Ringer 1.19 'Let's Kill Bridget'

This episode of Ringer sent me on a merry-go-round of emotion. Pulled in from the wildly manipulative opening montage, and subsequently spiraling along with this week’s twists, I was had a high level of expectation for the outcome of this week’s installment. Sadly, the show still seems to be lagging every possible climax in favor of a slower burning final arc. It’s frustrating to say the least.

As Bridget continues her investigation into the attempt on her life ‘Let’s Kill Bridget’, she turns to Machado for help. Henry decides to go to Faberghast with the evidence of Martin-Charles’ ponzi scheme, but the outcome puts him in a compromising situation.

This whole series is hinged on the fact that Bridget and Siobhan are stuck in their respective positions. Any change-up in their current living situations could mean the series will find itself without an underpinning narrative, something the writers have clearly realized. One of the worst things a series, or for that matter any story-telling platform, can do is to opt for the “dream sequence” route. Just when I thought Ringer was about to step foot inside exciting territory, it did a double take, a move that set its story back by a mile. Playing it safe has never been strong suit for this show, so why things haven’t bubbled over properly concerns me. Has it lost the one thing that made it appealing in the first place; it’s nuttiness?

Every single manipulation this show pulls tests my patience that small bit more. Still, all of the stupid double crosses and teasing previews just get me more invested in every episodes outcome, hoping that this will be the week the show finally hits the mark. Catherine played a massive role here, and her involvement in the initial hit on Siobhan is one that felt fitting, but not altogether surprising. I can’t help but feel as though her character was introduced far too late for her part in the hitman’s first attempt to be all that powerful.

As Machado’s story continues, and his character is diffused, his motivations still feel a little played out, and, frankly, quite standard. It’s nice that his interest in Bridget’s case has been given significant weight, especially considering he was just a faceless fed sucking up screen-time for weeks on end, but I can’t help but feel like his story is something I’ve seen before. Hell, this whole show is just a bunch of re-used plots strung together by a once promising premise.

One thing I really liked about ‘Let’s Kill Bridget’ was Juliet. It feels a little strange that the character around which the series worst plot was centred has now become an emotional stabilizer of sorts. She’s never been a straight forward case where development and personal disposition are concerned, but I’m glad that she’s headed in the direction of redemption, at least in some capacity. The show hasn’t proven its ability to remain even the slightest bit consistent, but I think her story is finally headed somewhere concrete.

By episode 19, the show should have moved on well past its mid-plot stage, but people are still fumbling around like idiots, and Siobhan’s survival is still a mystery to her brain-dead twin. I said it last week, but I’ll say it again, these cop-outs are really starting to drag.

5.5/10

2 comments:

  1. Wonderful review, especially what you wrote about the show being desperate to not upset the underlying narrative. Like you posted on mine, we're seeing very eye-to-eye right now, and I really agree with you what you wrote about Catherine. But should it be a surprise? The show has to send somebody down for something in the finale, and having Siobhan dealt with would completely disrupt the general premise of the show. So we have Catherine, who will obviously be sent down the river in time for a perfect happy ending for Bridget, Andrew and Juliet. While Olivia (another dispensable guest star) goes down for all the Ponzi stuff. It's all signposted and predictable, which blows.

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  2. Thats definitely true. I hope that the series reches some sort of resolution, just to justify sticking it out this long. It's not going to make it another year, but I'd like most of the answers before it's pulled. Siobhan NEEDS to come out of hiding already.

    You mentioned it yourself before, but there's such an arrogance about this show that sometimes you wonder if the writers think they're the actual shit, when really they're the opposite.

    I DO like Ringer, but not in a way that justififes it's blatant mistakes.

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