What I’m Watching: Longmire

Longmire: Season 3, Episode 9 “Counting Coup” (B+)

I would definitely describe this episode as explosive, charging through a few major plotlines to set up an even more violent and thrilling season finale next week. Starting out with Vic and Walt trying to find Branch transformed the usual dynamic of the show, and having Branch run in, frantic to find help locating Bridges, only to be put in a cell after attacking Vic was an unsettling sight. The most surprising part of it all was Ferg’s reaction, so frustrated with being kept in the dark and never told anything that he spoke up to Walt – a big deal for him – and then later so intimidated by Branch’s father that he gave in and released him for the sake of protecting his own father’s livelihood. Though it was mostly out of spite, it’s good that Vic opted to go look at Bridges’ car, not that it did much good for keeping Branch from trying to do his own detective work. Seeing him with the shotgun demonstrated just how off-the-rails he is, so set on finding Bridges that he can’t see straight and doesn’t mind who he hurts along the way. His father coming to his aid seemed like more of a punishment than anything else, since he basically told him not to die because then he would no longer have a son. Walt’s near-fatal encounter at the end of the episode finally confirmed that Branch has been telling the truth, and let’s just hope that it’s not too late to prevent one of our beloved cops from losing their lives. Henry acted extraordinarily recklessly by nearly burning down his bar to get Malachai to talk, and he’s going to need all the help he can get to combat him in court as well.