‘Ragdoll’ Recap: ‘Episode 6’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Ragdoll’.
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The old phrase, ‘everybody loves a happy ending’, exists in our vernacular today… because there is so much truth to it. Because people still flock to and demand stories that feature that perfectly joyous ending. Wherein the hero is triumphant in their goals and evil is vanquished at last and we love it… because it truly gives us hope and it is a perfect escape. For deep down we know that happy endings are rare in this life because the world is such a chaotic place and what’s wild… is that the storytelling landscape is changing in regard to this concept. Because the line between fiction and reality is beginning to blur as more powerful stories that reflect the grey the world operates within, hit the market. Which is allowing for grittier stories with more realistic endings to come to life and for proof… look no further than the next episode of Ragdoll on AMC+.

For the season finale of this phenomenal series, offered up quite the gritty and realistic end to the Ragdoll Killer case and really, the first real world lesson that it reminded us of… is that sometimes the bad guy gets away. Because despite the fact that Baxter and Edmunds and Rose worked together in a very unhealthy and chaotic manner in this tale, they eventually figured out how to corner the Ragdoll Killer and completely and utterly rattle him like never before. A feat that both Rose and Baxter accomplished by disobeying his orders and desires. Which put him out of sorts and bought them enough time for him… to escape. Since Edmunds was their only backup and that helped him Massey slip into the night, hammering home the fact that evil escapes good’s clutches now and again.

As it turned out, that wasn’t the only lesson revolving around evil that this episode sent our way. For we also came to learn that evil… can inspire. Because while Thomas was working to complete his list, Joy was quickly learning of the thrill that comes with being a twisted individual. For she found great joy in lying to the police and in playing the victim, since she was able to stave off any of Edmunds’ suspicions about who she might be by making it seem as though Thomas harmed her so, and well, this cat and mouse game had such an impact upon her psyche, that she decided it was time to take the darkness she discovered within, to a whole new level. How exactly, we won’t spoil here because the pinnacle of her dark desires has to be seen to believed but rest assured… it was obvious that her final act was inspired by Thomas, and the freedom he found by embracing evil.

But while it was fascinating and somewhat rough to see the bad guys win the day, there were some sour moments to be found for the heroes of the story as well. Since Edmunds’ journey in this tale served to remind us… that no good act or projection of honor can put our past transgressions to bed, and they will eventually find us when we run from them and of course… Rose’s story here reminds us, that sometimes… we stumble and fall and stay down. Since he fully embraced his trauma and his madness and let it control his actions and his future and it will be quite interesting to see if a future season of this series… will address whether or not he will ever face his own demons and his trauma, since that is the key to Nathan finding himself again and how he will move forward in life, and truly, this writer hopes a second season is in the cards.

For this is simply a brilliant show through and through. One that really did dig deep into concepts and notions that aren’t being examined in the slightest on television these days, and another year of storytelling could expand further upon everything explored and introduced here and of course, it would give our flawed heroes a new case to handle. But while we wait for that news, we can revel in a satisfying finale, one that truly brought everything together in a realistic and gritty manner. Because the world rarely offers us complete resolution and absolution, and this story encapsulated that perfectly and for now at least… the Ragdoll Killer case has come to a close. But it might not be long before it is reopened, since a curious party out there… might want to finish what Thomas Massey, started.   

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