Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Unforgiven
Christine Orlando
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When we last saw Wozniak, he was turning himself over to the FBI. If you thought that was the end of this story, you were dead wrong.
Because Woz always has a plan, but as Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 1 reminded us, they just don’t always turn out the way he expected.
My dad used to say, "Beat your kid every day. If you don't know the reason why, they will."
Wozniak
I love Jennifer Lopez as Detective Harlee Santos. Harlee is tough and smart, and even when she chooses the wrong road, I still understand why she chooses it.
But Ray Liotta as Matt Wozniak is fascinating. No matter who he’s sharing a scene with, I can’t take my eyes off the screen.
I get a distinct feeling that Woz is a puzzle I’m never going to solve, but I’m sure going to enjoy the attempt if he keeps giving us Shades of Blue quotes like this one…
Are you going to dress up prostitutes to look like me too? You might have a hard time; I have a very specific look.
Wozniak
Leave it to Wozniak to be facing Federal charges and still acting as though he’s holding all the cards.
Although Woz is a master at bluffing, it may not work this time because Agent Stahl is playing his own game.
Where Wozniak’s flaws are compelling, Stahl’s are merely creepy. Whenever he’s near Harlee or the prostitute he pays to dress up as her, I feel as though I need to go take a shower to wash off the sleaze.
Stahl wants power, and he’s willing to use or steam roll anyone to obtain it.
No one who gets in his way is safe and that’s why I was worried for Gina, the prostitute. Thankfully, Stahl didn’t kill her, but he enjoyed scaring the heck out of her as she was handcuffed and at his mercy.
And then, of course, he had sex with her one last time, making her play the role of Harlee once again.
Did I mention creepy?
Harlee had her own issues, starting with disposing of Miguel’s body.
Sorry Sap, you're going to have to cover for me one more time.
Harlee
There are only so many people you can call to help you get rid of a body, nevermind knock out the corpse's teeth and dig up another man's grave.
If Harlee took Miguel's teeth, then I'm assuming she took his fingertips, too? That's certainly thorough, but gross. I'm just hoping that the prison system doesn't have his DNA on file.
Unfortunately, calling Wozniak for help wasn’t an option this time.
We finally saw Harlee and Woz confront one another about her being an informant and Saperstein taking the fall, quite literally, in her place.
I wasn’t surprised when Woz tried to blame Sap’s death on Harlee, but I was glad she didn’t let him get away with it.
You killed Saperstein because you were out of control and paranoid. I did what I did to protect my daughter.
Harlee
Harlee wants to follow the right road from here on out, but is that even possible?
Wozniak and the entire team are still in the crosshairs, and Stahl is still obsessed with Harlee, despite moving on to use Woz.
Now Woz has to figure out how to appease Stahl, keep Julia from going down, and sidestep a mob boss’ revenge, all while distrusting the woman he looked upon like not only as a partner but a daughter.
Every smile, every conversation, you looked me in the eyes while you were twisting the knife in my back. You're a liar. You're a coward, and you're a rat.
Wozniak
If anyone can find a way through that maze, it’s Matt Wozniak, but I expect there to be plenty of bloodshed along the way.
As Shades of Blue Season 2 takes off, there are a lot of stories to play out.
- Miguel is dead but could still come back to haunt Harlee at any time.
- Harlee’s team is still in the dark about her being the FBI informant, and since it caused Sap’s death and Tess to take a bullet, I can’t imagine they’ll take the news well.
- Having Nava as her boyfriend could come in handy for Harlee, or be her downfall.
- Woz is the next player on the FBI’s list, but was the missing cash from the heist to pay off Miguel, or did Woz take a little extra for a rainy day or a quick escape?
Will the ends justify the means for any of them? We’ll just have to watch and enjoy the treacherous ride to find out.
Need to catch up on Shades of Blue Season 1? You can watch Shades of Blue online here at TV Fanatic.
C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.
