Turn: Washington's Spies Season 4 Episode 3 Review: Blood for Blood

at .  Updated at .

What an awful episode.

Awfully beautiful, awfully sad and awfully good.

A Rescue Turns Deadly - Turn: Washington's Spies

I thought we would be watching Abe and Judge Woodhull get into fun, Shakespeare-quoting, buddy-cop scenarios all season long, but Cpt. Simcoe had other plans for the Setauket duo on Turn: Washington's Spies Season 4 Episode 3.

A few minutes after having a conversation about life and death decisions, Abe and his dad were in the middle of a firefight with the Judge taking a bullet to the head.

It should come as no surprise that the Simcoe was responsible for the Judge’s demise, even though he was back in New York playing snooker solo with blood red balls.

That last sentence only sounds dirty; the game provided a clean alibi for him while his Queen’s Rangers ambushed the prisoner exchange in Connecticut.

No survivors.

Cpt. Simcoe

Their mission was to take out everyone, but scrappy Ben, Caleb, and Abe escaped the surprise attack while most of the Rangers retreated.

He's gone, and you're not.

Ben [to Abe, when he tries to rescue his father]

Back in New York, a long-simmering emotional battle finally broke out between Peggy and Benedict Arnold.

We get it, Pegs, you still love Andre. And yes, Benedict, you’re so vain you probably think this show is about you.

You lying, lascivious wench.

Benedict Arnold [to his wife]

It’s no longer fun to watch him stumble along and then fly into a rage when he eventually realizes he’s a step behind everyone else. And Peggy’s tears stopped affecting me last season. Also, I’m not interested in the offspring of these two terrible people.

You're right. I wish you would have died instead of John.

Peggy [to her husband]

I guess the writers have to keep their storylines going because Abigail is back in the ring and she has to gather intel at the Arnold manor.

And the Continental Army can use all the help it can get, as Gen. Washington faces a revolt by his exhausted troops at New Windsor.

Is it up to Anna to stop a mutiny?

Maybe, as she has become an unlikely intermediary between the officers and their unhappy soldiers.

I forgot Anna was still married, despite last season’s polygamy drama with Maj. Hewlett (I miss you, Edmund!)

Hubby Selah is apparently a politician now and it looks like he’s going to visit his wife to check out the camp conditions for himself.

I love a good love triangle, and when poor Selah arrives, he likely will be again competing for the affection of his own wife with a childhood friend (this time it’s Ben; remember when she cheated on him with Abe?).

Beautifully directed with surprising point-of-view shots, fast-moving battle sequences, and haunting music, this episode also offered the most heartbreaking scene in the series so far: That final wagon ride.

I wrote in my review of the Turn: Washington's Spies Season 4 Premiere that the restored Sr/Jr Woodhull relationship was the best part of Turn.

I should have known it couldn’t last.

The episode ended the way it started, with the Woodhulls lying together in the back of the wagon. But this time, they rode in silence as Abe reached for his father’s lifeless hand.

What did you think of this week’s episode? How many times did you gasp?

Want to watch again or need to get caught up? No problem -- you can watch Turn: Washington's Spies online now.

Other Notes:

  • Wow -- the locations in this episode!The stone mill and stone house at New Windsor are gorgeous -- imagine what those coastal Connecticut properties would go for in 2017?!
  • I will consider this season a massive failure unless Simcoe perishes.
  • The art for Season 4 of Abe’s face splattered with blood makes sense now. Ugh.

Blood for Blood Review

Editor Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
  • 5.0 / 5.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
User Rating:

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0 (4 Votes)

Megan King is a staff writer for TV Fanatic.

Show Comments
Tags: ,

Turn: Washington's Spies Season 4 Episode 3 Quotes

No survivors.

Cpt. Simcoe

Judge [reflecting on their spy life]: I prefer the law.
Abe: And I prefer farming, but here we are.
Judge: Here we are.