‘Manhunt’ Recap: ‘Let the Sheep Flee’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Tobias Menzies as Edwin Stanton in Episode 103 of ‘Manhunt’ – ‘Let the Sheep Flee’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Manhunt’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
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One would think that a story about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth, shortly after he opted to assassinate one of history’s greatest presidents and men, would be extremely tense in nature. For a manhunt, of that caliber, especially what could be considered to be the first real major manhunt in United States history, would have to be intense and focused. But that is why the Apple TV+ series, Manhunt is quite the incredible surprise. For while it is indeed about the search for Booth and features tense moments for certain… it is a series that offers us so much more than just thrills and chills.

For it is a series that is deeply grounded in the history of a critical moment in our nation’s history. One where we did indeed teeter upon a dark path while the manhunt took place, as evidenced by this week’s episode. For ‘Let the Sheep Flee’ spent a fair chunk of time with John Wilkes Booth on the road, and with some of his sympathizers as well. Giving rise to a fascinating lesson in how much support the Confederacy still had in those early days after the Civil War came to a close. Which is knowledge we can safely assume, was hereto forth unknown to us, since all we were taught was the war was the end, Booth was served justice and America grew into the superpower it is now.

But this episode really did dive into the fact that there were Confederate Agents everywhere in the landscape of a healing nation, and that they were eager to help Booth get to where he needed to go. Because in their eyes, and the eyes of other sympathizers, he was a hero, he was the man that gave rise to a second chance to perhaps put right what the War robbed so many Southern Gentlemen of, and that was scary to learn. Not to mention it was equally as scary to learn how easily Booth continued to evade capture, and how there was a plan to fake his death to get him off of the radar of law enforcement. Since an old friend did him a solid on such matters in Canada.

However, while that was fascinating to learn about, it paled in compassion to the underlying commentary and observation regarding why perhaps… we still have great divides in Modern America, hundreds of years after the war. All of which seemingly stems from a lack of accountability in this era. For it was made clear that while Stanton wanted both President Lincoln and President Johnson to send a message of accountability to those who crossed the line, their desire to have peace over all things likely allowed for issues to take root in America. Such as the wanton racism that still exists since a racially motivated murder in this episode was quickly overlooked, as was justice for those who helped the South rise to a level of prominence that would allow for war.

Which seemingly has given those men a sense of invincibility and joy, since now they can operate without impunity in the United States and keep a spirit alive. All of which brought forth one fascinating tale. One that truly made it clear how much it easier it was to run from the law back in the day, alongside some powerful commentary on America’s mistakes and deep-rooted tolerance for the wrong things. But commentary aside, this was still a tense tale at times, one that captivated as well. Because the clock is ticking and a madman is on the loose, and truly… it will be interesting to see what twists and turns await us as America works to serve justice to a man that robbed a beloved president of his future. Until next time.

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