‘Parish’ Recap: ‘Kumba’

4/29/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Giancarlo Esposito as Gracián ‘Gray’ Parish in Episode 105 of ‘Parish’ – ‘Kumba’. (Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Moran/AMC.)

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

Over the course of the past few weeks, the AMC series, Parish, has put forth a masterclass exploration regarding the dangers of not resolving the darkest parts of our past. For Gracián ‘Gray’ Parish is a broken man, one whose grief and sordid past, has outright overtaken him and pushed him to do foolish things, and well… we’ve seen the end result now of such poor choices and we’ve learned how important it is to sit down and resolve what haunts us, so we don’t go down this path. But while it has been outright fascinating to learn these lessons in a compelling and at times, nerve-wracking manner, this journey has left us curious as to whether or not two key moments would come to fruition. Specifically, whether or not Gray would ever actually take the time to face his pain in the slightest since he has done everything within his power to avoid it, and of course… what would come of his decision to defy Anton.

Since we have quickly come to learn that he is a powerful man with great reach and well, by bringing the consequences lesson to bear in last week’s episode, that freed up this week’s… to explore those critical moments. For we quickly to learn in ‘Kumba’, that little came from Gray’s decision. Instead, Anton was focused on antagonizing Shephered for the sake of amusement, really, because Anton knew he was going to come out on top in this matter. For he was working with Shepherd’s father, who handed the business over to Zenzo and demanded he come home. Which put the Horse into hiding and allowed for us to discover how deep this trafficking net was cast over the city and how horrifying a business it truly was. Since we watched hopeful and joyous immigrants from beyond, be duped into a life they never wanted, and they faced horrific consequences for speaking up.

All of which undoubtedly serves a purpose for this story since it does not waste a single second, but that’s as far as that exploration went for the time being, and with a better understanding at hand, we were able to catch up with Gray and his family… who were living in fear in this tale. Because despite Anton’s aloofness and concern elsewhere, Gray thought the man was coming for his family and coming for them quick. So, he made quite the ask of his family. In that, he tasked them with packing up their bags to prepare for a fresh start far from this city, and in order to properly make that happen… he needed to put the house in order to outright destroy it. All so, an insurance check would come into their hands. So, with Colin’s help the bodies were disposed of, and the insurance fraud was set, allowing for Gray to get his family out of there and finally… face his past.

Arica Himmel and Paula Malcomson as Mikayla Parish and Rose Parish in Episode 105 of ‘Parish’ – ‘Kumba’. (Photo Courtesy of Alyssa Moran/AMC.)

In fact, the process of that began in the moments before he and his family left town. Since Gray took a moment to reflect upon every memory built in that place, be them good or bad, and once his family arrived at their destination for the night… did that all-important and long-awaited moment, come into play. Because Makayla and Rose wanted to know the truth at last, and the truth they did receive. For Gray finally opened up about his past, and explained how this moment came to be and well… that led to a messy evening in this godforsaken hotel room. For other truths came out, such as how Maddox was not the innocent soul that Gray thought he was and how complacency and concern about his parent’s love for him drove Maddox down a path similar to his father’s, and that left Gray in a tough and vulnerable place mentally. For he blamed himself for his son’s death, especially because of how their goodbye moment went down and well, the Horse used that to his advantage from afar.

Because shortly before the Parish family left the homestead, the Horse had one of his lieutenants drop off a recording device. One that Gray opted to listen to, in the hopes of clearing his head with a distraction. But alas, that device offered the worst possible gift for Gray in that moment. In that, on that device was a confession. One that came from the man that killed young Maddox on that fateful night and well, that was more than enough to push Gray into a state of fury. Wherein he wanted to know exactly who this person was, so he could exact revenge upon him. Which in turn, pushed him to leave his family behind one more time… to confront the Horse and demand answers, and the Horse made it clear that he was happy to provide that information to Gray, at quite the price. One that undoubtedly may cost Gray his very soul. For to commit to revenge and unleash fury in the name of it, is a dark path that no man should go down… but can… when that pain is still fresh in his heart, and that is precisely where Gray is at the moment.

For while he did confront his past like we’ve been hoping for, he did forget to resolve it. For he did not find peace, he did not move on. He picked at the wrong wound and made it bleed and well… that means the season finale of this saga will absolutely focus upon whether or not Gray can resist the darkness and find peace. But while we wait to see that resolution, we can applaud one amazing tale. One that genuinely offered up some emotional moments, that kind that made us feel for Gray since now we know how much he is carrying in that tortured soul. Which is also a testament to Giancarlo Esposito’s acting skills… since he truly let loose here and sold the pain and sold the fury that Gray carries in his heart, and he properly set the stage for what will be one incredible finale. For there is no greater way to end the journey of a tortured soul, than through the resolution of the darkness within. Until next time.

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