Line of Fire Season 1 Episode 7 “Guest List” is a messy hour that shows everyone is moving on while not giving me enough of the mystery on hand. And while that is super frustrating as a viewer, I know that patience is needed. I also know that the family continues being the heart of this show, despite whatever evil plot is realized, solved, and tucked away. Family first.
If anything, the most delightful part of “Guest List” is the spark of the real Russ that we got to see when he was talking to Brandon. Because I love that Russ has these hopes and dreams he’s racing towards, I want to see who he really is when he thinks no one is watching. Or maybe even just when Brandon is watching. Because there was a spark, people!
MORE: Need a refresher where we last left off? Read our review for Line of Fire Season 1 Episode 6 here!
I Need Answers…. Please?
Because I love Line of Fire, I feel comfortable criticizing how I’m having some trouble piecing together the overall mystery of it all. I know I’m supposed to have faith and I know that this is a mystery that will take time. But everything that happened in “Guest List,” I’m really having trouble connecting it to the mystery presented in the first episode and just Jack in general. Basically, I’m in my yearning phase where I feel like Line of Fire isn’t giving me enough to piece together.
I do know that there will come a point in the season where the pieces will all fall together and I’ll be like, “Oh my God, that’s what they meant.” But right now they’re losing me a tiny bit, with the family bonds continuing to be the powerhouse of this show. Because what do you mean they all went to this party and it got messy, and I’m not just talking about what Micah was doing. I’m talking about Mike and Jane being in new couples and being awkward about it.
Then the ending of “Guest List.” Nia and Clare had this spark of a moment where they realized they have to look for a pattern when it comes to Jack aka the mysterious person they’re chasing. And my first thought was wait…I thought that’s what you were doing from the jump? If not, if we weren’t connecting the dots about what Jack was doing, then what were we doing? Did I misstep somewhere in the previous 6 episodes and didn’t catch this?
And talking about Jack, I think it’s time to give us a little more. It’s not just because I love Charlie Barnett and think he’s a delight. It’s because if he has a code and these resources, it means he has someone big backing him. And I would rather find out about that instead of Mike’s big presidential mystery or Mike’s new partner giving Jane the stink eye. Sorry not sorry.
Russ and Brandon Romance Brewing?
Brandon confirmed in “Guest List” that we haven’t met the real Russ. The Russ that we’re seeing here at this party is what Russ wants his family, job, and girlfriend to see. It’s a carefully constructed illusion. And all it took for us to really see past it was the look that Brandon gave him. It wasn’t even the conversation or how Brandon noted how different Russ was. It was that soft and tender look that Brandon gave Russ as if to say, “What changed since I last saw you?”
That look also told me that whatever happened to them when they were in active duty, it runs deep. It’s the reason why Brandon appeared in Episode 5 and helped Russ after how many years of not seeing each other. And the people that they were then, that’s not the people that we’ve seen so far on this show. That look that Brandon gave Russ is him realizing that he misses what they had. And for a moment, I think Russ was terrified that the carefully constructed illusion he’s constructed, well, someone saw through it. Also the look on Russ’ face when Brandon fixed his tie.
MORE: Tyler Posey Breaks Down His Line of Fire Character & Relationship with Russ
So what next? Will there be a romance growing between Russ and Brandon in Line of Fire? Part of me hopes so. I don’t look forward to watching another show with someone in the closet forever. And another part of me doesn’t want either of these guys to be cheaters to their partners because cheating is a no no in my book. What I hope happens is that we get to see more of this friendship develop as a means of not hiding anymore. Because right now Russ is hiding from himself, the past, and his real feelings. And Brandon is shaking that up.
One important note, it might be the Teen Wolf fan in me, but that look from Tyler Posey shot me back years upon years to my Scott McCall days. And as we develop Russ’s storyline, I wouldn’t mind if Posey sticks around for a little bit longer.
Line of Fire airs new episodes on Mondays at 10/9c on NBC, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
