Take Three: Suspicion

Suspicion: Season 1, Episode 3 “Strangers” (B+)

We still don’t have much more clarity on the guilt of our suspects, though two of them seem to be far more connected than the other. Aadesh remains the outlier, in part because he has no support system in his home life and that he’s being targeted as someone involved with the kidnapping but who doesn’t seem to have any idea what’s going on. Tara lives a relatively insular life, and aside from laughing at her class holding up royal masks in front of their faces when she showed up, she’s not revealing much. It’s no surprise that she can’t hold on to her job with all of the negative press for the university because of her involvement, but because she doesn’t spend time with anyone else, we can’t conclude much about her guilt. Natalie, on the other hand, seems entirely suspicious, going into work and logging onto the computer without any knowledge that they were monitoring her. It’s interesting that Joe wanted to – and could – represent her since they hadn’t actually gone through with the wedding, but she’s not eager to share everything with him. She would much rather talk with Monique, who very narrowly escaped danger when Sean was incredibly close to her. The news of a fifth suspect involved adds intrigue, but for me what was most noteworthy was the idea that the kidnappers would have worn masks to keep their identities from each other, meaning that they would have absolutely no idea who their coconspirators were.

What I’m Watching: This Is Us (Season Premiere)

This Is Us: Season 4, Episode 1 “Strangers” (B)

This episode felt closest to the very first hour of this show, bringing in a bunch of new characters and connecting them only in a way that made sense in the very last scene. The only familiar faces we followed through the course of the episode were Jack and Rebecca as she introduced her new boyfriend to her parents. Her father talked about Vietnam right away but then later did Jack a favor by encouraging him to hide the tag that was showing on the jacket Miguel had generously encouraged him to take without paying for it, but then he undid all that kindness by diagnosing Jack as too broken for his daughter. Getting her to sing when they went for their solo date was a wonderful way to cap an unfortunate evening, and it was very effectively paired with the heartfelt performance by the blind guy who turned out to be none other than Jack, Kate and Toby’s grown-up son. I recognized Asante Blackk, an Emmy nominee this year for “When They See Us,” as Malik, who seems ready to make Deja happy, and his parents were played by his Netflix limited series costar and fellow Emmy nominee Marsha Stephanie Blake and Omar Epps. I’m not entirely sure how strong the connection will be with veteran Cassidy, played by Jennifer Morrison from “Once Upon a Time” and “Back Roads.” These new characters should at least prove intriguing, though I’m really not sure just how much they’ll be featured beyond this framing introductory hour.

What I’m Watching: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead: Season 5, Episode 2 “Strangers” (B+)

This episode was a more balanced hour that mixed uneasiness, hopelessness, and sheer dread without binging on the gore too much. And that’s an hour that ends with someone watching himself being eaten! Part of why it works in this case is that the cannibals are reminiscent of the Governor in the way that they matter-of-factly justify their behavior, and that should make them interesting – and terrifying – enemies for our friends for the duration of the season. Sure, they did capture the wandering people who came in search of sanctuary, but they also burned down their home, which is cause for vengeance and apparently produces quite an appetite. It’s a shame that Bob is their first victim, but at least he’s a somewhat tangential character. This episode had a very weary feel to it, as everyone seemed relieved after much walking in the woods to find a literal sanctuary in the form of a church. There is something decidedly iffy about their new preacher friend, but he’s most fascinating for his unadulterated perspective on the world, trusting in his faith to protect him and renouncing violence even in the face of certain death. Both Carol and Tara have managed to ease themselves back into the group, which is good, since they’re all going to need to present as unified a front as possible to fight off whatever awaits them in the church and the impending threat of the cannibals. And, who knows, maybe Daryl will even manage to find Beth in the middle of everything.