‘American Rust: Broken Justice’ Recap – ‘Tree’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Alex Neustaedter and David Alvarez as Billy Poe and Isaac English in Season 2 of ‘American Rust: Broken Justice’. (Photo Courtesy of Dennis Mong/Prime Video.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 207 of ‘American Rust: Broken Justice’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are, a great many reasons why fans continue to tune into and/or rewatch the hit Prime Video series, American Rust: Broken Justice. For some, it is about the cast and the acting, since it boasts a stunning lineup of stars, the kind who turn in amazing performances in every episode, ones so good in fact that we simply crave more of their work. For others, it is about the plot, since this show does feature some intricate and powerful crimes that are woven together in a beautiful and haunting manner. But of the many reasons that people watch this show, there’s one above all else that truly compels us to tune in… the show’s outright realism.

Because this show really does parallel the grey area that our world operates within, and the mistakes and follies that people commit to on a regular basis, and never was that more evident than during its next episode. For ‘Tree’ was a story that deeply explored the regrets and darkness we carry, our fears of playing the hero and our fears of the world… and how sometimes we do whatever we can avoid those fears. Which is what Grace tried to do in this tale. Since she hosted a fancy divorce party with her closest friends in the hopes of just enjoying the night and moving on, but that served as a band aid over the pain her son was carrying, and the darkness within him, and his chilling speech and ugly behavior after… spoke to a man haunted by his past.

For Billy really could not shake the horrors of those days in prison and went so far as to drink himself stupid as he waited to get into the military, and he sunk low here, and felt nothing but regret over being the bigger man. Which prompted dear old dad to try and help his son in the only way that Virgil would deem acceptable in his mind, through pain and suffering. Of others that is, since he found one of the guys responsible and tied him up to a tree. In the hopes of giving his son the chance to stick a pig and find catharsis. Which was quite the dark plot line, one that perhaps is a touch less relatable. But having a dark agent in our lives encourage us to lash out, that’s relatable, as was Grace’s attempts to avoid any fears we harbor about things not being peachy keen in life.

As for worries about heroism, well that was handled via Lee. Who continued to pour herself into her work in the hopes of finally bringing Landwill down the right way, in fact, she even confronted Mrs. McKenna in jail to try and move this forward, only to be stonewalled and she was left scared. Because eyes were locking down upon this matter and she had an idea that the clock was ticking on keeping her just actions a secret. As for the rest of fear related explorations, well those were handled by Del. Because he genuinely knew the danger the Brotherhood represented at this point, since murder was not beneath them, and he was terrified that Angela was in their sights next and went the extra mile to protect her, so he no longer had to have blood upon his hands. 

Which is also, quite relatable, because it is scary to be the hero when you know something is wrong in this life and it is also scary to know that people might hurt those we care about and all of these elements made, for one shockingly realistic tale. One that hit all the right notes and still harbored every single element we love about the show. Since the cast did slay here yet again, and the case continues to captivate. But more importantly, there is now… something greater hanging over this series, something that speaks to a crescendo building and that too, is captivating. Because it likely means with three episodes left, we are about to see all of these elements explode to bring us one amazing season finale, one that will feel right and stun us, as the issues hanging over everyone come to a head. Until next time.

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