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With Bonnie dead at Goetz’s hands, the motion started at once with anger, passion, and a determined fight for justice in world that had lost its hold on justice.  Stepping it up a notch, the director and writers created an intricate episode full of twists and double crosses, even creating a brilliant, subversive move that double-crossed the double crosser.

I did question a few bits of timing.  For instance, Stanley seemed to stay in the morgue for hours and hours as much of the action played out and Mimi went through surgery.  When he finally left the morgue, I still cried through his goodbye to his sister as he signed to her for the last time.

The actors all delivered outstanding performances.  I could feel how nervous, no terrified, Jake became when he pulled the gun on Goetz at the hospital entrance.  His tremors and wild eyes made my heart catch in my throat; afraid we were about to see another round of main characters shot down.  From Mimi’s reaction to Bonnie’s death to Beck’s frustration with two towns out of control, the acting kept pace with the action the whole way through, keeping me in suspense until the stunning ending when Brad Beyer’s performance summed up what the audience felt so perfectly.  Now if we could only get Congress to figuratively do the same thing to Julie Gerberding, the Goetz of the CDC who has been shooting children in both legs.  At least our courts have the power to reprimand even if Congress won’t.

As I’ve said before, Jericho often feels like it’s rushing to the finish line, with the writers trying to tie up a story before the show is canceled.  While before that rush felt choppy and disappointing, this episode skimmed across a calm sea on a clear blue day.  I didn’t even have time to think about the medical center’s new coat of paint.  I just enjoyed the ride.  If we get a few more episodes like this, I might even send a bag of nuts myself.  Of course, then Angela will never speak to me again and it wouldn’t be worth losing a friend over.

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