Shades of Blue Season 1 Episode 8 Review: Good Cop Bad Cop
Christine Orlando
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Life doesn’t turn out the way we expect it to and Shades of Blue Season 1 Episode 8 showcased that perfectly.
I can’t imagine that in her wildest dreams Harlee ever thought that she would turn on Wozniak.
And yet,that’s exactly what’s happening.
Of course it’s not as though he doesn’t deserve it. Harlee remained loyal to him through everything, even when he threatened her life when he thought she could have been the informant.
But killing Saperstein, especially after looking her in the eye and promising he’d leave it in God’s hands was a step too far. Watching Woz sit next to David's mother and act like his grieving friend was simply too much to take.
I was surprised it took Harlee this long. I really believed that the moment she realized that Woz had pushed Saperstein off that building, she would have told Stahl she was all in and simply made sure she protected herself and the rest of her team as best she could.
I’m not certain if Harlee needed more convincing, or simply time to let all that had happened sink in.
Because let’s face it, Stahl wasn’t wrong about what happened to Sap as he noted in this Shades of Blue quote…
He didn't just die, Harlee, he was murdered, twice, by Wozniak.
Stahl
Stahl manipulating Nava to doubt Harlee took her to an even darker place. Yes, she approached him in order to protect herself and keep Miguel behind bars, but as time went on, she began to have real feelings for James. He’s a good guy, and it doesn’t look like Harlee’s had many relationships with good men.
So when the truth began to sink in, and he turned on her, it really hurt.
Harlee: I don't do vulnerable, I can't afford to and I don't let people in but you were the exception.
Nava: I wonder if the exception was going to be whoever got the case file.
Harlee: Well thank you for coming all the way down here just to make me feel like a whore.
When Harlee told Stahl the truth about Zepeda, I was shocked, but I suppose she had little to lose.
Stahl appeared to be moved, perhaps happy that he’s finally making some inroads with the woman he has a serious crush on...or is it an obsession with? Either way, it was the first time the guy didn’t come across as creepy in Harlee’s presence.
Of course, I can’t imagine what kind of future Harlee will have once this all plays out. Will she still be a cop? Will she end up in witness protection or behind bars herself? Will she survive?
Harlee even tried to offer Loman an out by telling him about the opening in homicide. If he was smart, he would have jumped on it, but Loman isn’t smart; getting close to his victim’s family proved that.
Will Loman’s need to do what’s right win out over his desire to feel like an accepted part of the team? If he doesn’t make a move fast he’ll just end up being another one of Wozniak’s disciples with no way out.
Harlee was carrying around a lot of guilt and stress and Cristina wasn’t making it any easier. In a perfect world, those cops would have faced charges, but in doing so, that video of Cristina would have been out there for all the world to see. Cristina may think that’s no big deal, but Harlee was right, it could jeopardize a very bright future.
In the end, everyone mourned Saperstein, even Tess who was the angriest over believing he was the rat.
Life never turns out the way we expect it to, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
Saperstein
Poor Sap. He definitely got the worst. Will Harlee find better in the middle of this horrific situation?
Check back for our review of Shades of Blue Season 1 Episode 9 and if you can’t wait until then, you can watch Shades of Blue online here at TV Fanatic.
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
