‘The Outlaws’ Recap: ‘Season 2, Episode 1’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

We often like to believe, that once we’ve reached a particularly satisfying and joyous point in our lives, one where we’ve grown and made great progress mentally and emotionally via self-care… that we have in essence, reached the end of a journey. As though, we are complete and now we can handle whatever life throws our way without a worry in the world, and while there is some truth to be found in that… since we do come out of the other side of that experience with newfound perspective and strength, there is simply no such thing as easy street. For sometimes old habits sneak back into our lives and set us back a bit. Not to mention, the universe finds new ways to test us.
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Which means that we are a work in progress, one that is constantly evolving to meet the demands of new challenges and well, this critical lesson about life is top of mind today, simply because it served as the central theme to the season two premiere of The Outlaws on Prime Video. For when we catch up with our favorite Outlaws, a few months after season one… they’re absolutely hoping that life is about to become extremely easy and smooth, allowing for them to fall into some of those exact traps along the way. For instance, Gabriella believed that she was in a perfect place and could get back to her usual ways of partying and being a grand influencer. Despite the fact that she still hadn’t resolved some of her temper issues, or her spending issues. Since she came to learn from Greg that she was running out of cash because of her father’s decision to cut her off. But that didn’t stop her from pushing to continue to live her lavish lifestyle and push people away when they called her to the carpet for letting bad habits persist because of how old habits die hard.

As for Frank, and Myrna, and John… well they quickly came to learn that just trying to coast after experiencing growth, does one no good. Because it can open up the mind to look at other issues to work at, something Myrna discovered when she realized that guilt regarding that police officer was bubbling up steadily. And John’s belief that doing right by his employees would just magically make him beloved once again at work, proved to be his undoing. Since he neglected to think about his father’s uptight standards for him and how John’s business maneuvers would be viewed as weakness, which led to his subsequent termination. As for Frank… well he came to learn that business as usual for a con man cannot take place when he has indeed made attempts to be kind to others, in the hopes of using that goodwill to ease the pain of leaving, as evidenced by the hurt his grandson expressed over Frank’s plan to leave.

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As for Rani and Ben, well they came to learn that finding true closure is a big key to moving forward in life. Because despite taking some important steps toward independence, since Ben was quick to make peace with Christian and figured out a way to keep the Dean off their backs while Rani just renounced her family and stepped away from that situation… they didn’t address the root causes of why they wanted to push forward, nor did they properly lay down a foundation for their independence. For Rani really didn’t handle the divide between her parents and just ran from it… and that kept mother hanging about, and of course, just trying to will a powerful drug dealer into forgetting about the problems one caused, because one wishes to be free… simply isn’t possible. As evidenced by the fact that the Dean came calling and has set the stage for a different kind of challenge for the Outlaws.
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But all bigger setup aside, let’s be honest… this episode was a supremely wonderful way in which to explore, how easily complacency can settle in when we are on a quest to be better people. Especially when we’ve fallen upon supremely tough times. Because all we want in the middle of the darkness is a win, and when we get one, we ride that high for as long as possible. And it was just fascinating to see that reality on display here, and brilliant as well. Since stories tend to offer up what we want in our minds, a happy ending and nothing more. Which means that season two is indeed going to focus on the work that goes into sustained happiness and vigilance, where these intrepid characters will both continue to grow and learn how to maintain their growth along the way and for proof… look no further than the important moments that reflected that here.

Since Frank did indeed, finally do the right thing by laundering his money before giving a huge chunk of it to his family to make them whole and give them financial safety and security. Not to mention, Gabby once again relented her anger and acknowledged the truth. Plus, for the first time ever, Rani did make a point to seize the day and enjoy life for a change, and she even went so far as to express her feelings for Ben by finally giving into their attraction through a night of romance that was almost storybook in nature. Okay, scratch that. It was a disaster. Because getting kidnapped after making love overshadows anything magical about the moment. But what matters more, is that at long last, this wonderfully clever and thoughtful show is back on the air and our heroes have a little further to go growth wise before their journey ends, and it will just be a real treat to witness that happen in real time as season two rolls along. Until next time.

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