Right off the bat, The Tourist 2×04 made it abundantly clear that Elliott is truly and deeply in love with Helen. They did hit some roadblocks in this episode, valid ones where Helen needs to understand that he is a bad man and Elliot needs to understand that you are not just one thing. And even though this episode ended in such a traumatic and scary moment, I still know and appreciate the bond and love that these two have for each other. They’re meant to be and I don’t want this to be the end for them. Truth be told, I even cheated a little bit and started watching the next episode to see what happened because I was so worried about what would happen to these two.
Seeing an established couple taking on the world is a rarity. A lot of times it’s the will they or won’t they before they get together. Or they are on an adventure together and just as they’re about to get together something pulls them apart. And I’m tired of that. What Elliot and Helen have is two people who understand that they have to tackle this together. They want to tackle this together. And sure, I do think they need a good bit of therapy individually and together, but I don’t know if any therapist is equipped for the problems that they have. But you can tell that they’re the kind of people that would try, for each other but also for the life they can create at each other’s side.
This episode gave us some truly stand-out moments when it came to them as a couple. You had Elliot and Helen looking at Ethan like he was the biggest buffoon in the world. I also especially loved that Elliot just let Helen take care of it because he knows she can. In the beginning of 2×04 we also saw Helen making a joke about Elliot’s son that was funny and made him laugh. Even later on when meeting with his mom, the look on his face when he heard Helen call his mom her mother-in-law, it was priceless. Even them making out and eventually making way too much noise while having sex, brought a dose of levity to such a serious situation that they’re both facing aka an upcoming war between two families.
But not everything was sunshine and rainbows in The Tourist 204. Because while the show managed to give us looks, touches, and dialogue that speaks to the strength of Elliot and Helen’s relationship, the show took the time to give us a glimpse at the problems they have. Helen is sometimes so optimistic that it’s detrimental. Elliot has done terrible things and that’s something that she needs to accept. On the opposite side of things, Elliot is too harsh on himself. He did bad things. But that’s not all he is. He also doesn’t get to take his frustration out on Helen. She is his partner and I hope he takes a step back and they both sit down and work on better communication.
On the Lena Pascal of everything, I really like that The Tourist has made me angry at her because I love Helen but also understand her. It’s a very interesting duality that the show has managed to find a great balance with. I feel Lena’s pain and anguish in the way that she carries herself and the passion in her voice. She deserves retribution for watching her loved ones perish in front of her. At the same time, I don’t like that she shot Helen. Knowing the kind of person Helen is, she would have helped Lena even if she was with Elliot. That woman has a rightful sense of judgment when it comes to justice. And she would have understood. I’m not sure if she’s going to be as understanding after being shot but that’s something to worry about in the future.
And finally, there’s the son Fergal. For all my complaints that The Tourist season 2 has spent way too much time with pointless plot lines like the guy that kidnapped Helen and the reappearance of Ethan, I do like the idea of Fergal. He’s just a kid and part of Elliot’s past. And it goes to show what kind of person Eliot is now or who he hopes to become that he’s worried about this kid. He wants to get to know him and was absolutely delighted in the thought of them having the same noses even if he didn’t show it because he’s a grump. I don’t know its going to go anywhere because watching the woman you love get shot does really throw a wrench into getting to know the son you never knew you had. But I’m optimistic that the kind of person that The Tourist has developed when it comes to Elliot, wouldn’t go after this kid. He’s not the one who shot her and not the ones stirring up trouble. The families are.
The Tourist season 1 and 2 is now available on Netflix.
Before you go, please check out our previous review for 2×01, 2×02, and 2×03.
