Written by John Edward Betancourt
It is definitely safe to say, that the first two episodes of the STARZ series, BMF, have been nothing short of a masterclass in origin themed storytelling. Because not only has this show given us a proper introduction to the Flenory brothers and shown us what makes them tick, but it has also explained why being the best in the drug game means the world to them and we are witnessing their meteoric rise moment by moment. All as they learn on the job and learn how to handle adversity along the way and clearly, season one of this series is showing no signs of slowing down when it comes to taking us through every single formative moment of the BMF Empire. Since the next episode in this incredible journey, takes the time to explore another key genesis moment of what could be considered to be the last great crime empire in America.
For ‘Love All, Trust Few’, is a story that showcases something we don’t really see that often in drug-centric crime dramas. Specifically, the early commitments and decisions that lead our antihero or antiheroes down the fateful path they will travel. Because so many of these stories just show future drug kingpins falling into a big score in a manner that puts them on the map. Wherein we watch them claim their crown after rising to fame, via a montage to a catchy tune. But here… an uncomfortable reality for Meech is what leads to the moments we’ve always been curious to see. For early on in this tale, Pat made it clear that the 50 Boyz were behind in their payments, and he expected his money in hand, within a matter of days. Which of course… bred innovation between Meech and Terry. Because they saw this as the perfect opportunity to really see what they were made of and prove themselves to Pat. All so they could re-up on supply in a manner that would make it known they were the best in town and well, that pushed them to think outside the box and try to make inroads near the local factories. For the word on the street was everyone down that way was using as it was and after a few bumps along the way, the 50 Boyz were able to move some serious weight near the factories, and it wasn’t long before they had enough money to pay back Pat and enjoy a little profit along the way. And in that moment… this duo really came to understand how much they loved doing this and how incredibly good they were at it, giving us the genesis point for their future empire. However, while that was fascinating to watch play out, make no mistake about it… there was more to be found in this tale than just wheeling and dealing. After all, the Flenory family drama continued in this story, and it was escalated to a new level by Meech’s decision to pay off the mortgage to keep his family warm and safe. Not to mention, Terry took a little heat from LaWanda as to how he treats her, and these are the plot threads that truly make us care about this show since it reminds us that Meech and Terry are people and not caricatures made for entertainment. Plus, we’d be remiss to not point out, that the threats that were seemingly left to simmer or were seemingly resolved in the prior episode, continued to escalate in this particular tale. For the weight the 50 Boyz have been moving, combined with the fights with 12th Street they consistently take part in, prompted a new Task Force to be formed by the police, and that’s never good. Not to mention, Lamar made more moves in this tale by basically securing himself as the head of 12th Street and his power play also revealed to us, that there is a mole in the 50 Boyz outfit and it’s Kota. Because Lamar took a little time here to demand she tell him, all that she knew about the operation, and clearly… she wasn’t going to say no to Lamar. Making it clear that the biggest threat to the outfit is within, and well, it will be interesting to see what comes of that reveal, and the other foundational moments present in this magnificent episode, as our journey through season one of this brilliant series continues along. Until next time.
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Written by John Edward Betancourt
One thing that we can all agree upon when it comes to gangster stories, is that a vast majority of them, have a tendency to romanticize and glorify the life and times of kingpins and mob bosses. As though, the big middle finger they’ve offered to the world, has somehow made them a better person, and given them a life free from trouble and strife. Which is only compounded further by the lack of threats they perceive and deal with since most of these movies tend to create a unique downfall for the kingpin in question. All of which is problematic really, since it really doesn’t make it clear that a life in the game isn’t easy in the slightest. In fact, it’s scary and tense and trouble waits on every corner since money and greed, and power, is the name of the game and that’s why BMF on STARZ continues to impress.
For it is a series that serves as the anthesis to the traditional gangster story. Because its dedication to the real-life story of the Flenory family and their operation, is allowing for those real elements to be explored in the story, as evidenced by its next episode. For ‘Rumors’ is a tale that saw all the negatives that come forth from dedicating oneself to a life of crime come into play. After all, when we caught up with Big Meech in this tale, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because on the one hand, someone shot his beloved brother and the rules of the street, and this business, called for retaliation. But he wasn’t sure that was the right way to go. Simply because… he was smart enough to know what that means in the real world. Because unlike the movies, there’s no message sent and compliance to be found when someone is gunned down in retaliation, just escalation. Where blood for blood is the game. Which in turn motivated him to try and handle this peacefully and learn who actually shot Tee, since rumors were abound it was Jay-Mo. Rumors that were started by Lamar and well… despite his best efforts to keep the peace and be noble about this mess… it quickly devolved into chaos. For B-Mickie was worried that Meech was being too soft regarding this. So, he killed Jay-Mo to keep things level, regardless of whether or not the man crossed that line and for that matter, B-Mickie was a source of insurrection in this tale. Since he also kept pushing his own agenda as though he was in charge of this outfit. All of which spoke to the dangers of being involved in the game and how threats are everywhere to be found both internally and externally and how some of those threats can be invisible in nature since we didn’t learn who shot Tee in this tale. But… the episode did give us an inkling. After all, Lamar was quite active in this story. To the point where he basically joined up with 12th Street, and in turn, he worked to cause all kinds of trouble for them since he also beat Filmel within an inch of his life in this tale. All because he wanted to stir the pot. Making it clear that he’s up to something grand and it would be easy to envision him as the guy that took the time to shoot Tee to bring chaos to the streets as part of a larger power play. Since this episode also revealed the fact that he was once the King of the Detroit Drug Game. But what matters more, is that this episode didn’t romanticize this life in the slightest. It was honest with us and that kept this story in a tense place. Which was delightfully broken, by informing us that Terry was going to be okay, despite potentially having some sight issues. But that aside, make no mistake about it… this was a revolutionary episode through and through. Because it is just so rare to enjoy a gangster story that is actually eager to present the game in the raw and how the thrill of outwitting opponents in the name of power and glory is addicting and this episode was so good that it absolutely compels one to continue the journey. To see if the fear that Terry spoke to while recovering, will change his perspective on the business he entered into, and what will come from Lamar’s twisted and violent machinations. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘Echo 3’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
There comes a point in the lives of some, where a difficult decision must be made. Where the law is failing someone dealing with a grand injustice and they must decide whether or not to keep faith in the system regardless of its failures… or step up and step in and make justice happen on their own. Which cannot be an easy decision in the slightest since stepping away from the rules can have all kinds of consequences. But people can and will and have… crossed that line to make sure that what’s just and what’s true in this world prevails and that tough decision is top of mind today, simply because it… and the reasons for it were explored in an emotional manner in the next episode of Echo 3 on Apple TV+. For when we caught up with the characters in ‘Family Matters’, the situation was grim in the black site. Because Tomas was now under extreme pressure from Tariq to get what the Venezuelan government wanted out of Amber. As revenge for what happened to his brother, even though Momo came home alive. Which pushed Tomas to use mind altering drugs to get her to say the lies they wanted the world to hear, and when that didn’t get the result he wanted, since it made her loopy and filled with gibberish… he was given orders to kill her. Word of which got back to Prince and Bambi who were secured away near the facility but unsure of how to proceed and well… that’s what led to the conflict in question. Because this was Amber, they were talking about here… and her imminent death truly unsettled both men. So, they dug deep and pondered upon the pros and cons of just… going for it. The negatives of course… involved the potential loss of innocent life in the compound and of those who would suffer from the fallout. Because one way or another, there would be retaliation, likely a combat skirmish, and that was a lot of blood to have upon their hands. But at the same time, this was an innocent life ignored and forgotten and used as a bargaining chip and they of course… could do something about this injustice. All it would take was a group of mercenaries and their training and they could save a life, and the thought of walking away when they could have done something… was too much to bear, so they decided… to go for it. Which might seem akin to a reckless and selfish decision, but family is everything to us and such a decision harkens back to that all-important question… how far would we go to keep our family safe? Which in turn, prompted them to call up Mitch and get to work on a plan to get in there and thankfully… they received support from Mitch and so many others. Since Prince’s dad sent gear and more soldiers to complete the mission, courtesy of a plea from Maggie and with all that they needed in hand… the training and planning for the mission got underway. Wherein we watched two aching souls teach strangers how to move and who to kill, and to ensure they had the time they needed; Mitch took part in a daring plot. One that involved keeping a close eye on Tariq as he wined and dined and generally made an ass of himself because that is his nature, and this surveillance was designed to find Tariq at his most vulnerable. So that the CIA could plug bullets into him and plunge the government into chaos. All so that Amber’s rescue team could quickly and quietly extract her without a worry regarding swift intervention. That… is where this episode left us, with our heroes secure in their decision to put everything on the line for family and that… is the perfect way to end this tale. Because it sets the stage for a powerhouse penultimate episode, one that will see our heroes use all their training and their care to save a person that means the world to them and again, while some may not like that such a destabilizing decision was made here… it fits the theme of this story and it is one that is hard to disagree with since we too, would likely take the same chance if we had the same skills and resources and these men. Making this an episode that speaks to the beauty and horror of our emotional flaws and it of course leaves us counting down the minutes until next week’s tale. Since we simply have to know how the raid is going to go. Until then. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘The Mosquito Coast’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
It has often been said, that in order to really test the love or bond of someone that means the world to us… we should simply set them free. That way, they can process their feelings about us and come to understand what we mean to them, and if that ends in parting ways, then c’est la vie. At least we know. But if it ends with them coming back to us, and we strengthen our bonds in the process, then it was all worth the brief emotional sacrifice necessary. If anything, that particular line of thinking, and process really, is top of mind today, simply because… this is what the Fox family has been experiencing for weeks on end now in The Mosquito Coast on Apple TV+. For this family hasn’t been sure if the Allie Fox line of thinking is what they need in life or if they should be near one another as a family. So, they have in essence, gone their separate ways to learn about what they need and want in life and from their family and ‘The Counterfeiters’ is a story that finally provided some of them of the answers they seek. For instance, Margot has been trying to figure out for some time now, what she actually believes in and if Allie is someone, she should be near, and her decision to go after Richard… opened her eyes to a lot. Such as the fact that she has let her love of environmentalism go the wayside. Since she struggled with turning Richard in because he was indeed fighting for the right cause, giving her an understanding, that she needs to rededicate herself to something greater, and she also came to learn… that while Allie isn’t the best of husbands and has a lot to work on, as does she… he is a better alternative than Richard. For her old flame, burned her in this tale… again… when the opportunity arose and made her a pawn once again. Something that Allie has never done. However, there was mention of more members of the family finding clarity in this tale and the other person that found that… was Dina. Because now that she was far away from the frustrations of Casa Roja, she was able to settle into a nearby resort and just… breathe. Breathe and think and take part in aspects of life she’d never taken part in before. Such as blending in, socializing, and eating whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and well… she came to learn a lot in that moment. In that, her father wasn’t wrong about the vapid nature of the world, and its ignorance. Nor was she a fan of meat. Allowing for her to realize, she didn’t quite belong in the regular world, and perhaps being around her family… people that shared in similar beliefs and views… wasn’t such a bad thing. And she wouldn’t have come to that epiphany without steeping away and having freedom to learn, and now that she understands her place and how it is with her family… she can potentially return and mend fences. Yet while it was fascinating to see these threads be resolved and see Dina and Margot find meaning, this show is still a thriller in many ways and there were many other critical and intense plot threads present in this tale. Such as how Charlie, isn’t getting any better. Since he saw another innocent die at the hands of Guillermo’s mercenaries and that put him in a dark mental space, one that has Allie deeply concerned. Speaking of Allie, he also took the time to put the squeeze on Guillermo. Since he put the operation into the cloud as insurance to get what he wanted, the deed to The Mosquito Coast. Which provided a taste of hope in this tale. Since this family could reunite there, and potentially heal and find a way forward at last, which is critical to Charlie’s mental health. But of course, such hopes are predicated on whether or not Dina’s situation improves. Because it was revealed in this tale as well… that Richard’s real target, is the very resort where Dina is floating about at the moment. Meaning she is in critical danger and well… it is hard to say if she will escape the explosive nightmare that awaits this place. Since the family doesn’t know what Richard is up to, just the audience… and that raises the stakes for the season two finale. For once again, a family member is in danger. But while we wait to see how that plays out, we can celebrate an incredible tale. One that more or less shocked us by informing us of how this family has closer ties than we ever knew and how there are other factors at work when it comes to their longstanding divide. If anything, all this epiphany fueled tale does is leave us pulling for a better tomorrow for the Fox family. Where they finally do put aside years of bad blood and heal and feel the bond they share and if a miracle can occur, perhaps that will finally come to fruition in the season two finale. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 309 of ‘Mythic Quest’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
One particular aspect of the nine to five that we don’t acknowledge all that often, is that it tends to teach us a great deal of lessons about life. For instance, if you’re working in a toxic environment to pay the bills, you learn a lot about what you don’t want to be surrounded by in life and on the flip side of that… a positive working environment can teach us about the standards we should hold ourselves to. To be more like the good people that surround us and lift us up. But even then, there are other lessons that come into play as well, ones that we can sometimes apply to life or only in the workplace, and those particular lessons are top of mind today, because so many of the good people that work at GrimPop and Mythic Quest HQ, went through a learning experience during this week’s episode of Mythic Quest on Apple TV+. For instance, Carol came to learn in ‘The Year of Phil’, that one cannot just assume that everything is in hand at work when one has undertaken a major project, and that one must be objective with their goals. Simply because she thought she had finally made Mythic Quest HQ the most diverse gaming studio in the industry and that she could in fact, pump up the fact that she pulled off such a feat, complete with jokes. But it didn’t take for her to discover, that she was so sure she had this in hand, that she forgot to hire workers akin to Phil, i.e., middle aged Caucasian men… and that left her in a tough and worrisome place. Since Phil saw this as discrimination and was ready to prep a class action suit against her. Which taught her the lessons in question and prompted her to correct them, since she hired new testers that fit the Phil mold. Putting an end to his quest to bring down MQ and making Carol a better hiring manager in the process, since she now understood how objectivity and attention to detail would benefit her. As for others in this tale, well David came to learn that one cannot let their coworkers and others walk all over them if they want to be the boss and push a vision forward. A lesson he came to learn through Jo, while he was getting rolled over by Joe Manganiello and Ian during some mo-cap tests for the upcoming Mythic Quest movie. Because Joe had his vision for how he should play his character and he tapped into Ian’s ego which brought forth the only kind of special disaster that Ian can bring to the table, one that really did make it seem as though David was going to lose control of this. But Jo really did press him to step up and be a leader and take control, and he did. By telling Ian to go home and by sticking to his guns on that decision, and by inadvertently telling Joe (through a brilliant move by Jo) that he needed to turn things down a notch. Which he complied with, giving David back the control, he wanted over the movie, and such moves made him a better leader for certain. However, while those were indeed wondrous endings to important lessons, this is a show that keeps its teachings grounded in reality and sadly… Poppy was the person who was forced to learn that sometimes… we fail at work, courtesy of our own accord, and there is little we can do about it but take our lumps when that happens. A lesson that was brought to life, courtesy of a pitch meeting for Playpen. One that Dana worked overtime to help Poppy prepare for to give Poppy the confidence she desperately wanted in life. But alas, despite finding it, she pitched the game to the same investment company that she turned down early on in the season and that meant their answer… was less than savory. Since they made it clear that being disrespected was not tolerated and of course, they weren’t keen on the game either because of what it would require from a user perspective and that left Poppy beside herself because she failed and made mistakes and truly… nothing could be done about that. If anything, this was just… a wonderful episode when all is said and done, since it focused on growth. For everyone here found it regardless of the circumstances or the lesson inherent and that is what we crave in storytelling. Because we want to see these folks grow and understand more about life, because we in turn… want to understand more about life be it good or be it bad, and it was just wonderful to see all of those elements here. Because it all speaks to the realism of this series, and the majesty of what we get to learn just by waking up in the morning. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that this show still finds a way to offer those lessons in a hilarious manner. Since the humor here once again was top notch, and well… now that more lessons have been learned and more growth has been achieved, it will be interesting to see what final lessons await us when season three comes to a close, next week. Until then. To learn more about the construction of season three of ‘Mythic Quest’, check out our interview with the show’s Co-Creator/Executive Producer, Megan Ganz. Written by John Edward Betancourt
It is definitely safe to say, that stories about the rise and fall of criminal empires, are supremely enticing to audiences around the world and understandably so. Because not only are these stories about everyday people who decided to give the world and its rules the middle finger and get rich in doing so… but these are stories that simply perplex us. Because we simply don’t understand what drives a person down that path and we hope these stories provide us with that. But even, the vast majority don’t. They just plunge us into a lawless world that fascinates us and reminds us that crime does pay, and we hold to that because perhaps… we may never understand such decisions. But you’ll note that we stated a majority of stories in this vein don’t bother explore such matters, but a handful do, and they are most certainly worth celebrating.
Because not only do they try to offer us the perspective we crave, but they do so in a stunning manner. One that really hammers home how the flaws of modern society breed this kind of decision, alongside other factors and one such show that excels at this is BMF on STARZ. For this is a tale that explores the real life rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family that existed from the 1980s to about 2006, and tying this show to real events is what allows for those all-important lessons to take place and as it turns out, the series premiere of this saga, wasted little time in informing us, that one of the big factors that goes into people turning to a life of crime and building a criminal empire… is related to the American Dream. Or rather, a lack of being able to obtain it. For we are all promised that if we work hard and play by the rules, it will come to us, and we will reap its rewards. But so many people, don’t see that return upon their investment in America and that is the case for Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ and Terry ‘Southwest T’ Flenory. For when we are properly introduced to these young men in the 1980s in ‘See It… Touch It… Obtain It…’, they have come to realize that the American Dream has ignored their family. After all, their father, Charles, works himself to the bone at one of the Big Three Factories in Detroit and has little to show for it. In fact, the mortgage is behind. And their mother, Monique, is working in fast food to make ends meet. Not to mention, on the streets of Detroit, these brothers aren’t exactly seeing a push to make life easy for anyone. So, they deem it best to join forces with one of the town’s biggest drug dealers, Pat, to make ends meet and forge their own path and future. Which is… the perfect way to teach us what we want to know. Because we get to see in the raw, how the world forges criminal empires with its own ignorance and apathy and that makes for a fascinating story that is further enhanced by something we also don’t see often in stories in this vein. Specifically, how enticing money and that freedom can be. Because make no mistake about, danger surrounds the Flenory brothers often in this tale, including with how the premiere ends. But they keep on pushing, because deep down they know…. this will indeed give them some measure of respect and of course, riches beyond their wildest dreams. Not to mention, we can tell that they are enjoying this and the thrill of being in control in this manner, is another contributing factor to why people choose this life. If anything, it is safe to declare this to be… a perfect series premiere. Since it takes the time to flesh out this story and its characters and it really helps us to understand who they are/were and why they chose to go down this path and the dangers that accompany this life. Not to mention, the writing is sublime, the acting is simply top-notch with Da’Vinchi (Terry), and Demetrius Flenory Jr. (Meech) leading the charge there, and their performances humanize and a pair of men that made rough choices, and going that route pulls you into this story and demands your attention. So, you can see how they live with those choices and how they justify them because of the trouble they bring, and how those choices led to fame and fortune, and sorrow. And it will be fascinating to watch that play out as we continue our journey through season one, as we count down to the arrival of season two of this stunning show. Until next time. ‘BMF’ returns for season two on STARZ on January 6, 2023. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Gangs of London’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
Something that is quite lovely about this era of peak television, is that to stand out from the crowd, a bevy of shows are working to find new ways to separate themselves from the pack. Some do it through unique storytelling, while others make use of say… their season finales to stand out, by dropping finale episodes that are game changing and epic in nature and some shows… do all of the above. Such as the AMC+ series, Gangs of London. For it already features a powerhouse story and its season finales are the stuff of legend since they do indeed shake everything up and wow us every single step of the way and for proof… look no further than the show’s season two finale. Since it used several plot points from this season, to plunge us into a story that left us on the edge of our seats and outright stunned us when it faded to black. For the stage was set last week for an epic showdown between Elliot and Sean, one that has been a long time coming, and was accelerated by the fact that Elliot sliced off Billy’s arm and made demands of Sean. But before we get into their quarrel and what it did for future storytelling, we’d be foolish to not discuss one of the other surprising and game-changing plots in this tale. Because obviously, Elliot and Shannon stole the heroin that Luan and Marian were planning to sell. Which led to a brief and violent skirmish between Luan’s crew and Shannon and Ed. One that saw the latter duo victorious because well, they had the bigger guns. But what made this sequence so powerful and important and shocking… was the sheer fact that civil discourse came out of it. For Ed made it clear the chaos had to end and civility to this business had to return and Luan listened. Which is something none of us expected to see since the city was in chaos and everyone was at war with one another an episode ago. But while it was nice to be surprised by kindness, and some measure of peace, make no mistake about it… that showdown embraced the darkness. For this was Elliot’s grand chance at revenge against his nemesis and tormentor and he took full advantage of the fact that Sean was ready and willing to do anything and everything necessary to bring his brother home safe and alive. Which is why… Sean toyed with Koba and his men to lull everyone into a false sense of security, to kill Koba, and kill Koba he did. In the most brutal and harrowing manner possible, through an intense poison that basically turned Koba’s insides into pudding. Making it clear that despite having a moment of madness with his mother, family would always come first, and he would do anything to keep them near and with Koba gone at last… he was able to show the proof to Elliot, so his brother could go free, and well… that’s when things got really ugly. Because Elliot of course, had plans to end this by ending Sean. But Billy’s resourcefulness and tenacity let the moment devolve into an all-out street brawl. The kind that saw both men take incredible physical damage as they unleashed years of pent-up anger and hatred toward one another. But in the end, Elliot was victorious and inspired when he saw his nemesis gasping for air when he strung him up. For he realized, killing Sean wouldn’t give him peace, instead, continuing to harm him by robbing him of everything he wanted in life and taking it for himself and flaunting that, would be the only way to find it. Which motivated Elliot to do the unthinkable and join the proverbial dark side. Yes… that’s right, Elliot went heel in this tale and joined the underworld, and that, is about as shocking and as game changing as it gets. Because all season long, he wanted out, he wanted freedom and to do right in the world. But the death of his father changed all that and sunk him into a world of unique revenge. Not to mention, this episode also upended the power dynamic in London again, because by having Koba removed from the equation, the old school bosses are back in play, including Marian, who finally got her seat at the table. Plus, we came to learn that Asif was muscled out by this move and opted to spare Lale for such a possibility, since she is now a wild card as well and that sets the stage for the forthcoming third season in an incredible manner. And once again, this show took the time to not only offer up an amazing season of storytelling that left us in shock, and in awe, but it also brought forth a finale that blew everything up, and of course, left us eager for more of a crime drama that defies convention and makes expecting the unexpected the norm, and it will be fascinating to see what surprises and epic moments await us when season three of this series arrives down the line. Until next year. Please enjoy this exclusive clip from episode eight of Echo 3 which makes its debut on Apple TV+ tomorrow, December 29, 2022! Please enjoy this sneak peek from Episode Eight of Echo 3, which debuts on Apple TV+, tomorrow, 12/30/2022. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Litvinenko’. To revisit the series premiere, click here.
When we think of manhunts in our modern world, we think of a simple and intense, and downright quick process. For modern science and technology have made tying a criminal to their heinous act quite easy, and technology allows for law enforcement to easily identify and track those wanted for crossing the line. Which brings forth the expedient end to the manhunt and of course, the pursuit of justice in the courts, and this process… brings us comfort and a sense of safety. Because we have little to worry about when crimes are committed, thanks to the proficient structure of modern law enforcement. Or so we like to think. Because now and again, the system is challenged and taxed like never before. Courtesy of individuals that want to commit an incredible crime and go the extra mile to not get caught. Or lots and lots of planning goes into it, so that nothing suspect shows up in the investigation and the killers can escape without a care in the world and those are the cases that scare us and rock our belief in the system. Because in that moment, it seems as though all is lost and it is up to the good people of the world to restore that faith and well… this unnerving aspect of justice is top of mind today, simply because it was put on full display in the next episode of Litvinenko on Sundance Now. For the next episode in this series… saw our heroes in a tough place. For now, they had to figure out who the culprit was that poisoned Sasha with Polonium and that meant, re-tracing his steps, and seeing if by chance, other contaminations came into play to narrow down the where and when of the poisoning and that led… to a harrowing hunt. Wherein traces of Polonium were found in terrifying places. Such as hotel bars and the sushi place where Sasha had lunch, and even the toilet in the Litvinenko home hosted trace elements of Alpha Radiation and that, put the fear of God into so many. Simply because… it was scary to know that so many places were touched by a lethal substance in a country where such a thing should never happen and that put folks on edge, and the public as well and that was only further exacerbated by the manhunt itself. After all, the suspect list was extensive early on in this hunt, and that forced tricky tactics to come into play to get information and any potential evidence that appeared to finally tie someone to Sasha’s death, wasn’t concrete enough to make anything happen. But, thanks to Clive’s desire to push his team and really get them into the mindset of maintaining that efficiency and promptness we’ve come to expect from law enforcement, a breakthrough occurred. In that, the two men that worked the hardest to blend in and really throw people off, Andrey Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, were the chief suspects in this case, giving rise to that sense of comfort again and of course, new stakes for Clive to deal with in his quest to quickly bring forth justice for the fallen. In that, getting these men back to London without creating an international incident will be difficult. But difficult seems to be where Clive, thrives. Because he really did a bang-up job with the case here, despite the odds. All by making sure his staff left no stone unturned and that they looked at every possible angle, and a round of applause is in order here for going this route storytelling wise. Since it added genuine tension and a sense of urgency to an episode that could have easily slipped into boring territory. And now that Clive has figured out exactly who took the time to harm a good man in such a cruel manner… we’re onto what should be one stunning new leg of the journey. Wherein Clive will have to figure out how to arrest a pair of murderers that are protected by one disgusting, small, man. Until next time. |
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