‘Bloodlands’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 6’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Bloodlands’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It truly is quite fascinating, how people respond to the mistakes they make and the harm they sometimes cause in life through deception. Especially since… the responses are indeed so unique. For some, brush it off as though nothing happened and just go about their day in a shockingly ignorant manner. While others… are quick to own up to their mistake and do whatever they must to make things right, and some will double or triple down on their mistakes and their lies. All in the hopes of finding an escape route from their missteps, so they never have to face accountability for their actions, and that… really does fascinate since it leaves us wondering why anyone would choose any particular path outside of the one that provides honesty and resolution.  
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But it just so happens, that the season two finale of Bloodlands on Acorn TV, takes the time to explore why people will ignore or double down on their foolish behavior and it accomplished this feat, by putting DCI Tom Brannick at his lowest. For this is the story where he discovered that his daughter had been kidnapped by Ryan Savage and well… rather than come clean, be honest and bring everyone worth bringing to justice to his colleagues’ attention… he dug deeper into this mess. Going so far as to plant evidence in the barn where the gun was hiding, the kind that perfectly tied Olivia to Birdy’s death since his remains were stashed there when Tom had the chance to set the stage, and he also worked hard to set a trap for Savage and Olivia so he could come out smelling like a rose yet again.

However, that all came tumbling down in this tale. For Tom was finally seen with Robert Dardis on video on the night that he took Dardis out, and of course… nothing went according to plan with Savage when the time came for a gold/prisoner exchange. Since Savage set up more insurance policies beyond just hanging onto the daughter of a police officer, he also had Olivia’s son ready to die if anything happened to him, and something most certainly did. Since the resulting booby trap in the bags of gold, gave Tom the opportunity to strike true and kill an American gangster for even thinking of touching his daughter. Which in turn, put Olivia in a dark place since it meant the death of her boy and that brought weapons to bear upon Tom, and led to a crossfire exchange where Izzy took out Olivia, ruining any chance of pinning all of this on the eager widow.

But what was worse for Tom, was that the secret was out. For his own daughter now knew what he was and the things he’s done, and his coworkers now had the pictures of he and Dardis in front of them. Setting the stage for a devastating cliffhanger where Tom waited to be brought in for grave injustices and therein lay the lesson as to why someone would go this route and the lesson was tragic indeed. Since Tom basically made it clear in this case that machismo and ego and a sense of invincibility are one reason men like him triple down. Because they’re the alpha and think they can do whatever they want whenever they want. But what Tom said to his daughter in the closing moments of this story, spoke to a more tragic reason as to why Tom, and his spiritual kin, resign themselves to a cycle of poor acts and cover ups.  

Simply because… they cannot live with the acts they’ve done and being in this unsettling cycle creates a perfect purgatory-esque punishment for them, from which there is no escape and no absolution. But it would seem Tom may not get the chance to enjoy that… since the force is on its way and well, that made for one stunning and epic season finale. One that truly put Tom in a place of accountability at last and set the stage for an incredible third season, which has yet to be announced, but hopefully will be. Because we cannot be left with that harrowing final shot of a wounded Tom Brannick pleading for forgiveness from his daughter. We need justice, for the victims of Goliath, for Birdy, all of it. But while we wait for that good news, we can celebrate one stellar tale, one that truly informed us… that we do reap what we sow… and it is best to own our mistakes before they spiral out of control. Until next time. 

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