Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 8 ‘Death and Taxes’ toned down Mickey’s screentime to uplift Wes and Cassidy as characters that matter just as much as she does. While that doesn’t mean Mickey wasn’t present, because she was, she took more of a backseat in this episode. Partly because her sister Sharon returned for a meaningful, fun conversation. Which was fine, even if their reunion felt abrupt. Their conversations brought confessions to light, and we get that sisters have the luxury to show up unannounced to see each other.
The rest of the hour dealt with the hardship that people face in Edgewater. This episode tackled issues of favoritism at the workplace and unfair treatment of cannabis farmers in town. And they did it well enough to leave us wanting to see more of the show tackling real-life issues. Although entertaining, it felt like we were going in circles with Wes in order to keep him as an angsty anti-hero type of character.
While it’s something that’s frustrating us, we enjoyed seeing more of Cassidy. It just felt like a lot was happening at once in multiple storylines in Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 8 ‘Death and Taxes’.
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“We’re The Outlaws”
The case of the hour surrounded a series of robberies against cannabis farmers using cash to pay their taxes. Wes was at the center of the story, being that he knew everyone involved, and those who got hurt were legal growers. He was like a fuse ready to go off once lit, and seeing more friends get hurt had set him off. It would be pointless in Wes’s eyes to follow the rules to be a legal grower. Therefore, if he was still going to be an enemy of the law, why would he go through the trouble of following it?
The problem here is that he’s risking losing Mickey and Skye by being secretive and a sort of vigilante. We have always seen how much Wes cares about his friends and family. And in this moment, it took him a long time to decide who to listen to. So, we’ll take this small victory of Wes being considerate. His impulsiveness is understandable, don’t get us wrong. Wes had already lost two close friends because of money problems in Season 1, Episode 6 ‘Exit Interview’. And Mickey couldn’t do anything here except offer farmers a safe ride to legal offices. Which, to him, was really nothing useful.
If he followed his girls’ advice, he’d do the right, moral thing. On the other hand, his friends were pressuring him to fight back against those who hurt them. And he isn’t the type of man to back down from a fight. Once one person stood up in support of Wes’s plan to unite, that was it. He made his choice, but it’s not one we like. We don’t know how he’s going to explain this to his girls, if he ever will. All we know is that if they find out what he’s doing, they won’t be happy.
Mickey Doesn’t Have Favorites
The secondary storyline struck us deep in Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 8 ‘Death and Taxes’. Additionally, the episode painfully reminded us that Mickey is the first female Sheriff in Edgewater. Every man who came before her picked and chose favorites to lean on within their deputies, who were usually also men. Now, the fact that Mickey seemed to favor Cassidy bothered Deputy Hank Iglesias.
Hank doesn’t seem like a terrible guy, just cautious and eager to do more to help. Most of his jabs against Cassidy didn’t hold a bite. He just wanted her to see the truth that Mickey gave Cassidy opportunities other deputies didn’t get to have. Which was something she hadn’t seen or understood until now. Hank had pointed out that Mickey picked Cassidy to run the department in her absence, even when other senior officers were present. Then reminded Cassidy that she was Mickey’s first call to partner up with if Boone was away. Hank’s accusations hit her deep, and Cassidy went to Mickey to ask her to stop playing favorites before other people noticed.
Cassidy is someone who truly wants to help solve cases and put the bad guys away. She wants to be a great cop worthy of trust, honor, and responsibility that the badge gives her. What doesn’t she want? Special treatment and rewards from her boss just because they are friends.
Sheriff Country did a great job here in depicting the reality of women struggling to be seen as capable with no strings attached. Especially in the workplace. So, Hank was a nice new addition for conflict and resolution, but he was wrong. Mickey Fox, the Sheriff, wants Cassidy as a right hand because she cares deeply for every case that comes through their doors. Simple as that. That’s the type of person Mickey wants as a somewhat leader below her, regardless of gender.
MORE: Missed last week’s episode? Read our Season 1, Episode 7 Glory Days’ Review HERE!
Love Is in the Air
While Boone and Nora are happily treading forward, they hit a couple of bumps in the road in this hour. Having dated a cop before, Nora knew what it was like to wait up for someone who may not come home. And Boone’s lack of communication when he was at work bothered her. Once he found out how scared she was without an occasional text or call, he changed his habits quickly. This only tells us just how much Boone cares for Nora, because he listens and wants her to feel loved. So, we have no problem staying on their ship.
Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 8 ‘Death and Taxes’ spent little time uncovering Mickey’s emotions about those she loved and lost. But the few minutes we did get in hearing her open up to her sister were satisfying. Mickey was scared to let Dawson into her heart. Which is something we knew, but we’re glad to hear her say it out loud. We thought he was a great guy, even if he was here for two episodes. So, we’re glad that Mickey told Sharon the truth in the end.
Sharon is Mickey’s safe place and someone with whom she can let her guard down. As all sisters and siblings should be. But they could also be the ones you hide from the most. And Mickey didn’t tell Sharon that she has lingering feelings for Travis. Nobody in that bar knew she was admiring a photo of them taken in the school gym. Overall, we’re left buzzing thinking about what could come next.
Sheriff Country airs weekly on Fridays at 8 pm EST on CBS.
