A "defining" episode in a successful series is always a special treat for the viewer, and this is the defining episode for this series, in many ways an extension of the pilot. All the ingredients are there. On the one hand, you have what looks and feels like the "typical" story for the series, someone (or here, two someones) are in danger, and the hero has to act. But on closer examination the writing is so much richer and more textured. As the action progresses (and there is more action here than in the prior three episodes) we realize that the "bad guys" are bigger and better funded than we suspected. This merely forces our hero to raise the stakes in finding a way to take them down, which he does, in a nice "reveal" just minutes away from the close. Meanwhile, for backstory, we have a lot of loose ends regarding the "involuntary" help from a corrupt cop getting tied up. And -- trust me -- it is no coincidence that, even though this is 5 episodes deep into the season, the very last shot has Caviezel's character thanking Emerson's character for "giving me a job" and then Emerson's character responds by revealing he is a regular at the restaurant they are in, something which at the top of the story he had declined to do (thereby showing trust). Plus, a small child is saved, and a criminal judge becomes grateful. Lots happening here. Superb writing, great entertainment.
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