Let’s just start with the obvious: this ep is a real bummer. You’ve got your sexual assault allegations; your miscarriages; your insensitive mothers.
Yeah, this one was rough. I guess the writers and Melissa agreed:
Actually, I think she’s got a pretty good plan here to burn Emerald Lumber to the ground and collect the insurance money. Then Brady could move on with his life and not have to worry about rocks being thrown through Brie’s windows.
The important thing to remember here is Brady isn’t a bad guy, he’s just a guy trapped in a bad situation. Which is why the writers are working overtime to remind us that Brady is actually A HERO. And that is why this happens:
Why is this Jack’s job? Didn’t the camp people once kidnap Jack and Mel???
Yep… [Checks notes] Season 1, episode 5.
And what makes Brady such a great number two for this job? Did he live up there or something?
Anyway, Brady obvs asks zero questions (which is probably how he ended up working for Calvin in the first place) and follows Jack up to the weed encampment.
The props people were also working really hard on this episode because we get a lot of set design to illustrate just how dangerous this mission is. First of all, these people have guns. (And tons of PVC piping because???)
Secondly, they pledge allegiance to pot.
Jack tries desperately to convince them to leave. And I know you can’t see it so you’re gonna have to take my word for it: the caption above is Jack talking. The pot people aren’t persuaded that Jack has their best interest at heart, but Brady, on the other hand, knows how to win them over.
This works! Because Brady is A HERO. (Note the distinct differences in his appeal and Jack’s.)
Thank God Brady came along. And — to put a finer point on it — he also saves a child. And then we get a reference to the fact that he’s a veteran!
See, he’s super outstanding. Sorry for all the drugs he accidentally brought into VR. (Wait, is this why the pot people like him?)
Meanwhile back in town/fire HQ, everyone hates Nick because he’s not Hope.
I truly felt bad for Nick because while he is trying his hardest to deal with an emergency situation — after, what, two days on the job? — everyone spends the whole ep just taking shots at him.
So Hope is on her own mission to execute the plan as she sees fit. She also takes some time to pal around with Preacher.
Big news: Preacher does know the firefighter’s name (Kaia)!
Is this how he learned her name? Just kidding! He already knew it 😉
He has a crush on her, but he’s worried she might not like him back.Who wrote this episode, a third grader? Why is Preacher’s confidence soooooooo low? He’s never had anyone show this much interest in him!
*Sigh* I am starting to think Preacher is really the Luke Danes of this show.
Anyway, after Hope tells him to go for it, he makes a really grand gesture.
And having so many extra hands is giving Doc some time to work on his comedy.
Let’s not forget that he’s talking to a grown man impaled by a tree. Anyway, it’s a rough day for everybody, and I spent this whole episode thinking two things:
Where are these people’s protective masks? They are inhaling a ton of smoke!
Why isn’t anybody giving anybody a hug?
For example, Mike shows up at the courthouse, and Brie is clearly having a TERRIBLE day.
Why doesn’t he hug this poor woman?
And Mel is clearly losing it. Why doesn’t Muriel hug her instead of trying to feed her?
And Liddy is really struggling. Why doesn’t Lizzie hug her?
Preacher is worried about getting his heart broken again. Why doesn’t Hope hug him?
Why doesn’t anybody show anyone just a little bit of affection?! Kaia is pretty much the only person showing she’s got feelings for anybody!
Even poor Nick, who’s right in the end, doesn’t even get a nod of encouragement. He does get Hope with this sick burn.
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