‘Monsieur Spade’ Recap: ‘Episode 2’

1/22/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Clive Owen as Sam Spade in Episode 102 of ‘Monsieur Spade’. (Photo Courtesy of Black Bear/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Monsieur Spade’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.

Retirement is a phase in our lives that each and every one of us cherish deeply, but for vastly different reasons. For some, reaching it truly is a grand reward, since it means a career well done will now provide decades of rest. For others, it is a reflective time, where they begin to think about the life they have lived and what more they need to do to say they enjoyed it to the fullest before their internal clock strikes midnight. And for some… it is nothing more than relief. The kind that allows for someone that spent a great deal of their life, surrounded by tough times, to not have to worry about the ugliness anymore, and rest and relax and find some beauty.

But regardless of which reason a person subscribes to when it comes to why they will cherish their retirement, there is one hope they all harbor regarding it as well. In that, it is permanent in nature. Because no one likes going backward in life, and the thought of having to give up retirement because one didn’t save enough, or to fund adventures needed or because their tense world needs their expertise again is rough. But it does happen now and again, and that can be a sour experience for most. But not for all. For there are some in this life that would gladly step out of retirement because they know that they are indeed the only ones that can handle what needs to be handled, and that… it would be for the right reasons. As evidenced by the next episode of Monsieur Spade on AMC.

For the next chapter in the retirement of one Sam Spade, saw the grizzled former private investigator deeply explore what happened to those poor nuns at the end of the last episode, and well… that brought him out of retirement. Because they were good people that really did go above and beyond to do some good in this world, but also because… there was more here than met the eye. Because the initial stories that came forth about what happened here, especially from Teresa, didn’t add up. Not to mention… there was some danger about in this particular tale. For while Sam was transporting Teresa back to the homestead, someone opened fire upon them, and that was all he needed to know, that something was afoot. Something greater than just revenge… or a ploy.

Cara Bossom and Clive Owen as Teresa and Sam Spade in Episode 102 of ‘Monsieur Spade’. (Photo Courtesy of Black Bear/AMC.)

Which of course, prompted him to begin to dig as only he can, and sow doubt where needed and find facts along the way. Which in turn, put the heat on a great deal of people and forced some truths we’ve been wondering about to come to light. Such as the fact that Jean-Pierre’s fury toward Spade was less related to romance and more grounded in an injustice he believed was imparted upon him long ago. A truth that quickly absolved him of murder and made him look foolish over anything else. But that was necessary, since the audience… and Spade… thought he might be capable of something darker. But while he wasn’t, this full court press to learn the truth did bring about an understanding why Michaud isn’t a fan of Spade. Mainly because he has his own skeletons in the closet and has known all along that Spade’s keen eye could bring those to light.

But while it was nice to see Sam once again make people squirm and reveal the truth in their own special way, where his return from retirement truly paid off, was with Teresa. Simply because, he knew she wasn’t telling him the whole truth, or anyone for that matter, about that horrible night. And pressing her the right way revealed that her father had minimal involvement in the darkness that took place. Instead, he merely dropped off a mysterious boy that disappeared before anyone could help him or speak to him about why he was even there, courtesy of that awful and twisted monk who killed so many. But that monk did get his, courtesy of Teresa’s quick thinking. But what mattered more here… is that Sam Spade was able to get answers quickly and that he felt comfortable in his return to his old life.

Because he knew something bigger was at play here, something that he could help solve and do some good in the process of doing so, and well… now he’s on the trail of quite the unique set of people. A young boy that clearly is on the radar of a mysterious and bloodthirsty villain. Why exactly, we do not know at this time, and that’s fine. Because that compels us to continue the journey, one that is playing out akin to a magnificent Sam Spade from days gone by. For Sam’s old stories were always detailed and slow burning in the right ways, making this a perfect addition to his legacy, and well… now that Sam is on the case, it should be interesting to see what he uncovers about this boy, and why this monster is chasing him as this delightful mystery continues to play out. Until next time.

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