‘Parish’ Recap: ‘Impimpi’

4/22/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Bradley Whitford and Giancarlo Esposito as Anton and Gracián ‘Gray’ Parish in Episode 104 of ‘Parish’ – ‘Impimpi’. (Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Moran/AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Parish’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

Over the course of the past few weeks, the intense AMC series, Parish, has offered up quite the cautionary warning. One that informs the viewer that it is not wise to ignore the pain we carry in our hearts. Because doing so does not provide us with a proverbial badge of honor that will propel us forward in life. Instead that pain will fester, it will drink the essence from our very soul and leave us numb and demand the worst of us to feed further. To the point where we will act out and do stupid things to give it what it wants and give ourselves a sense of feeling. But alas, while that is a powerful message to hear and one that has played out in an awful manner for one Gray Parish in this series, the only way to truly hammer home a message of that caliber is to showcase the consequences of feeding what should never be fed.

A feat that ‘Impimpi’ accomplished by quickly introducing us to Anton and exploring exactly why he took the time to step into the Parish home. In that, back in the day, when Parish was enjoying the spoils of living a normal life and was free from the trauma and darkness that plagues him now, he turned down a hell of a job offer from Anton. One that would have set him up for life. But Gray wanted that better life, wanted that peace and the price he paid for having Anton leave him alone… was that he agreed to never get behind the wheel for a gig for the underworld again. A promise he broke and that was why Anton showed up, to make Gray pay the piper for breaking his word to a man of his stature and well, the price was simple. In that, Gray either killed the Horse so Anton could have more power, or Rose and Makayla would die in the Horse’s place.

A horrible choice that truly hammered home, that if we do not deal with our trauma and put our past to bed, there will be consequences. The kind that will cost us everything. Granted, it may not be in the same dark manner as Gray faced here, but we will lose so much. For our behavior will become so toxic in nature that those we love will step away. We will also likely lose work, lose agency. and basically find ourselves adrift, and we may in fact, step back into the past to find comfort when we hit that rock bottom since there would be nothing left for us in the real world. All courtesy of raw fear, and bringing the message home early in this tale, allowed for the plot to get underway so we could see how Gray, and his family would handle the challenges ahead of them.

Arica Himmel and Paula Malcolmson as Makayla Parish and Rose Parish in Episode 104 of ‘Parish’ – ‘Impimpi’. (Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Moran/AMC.)

Because Rose and Makayla were basically prisoners in their own home and unable to do anything but sit and wait for their end, really. For they both overhead the thugs that Anton left behind, speak to how if they didn’t hear back by a certain time, they were to put an end to all of this and get out of there. Which paralyzed Rose with fear, especially when the police dropped by with more questions. Because despite knowing they would be her salvation, she was unable to act. But eventually, Rose came to understand that the only person that would save her and her daughter, was the person she saw in the mirror every morning. Which was why, when the bad guys started talking about finishing the job because of extended silence… she took matters into her own hands and killed those two men to keep her daughter safe and to see another tomorrow.

Of course, we needed to know why there was such silence in the first place and the story was keen to supply us with that answer as well. Because Gray spent most of his time in this story, doing everything within his power to not kill the Horse. For one solid attempt to kill taught him, that murder and mayhem was not his style and not his desire. He just wanted to end this and leave the life and enjoy peace at last. Which prompted him to take part in some wild actions, such as call in Colin for backup, an act made easy when Anton’s lackey said Colin was the spy in the Horse’s midst. All so he had someone at his side that he trusted if by chance his desperate last-minute plea to the Horse failed miserably. One where Gray tasked this enigmatic and ailing criminal to let it all go, and let Parish go as payback for having his life saved by Gray.

A move that offered up that freedom and shock for Anton when he came face to face with his mark. But alas, the damage had been done. After all, danger had surrounded the Parish homestead, and Rose, herself… was transformed. For she was in a catatonic state when Gray returned home, despite calling her love earlier to check upon him. Informing Gray that his poor choices here were now destroying his family and that more hard times lie ahead. After all, he now must explain his past and explain how it brought them here and that may cause serious damage as well, and of course… Anton won’t be happy. But while we wait to see how all that plays out, we can revel in one dark and powerful tale. One that finally saw the chickens come to home to roost and challenge Gray like never before, because he refuses to let go of his pain. Until next time.

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