Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2 Review: ‘Once a Con a Time in the West’

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2 is yet more proof that this is exactly the series we need right now. Sometimes, we need an escape; when we do, this type of TV, with all its heart and the sense that things will always work out in the end, does it for us. As far as the case of the week goes, it’s just so much fun to watch, to the point where the hour flies by. That doesn’t mean anything feels rushed, though. To the contrary, the investigation has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Additionally, the big ending comes right when it’s supposed to — just as viewers are beginning to think, “oh, I bet it’s her,” we learn not only who the killer is (yes, it’s that one) but why.

Along the way, the story somehow manages to give us a taste of everything from a couples’ horseback ride, to “hillbilly-speak” that would be corny (at best) in other places yet is perfectly charming here, to some dancing, then an almost-kiss, and just the right kind of angst to close us out. Basically, the people involved in creating this series understand that a quirky, yet touching, rom-dramedy of a procedural is a formula-busting, well, formula that works. So, since it’s not broken, they’re not going out of their way to fix it. And, as a result, we get to benefit from this lovely little bit of TV in its purest form.

Bonus: “Once a Con a Time in the West” even nudges us, ever so gently, to think about things like giving people second chances, what it means to build a home, and — yes, obviously — just how great the payoff’s going to be at the end of this classic, yet somehow still fresh, “will they/won’t they.”

MORE: What did we think of the season premiere? Read our Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1 review to find out!

ElliMax almost kiss

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2 is full of great moments that look like progress (and are probably going to spark a bunch of excellent fanfiction). But as we know from the season premiere, and as we see throughout this hour, Ellis still doesn’t know if he can trust Max. More to the point, while she may want to just move past the betrayal, skip the hard part, and jump “back to the way we were,” Ellis can’t. Which, here’s the thing: People really do like to just go “back to normal,” whatever that even means, after experiencing something difficult. The more difficult the experience is, the more they just want to try to memory hole it.

But that’s not how things work. Ellis knows that. Sure, his quiet “we’ll never go back to the way things were, Max” is kinda devastating — as is Max’s heartbroken reaction to it. It’s real and honest, though. Also, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. In fact, we might argue it’s a good thing. If the Before Egg Era (if you will) was the optimal place for this relationship, then Max never would’ve conned Ellis in the first place. Yes, she came back. And yes, everything she lays out as reasons to trust her again counts. She did, however, hurt Ellis and break his trust. With a strong enough foundation, she could’ve made different choices. Choices that didn’t hurt someone she obviously cared for. Yet, this is where we are.

“Here” still has glimmers of hope, though. Amused as he may be when Max is a big, giant NOPE on riding that horse, he reaches out his hand and helps her up. The offer’s there, and she takes it. She might hesitate for the slightest bit of time and need some encouragement, but she holds on tight — and doesn’t even let go until she’s told she doesn’t need to hang on anymore. Uh…huh. Totally normal behavior for people forced to work together, who have absolutely no feelings at all!

…right.

Then, there’s the big development in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2: The moment where it absolutely looks like ElliMax are going to kiss. Once again, we’re blown away by that chemistry between Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti. And even though we know it’s probably a bit early for them to actually go there, they almost fool us. Because the shot, and the moment, and the way that moment gets time to breathe and sort of subtly build in tension is just delicious.

At this point in the story, the way these two characters hesitate before starting the slow dance, then spend the beginning of it trying so hard not to look directly at each other’s eyes (or mouths), makes it so obvious how badly they want more but are trying so desperately to avoid giving in. They can let themselves have the dance — the taste of what could be — but nothing else. (For now?)Again, like we said in the intro: Folks on this series know what has always worked isn’t broken, so they’re not wasting time trying to cleverly fix it.

The “fixing” part only needs to happen between the characters, and we’re sure it will. Eventually. And just like Max says here, Ellis was completely right. They never will go back to the way things were. But “it’s ok because it’ll just be something new.” Whatever that new thing is, we’re hoping it involves all the build up…and none of the case-related interruptions.

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