American Gothic (TV Series) Ring of Fire (1998) User Reviews

The Secret History of the South Is Hidden in Blood

[claudio_carvalho · 9 February 2024]

Gail continues to investigate the connection between the death of her parents and the Sheriff Lucas Black. She breaks into his house to snoop around but is surprised by him and Lucas tells them that he is innocent. Gail has visions of her past and finds that the secret history of the South is hidden in blood. She finds the "where" and "how", but when she searches for the "who" and the "why", she is has a deceptive surprise.

"Ring of Fire" is one of the best and most important episodes of "American Gothic". Gail discovers the hidden truth about her parents and explains why she has a love affair with Lucas. Unfortunately, it is an unaired episode only available in the DVD Box. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Ring of Fire"

Can Gail handle the truth?

[Tweekums · 13 March 2017]

Gail Emory has been sure that Sheriff Lucas Buck killed her parents in a fire twenty years previously for some time… she just can't prove it. She is considering leaving Trinity then she has a vision of a mysterious young boy who encourages her to continue looking for the truth. Hoping to find some details she sneaks into Lucas Buck's house. He catches her and tells her that if she wants to be shown the truth she only has to ask. She is initially cautious but eventually accepts his offer and a series of 'visions' gradually show her the stocking truth about what happened that day and some surprising facts about her parents; including the fact that her mother was pregnant when she died.

This was a really good episode; we finally learn the truth about Gail's parents and it wasn't what I would have expected. Sheriff Buck has always been a malevolent character so it came as quite a surprise when it turned out that he was in no way involved… of course his motives for showing her the truth are unlikely to be altruistic. It was fun seeing Paige Turco show that she could carry the episode as she does a fine job as Gail; she makes us believe in her character as she discovers the shocking truth. As always Gary Cole impresses as Sheriff Buck; even when he is being nice one can't help feeling he is up to no good. The episode includes some good creepy moments although nothing too scary. Overall this was another solid episode.

Of note this episode is out of order on the DVD; it should be watched in the order listed here on the IMDb not DVD order.