This review for historical interest only and not intended for die-hard fans.
(Which itself is ironic since the writer considers himself also a die-hard fan.)
This is the weakest episode in an otherwise ASTONISHING series to date and, for reviewers of the future, should provide a baseline as what happens when the writers decide to go home early.
All the key elements which have made this series magical -- so far -- are missing and replaced by moments in time that feel horribly awkward.
For example, off the open, Hood intercepts a robbery attempt by his two ex-partners that he was not told about, and is confused. So is the audience. It is made clear it was an off the books job to raise money for the younger child but the whole thing feels strange and curiously out of resonance.
Hood goes after Proctor to the point where even Proctor shows up at the bar and says, hey, we have a complicated relationship, what's going on? But Hood has no reply and is suddenly acting like a real lawman. It is awkward for everyone, both in front of and behind the camera.
Hood's newfound passion for being a real lawman causes him to fake a search warrant and jeopardize his CI, who is not merely "a" sympathetic character; but, in fact, the ONLY sympathetic character working for Proctor. So much so that Trieste Dunn's character suddenly switches from making goo-goo eyes at Hood to actually reprimanding him. Really awkward. And this is made even more awkward by the fact that her character chooses that exact moment to question her "relationship" with him ... something never before done in this series by any of the 288 women he had previously slept with.
Most awkward of all, however, is a touching restaurant scene between Hood's black deputy and his pregnant wife which ends with the skinheads across the street observing the scene and saying "Let's have some fun." You don't have to have seen the original Charles Bronson Death Wish - or any of the 400 knockoffs - to know what happens next. And yes, she loses the baby. Also awkward.
Most disturbing of all is when said black deputy goes all "Sheriff Hood" on the miscreants once in jail and beats the tar out of them. Here is the thing. When Sheriff Hood, the character, explodes into violent action, unpredictably, from time to time, it is part of the charm of the series. When a real deputy methodically seeks revenge, it is just the opposite of fun. It is really creepy.
Which is the case with this whole episode.
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