REVIEW: Big Sky, Season 1 Episode Nine 'Let It Be Him'

 REVIEW: Big Sky, Season 1 Episode Nine 'Let It Be Him'

It doesn't matter how much fun the action set-pieces are in a drama series, they are not much use without the audience caring about the characters. Character work is essential in any story, as it is the people ultimately that we all get invested in at the end of the day.

Big Sky's ninth episode 'Let It Be Him' understands that from the off, as we see Merilee (Brooke Smith) reminiscing in her house about her time with her husband Rick (John Carroll Lynch). We follow Merilee as she starts to notice little hints in her memories towards Rick's secret criminal life, until the realisation dawns that Rick was going to kill her. These are scenes that really help us to empathise with Merilee, and understand the decision she takes later when she decides to murder Rick in his hospital bed. Merilee is arguably a victim in this whole saga herself, as her husband took her for granted by keeping her in the dark, and ultimately he pays the price for his deceit.

Speaking of Rick, it also becomes clear in this episode that he is slowly starting to remember his corrupt behaviour. We get this stunning sequence where he sees the women he kidnapped taunting him, which ends with Rick showing some remorse as he apologises for his actions. It's so vividly shot and directed, and a great example of how to do a dream sequence well.

Cassie (Kylie Bunbury) and Jenny (Katheryn Winnick) get to do some great detective work this week, as they go door to door searching for the kidnapper. Cassie actually comes face-to-face with Ronald Pergman (Brian Geraghty), and at first it seems she hasn't worked out he's their culprit. But then the realisation dawns on her face, as she recalls times she has met him before, and this is such a clever bait and switch that had me fooled at first. I truly thought he'd got away with it yet again, and the way they follow this up in the narrative by having the detective agency use the social media account of Ronald's mother to see if victim Jerrie (Jesse James Keitel) recognises him in her pictures on her profile is really quite ingenious.

God, is Ronald a creep though. It's fair to say that he's not a nice character in the slightest, and he just gets more demented as the weeks go by. This week he kicks Erik (Evan Whitten) in his cage around the floor and even seats him next to the corpse of the priest in the priest's Tesla as he sets the vehicle onto autopilot. That poor kid must surely be traumatised, but it's a good way of showing how far gone Ronald is down this villainous route.

It's not all character drama however. There's also some excellent action sequences. Case in point: the booby trapped house. With guns set ready to fire at the front door and explosives lined by Ronald around the inside of his house, this reminded me of what I'd imagine a more violent Home Alone would look like. It's such a tense watch too, as Jenny searches for Erik (Evan Whitten) inside the house before it blows up. At points you start to question if Jenny even survives - it wouldn't be the first time they killed off a lead character, after all - and it makes for some thrilling edge of your seat moments.

As does the car chase which occurs towards the end of the episode. This scene is impressively elaborate, with even a helicopter involved in the chase, and it gives a grand sense of scale that you would never get with one of our British dramas over here. It just goes to show how much more these U.S. networks can afford to do in terms of the budget. These American dramas truly feel like watching a mini movie every week, and their sheer ambition and commitment towards these television projects really has to be admired.

Overall, 'Let It Be Him' is another brilliant episode of Big Sky. It's an instalment that helps develop these characters that inhabit the world of the story considerably, whilst also offering some action scenes that are quite spectacular to watch. So far Big Sky is proving to be a show with a lot of heart and character, and I can't wait to see what happens next after its ill thought out mid-season break on Disney Plus comes to an end.

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What are your thoughts on Big Sky's ninth episode? Let me know in the comments section.