‘Archie’ Recap: ‘Episode 2’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jason Isaacs as Archibald ‘Archie’ Leach/Cary Grant in of ‘Archie’. (Photo Courtesy of BritBox.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Archie’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous BritBox series, Archie, we talked at length about how the show… offered up some storytelling elements that you don’t often see in biographical features. Such as the fact that it figured out a way to use Cary Grant’s later years, and his one-man reflection show, as the catalyst to ponder upon his life and the formative years that brought him to America, wherein he would become a star. And this was worth noting and examining, simply because you don’t see bio features showcase the beginning in such a detailed manner, nor does the trip down memory lane feel so natural and organic, and well… the unique nature of this series is worth highlighting once more, simply because the next episode in this fascinating show found a way to continue to impress.

For the second chapter in the life and times of Cary Grant, dug deep into the impact of trauma upon the human mind, and how that forms our future and some of our quirks and concerns about life, and it accomplished this exploration by taking the time to expand upon something that Cary said in passing in the premiere. Specifically, that he invented Cary Grant, that he was playing someone else all of this time, and well… he most certainly was not lying. Because we were witness to how acting in his earliest days, did something special for him. It let him escape from the tougher days that life sends our way and helped him to shed anything that was keeping him down, and that was intoxicating, and it made him feel loved because he was so good at it. 

So naturally, because of the pain he carried, and how little he wanted to deal with it, he was happy to become Cary Grant and leave Archie behind. Because as Cary, he was a new man, a star, and someone… that truly was a shell designed to protect the damage within. For he still worried deeply about being alone in this story, and he still carried with him the ache of never having his father and mother’s love, and that allowed for the story to explore how that related to his feelings regarding fatherhood. Since he felt deep down, he would end up like his dad, and it also explained how he struggled to connect with the people he so dearly loved. Because while Cary could express emotion, Archie could not, and the shield kept those wanting to be closest to him as far away as possible.

Yet, what truly allowed for this episode to shine, was that it also showcased… how Cary worked to heal from all of that, and that he chose to heal for that matter. Since he spoke to Dyan about going into therapy and he pushed hard to know Dyan in this tale, to try and let down his guard because like anyone else… he wanted real love. Real connection, that sense of belonging to another’s heart through and through. And oddly enough, it would seem one of the big catalyst points for his decision to start therapy and the path to healing, was a return home long before he courted Dyan. Because his father came calling at the height of his fame, to apologize for lying to him about his mother’s death, a move that sent fury through Cary’s veins and ice when his mother didn’t recognize him, and clearly… that had to motivate a need for change, a need to shed that pain. 

But while we wait to see what that process looked like, and how tough that likely was for Cary to go through, we can celebrate one smart and amazing chapter in this series. Because it truly went where few bio pictures and stories in general go. By offering up an honest look at the power of trauma, and how it can literally transform people, and that made for a powerful journey indeed. One that was once again sold by Jason Isaacs in an incredible manner. For he continues to shine in this role, and he brings a real humanity to the role that we genuinely connect with. But what matters most is that this series continues to find new and engaging ways to explore the life of a true icon, and that truly leaves the viewer hungry for more. Because we’re learning so much, and we simply want to know more, and it will be fascinating to see what other unique corners of Cary’s life this series is going to explore in chapters to come. Until next time.

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