Graceland Review: Ghosts and Monsters

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Where there's smoke, there's definitely fire. And the "Smoke Alarm" went off on Graceland this week.

But while the house isn't burning to the ground just yet, it certainly won't ever be the same.

It all started with a pair of unwillingly amputated feet and only grew from there.

Witnessing the Effects

We all knew that Bello and the Cazo Cartel were going to go to war eventually. We also knew from Briggs' story that Jangles was a precursor to such an event, his bloodshed legendary. But wasn't it convenient that at the same time we get a really good look at Jangles, we're reminded, and told of, Roberto, Briggs' training officer?

If I may be so bold, but I believe Jangles is actually Briggs' training officer, who was forced to take on a persona because he was supposed to have died in the fire as well. Perhaps he knew that the fire was going to take place and actually saved Briggs' from also being a casualty, hence his being let go?

Roberto probably had to shoot him up and play up the idea of torturing him in order to throw off the cartel. Some secrets are meant to be kept, whether you are inside Graceland or outside of it, and maybe this was one of those times where this was of the utmost importance.

There's also the matter of Juan, the officer to which Mike reports (reported?). Seeing how he decided to go undercover as Jangles and tangle with a vulnerable but no less dangerous and intoxicated Briggs left us wondering whether or not he was actually dead. I think Briggs' excessive amount of secrets made him suspect numero uno when it came to the mysterious fire at "The Estate."

Juan also seemed to have other motivations for wanting to investigate and apparently take Briggs down, which I think will come forward more as the show progresses and it has squarely to do with this Lisa character that Briggs seemed to be remembering towards the end of the episode. Is it possible that both Briggs and Juan shared feelings for the same woman?

Seems to make sense from a storytelling standpoint. Nothing motivates like love and revenge, and it appears Juan has a classic case of both.

One can only wonder what consequences his potential death will have for Briggs' and the others. I suppose that Briggs' can simply claim drunkenness and temporary insanity. After all, Juan did choose to go undercover as perhaps the single most dangerous man in the drug game. Did he really think Briggs' wouldn't do whatever he could to stay alive in the case of a run-in?

The Graceland house has a classic case of its own: The hypocrititis. I felt terrible for Mike after Paige left him in that hospital room. Why is it that some people can share their deepest secrets with the group and get supported (Charlie) but others can't? Mike was hurting and reached out to Paige, who had nothing but hard-hitting and true words for him about coming clean and being himself at Graceland, but then abandoned him when he tells her the truth. 

i have nothing but love for Paige, but that was pretty cold considering the circumstances.

What did you think of all of tonight's revelations? Will Graceland ever be the same?

Smoke Alarm Review

Editor Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
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User Rating:

Rating: 2.1 / 5.0 (360 Votes)

C. Charles is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

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Graceland Season 1 Episode 9 Quotes

Hey, there's those blue eyes.

Paige

I got skills, Jangles doesn't.

Charlie