Courtesy of ABC
Tensions run high in Rock Spring as some people are consumed with revenge, while others try to save themselves. Who will fall before the end of the night?
Let’s bitch it out…
After a few weeks off, Blood & Oil is back with an episode that strains credulity time after time after time.
I understand this is probably supposed to be the least important plot point of the episode, but it is the one that stayed with me the most. Jules (India de Beaufort) did a really shitty thing to Wick (Scott Michael Foster): she cheated on him with his billionaire father, Hap (Don Johnson)… for an extended period of time… and Wick had to witness it. I get it. It was brutal and awful. But man my heart tore apart watching her tell Wick that she realized she actually loves him. She has tears in her eyes and a smile on her face as she says it, naively thinking that they could somehow get past her betrayal. Then Wick hurls the most hurtful insults at her, treats her like garbage and suddenly the smile is gone, the tears are still there and she realizes she got played again for trusting the wrong person. Sigh. Heartbreak really gets me. Man oh man that is a brutal scene. I think both actors did a phenomenal job and the proof is right here since this is the first thing I want to discuss about the episode. Let;s get real here – someone as hot as Jules believably having an affair with Don Johnson week after week? – the girl deserves an award for that alone.
Let’s get to the meat of the episode. Wick must be the worst mole in the history of time if there are so many people that can figure out it’s him. Add to that the fact that everyone in town seems to listen in on everyone else’s conversations and then pass on the info and Wick’s betrayal is headed for a bad end. This is why it is interesting to me that when Carla (Amber Valletta) decides to throw one of the Briggs children under the bus, she chooses Lacey (Miranda Rae Mayo). Wick is clearly the obvious choice here – he’s a kid with a troubled past that continues to catch up to him so it would make sense that if anyone is going to break the law, it’s him. The sheriff (Delroy Lindo) recently had him under surveillance for some pretty serious crimes. That alone should suggest that it’s Wick. But nope, Carla picks the good child. Unfortunately for the audience, who could’ve been spared Lacey’s annoying attitude if she were sent to prison, Carla is arrested before she can enact her plan. Clearly this was not Wick’s endgame.
Courtesy of ABC
Ok. Let’s talk Gary (Paul Rae). This entire story is completely unbelievable from beginning to end. Gary wakes up, and rips out his breathing tube to say Billy’s (Chace Crawford) name. Why not Wick? Wick is the one who’s been his partner from the beginning . Wick even talked Billy into leaving Gary in the woods. But nope, Gary chooses to solely focus on Billy, prompting Billy to contemplate pulling his plug.
The most amazing thing about all of this is the sheriff doesn’t have an officer posted outside Gary’s door. I’m sorry, but this guy is wanted for how many crimes and has been on the run for how many weeks, but the sheriff is happy leaving him be at the hospital alone? This is the most unbelievable part of the story for me…until Cody (Rebecca Rittenhouse) asks her attacker for the “truth” about her husband? Why on earth would she think she could trust him?! And why does he tell her?! Once again, I thought this was the craziest part of the episode, but once again I was proven wrong. Lo and behold, despite speaking to Cody with very little strain a mere one hour earlier, Gary dies…before sharing his story with the world. He was desperate to share it before, but somehow didn’t tell a nurse or a doctor or even a policeman after Cody leaves. Thankfully (hopefully?) with Gary’s death we also lose the ridiculous, unbelievable story lines that came with him.
Other Observations:
- Annie (Lolita Davidovich) is a delightful addition to the show. She’s funny and catty and plays well with Hap.
- The FBI is intent on bringing down the great Hap Briggs, so why are they so quick to settle for Carla instead? I can only assume they’re going to try to turn her against Hap, but why couldn’t they have waited a little longer? They had an ace in the hole with the bugged phone, so I’m thinking they could’ve gotten a ton more on Hap if they had simply waited.
What did you think of the return of Blood & Oil? Do you think Jules will survive? Did you think the Gary stories were as ridiculous as I did? Do you think Carla will take her opportunity to throw Hap under the bus? Sound off below!
Blood & Oil airs on Sundays at 9pm EST on ABC.