Absentia Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Offenders
Christine Orlando
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I didn't think it was possible but Absentia Season 2 Episode 4 went to an even darker place.
Yet, oddly enough, my sense of dread had nothing to do the Fentanyl Killer claiming two more victims.
That churning in the pit of my stomach was caused by Tyler the terrorist stalking a child and Emily Byrne.
When that little girl began to wander down the path in the woods, I knew some horrible fate was awaiting her and waiting for it to happen was the worst kind of anticipation.
It seemed obvious that the father was packing up the car to leave, so there was no reason for Tyler to kill him. He only had to wait a few more minutes and the man and his child would have been gone.
I suppose I should be grateful that Tyler didn't kill the girl too, although I'm uncertain whether that was because he had some soft spot for children or simply wanted a bargaining chip if he needed one later on.
Either way, Tyler Brandon Mills is a despicable human being and a mass murder and Nick certainly deserved the accolades for taking him down.
Even better, he said thank you to Julianne in this Absentia quote.
Nick: You saved my life today.
Julianne: Did I?
Nick: Tyler had us pinned down and he wasn’t going to stop. I got him on the reload, he was too slow.
Julianne: He wasn’t military trained, packing more heat than he knew what to do with.
Nick: Which I knew because of the profile.
I like that Nick respects Julianne and I hope their relationship remains professional, even as things are on rocky ground with Alice at home.
It's Alice and Jack I have more concerns about.
Jack is in a precarious place right now and even he seems to realize it.
It must be terribly difficult to feel like he has his hands tied when he knows he's capable of saving a life but isn't allowed to do so. If he steps out of line again, even if the results are positive for the patient, Jack may ruin his chances for ever working as a doctor again.
Not taking that drink, even when he so badly wanted one, and calling Alice was the smartest thing he could have done.
And Alice realized what a huge step that was in his ongoing recovery.
Jack: Today was tough and well, when things get tough I usually head to the bar.
Alice: But you didn’t get a drink. That’s progress, not perfection.
Little by little we learn that Jack and Alice have a lot in common which is pulling them closer together.
I'd be shocked if Alice ever cheated on Nick, but the state of her marriage does give an edge to her platonic dealings with Jack.
Back at the FBI, Emily seemed to be handling going back to work really well until a swarm of reporters almost sent her into a panic attack.
But so far, Cal has her back.
Look, guys I served with in Iraq were broken by less, and she’s still here.
Cal
I like Cal. He had no problem with Emily coming back and has treated her like a partner from the moment she arrived. He's not blind to what she's been through but he's willing to give her the benefit of the doubt when she says she's okay.
I just wish that Emily really were okay.
Related: Absentia Season 2 Episode 3 Review: Guilty
I understand why Emily is hiding that Valerie was her biological mother but it could be a vital link to this case that they aren't investigating.
Is there any chance that Emily will eventually tell Cal? I doubt it. Emily doesn't trust easily and even when she doles out tiny bits of information she seems to immediately regret it.
It was such a relief when Emily reached out to Tommy! The guy is crazy in love with her and for a moment the two of them looked really happy.
But then he found that vial in her trashcan.
The sad part is that if Emily had been willing to talk this through with Tommy, I have little doubt he would have either jumped down that rabbit hole with her or at least tried to find a safer way for her to bring back those memories.
She shouldn't be doing this alone but unfortunately, alone is the only way Emily seems to know how to survive.
Emily: Nobody normal would want me.
Nick: I want you!
Emily: Then you gotta be crazy!
That Emily tried to kick Tommy out wasn't a surprise because that's what she does when someone gets close to her.
But her damn near beating him to death was a shock. I really thought she could have killed him in the end.
Obviously, it was enough to scare Tommy because when he finally got up off the floor, he left.
I fear Emily's extreme reaction was set into motion the moment Tommy told her he loved her. Emily seems to feel she's too broken to be loved and if someone disagrees, she's determined to convince them they're wrong.
Maybe she did just that.
Check back in for my review of Absentia Season 2 Episode 5, and you can watch Absentia online any time here at TV Fanatic.
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
