‘The Suspect’ Recap: ‘Episode 5’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘The Suspect’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
There are a great many elements that go into creating a truly magnificent mystery television series. For instance, the case in question must be compelling and complex, otherwise the audience is quickly bored. Plus, the characters need to be dynamic in nature and at times… morally suspect. So that our curiosity is piqued, thus pushing us to continue the story and see what we learn about them in relation to the mystery at hand. But above all, the show simply has to keep us guessing. Since that really is what we love the most about a mystery, and keeping us on our toes, keeps our attention and compels us to reach the finish line to see if we are right or wrong about who committed the crime in question, or so we can just plain be surprised at the outcome/truth.
​
If anything, that latter qualifier for what goes into making a fine mystery, is top of mind today, simply because… that is what made The Suspect a truly magnificent mystery. For it already featured a compelling and dynamic case and fascinating and suspect characters to go along with it. We just needed the truth as to who killed Catherine and worked to blackmail/frame Joe, and the finale of this saga finally brought us to the resolution of such matters, by first offering up a twist that finally got the police off of Dr. Joe O’Loughin’s back. Because he compiled all the evidence he collected regarding Bobby into a single file and in the process of completing his own investigation, came to learn that someone else was involved. Someone, that resembled Jack. 

Which pushed him to return home and speak with the police once again to present them with his findings and he hoped this evidence would finally get them to listen to reason. Sadly, that wasn’t the case at first since Vince did everything, he could, to just bring Joe in. But once he got a look at the evidence Joe compiled and after coming to realize that a great deal of the evidence tying Joe to this crime was too perfect in its timing and clarity… he came to realize that Bobby and Jack were likely the culprits here and that they should be brought in for questioning. A move that didn’t quite pan out either since Bobby went missing and Jack offered little to no help on the matter and rightfully so. Since the killer was hiding in plain sight after all.

For when Joe returned home, he came face to face with Bobby and came to learn that the helpful plumber that was taking good care of his family and helping where he could, was Bobby’s older brother, DJ. Who abandoned Bobby in his hour of need ages ago and came back into his brother’s life to atone for leaving him behind and realized that the only way to properly do that, was help his brother enact revenge on those that wronged him, and to preserve what was left of his baby brother’s fragile mind and psyche, he committed the murders himself. A revelation that allowed for Joe to wear down DJ and earn his family’s freedom, not a moment too soon. Since the police arrived mere moments before the bomb that DJ set up to punish everyone… exploded. 

But what mattered more here, was that Joe was finally exonerated and truth surrounded him at last. For now, he knew that DJ was the man committing to revenge after all this time and that his best friend was nothing more than a lie. Not to mention, he could finally live his life as he saw fit, with his family, before his diagnosis took him over, and for the audience, we were treated to a satisfying mystery. One that kept us guessing from beginning to end and well, it’s a shame this one has ended. Because it really was supremely engaging and it did a wonderful job of making just about everyone a suspect, including our hero, and we would have happily enjoyed more. But alas, all good things must come to their end and the good news is that we can look fondly upon this tale for sticking the landing and offering up a complete story. One that reminded us of how little we control in this life and how easily the past can come back to haunt us.

---

Powered by JustWatch