Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 Review: ‘Sunrise, Sunset’

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ closes out the series’ second season with a few surprises…and some uncertainty for ElliMax. If we have any criticism for the hour at all, it’s that the pacing can be a little bit confusing. Daniel’s murder is the big story that has plagued Detective Ellis’ career for two years and has been an underlying mystery for this series since the very beginning. So, the choice to wrap up his case by about halfway through the Season 2 finale doesn’t quite make sense — not in the moment, at least.

In a perfect world, we would’ve had at least one more episode so that piece of things could get more time. (Or maybe Episode 12 could’ve just been longer, somehow?) Then, everything that follows Russo’s arrest and Ellis giving Max her very special gift could be its own chapter in the series’ history. But, well. This is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a perfect world. So, it is what it is…and it’s not exactly terrible anyway. Ultimately, the way the story unfolds makes a lot more sense by the time it actually ends. What initially seems like it might be a drawn out ending with no story left to tell turns into something completely different. Because, at it turns out, Season 2 has another huge secret. And it’s been right in front of our noses the whole time.

Putting all of that together, we’d say Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 works in all the ways a season finale ought to. It wraps up some major storylines, gives us hope for ElliMax, and then dashes it in a way that leaves us desperate to see what’s next. (But please, go gentle on us with what’s next.)

MORE: Wild Cards Season 2 has been full of surprises, like Chief Li’s secret backstory.

“Everything you need to know is always right in front of you”

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 reveals that those videos from ~~President Bartlet~~ Jonathan Ashford were more interesting than we originally expected. In the first place, no, all that talk of needing to get rid of attachments wasn’t a warning to Max. Instead, the messages were building toward Ashford saying he was wrong about all of his rules and apologizing to George for abandoning him. Additionally, that second half of the episode gives us a fascinating puzzle-solving session with Max, George, and Ricky. In a great twist for viewers, as well as for the characters involved, a replica of Ashford’s office helps them break his code, scoring our wayward heroes hundreds of millions of bucks.

It’s so much fun to watch — especially if we pretend this doesn’t make Max too late to get to Ellis. Also of note: Jason Priestley is fantastic in this last half, especially when George watches that last video. And that father/daughter moment when Max tells him he’s the center of the whole mystery is absolutely everything. Can’t let that go unsaid.

In the process of figuring out all 12 (!!!) of Ashford’s passwords in the right order, the entire tangled web of carefully-placed clues reminds George and Max of the importance of love. Not only does Ashford’s love for George lie at the heart of everything, but that revelation is what makes George realize he has to let his daughter go so she can go to her love. But, of course, because TV doesn’t let us have nice things without forcing us to suffer first, we get the biggest twist yet. Max’s mom shows up at the worst possible time — right when she’s on her way out to meet Ellis and sail off into the ~~sunset~~ sunrise.

So, here we are. Season finale. Angsty cliffhanger with one half of our ship thinking the other one didn’t want him after all, even though she actually very much did. For all the times we’ve praised Wild Cards for its unapologetic love of, and tribute to, some of our favorite TV romances, let’s just hope they don’t do the whole “comes back with a third wheel ‘relationship'” thing next season. Because, really, it’s been done to death. And it’s never, ever enjoyable to watch.

MORE: Yes, we’re worried about how this finale ended and all…but remember how shaky things were in the Wild Cards Season 2 premiere? Look how far ElliMax has come on their journey toward their “something new.”

“What could possibly make you think that you don’t matter?”

Even though Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 ends with ElliMax missing this chance at their happily ever after, the episode — and, indeed, this season as a whole — brings them closer than ever before. Yes, “the boat’s gonna boat” with Cole and Marc thinking Max chose not to come along for the ride. And yes, that’s bad. But it bears repeating that Max did want to go. She was even on her way to meet them before the unthinkable stopped her! And, unlike last season’s finale, the existing set of barriers — his unresolved questions about Daniel’s death, her dedication to her dad and the family business — are gone. These two people have chosen each other and admitted it, both to themselves and each other (in their own way). And George has given his daughter his blessing, encouraging her to “go to him.”

Side note: Get you a dad like George who sees you, immediately realizes where your heart lies, lets you go so you can follow it, and tells you to go after it.

As always, it’s not the (somewhat frustrating, yet forgivable since this isn’t The End) destination that matters most. The biggest highlight of this Wild Cards Season 2 finale, and possibly of the season overall, comes when Ellis hits rock bottom — and Max is there to catch him when he falls. When Locke brags to Ellis about how he doesn’t even remember Daniel’s name, Ellis snaps. Down on the floor, nearly defeated, he unleashes all that buried pain and anger on the other man. And then, Max shows up, right on time, and stops him from doing something that she knows could ruin his life.

Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti do incredible work here. In the moment, Max and Ellis both reach incredibly deep, intense levels of emotion. She is so afraid — not of him but for him. And he is simply unraveling, devastated, on the edge. Max’s heart is in her throat, Ellis’ is broken and bleeding on his sleeve, and it takes the two of them connecting at the height of it all to start getting everything back under some kind of control. (Was going to use the word “climax” here to describe both the point where the level of feeling hits its maximum and the place we land in the story. But it kinda felt unfair, given the lack of opportunity to, well, climax…)

But that’s not the most compelling part of Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13. Or, at least, that’s not where the good stuff ends — on the contrary, it’s just the beginning. After Max gets Ellis to walk away, she convinces him to let her take him home. Not to the boat, no. To her home, the one that became his home earlier this season when the boat was unavailable. Here, in the quiet, with no threat of violence and no one else to witness it, ElliMax really has their moment. As Max demands to know why Cole thinks he doesn’t matter, and he confesses to her that he ignored his brother’s last phone call, Gianniotti and Morgan prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are not to be overlooked.

This is not “only” some silly, fun show with a cute, little cat. (But it’s that, too — which we love!) The romance that Wild Cards has set up for ElliMax is just as good as so, so many other more “serious” ones. It actually hurts to think about the way she almost begs him to stop beating himself up, or how his voice goes up several octaves when he finally says, out loud, that his brother was trying to tell him about Locke. Don’t get us started about how she cradles him while he sobs as that theme plays underneath the whole scene either. Because…it is…a lot. And the words manage to be so real, so raw, so relatable in their simplicity. (See also: “If I would’ve just called him back, he’d still be here. He was my brother. My little baby brother.” Nothing frilly, just truth.)

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 isn’t the first time these two characters were so utterly vulnerable with each other. But the only other time they were this open — and, arguably, Ellis is even more honest than ever here — was when they were under the influence. Much like the “I’ll be your cricket” line in Episode 6, Max tells Ellis she loves him — but in a coded way. This time around, it’s Max repeatedly showing Ellis he matters. On the flip side, Ellis (finally!) giving Max her badge and the quiet, cautious offer to come boating on the boat are his ways saying those three little words to her.

Now, if only she could’ve left home minutes earlier. Seconds, even!

MORE: Wild Cards Season 2 has had a lot of great ElliMax moments, like that time he scooped her up and held her bridal style in Episode 4.

More on Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13

If I wasn’t already in love with Ellis before this, the way he comforts Samson at the beginning of this episode would do it. This is his brother’s death we’re investigating here. He’s got his own pain to worry about, and he is just so present and there for that kid.
…wild (and entirely relatable) that he can dish out the “not your fault” consolation but can’t accept it, though.
“I know Ellis. You can trust him.” She loves him, ok?
Surprised that table didn’t break when he slammed his hands on it.
Of course she goes to him and tries to reassure him — of course.
That quiet “promise?”
“This isn’t about me. I don’t matter.” “You matter to me.” LOOK AT THEM LOOKING AT EACH OTHER.
SHE IS SINGING TO HIM.
There is so much about Detective Ellis’ confrontation with Locke in Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 that screams “he’s given up.” But! That fire is still in him, especially when he is so defiant on the “why did my brother have to die” line.
…and, again, when he finally starts fighting back.
“His name. Was. DANIEL!” Gianniotti’s delivery here. Wow. Like…RAWRRRRR. It’d be scary if we didn’t already know how genuinely good his character is.
The way she reaches out and holds his chin…
“Coffee, croissant, painkillers…” Breakfast of champions.
The thing is, who else would be Locke’s “inside” guy, other than someone played by Karin Konoval? And the way Konoval plays Russo’s reaction to Ellis mentioning the mole…you know. Right away. You just know. But predictability isn’t always a bad thing, especially in an episode like this one that ends on a real shocker.
I love the little exchange Yates and Simmons have about that game.
…but did they really have to come for me like this? “Sometimes, being a real winner is knowing when to quit.”
I mean, Commissioner Li does have a nice ring to it.
Konoval with the micro expressions when Ellis lays out all his evidence and Russo she realizes he’s got her. She is incredible, as always.
“If it means anything, I didn’t know Daniel was your brother at the time.” Well, sure. Totally means lots that she was only willing to get random killed! Especially since she still went ahead and had the drugs planted in Detective Ellis’ car after she would’ve known! So true!
“You know, it makes me sick that you’re still standing here and he’s not. But at least you’ll rot in prison cell for the rest of your life.” My man does, in fact, look like she makes him want to vomit.
Look how self-assured our boy is when he goes to arrest Locke. He is in charge — and knows it.
Nice little detail of having him throw the “better days ahead” line back in that man’s face, too.
Ok but that little smile when he sees Samson and Elena’s reunion?
“It’s like the Breakfast Club of bad guys.”
He couldn’t have done it without her. So true.
LOOK HOW HAPPY SHE IS WITH HER BADGE. Vanessa Morgan gets so close to the line of over-acting — while still keeping it genuine. That is so, so, so tough to do, but she nails it.
The way he drapes it over her neck though. EllliMax engagement: Confirmed.
…and he lets her have her moment instead of interrupting to tell her he’s leaving???
“I was wrong about everything. And you were right. I did the same thing to you that my father did to me — I turned my back on somebody I truly cared about because I was afraid. And, before it’s too late, I just want to tell you I’m sorry. I’m so proud of you and the man you have become. Take care, George.”
“Freeze, sucka! You’re under arrest.” “Ok. You got me.” He is so fond of her. I can’t.
“But I’m not saying no.”
SAIL AWAY WITH HIM YOU COWARD.
The way he watches her go???
Wow…Well done, Wild Cards. The Ashford room replica, the passwords and how it took all three members of that little family to figure them out…Well done.
“I want to bask in the glory of your brilliance.” Me at this show.
“You guys are geniuses.” Again, I say: Me at this show.
So, that “meow” is Marc’s way of saying Max? Or is it his way of saying Mommy.
“She’ll be here.”
These final few minutes of Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13, with the countdown showing how little time we have left to solve the Ashford puzzle and for Max to get to Ellis…Let’s just say they aren’t good for my blood pressure.
You can actually see Ellis giving up in real time. I hate it here.
“After all these years, he came back here just for you. He loved you, and he wanted you to know that. All of this is about you. Even the last word.”
“I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT GEORGE.” Sobbing.
“Go to him.”
Marc, tell him to keep waiting. Please! No, he wasn’t “crazy to think she was gonna show up.”
Help.
Whomst?????
Ok but seriously, though. If they do a Gina (Castle), a HANNAH (Bones), or even a Julie (Friends), I can’t possibly be held responsible for my reaction next season.