The Foot: Terriers "Sins of the Past" Review

Tim Minear and Tucker Gates reunited for the first time since 1999 (in which Tim Minear wrote ANGEL'S episode titled "Hero" and Tucker Gates directed the episode) and magic happened yet again in the latest episode of Terriers, titled "Sins of the Past."

Tim Minear has mastered the art of the flashback structure in an episode. I only wonder what the man would've done with an episode of LOST. I digress. After ten episodes, Terriers delivered a sort of origin story for Hank Dolworth. The final days of Hank's cop career neared an end as he hit the bottle more furiously, pursued suspects more vigorously if said suspect once dated his ex-wife and completely let his partner down. Meanwhile, the flashback juxtaposed Britt's present as he hit the bottle fairly hard and beat up the wrong guy thinking that he slept with Katie.

The episode belonged to Hank Dolworth though, the hero and anti-hero of the show. His personal arc has dominated the first season of Terriers. He lost his wife and job though we didn't know why. Well, now we do and Gretchen used a perfectly adequate term for her ex-husband when she described him as the live grenade in her life. Laura Ross shows up in Hank's house with information on the Billy Whitman case that cost Hank his job and his life. Billy Whitman was accused of being a serial rapist three years ago and Hank was convinced the man was guilty, especially after he learned that Gretchen dated him while in college.

The Whitman case allowed the show to delve into the absolute worst time in Hank's life. He drank on the job. He ignored the rights that every suspect has in the United States of America. He was sort of like Luther except no colleagues encouraged his behavior. And he let his personal life and his insecurities interfere with his professional responsibilities and duties as a cop. Past episodes showed that Hank sometimes falls into his old, destructive habits. The man won't let go of something until the something dies or leaves him or gets him fired from his job. Hank cared deeply about catching the man who violated tons of women but he was obsessed with destroying someone who might've forced his current wife into sex while in college. Gretchen obviously leaves him at some point. The Whitman obsession was simply the tip of the iceberg. His alcoholism become a burden in the marriage. Gretchen worried about Hank more off duty because he would drink for hours at the bar, arrive home late, forget important events. He was a mess.

He loses his job. His co-workers, and Gustafson, suspect that Hank ran Whitman off the road and planted evidence in the back seat because Whitman wasn't identified and would be released. And, of course, Whitman didn't commit the series of rapes. Det. Reynolds was the serial rapist. Hank apologizes as best as he can. Later, he tells Gustafson that he had the wrong guy for three years, that Laura solved the case. The sun won't consistently shine in Hank's life any time soon. He lost his wife and his job, after all. Plus, he severely damages his friendship with Britt when he tells Britt that he knew about Katie's infidelity and kept it hidden.

Of course, the flashback involves the beginning of Hank and Britt's friendship. Hank suspects Britt as the serial rapist in the beginning because he was at the scene of the crime. Britt is innocent of the rape but guilty of petty theft. Hank offers Britt his card at the end of the episode, and encourages Britt to find new legal line of work and a new partner.

Meanwhile, Britt hits the bottle in the aftermath of the Katie revelation. I wrote about the destructive behavior of both lead characters once love left their lives. Hank was a self-destructive mess before Gretchen left but Britt becomes a self-destructive mess after losing Katie. Hank pleads with Britt to quit drinking and to forget about finding the man who may or may not have slept with Katie. Britt ignores the pleas and beats the man up. He lands in jail and learns that he beat up the wrong man. Britt's in some trouble, folks.

It was important to learn about the past as the show looks toward the final two episodes of the season. Hank let down Gustafson three years ago and he let down Britt in the present. While the Whitman case resolved itself, Hank had nothing to do with the resolution, which means that he NEEDS the Zeitlin case to truly earn his reputation as a good cop back. He has his work cut out for him in his personal life as well. He must rectify his relationship with Britt as well as his ex-wife and, possibly, offer an apology to Jason. The final two episodes of the first season (and possibly) the series should be glorious.

Other thoughts:

-The scene between Katie and Winston was sad. Dogs are great.

-Tucker Gates directed "Sins of the Past." Tucker Gates earned my praise for "Ab Aeterno." Why hasn't the man moved into feature films? He's talented.

-The episode reminded me of "Out of Gas"--a Tim Minear Firefly episode. Minear, as I mentioned, writes terrific episodes with flashbacks such as "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?" one of the greatest ANGEL episodes. I wrote more about Minear during my Seven Business Days of Whedon so go into archives.

SCREENPLAY OF THE DAY

Firefly--"Out of Gas"--Written By Tim Minear--http://www.fireflywiki.org/107.html

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK