Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3 Review: ‘The Lorne Identity’

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3 sees Detective Ellis and Max helping out “Lorne,” who’s ranting about aliens and someone being out to get him. Also, his wife’s gone “because she knows too much.” ElliMax even take a nice trip to the forest, so despite the episode title being a play on The Bourne Identity, it feels like a spoof of The X-Files. Especially when, in the end, there’s (literally) a scientific explanation for everything — Edgar Peplow, formerly known as “Lorne,” the name on his borrowed shirt — is a biomedical engineer who was about to expose his company. This is why not having Karin Konoval, who’s known for some iconic roles on that other show with the aliens and conspiracies and missing ~~wives~~ partners, involved here feels kind of like a miss. But it is most definitely the only miss. So, we’ll allow it. Just this once.

It’s impressive that a series that never takes itself particularly seriously can still deliver a pretty scathing commentary on how the wealthy and powerful will do anything — including killing members of the press and attempting to do the same to people like ~~Lorne~~ Edgar whose labor got them rich in the first place — to protect their status, as well as how people in the for-profit health “care” business do not, in fact, care about anyone’s health. But that we have such a great time chasing down ~~Lorne~~ Edgar’s aliens on our journey to get to that twist is no surprise, whatsoever.

In fact, if anything here is a real shocker, it’s how much the hour accomplishes. As usual, the case is pure entertainment, but the extra weight doesn’t come at the expense of the entertainment value, of course. And, outside of the main story, Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3 still has room for genuinely beautiful moments for both of the series’ major pairings. Simmons doing super secret work to get Yates a parking spot near his lands in a way we never would have believed was possible just one short season ago. But for as sweet as that gesture is, nothing’s topping that birthday candle pizza. As it should be.

MORE: ElliMax started this season off on shaky ground, but we were never particularly worried. See why in our Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1 review.

“No Man Left Behind”

From the second Max takes Ellis’ phone to see what he’s up to (very married behavior, but that’s none of our business!) and sees that picture of Daniel, we should expect something to get us right in the feels. But Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3 almost — almost — makes us forget that today’s his birthday. Cole’s just trying to keep busy to distract himself, or at the very least to help “Lorne” as a way of honoring Daniel, and we’re happy to stay distracted with him. We’re also totally with Max, who’s just thrilled to be looking for aliens that may or may not exist “on a scale from Marvin the Martian to Predator.”

Like, we said, though: We only almost forget.

When Max tells Ellis about her family tradition, how she and her dad “spend the day together no matter what” on her mom’s birthday, it’s a bigger reminder that this day is difficult for him than some of the other little nudges along the way. And when, in that same conversation, she points out that “some years, one of us tries to get out of it to mope alone. And then it’s up to the other one to say ‘no, sorry. No Man Left Behind,'” that should be our clue that something’s going to happen at the end of the hour. But it only serves to be in hindsight. Because, as we pointed out above, we’re just as swept up in the distraction as Ellis is.

This particular conversation would actually be enough for Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3 to show ElliMax is continuing to rebuild, and even improve, their partnership. For one thing, she shows up when she doesn’t have to, a mug in each hand — symbolism well-known to fans of similar series that paved the way for this one to exist. And, for another, the scene is just genuine, heartfelt, and draws a much more open Ellis out of it than we’ve seen so far this season. So, yeah. Slam dunk on its own. But ‘The Lorne Identity’ goes one step further. The episode ends with Max making a return visit to the boat, giving Marc the good scritches he deserves (important!), and both partners admitting it’s been a minute since Max has been invited over.

That last part’s kind of a big deal because they’re acknowledging the changes, both the bad (before) and the good (now). Not that Max ever needed an invitation to just…show up, though — didn’t have one this trip either. But anyway…

After hearing Cole’s story about how Daniel didn’t really like sweets so he’d just get a candle in the middle of some pizza, Max gives him back that little piece of his brother’s birthday celebrations. She shows up, bearing the gift of a personal pizza with a candle in the middle. (Or does a small just look tiny in this man’s hands? Whichever.) And they sing happy birthday to Daniel together, with the tune just a tiny bit sad and longing, as Max sits with her partner in his grief and looks at him with all that concern. It’s bittersweet in all the best and worst ways. (Worst as in most painful, not poorly done.)

As usual, Giacomo Gianniotti and Vanessa Morgan give so much to the characters on this otherwise silly little show. But that’s what makes for good TV, and that’s what makes for characters we want to root for. We have all this fun with them but still manage to make them as human as possible, to see our humanity reflected in them. We could gush forever here, but maybe the best thing to do is let the work speak for itself. Now, if there’s something in our eyes as we listen, thinking of the birthdays of the people we’ve loved and lost while Ellis protects that candle’s fragile flame…you know what? Honestly, another great compliment to this series and these characters might just be to say, yeah, we’re owning it. That something in our eyes is a lot of tears. No jokes needed.

MORE: ElliMax also made some progress during their last case. Here’s what we thought of their journey in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2.

More on Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3

“…interrupted my Deep Space Nine rewatch. Totally underrated in the Star Trek oeuvre.” I will never stop loving how many pop culture references this show has and what an unapologetic nerd my girl Max is. More of this!
“Do you know what that much exercise does to the body? Nothing good.” Mean Girl Yates is really growing on me with knowledge like this.
See also: “Oh, I’m sorry! That my brain doesn’t work so well when my day involves excessive walking.”
“I don’t need emotional support.” “Tell that to Marc!” Nothing but respect for my Marc the Cat Fan Club Co-President. (I’m obviously the other boss there…just don’t tell my personal feline overlord.)
Kris Lemche was so good with giving his character that panicky, frantic sort of quality to make him look like a conspiracy nut. He handled the dawning knowledge that he didn’t even know who he was, as well as just enough real desperation for ElliMax to believe him and want to help him, even better. That’s tough to do, but he made it work.
Aliens!
“And miss out on aliens? Yeah. Fat chance.” Exactly, Max.
…but seriously. “Not a Russo case” for alieums? SMDH.
“Why does anyone commit crimes? Why did you?” “I didn’t commit crimes; I helped rich people part ways with their money.” “What’s the difference?” “Pizazz.” Be like Max. Do pizazz.
“There’s no such thing as aliens, Max.” “Not with that attitude, there aren’t.” More pure television moments like this, please and thank you! I love my more serious shows, but boy, is it great to have this type of gem back in style.
The “four blocks away” in unison. Superb.
Look: I often call Yates “the mean girl one” and all…but if she’s going to come for Zuckerberg like that? She can do no wrong.
The tic-tac-toe scene is comedy gold, made even better by how it ties into the overall mystery later.
“It turns out, if you stop doing something that’s going to give you cancer, you get punished with fewer breaks.”
“He’s always focused on big-time corruption. The little guy, you know? That’s why we had to give him the boot…I love a good Woodward and Bernstein style exposé as much as the next gal. But it doesn’t keep the lights on like puff pieces about sex scandals or cat fashion shows…Jerry wouldn’t play ball, though. Too much integrity. He was the last holdout, so we had to cut him loose.” Another excellent piece of social commentary in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 3. Just like the whole Orion corruption fiasco, it’s all about a bottom line for the billionaire class. See also: Quite a lot of outlets obeying in advance by either saying nothing or writing some weak AF headlines about a certain authoritarian takeover.
ANYWAY. Back to your regularly-scheduled fluffy show with a fluffy kitty.
Yes, thank you to Max for suggesting Marc gets an agent.
“That’s sweet,” after Ellis just said his brother wasn’t into sweets…what a great way to play with words. But also: That scene was, in fact, incredibly sweet, though. This series always does sweet very well.
“You think you’re getting pizza, and you get murdered instead. Rude.” Uh, extremely. Is nothing sacred?
Is it weird I think the way that body was positioned next to that empty pizza box, with that one arm up and all, was like, kinda cool?
“Aren’t you going to ask me to, like, name three objects?” “No! The only objects that matter right now are killer, killer, killer.” A practical queen.
A shootout. In the stairwell. TV!
“Lorne. Or. Other Lorne.” And they just keep calling him Lorne for a lot of the investigation, kinda like how certain actors will always be their most memorable characters to me. So true.
The trip to the forest, though. The only way to make me scream about The X-Files more would be to have sent them there in the middle of the night, with flashlights.
“…meaning it wasn’t aliens?” Morgan’s delivery here: Chef’s kiss.
“What ever happened to trusting your partner?”
AND THE WAY THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER.
Oops. Caps lock!
“They met at a sci-fi convention in college.” Living the dream!
“Two nerds in love.” That’s the show.
Oh, but she is soooo not sorry for playing with everything in that office.
“I know where it is.” So in sync.
“Live long and prosper, Commander Nevets.” And she hits him with the hand gesture. Perfect.
Also, I really love how all the “crazy” alien conspiracy talk actually had a grain of truth to it? Not only is that…kinda how they get you into some of the dangerous real-world conspiracies and all, but it’s also just like. No, Edgar wasn’t totally out of his mind for thinking someone was out to get him. His instincts were right; his imagination and his brain injury just distorted things a bit.
(Once again, Fox Mulder has entered the chat.)
“I mean, putting stock prices above human lives? It’s just…it’s insane.” GO OFF.
Interesting to show Max’s reaction to Edgar telling Ellis he’s “a good cop and a good man” instead of focusing on Ellis taking the compliment. And the reaction itself…oh, she’s down bad.
Speaking of: It’s like a magnet is trying to pull them together when the wife comes in?
Yates and Simmons are totally best friends. Adorable. Now, the other two partners…ahem.
Arms!
I, too, missed Marc.
“…a step toward the boat boating.” Literally telling us the ship is taking steps toward sailing, huh? I see what y’all did there.
…either that or I’m a clown. Whichever.
“Thanks for sticking with me on this case because it was actually really nice not to be alone yesterday.”
The way Gianniotti hesitates before saying Daniel, then keeps that little waver in his voice under that sad birthday song. So good.
A classic slow burn that still manages to be something all its own, as always. Well done. (Also as always.)