We need to talk about Sarah.
Just when we thought we were starting to understand people’s characters in Reasonable Doubt, we’re thrown a curveball that changes everything.
The most shocking revelation probably had to be that Sarah wasn’t the nicey nice wife that we all thought. She is definitely not a Stepford Wife. Her revelation to Kaleesha’s husband that yes she did send the emails but “doesn’t he want to know how the story ends” is mind-blowing. And it means we have another suspect because Sarah seems to be going a bit rogue. It’s becoming an increasing possibility that Sarah and Kaleesha had it out at some point because while we don’t know the clear contents of these emails, it doesn’t seem to be very nice.
In fact it seems Sarah had a plan for someone.
Additionally, this episode’s exploration into how someone’s crime doesn’t just affect them but also their family is another good portrayal in this show. As we see the strain of Brayden and Sarah’s marriage. But more so, how her life is destroyed by the case because she used to do work with battered women and obviously, since her husband is currently a suspect for a murder case, she is basically ousted from that job.
Sarah’s reflection on the sacrifices she’s made for Brayden, which include even hiding herself because he wanted to keep “his white wife in the shadows” in order to excel on top of her, really shows the extent of her sacrifice and makes her a prime suspect for Kaleesha’s murder. As she could have killed her to get back at her husband and get rid of him. Because let’s be honest, it really looks like he’s going to prison at the moment.
A particularly powerful moment in this episode and the series as a whole is the discussion of Black men’s experience in society. Brayden’s speech at JT’s peace on the streets event was particularly moving because it talks about a matter that was important to the Black community, but it also at humanised the Brayden we have watched over the last few episodes. Who has often felt way too entitled. It’s actually kind of the first time I believed that Brayden wasn’t capable of this crime. That’s not to say by next episode that won’t change but it added a vulnerability to his character and understanding to his backstory.
I also really like how the show is exploring Damon’s experience since he’s come out of person and the fact he is finding it hard to readapt to society because so much has changed. His moment where he gets upset that his debit card is not being accepted and then feels upset because he doesn’t want to feel like he owes anyone it just is particularly powerful and poignant and I think that other previously incarcerated criminals who been through the journey he has will relate to it. I think it’s also a very different side that we’re seeing to Michael Ealy as an actor who in previous years people have noted has played a typical troublemaker or a criminal. For whatever the reason the way he’s playing Damon in this series is just different and I can’t help but love it.
There’s been a lot of talk about how this series is loosely around a real-life celebrity attorney Shawn Holley who was on OJ Simpson’ trial however the differences between Jax and Shawn have been quite drastic until this episode. In this episode we get a direct reference to the trial as they talk about padding the jurors with peers like they did in the OJ trial. Which goes back to the fact that this show aims to make links to real life as well as being a great work of fiction.
We also need to talk about Rich because his portrayal in this episode was very interesting. We had Theo trying to manipulate Rich into taking over the case by convincing him that Jax was undermining him. Which then extended into the workplace setting as in the partner meeting, one of the bosses said “Rich I’ve bet you learnt a lot from her” and you could visibly see he wasn’t happy with that which is very reach the climax point at the office where he tries to embarrass her in front of the partners for not having Brayden stepped down from his company.
There was something really powerful about this moment and about how Jax tackles Rich. She’s able to hold her own but beyond that she recognises what’s going on. Her ability to recognise what’s going on and know her own talents to say if you can do a better job or if you have more experience than me, you can take this case but until then I will be doing this my way. Is something I wish I had the guts to say. Jax is very aware of her worth and won’t be belittled or spoken down to and it’s great to watch.
Finally, the most underrated highlight of this episode has to be Jax unscrewing the handle to her son’s door while Lil’ Kim’s Money, Power, Respect plays. Then saying she’s “not raising a fuckboi.” Mama bear did not come to play and I’m going to need more of this going forward, please and thank you.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- That moment at the end with Damon was so fire
- Will the bodyguard needs to get out of here because his little stalking game of “what we have is special” is not cute.
- We have to admit that Lewis issues some of the best speeches. The way he explained his and Jax’s separation to Spencer – “ We are at a difficult level, figuring out how to move to the next level” – was incredible.
