REVIEW: Big Sky, Season 1 Episode Sixteen 'Love Is A Strange And Dangerous Thing'

 REVIEW: Big Sky, Season 1 Episode Sixteen 'Love Is A Strange And Dangerous Thing'

The passage of time is a curious thing. It goes so quickly that it's very hard to believe that we have reached the final episode of Big Sky's first season already. It has been a first season full of twists, turns and unexpected deaths, a show that is not afraid to surprise when you least expect it. Sure, it may not be as huge or expansive as a Marvel Studios production, but it's still a great addition to Disney Plus.

The episode starts off with a scene that felt as though it had been teased for so long: Jerrie (Jesse James Keitel) coming face to face once again with her kidnapper Ronald (Brian Geraghty). It's a scene that feels so powerful, seeing the abused finally meeting her abuser once again, especially as this time the roles are reversed. This time it's Ronald who's the vulnerable one, held at gunpoint by Jerrie, ready to be escorted out of the house by herself and Mark Lindor (Omar Metwally). This is a scene that feels essential to Jerrie's character, as it has this sense of having to face your demons in order to overcome them. Once Jerrie has faced Ronald, suddenly she is free, as she has faced up to the one thing who scares her above anything or anyone else. 

There's a real 'Hannibal Lecter' vibe with Ronald, when he requests to be interviewed at the station by Mark, Jenny (Katheryn Winnick) and Cassie (Kylie Bunbury). Only this is a Hannibal Lecter who is let out of the secure cell, taking our trio on something of a road trip. I'm not sure I'd fancy being Cassie and Mark, driving in the car with Ronald inside. There's a certain awkwardness present here for sure, where Cassie and Mark really seem unsure as to whether or not they can trust him.  After all, they're following the whims of a clearly mentally disturbed serial killer and kidnapper of women. To say he's not the most reliable of people would be an understatement.

The 'surprise' he has planned for the trio is the resting place for Kelli, a woman who Ronald kidnapped and used to visit, until she stopped cooperating and he neglected her completely. This honestly has to be one of the most disturbing elements of Big Sky, as Kelli's body has been sitting in a body bag for God knows how long. It's chilling to think about, that Ronald's largely unfeeling personality led to this poor woman wasting away with no food or drink, to the point where her life just came to a premature end. It's no way for a human life to end, and it shows just how cruel Ronald's actions truly are.

Sadly the Ronald storyline ends with total absurdity, when a planned ambush on the road results in Cassie and Mark's car completely flipping over. This final scene just feels like pure cartoon logic rather than a realistic situation, as somehow Ronald ends up totally free of injuries, whilst Cassie and Mark come off worse for wear. Not only that, but it leads to the most exaggerated of situations, with a major shootout occurring on a public highway which results in Jenny being shot in the chest (although I assume she will survive her gun shot wound). It's all extremely unbelievable with no semblance in reality, and you've got to wonder just what the writers were thinking.

I'm not a fan of Ronald managing to escape with Scarlet (Anja Savcic) either. They're given new identities to assume by the people behind the road shooting, and it leads to this season feeling totally unfinished. By the end of the season we're no closer to Cassie and Jenny (assuming she survives) catching Ronald and closing the case, and yet this same case has been going on for sixteen episodes now. It makes them seem somewhat inadequate as private detectives, as who's going to trust them if they can't catch one truck driver?

The Kleinsasser storyline is wrapped up relatively quick in this episode, although I didn't mind that so much. It makes sense for the main plot to revolve around Ronald given that it's what the season as a whole has mainly been centred around, so getting the Kliensassers out of the way and focusing on the Ronald plot was definitely the right move by the creative team. It also gives us a satisfying piece of closure, with Margaret (Michelle Forbes) drugging Horst (Ted Levine), leading to his death. Also interesting is Cheyenne (Britt Robertson) turning up with cupcakes as the private detective agency. Was she planning to poison Jenny and Cassie perhaps?

Overall, 'Love Is A Strange And Curious Thing' is a mostly decent conclusion to Big Sky's first season. Whilst the Ronald storyline starts off strong with some real Silence Of The Lambs vibes, sadly its conclusion peters into the realms of absurdity. However the Kleinsasser plot, despite concluding early into the episode, resolves itself in a strong and effective manner. I certainly wouldn't trust any of Cheyenne's cupcakes though... 

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