When you grow, things change. Everything around you becomes a different beast. What was comfortable evolves, what was familiar changes. And the people that you know, they’re all going through it too, so every single day is a new day to relearn the world around you.
We’re on episode 4 of Panic and there is one consistent – Olivia Welch is the strongest actress in the cast. Her mix of strength, vulnerability, awkwardness and growth has you drawn into the character of Heather. You want her to win. You want anyone who wrongs her to suffer. You want to kick all of the people who are standing in her way.
And it takes a lot to get you that invested in a character by episode 4.
In the same breathe, it takes a lot to get you to hate a character. And Jessica Sula has us hating Natalie. Natalie – she’s manipulative and self serving, caught up in what benefits herself, but not paying attention to the impact that she’s having on everyone around her. So yes, as much as we dislike Natalie, it takes a strong actress to get you to hate a character so quickly.
Lets break down episode 4, because there is a lot of good, bad, and ugly.
SPURLOCK FARMS
Personally, I am afraid of being confined, small spaces, and tunnels. If I was Heather, I would have freaked the fuck out being locked in the tunnels at Spurlock’s. I would have lost my mind, I wouldn’t have had the sense to try and make my way through the tunnels. I woulda sat at the bottom of those stairs and cried.
Spurlock is also one scary as fuck man, so I probably would have been doing everything not to get shot either.
But Spurlock being on a shooting rampage and focused on the front of the house, gives the players the perfect opportunity to go in and grab something quickly. Not to sure why some of them choose to go as deep into the house as they can. Like be smart, open the door, grab, and run.
It’s watching the events at Spurlock’s that make me even madder at Natalie. She’s looking out and texting Dodge warnings, but like bitch, check on your best friend. A man is literally shooting at people. You don’t know if she’s hurt. You don’t know where she is. Like could you be any shittier of a person.
And yes, I know the answer to that is probably, but still.
Everyone has close calls with Spurlock. Ray’s hiding under his bed when the man comes in to get dressed. I’m having anxiety attacks at all of the shit in this mans house. Talk about a hoarder. Like the state of his house makes me physically want to vomit. It’s gross.
The man has a drug lab in the tunnels. There is the sound of rats everywhere. He’s crazy (and I don’t use that term lightly).
Luckily, Dodge and Natalie meet up (Dodge stole her something so she was still in) and that’s when they decide to see where Heather is. She barely makes it to the car and sends in her picture with just two minutes to spare.
SOLVING A MYSTERY
Last episode, the Sheriff asked Captain Williams to go and visit the Reverend to see if there were any kids carrying around a pretty big scar – the weight of the two kids that died the year before. And he recognizes a kid, Hunt Kenny. Hunt, has something weighing on him.
But how could any of these kids not have the weight of the world on their shoulders. They are playing with peoples emotions and all for money.
Langley is the one that the Sheriff sends to see Hunt and I wonder what more she has in this. Because there is something that we are missing here. She has too much of an interest in it, and I am not buying that it’s because it is her job.
The information from Hunt is valuable – he says that the football and and dance team had a bet over who would win the game last year. When they thought that Jimmy was loosing to make Abby get ahead.
Langley is able to determine from the conversation that the game is based on points. Langley wants to know who made it to finals. Hunt doesn’t want to tell her, but he does. Cole had the points. He doesn’t know who took Coles spot when he left. Tells him when he knows to call her. I don’t think that he’s telling the truth, but all of them live by a code of silence, none of these kids knowing what to say.
This all being said – I don’t trust the Sheriff either. I feel like he dismissed Abby’s Moms claims of threatening letters when he should know that there is nothing that should be overlooked.
Maybe people are looking for a place to direct their grief, but I do not believe that is what happening here. I’m suspicious as fuck of the Sheriff in everything.
A RAY OF DNA
Well Tyler may have been thrown into a trunk, but he made it out. He’s walking down the street, when he see’s Ray.
The thing about Ray, I think that I am going to hate him, that’s he’s a douche, but he’s not. He actually cares about his friend and wants to see him succeed. Tyler had the shit beaten out of him and it turns out it’s because he’s behind on payments to his drug supplier. Ray is smart enough to call him out for it – which Tyler needs.
But what makes me think higher of Ray is that even though he fought with his best friend, he knew that he would come around and stole something for him, and submitted his picture so that he would be able to stay in the game.
Ray at lake. Looks like a storm. Hears noise. Turns around and sees someone pulling up. It’s his brother. They are happy to see each other. Ray says he didn’t miss him, but missed borrowing his car. Brother sorry he wasn’t at graduation.
You know that person that is back in town that the Sheriff was talking about. It’s Ray’s brother. But I am not sure that this is a good sign that he’s back. I think that he knows that Ray is playing and has a chance of winning. So he’s there for money.
FALLING FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND
If I think anyone in this show is looking for acceptance it is Heather. She doesn’t know who she can trust, who she can believe in, and she sees that Natalie is not telling her everything. But what she does is bring to her attention that everyone knows that her and Bishop have feelings for each other.
Heather has been afraid to admit her feelings and that’s understandable. Bishop has tried, but she hasn’t noticed the things that he has laid out there. Heather is on her own journey of self discovery and allowing her emotions to come to light. She’s used to being hurt, that’s what she knows in life.
But when she gets there, he’s just dishonest. He tells her that his phone was dead, but it wasn’t. He’s got Leela over, but in all honesty, I don’t think that they are together. What I think is that they have something else going on and it has to do with the game.
I think that letting your walls down isn’t easy, but for Heather and Bishop it’s not the right time. They have way too many secrets in this town. But like normal people experiencing hurt, they want to hurt the other person as bad as they are hurting. Only Heather goes for the jugular.
He says that they’ve been best friends for a while and he doesn’t want and she says that she’s never thought about him like that. Never for a split second thought of him like that. She says he’s like her brother. The idea of kissing him is like traumatizing. He looks hurt. He goes so we’re on the same page. They are both lying to each other. He says he wanted to make sure so it wouldn’t be weird. She walks off hurt. The whole conversation is them talking over each other and denying the honest truth – that there are feelings involved.
Heather needs to be validated because she doesn’t get that anywhere. And it sucks that every time she does searching for it, it’s a let down. She’s devastated. No one can blame her for wanting to stay in bed and not move from there. But even though I hate Natalie, I am glad that she is there to push her and get her out of bed to go to the party.
THE PLAYERS BALL
The amount of vandalism done in this town is insane. Like, lets be real, more security cameras wouldn’t be a bad investment for this town.
We see someone driving through the town shooting paintballs everywhere and when we see the aftermath of it – someone has a lot of disposable income. Like there is an insane amount of pain everywhere. There isn’t a store in town that isn’t cleaning that shit up.
It’s because of Natalie that we learn what it is. Every year the MC of Panic throws a party – The Players Ball. This is the invitation. I have to admit I am on Dodge’s side when he asks if they couldn’t just send an evite.
Cut to the night of the party. That shit is a big party for a small town. It straight up is a party out of Hollywood. There is a lot that happens at the party, but mostly it’s everyone flirting and the viewer trying to figure out which these people will end up with each other. But I am frustrated over the entire thing?
Why?
Because Ray is a dick. He’s trying to flirt with Heather and doing a horrible job. But she gets drunk enough and wants to forget Bishop. Yes, part of me thinks that they would be good together, but he doesn’t know how to be honest. And she’s not really looking for anything but to feel wanted.
Sure, they are a lot alike, but when and if someone tells you that you are trash, the only thing that you need to do is tell them to fuck off and realize that you are worth more than that. There is no need to hate on Heather for anything. But there is also no need for Ray to hate on himself.
Your circumstances don’t define you. They don’t have to at least. You can always be better than where you started.
And as we expected, a clue came. But what I don’t think any of us thought would happen was that Bishop was the one who put it there. He’s a judge? DID NOT EVER SEE THAT COMING.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I really like Heathers new job. I feel like she’s getting what she needs from it and the animals are a calming thing to her.
- Who is Lil Bill? What do I have to learn about him?
- The photographer that buys all the wax paper should run from Natalie. She’s not to be trusted.
- Heathers Mom breaking up with her boyfriend – let us all pray it lasts.
- I really am craving Mac & Cheese after this
- Heather’s Mom giving her money of any amount is a big thing. I am glad she made that step with her daughter.
- Luke Hall the reason that Dana is in a wheelchair – shit blew me away. Makes me think that Dodge is up to something more than we know.
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