[/caption]If an episode is titled "Asunder," the chances of the main characters remaining happy by episode's end are fairly bleak. Terriers has become a show about pain, sadness, loneliness and heartbreak. Of course, the show is ALSO about rehabilitation, redemption and the healing power of love. After all, many of the episodes are united by the theme of love or the lack of love. This lack of love is a destructive property for the people of Ocean Beach. Characters have died. Characters have been kidnapped. For our two main characters, Hank and Britt, love is central to their own health. Hank did whatever he could to sabotoge the marriage between Gretchen and Jason. The man actually ordered a drink because, after 543 days of sobriety, he never felt more tempted by the bottle than on the day Gretchen re-married. Hank wants to rehabilitate himself and he IS rehabilitating himself as a recovering alcoholic. And his private investigation business helps rehabilitate his image as a man who continues to be a good cop although he isn't being paid to be one. But, as Gretchen told him, he continues to be a live grenade. He crosses lines to solve a case and that line crossing usually leads to devastation for someone. We've seen the man Hank wants to be as well--the complete man Hank wants to be. The man we've seen in dreams with Gretchen and the man we've seen take care of his sister. The man who took a bullet for Britt. But he has demons and a whole heap of skeletons in the closet.
Until Hank overhears Zeitlin and Burke (you remember those two!) discussing something bad in the bathroom (about causing harm to someone) and Hank springs into action, Hank didn't know what to do with himself on Gretchen's wedding day. He cleaned the gutters, took the garbage out, went to AA but nothing worked. Britt asks Hank to drop off a shirt in the belly of the beast--the wedding. Hank delivers the shirt then parks the car and hangs around in the hotel. He orders a drink and then walks away, into the bathroom to collect himself, which is where he overhears Zeitlin and Burke's conversation. Hank gets a hotle room above the place where Zeitlin plans to meet with someone. The tech guys get hired to bug the room and, fortunately, Hank distract himself with his work.
Zeitlin meets with a freelance journalist, Laura Ross, who has written a series of stories about the land deals taking place in Ocean Beach. Zeitlin wants to know the source who leaked the information to Laura but Laura won't talk. If one recalls, the land that Montague bought did not have toxins in the ground. The mystery remains: what will this land be used for? Laura doesn't get the answer but she knows more than Zeitlin wants her to and threatens her mother's life if she refuses to give up her source. Hank sends text messages throughout the meeting, warning her that Zeitlin will harm her. Hank protects Laura's mother as well. The tech guys take her in their large RV, away from Zeitlin's muscle. Eventually, Laura escapes from the room with the help of hotel security. Hank whisks her away from the hotel.
Hank approaches Zeitlin and Burke to let the two men know that he recorded their entire conversation with Laura. Game BACK on. By episode's end, Hank tells Britt that he really doesn't need a drink anymore, that he and Britt are among a very few group of people who know more than they should about Zeitlin and Montague. The pain of the marriage won't heal quickly but Hank sees some light in a dark tunnel. He survived the day and he even saved the life of an innocent reporter's mother. Hank IS a good guy; however, to reiterate, he has demons but he's on the right path.
Meanwhile, to return to the theme of love, the relationship between Britt and Katie ended. Katie admitted that she cheated on him with someone, that she isn't sure who the father of the baby is and Britt couldn't deal. He planned to move out and told her how much he loved her but added that he never wants to see her again. Katie is the woman responsible for the transformation of Britt. As one might recall, Britt wanted to meet Katie after he broke into her house and saw a picture of her. Upon meeting and dating the woman, he gave up his life of crime for private investigation. He craves the comfort of a drink by episode's end, unsure of what life will be like without Katie (i of course hold hope the two will reconcile because the chemistry between Michael Raymond James and Laura Allen is fantastic). I wonder if the Zeitlin case will be enough for Britt in his post-Katie existence. In a show in which something devasating follows the loss of love, I'm anxious for the next step in Britt's arc.
Also, Gretchen and Jason were happily married.
Other thoughts:
-Yet another strong episode from Terriers--the best show on television. I fear that the show will get canceled and become a show that develops a following after the fact. Folks will lament the one-season-and-done yet they will be responsible for the cancelation. Please watch the show. Tell your friends. And HEY, the insanely-talented and awesome Tim Minear wrote next week's episode.
-Nicolas Griffin wrote the episode and Ted Griffin directed it. It was excellent.
-Follow me on Twitter @JacobsFoot.
SCREENPLAY OF THE DAY
Matchstick Men--Written By Nick Griffin and Ted Griffin--Based on the Book by Eric Garcia--http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/MATCHSTICK_MEN.pdf
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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