‘Black Snow’ Recap: ‘Ezekial’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from Episode 103 of ‘Black Snow’ – ‘Ezekial’ – Courtesy of Sundance Now/AMC Networks.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Black Snow’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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Over the course of the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked at length about how the AMC/Sundance Now series, Black Snow, has offered up a vastly different type of cold case crime drama, and rightfully so. Simply because nothing about this series has been conventional in the slightest. For it has been emotional in nature, courtesy of a deep look at the emotional fallout of losing a loved one to murder. Not to mention, it has made a point to really look at how these cases are solved, and showcased the mundane hard work that goes into sorting everything out, and well… it is showing no signs of slowing down regarding this realistic and refreshing look at cold case work, as evidenced by this week’s fascinating episode.
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For ‘Ezekial’ opted to explore an aspect of detective work we don’t think about or talk about in this life. In that… once word is on the street that the police have evidence and/or solid clues… the job gets more difficult. Not easier as is oft depicted in television. Because now, investigators have to sort through the various clues and nonsense that people feed to the police out of concern of either doing their civic duty or indulging unhealthy fantasies. Not to mention, there’s more resistance and reticence from people close to the case. Because merely hearing that there is a lead, a push toward something… makes them less helpful and more eager to see the case be solved and well, that’s a lot of what of James dealt with early on in this tale. Since phone calls and clues were coming in that had no evidence to back them up and Isabel’s family was less forthcoming for certain.

Which meant that James had to do what all investigators do when the going gets tough… they stick to the case at hand, to the evidence, and James did just that, and that paid off in spades. Since he finally had a better understanding of the night in question and where Isabel was and where she ended up, and that allowed for him to dig deeper since there were indeed irregularities and concerns that he had regarding the timeline, and that too, paid off handsomely. Since he garnered information about Isabel potentially having a second suitor in her life, a man named Ezekial, and well… eventually he was able to confirm that there was indeed something there. All because of his incredible focus and his ability to really worry about what mattered, which is another realistic angle present in this tale, one that did indeed move the case forward leaps and bounds.

Because eventually, James came to learn that blue car was the one that Ezekial drove around town, but that it belonged to the church instead, and that prompted James to push a little harder and learn… that there are more secrets than expected surrounding the death of Isabel. Some of which was made known to him, some of which was only made known to us. Like the one involving Hazel since someone consistently made overtures about her telling the truth. Giving rise to the fact that she is torn between two worlds and knows more than she is leading on, and the same goes for her father. Since it was inferred that he was consoling Ezekial on the night of the murder, and of course, he refused to offer any details and well… that… and the fact that James and Hazel learned that he was in contact with Ezekial long after this mess happened, made him the prime suspect by the end of this tale. For now… dear old dad seems to harbor all the answers.

But that aside, we need to celebrate one intense and unique episode. One that really did look at the real-world aspect of this case once again, before taking us on quite the ride. Wherein the truth began to expose itself in a manner that reminded us… that there are always clues, always mistakes, and eventually with enough scrutiny and care… they can be seen. As to what comes next, well that all depends on what decision a preacher with a troubled conscience makes. For he could open up and lead James quickly to the truth… or he could triple down and push to keep whatever he knows in the dark. Pushing James to work harder than ever to uncover what really happened to Isabel that night and more than likely the latter option is the path ahead. For this town is full of secrets and lies regarding the moment that tore them apart, and in a way… it seems as though this town is hanging onto it all to properly punish their souls for not doing more to prevent the end of Isabel. Until next time.

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