This episode contains three abrupt and violent scenes that each serve to tie off or complicate a particular plot. The horror and realism of these scenes are greatly enhanced by the cinematography, which is outstanding.
I've noticed that this season has an odd approach to introducing characters; it doesn't really do anything to introduce them. They just sort of show up. The viewer is supposed to fill in what gaps they can and wait for more information. That's a great tactic in moderation, but when used too much it becomes extremely disorienting and prevents the viewer from investing in the character. Some examples are Kareem, DiPierro, the guy with a reddened eye, and Ray (although I actually appreciated it in his case). The thing that I really like about this episode is that it takes leaps and bounds in both explaining these plots and wrapping them up.
For instance, DiPierro (whose introduction was a strange scene in a convenience store that I still do not fully understand) has grown to be one of my favourite characters on the show, in no small part due to this episode. She and others from the FBI travel to China where they meet Whiterose. The two of them have a really great scene together; the actors have a lot of chemistry, and the writing is on point. The contrast of a masculine woman and an effeminate man plays very well on screen. Some of the dialogue makes me begin to wonder if Whiterose has a split personality. There is a lot of evidence to support it, and yet perhaps it would be too similar to the situation with Elliot.
There were lots of other great character scenes in this one, too many to go over. It looks like episode five (if you count both parts of the premiere as one) is going to be the big hack, which parallels the fact that episode five of season one was also a big hack episode. Perhaps that will be an inter-season tradition. Like how the ninth episode of every other Game of Thrones season is a big battle episode.
I've noticed that this season has an odd approach to introducing characters; it doesn't really do anything to introduce them. They just sort of show up. The viewer is supposed to fill in what gaps they can and wait for more information. That's a great tactic in moderation, but when used too much it becomes extremely disorienting and prevents the viewer from investing in the character. Some examples are Kareem, DiPierro, the guy with a reddened eye, and Ray (although I actually appreciated it in his case). The thing that I really like about this episode is that it takes leaps and bounds in both explaining these plots and wrapping them up.
For instance, DiPierro (whose introduction was a strange scene in a convenience store that I still do not fully understand) has grown to be one of my favourite characters on the show, in no small part due to this episode. She and others from the FBI travel to China where they meet Whiterose. The two of them have a really great scene together; the actors have a lot of chemistry, and the writing is on point. The contrast of a masculine woman and an effeminate man plays very well on screen. Some of the dialogue makes me begin to wonder if Whiterose has a split personality. There is a lot of evidence to support it, and yet perhaps it would be too similar to the situation with Elliot.
There were lots of other great character scenes in this one, too many to go over. It looks like episode five (if you count both parts of the premiere as one) is going to be the big hack, which parallels the fact that episode five of season one was also a big hack episode. Perhaps that will be an inter-season tradition. Like how the ninth episode of every other Game of Thrones season is a big battle episode.
