The Tourist 2×05 acts kind of like a reflection of episode 5 of season 1. In that episode, Elliot takes a trip down memory lane, unlocking secrets about himself and having some new realizations. In season 2, we see Helen Chambers go on this introspective journey. Within this journey she has her deepest desires fulfilled. But she also faces some of her darkest fears and some of the things that she has been running away from. It’s equal parts fascinating, heart-wrenching, and devastating. And I feel like it gives Helen so much depth and understanding on a show that sells itself on having one lead in the form of Jamie Dornan but actually has two leads as Danielle Macdonald is just as important.
Within Helen’s mind, I love the fact that the show tricked us there for a second. I truly believed that Helen and Elliot were leaving. I laughed at Helen making that joke after waking up. I swooned when Elliot said that she was his family and you could spot the ring on her finger. And I was looking forward to the kind of life they would build together when they moved in together. But as soon as that oven beeping became a focus, I knew that something was wrong. And it’s like Helen couldn’t let go of the hunt for the truth even while unconscious and in pain. That truth led to her spiraling and an imaginary version of her and Elliot basically dissolving. It also led to that mysterious cowboy named Billy making a reappearance. And it was only through Helen confronting her fears that she was able to wake up.
Problem is, when Helen did wake up, she had a new set of problems to face. And I really like how The Tourist gave us this moment of triumph for Helen in 2×05 within her dreams to only throw her into the real world. Because the dream world, anything can happen there and consequences aren’t final. But in the real world, they are. And I feel like Helen went through a change after experiencing that dream world. I don’t think that she is the optimistic believer who in reality was pushing for Elliot to find out about his past as much for Elliot’s sake but also for her sake. Because a part of her wanted to prove that he was a good man and that she had made the right decision. But that’s not love. Love includes warts and all. And I don’t think Helen was ready for that when she realized that Elliot wanted to marry her.
On the flip side of things, Elliot is kind of made a mess of things. I do appreciate that The Tourist gave me some super heartwarming moments where my heart burst at the sight of Elliot curling up into Helen. But they immediately shattered that with him lying to her. I understand that he did it because he wanted to protect her after she was shot in the stomach and he thought he almost lost her. But they’re partners. And this isn’t season 1 Elliot. This is season 2. And with growth comes leaving behind the bad habits of the past. But we all know that growth isn’t linear. Growth takes time. Growth takes heartache and pain. And at the end it’s worth it. Helen and Ellie are worth it. So I’m going to hold on to hope that everything will be okay for them.
In all of this hope, there is one gigantic stain on The Tourist 2×05. Maybe two gigantic stains. One of them is Ethan. No explanation needed for that hot garbage man. And then there is Detective Ruairi. I just don’t understand why The Tourist keeps giving me more of these people. One of them is a misogynistic clown who needs to kick rocks in open-toed shoes. (If you know, you know.) And the other is a detective that literally kidnapped Helen while the body of his dead wife just sat in the other room. I don’t want to know anything about these two guys. In fact, the less that I know about them the better. But for some reason this show continues to waste time on these two guys. I don’t care that they have a blossoming relationship and I don’t care that they have found each other in douchebaggery. That’s not why I watch this show.
I watch The Tourist for Elliot and Helen. And I feel like the show is doing a great disservice to viewers but also the main characters by giving us these small characters that do not add anything to the main narrative. In fact, looking back on The Tourist season 1, we wasted so much time with that random Greek guy. We could have focused more on Elliot, Helen, and Lucy, who I miss and I’m still mad that they fridged her. In a way, I do think The Tourist 2×05 is doing some different things while having an established couple, even if they’re on the brink of implosion. But in many ways, they’re doing the same thing that Hollywood has done before AKA throwing random and nonsensical storylines that do not add anything to the overall plot into the way of the leads. I want earned plots and drama. And the inclusion of these random side characters isn’t that. We need more Elliot and Helen and less everyone else.
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, 2×03, and 2×04.
Quick question: when did Irish police/ garda get Cassidy’s fingerprints to know it was his prints on the gun they found? I don’t recall any prior situation where they had reasons to record his fingerprints.