It’s been a while since a family of five has felt this captivating on screen. While the Hollingsworths are nothing like the Pearsons on This Is Us—and don’t share the same values—it’s refreshing to see an imperfect family pull viewers back to NBC for an hour of gripping television.
Like the rest of the audience, I was shook by the Jack twist (one of the more exciting primetime reveals in quite some time), as it was revealed that the supposedly dead Hollingsworth brother from Mike’s former marriage isn’t dead at all—a fact his parents have known this entire time.
“Jack” died when he went undercover, they whisper among themselves, informing the audience…but they believed him to be very much alive up until now, despite the narrative they fed their kids. Whew, just wait till they get wind of that lie!
While Jane admits she once convinced herself Jack was dead—knowing she’d never be able to reconnect with him—she now believes, after getting confirmation, that he died in the line of service. Though honestly, it feels like that’s the story they’d tell regardless if he’s meant to still be undercover.
Jane believes whoever is leaving behind his signature mark at the murder sites—a silver paper crane—is someone who knew him well and is trying to send a message.
However, viewers have seen him hiding in plain sight… that is, if it’s really him. I’ve been burned by shows one too many times to know the “twin theory” is always lurking, even if it feels like a cheap plot device for a show of this caliber.
Forming a solid theory is tricky because we only have bits and pieces of Jack’s story for now, as we’re slowly filling in the gaps.
We don’t know why Jack went undercover, which could explain why he chose to kill Clare’s boyfriend, Logan—whom she was equally shocked to discover was an undercover CIA operative. Was any of it real? That’s an answer that might ease the betrayal, though she won’t get clarity until they uncover why she was the assignment.
There are a lot of secrets lurking in the shadows, including Jack’s decision to take a job at a dental office right next to the Homeland Security office where Detective Nia Wallace works.
He seems intent on keeping tabs on her, aware she’s piecing things together that could lead her straight to him. But is there such a thing as being too close? And how has no one in the area recognized Jack? If he grew up in that house, wouldn’t people know what he looks like?
As much as our focus shifts to Jack, we should be paying equal attention to Logan—or whatever his real name is—because ultimately, he’s the one who was targeted by Jack, in his family home, no less, so there must be a good reason. Was he dangerous, and was Jack protecting his sister from the shadows? Was Logan searching for something? Is that why he was so intent on getting close to Clare’s family? And who was his real target in the family? Was it her—or was he using her to get to someone else?
Have we got Jack all wrong simply because we saw him stab Logan? Is it possible that he’s he eliminating anyone who has ever posed a threat to his family without them even knowing it and leaving behind little cranes so that they know he’s got their back? Given their line of work, they’ve likely made their fair share of enemies.
As audiences wait for answers, one thing is clear: Nia is exactly who you want on this case. I love that she and Clare immediately built a relationship on trust. They are both equally as driven and motivated to see this to the end, for their own reasons.
Nia immediately clocked the crane at the Hollingsworth residence and recalled seeing it at the crime scene, which will allow her to connect it to other deaths. It’s almost as if Jack wants them to follow the breadcrumbs, despite his mother tampering with evidence and muddying the picture for Nia.
Character development was front and center this week, diving further into the complicated family dynamic. In a short span of time, they went from competitive to a more nurturing and collaborative nature.
The first two episodes made it clear everyone was vying for control, but the reality is they make more progress when they work together and leverage their positions, even illegally. There’s a lot of cross-contamination between departments that’s been useful for now.
Clare was so determined to secure a win in the grand jury case that she put Russ’s new job on the line, which was a dark move, though she did apologize later.
And despite being the rule follower of the bunch, he didn’t hold it against her, taking the fall.
Everyone else in the family seems to think that the rules bend in their favor, which could ultimately be their downfall and blind spot.
There was also a moment that seemed innocuous but could be more meaningful down the line, as Russ mentioned that Jack always craved structure and clarity, which doesn’t exactly align with the rogue figure we’re seeing now. Maybe something happened to him while undercover. Maybe he uncovered something about his family. We still don’t know who Jack’s birth mother is or what happened to her. Could it be connected to that in some way?
Not only did Russ and Clare team up, but Jane joined her kiddos as well, and eventually it became an all-hands-on-deck situation as they raced against the clock to uncover who was intimidating jurors and paying them off to get dismissed.
Because yes, amid the Jack and Logan storyline, there was still a case of the week.
Because yes, amid the whole Jack and Logan storyline, there was an actual case of the week.
When the judge ignored their warnings and sent the jury home, prioritizing their safety (rightfully so), Clare took matters into her own hands to catch the suspect.
Russ and his girlfriend, Natasha—whom he sprung on the family, likely just to see their reaction—joined in, along with Jane and Terry’s assistants, Micah (aka “Junior”), and eventually their father, who showed up at Jane’s house unannounced and was surprised to see her boyfriend there.
Some families bond over board games; others sift through case files and solve crimes together.
Admittedly, there was a lot going on with the case of the week, and with every department involved, it became a bit hard to track. I found myself hitting the rewind button more than once just to keep up, as the pacing was fast and packed. My head was spinning.
One flaw of the show is that the cases feel somewhat disposable. While Clare celebrated her win and got a much-needed confidence boost, and Russ proved he could handle a high-profile case, shaking his probation, the resolution didn’t significantly impact the larger narrative. This might be one of the shows that benefits from more multi-episode arcs.
It turns out Jane was skirting around her boyfriend, Senator Terry, to get intel. While he ultimately helped her present the case to the judge, he wasn’t happy about how she handled things and decided to hit pause on their relationship. And honestly, that might be for the best, as Jane is juggling a lot, including the possible return of her supposedly dead son and her complicated relationship with Mike, whom she’s been sleeping while also romancing Terry. This family clearly thrives on secrets.
Mike and Micah also clashed in a “let the best Secret Service agent win” dynamic. After seeing how hard Micah took his suspension, Mike realized he had been too harsh, trying to prove he was still the best man for the job. Meanwhile, Micah is capable, but he’s constantly trying to live up to his father’s legacy, which makes earning approval difficult. Sometimes, people lose sight of how far a “good job” can go.
We’ve seen how helpful it can be to work alongside your family, but there’s no denying the difficulties when they aren’t playing ball—or when they’re all trying to come out on top.
Micah’s loyalty was pulled in two directions, as he first warned his dad about everyone trying to get him fired, before siding with his team that his old and rigid methods were outdated.
And I loved his reminder about being not being an example but leading by one. Seems like they can both learn from each other!
Micah has made questionable choices, too, however. Yep, I’m talking about his secret relationship with the President’s daughter. As the head of detail, it’s a huge conflict of interest and bad judgment (though it’s hard to blame him because we know the heart wants what it wants).
I’m curious to see how that impacts both Micah and Mike’s careers. His father may be a legend, but this could tarnish them both.
Though it’s a little surprising that no one has caught on just yet. Aren’t the agents supposed to notice everything? Maybe Mike was onto something with his old-school training.
What did you think of the episode? Are you enjoying the series so far?