‘Bloodlands’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 4’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Bloodlands’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that fans of the Acorn TV series, Bloodlands, have had one big question on their minds as season two has played out. Specifically, when will DCI Tom Brannick be caught for his crimes? Because lies can only take a person so far and cover ups and sneaky behaviors are always exposed. Meaning that the clock is ticking on Brannick’s freedom, the only question is what will trip him up and expose him, and well… it would seem that answer to that question is ‘soon’, if we take the next episode in this fascinating series into account. Since this is a story… that saw one person finally come to understand where Tom’s loyalty lies. 
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A feat that was accomplished by way of the arrival… of an American Gangster in Ireland. For Ryan Savage dropped by town to meet with Olivia and take her to the Titanic Exhibit nearby. In part to check visiting such a place off of his bucket list, but also… to scare the hell out of Olivia. Because while there, he made it clear that she needed to bring him the family gold, and that if she wasn’t able to do so… bad things would happen. And well, his scare tactics worked like a charm. For hour by hour, they were there, Olivia saw darker sides to Ryan and came to understand of his determination and power and that motivated her to team up with Tom as quickly as possible to go over any clues she found in her late husband’s office to find that gold. 

Which took them all over town. To a nearby cave where they discovered old documents and new secrets about what Mister Foyle was up to now and again, and their search eventually brought forth enough clues that quite possibly, the mystery of the gold could be easily solved. But since Tom was in and out often, and demanded so much of his team, bad things for Tom started to materialize back at the office. For Nimah decided to reopen the Goliath case of her own accord. Which angered Jackie to no end, but that didn’t stop her from toying with old clues that might tie into this case, the kind that could finally expose Tom as the legendary assassin. But her work, paled in comparison to what Birdy uncovered in this particularly harrowing tale. Because Birdy… uncovered the truth.

For a quick search of nearby cameras in Dardis’ neighborhood, revealed that someone’s doorbell camera caught something funny that night. As it turned out, it caught Tom. Which pushed Birdy to dig deeper on Tom’s activities, and that meant hurting Izzy and doing the impossible… following his boss on a stakeout. One that paid off in spades when he came to discover that Tom and Olivia found the gold, buried with Colin Foyle. and just before Birdy could do something with the evidence, he collected… he dealt with a terrifying moment. For Tom found him in the cemetery on this night and came to learn that the jig was up, and thankfully was hesitant to act. But despite nearly being arrested, Olivia took matters into her own hands and killed Birdy in cold blood with Tom’s favorite sidearm. Ensuring that she had leverage over him, while saving his skin, if only for a little while.

Because the evidence continues to mount against Tom, and it won’t be long before Birdy’s death will receive incredible scrutiny, the kind that should turn up the evidence he uncovered about Tom, and of course... who knows what Nimah will find regarding her deep dive into the Goliath case. It all means, that Tom Brannick is this side shy of being exposed. But while we wait for that ugly day because it will be ugly, we can relish in the wonder of a powerhouse tale. One that offered up giant twists and turns and a stunning ending that will have incredible repercussions on the story and the lives of the characters in this unsettling universe. Until next time.

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