Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 19 ‘Compromised’ opens with the aftermath of Wes’s arrest by the DEA in which both of his girls are distraught and rattled by his actions. Also, Mickey was harshly interrogated by DEA director Santos who treated her like a criminal for blindly trusting her father would change old habits.
While in the midst of handling her own investigation, Mickey dealt with Miranda confessing to being behind Emerald Eden, the same drug cartel that ruined Wes’s life and is hurting her community. At the same time, Skye fought to cling to her sobriety as her cousin Rick purposefully drugged her in an act of jealously. Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 19 ‘Compromised’ felt like a rollercoaster and we’re left dizzy with lots of emotions. Overall, it’s an hour that will repercussions that’ll change everything for Mickey, Skye, and everyone they love.
MORE: Miss last week’s episode? Watch then read our Sheriff Country Season 1, Episode 18 Review ‘The Gambler’!
This Has to Be Mickey’s Worst Day on the Job
Mickey had this unmovable cloud of despair above her head in ‘Compromised’ that wouldn’t go away. She looked like a mess, if we’re honest, with unkempt hair and dark circles under her eyes that tell us she hasn’t slept since Wes was arrested. The look would suit her as the hour would end up feeling like a montage of Mickey being knocked down repeatedly and unable to stand on her own two feet.
First, she had to deal with an incredibly tough and rude DEA director Eva Santos. A woman who held little remorse for the daughter of a thief.
She thought Mickey had to know something about her father’s schemes because Wes has had a dirty record since she was a child. So, she must’ve known something was going on when inviting him back into her life and space. Which is just wrong to assume because Wes’s actions were his own and Mickey has no control over him. Just as he doesn’t have control over her. Ultimately, they’re both individual adults here capable of making their own decisions. Plus, Mickey is telling the truth even if it’s hurting her. She had no idea her father was involved with Emerald Eden or planning to steal the DEA’s money.
Mickey’s desire to be loved by Wes initially motivated her to do the work in being a better person. If she communicated her emotions and was open about her wants in a relationship with her father, she would be enough for Wes. Finally, she’d be chosen over drugs in his life. So, when he reciprocated at first, everything felt too good to mess up with check-ins.
Did having hope make Mickey blind to reality of trusting a man with a complicated moral compass? A little bit. But we can’t fault her when all she’s wanted in life was a relationship with her father. Mickey was hurt too badly this time, and we applaud her for wanting to go no-contact with Wes. Quite frankly, he deserves to feel that pain of neglect for a while.
Mickey and Miranda at Odds Yet Again
Sure, Miranda didn’t order any hits or tell any of Eden’s henchmen to commit violence against Edgewater. But Miranda willingly became a part of the drug cartel ring to save her company and own more land in Edgewater. She had no problem announcing in a press conference that her company Fraley Horizons was behind the real estate deals of Emerald Eden. She was the reason why Edgewater growers were being targeted, killed, and forced off their land.
Consequently, it was a confession that hit Mickey hard, especially in a moment in time where she’s fragile and vulnerable. She had just found out that her ex-sister-in-law was responsible for hurting her community. Then, to find out that Miranda wanted Skye, who has a history with addiction, to be the face of the new era?
It was like a bomb went off in Miranda’s office. As Mickey became justifiably angry because Skye is actively in recovery. Fine, it may be a selfish reason rooted from her desire to protect her daughter from possible temptation. But there’s nothing selfish about Mickey wanting to protect Skye from a woman who would do anything for profit, even if it meant getting cozy with dangerous people who could at any point turn against and harm her or her loved ones. Additionally, Miranda was seeing her niece as her successor in ‘Compromised’ and not as someone to protect in her dirty work.
MORE: Is Edgewater County from Sheriff Country a real place?
We Can’t Believe Rick Did This To Skye
Skye felt like a relapse was inevitable for her in ‘Compromised’ and it broke us to see it happen. It wouldn’t be her choice to relapse and that’s why we’re hurting. And we’re still in shock over Rick robbing Skye’s autonomy with no remorse. Skye’s cousin Rick had been the one to drug Skye because he was jealous of the relationship she had with his mother. And we’re left feeling a level of disgust we don’t know what to do with.
Truthfully, Skye struggled throughout the hour to maintain her sobriety because of her grandfather’s arrest. It was a moment that haunts her and caused her to over analyze every look from strangers in public. Because if they knew what he did then they must think she was a screw-up too. If everyone believes she’s like Wes, then what was the point of trying to better herself? It didn’t matter whether she was about to reach nine months of sobriety. She didn’t have her grandfather here to celebrate so it didn’t feel important. Running away from conversations with her sweet sponsor Hazel (Maren Morris) was something she felt she could control as her insecurities heightened.
Wes had dug his own hole when he chose to grow illegally and steal the DEA’s money. So, although she could mourn his absence, his downfall doesn’t have to be hers to share. Not when she has so much to celebrate in her healing journey. Her achievement is worthy of being celebrated and we’re glad Hazel sat Skye down to get that through to her. Because it’s not up to Wes, or Rick, to determine her sobriety or happiness.
In the end, Hazel was right to tell her that this relapse wasn’t one that counted. Skye had no idea that Rick poisoned her smoothie before she drank it. Intention and choice matters, and Skye was stronger than she realized. None of what happened to her is her fault and we’re happy she has both Hazel and Mickey to tell her that while loving her unconditionally.
The Plot Twist We Didn’t See Coming
We held our breath the moment we saw Alec walk up to car in the middle of the night after Rick had gone missing. Because the person he was talking to could only be the bad guy if he’s so secretive about the meeting.
Personally, we did not see him turning into an antagonist sort of character at all. So it was a true surprise to watch him go from this knight in shining armor who wouldn’t give Mickey up to a man willing to kill her daughter for money in what feels like a split second change. But that’s what makes dramas like these so good and interesting. Because you don’t see someone’s true colors until they shine right in your face. Alec may have feelings for Mickey but it’s clear that money matters more. And that has us shaken because he’s been able to fool everybody he’s met up to this point that he’s a good guy without a criminal history.
Miranda’s son Rick and DEA agent Alec are not as innocent or sweet like we previously thought they were. Truthfully, Alec is a hitman who was initially hired by Rick to cover up his murder of Skye’s ex-boyfriend. Now he’s reached a breaking point filled with resentment and jealously toward his cousin who his mother seems to love more than him. Rick wants Skye taken care of next. Which is not only upsetting and shocking but disturbing. How could Rick want to go after his own family? Especially Skye who is the only person who openly cares about him???
She’s been the only constant in Rick’s life who has had no problem loving him at his worst while he struggles to get sober. She doesn’t yell or turn him away when she catches him with in a relapse. No, Skye takes the bottle away and offers to listen to whatever problems he has that nobody else will listen to. It was quite nauseating to hear Rick admit to killing her ex-boyfriend because it left her spiraling and battling depression.
Rick has caused Skye so much pain that it’s hard to feel entirely sorry for his demise right now. This particular plot twist is the most shocking yet on Sheriff Country and we cannot stop thinking about these characters. And we were on our feet yelling at our screens up until the credits rolled because Alec, who Mickey just felt comfortable calling her boyfriend, didn’t hesitate to accept the job. Mickey has absolutely no idea that the sweet man who she’s finally let into her heart is planning to destroy her life.
Sheriff Country airs on Fridays at 8 pm EST on CBS.
