‘Ultra City Smiths’ Recap: ‘Family of Orphans’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Ultra City Smiths’.
​
Normally, crime dramas build to an incredible finale. One where good and evil are pitted against one another in a harrowing fight for survival. The kind where, more often than not, good emerges victorious. Reminding us always that the best parts of us survive the darkest moments and that there are champions out there who do their best to ensure that people are safe from the evil that men do and for a time, it seemed as though that was the ending that Ultra City Smiths was working toward regarding its season one finale. For Mills was trying to stay strong in the face of adversity and so many others were working toward a better tomorrow.

But as it turns out, ‘Family of Orphans’, decided to take the story in a vastly different direction. One that quite frankly, undoubtedly stunned some fans. For there was little to no resolution of any of the plot points present this season and that’s a bold as decision as it comes. Since we expect a plot to move forward. But this is of course, a vastly different kind of crime drama… one that is eager to shake things up and do bold acts, so such a decision storytelling wise, makes absolute sense. Since it really is the last thing, the audience ever expected and really, what made this finale so unique and downright shocking… was its inclusion of some stunning plot points and cliffhangers. 

Such as the fact, that the Most Dangerous Man in the World, is actually a father. In fact, he is Grace’s father. For back in the day MDMITW and Bernice had quite the love affair, one that while healthy in some respects, never quite panned out because of the fact that Bernice’s love was a cold-blooded killer. Which in turn motivated her to step away and raise Grace on her own. But that divide between father and daughter might change now that Grace spent a little time with her father in this tale and it really was quite interesting to see the villain of this story be humanized, especially when one considers the fact that he clearly has been involved in a great deal of Ultra City’s dark past. Leaving one to wonder if by chance, there is redemption in the cards for him, through his daughter.

However, there was mention of cliffhangers and of the many present, in this tale, one stands out above the rest. For this is a story where we finally came to learn the identity of Trish’s lost baby. The one that was left sitting outside a police station, ages ago, and as it turns out… that baby is Detective Mills. A reality that will once again upend this case. Because if he’s family, he can no longer work on the case, and more importantly… such news will upend his life, provided of course he lives long enough to hear it. Because hot on his tail in this tale, was the Most Dangerous Man in the World, and he was in full uniform and ready to strike and well… we will have to wait until season two to learn of his fate and the fate of others.

Since Street Hustler Boy was staring down the barrel of a bevy of guns when his robbery went awry and to top it off… the mayor is up to something as well since he is suddenly hitting the streets and trying to play nice with all the tweens of the city and well, all we can do now is wait for a season two renewal, and this writer hopes it happens. Because this really has been quite the refreshing and unique ride. One that has defied convention and entertained along the way with quirky musical numbers and laugh out loud moments. But it is the show’s overall originality that really has me hungry to see a new season come to life, since it is unlike any other series on the market and television needs more of that, plain and simple. Until next time.

---