that Hank had executed the man who killed her sister. But now that Hank was seriously wounded at the blood bath at the new home development Red Ridge, Sonya’s perspective has changed back – placing her in a must save Hank mode.
Daniel Frye went from carousing news reporter to drunkard to victim to heroic and intrepid reporter to the fool (when he got himself fired from the newspaper) and now I hope he will redeem himself as Season Two ends.
Captain Robles – does not fit the model as he’s been bad most of the time
Charlotte – seemed extraneous this year. She had so little to do, and then got her self killed at Red Ridge.
Linder – was, is and will continue to be strange – but I can’t quite see him in such a limited role as this season winds down.
Adriana does not fit the model either, as her character has been one of rational thinking and strength throughout.
That’s brings me to Eleanor – in Michael Clayton, he’s asked by Don Jefferies (and Karen Crowder) who are you? Clayton replies: I’m Shiva, the God of Death . Then Eleanor is surely the Goddess of Death. As in a straight line = anyone she ran into had to do what she wanted or she’d dispatch them to oblivion right then and there. She’s even more scary than Fausto.
As for this particular episode – I thought it was a bit a step backwards despite the return of Sonya and Marco as a viable team. The flashback confused me at first, and Hank crawling in the dust went on for far too long.I also didn’t much like the repeated use of closeups.
But I will continue to watch this series as well as enjoy your posts about it.