At some point three-quarters of the way through ‘Openings’, I looked down at my three and half pages of scribbled notes, full of arrows and question marks flying all over the place. In an instant, an episode that felt like some real forward movement quickly fell apart: every plot development felt like an exercise in tail-chasing, attempting to develop a layered conspiracy with vague connections between everyone on the cast. Veena Sud and co. certainly think they’re telling an intelligent, nuanced drama, but what they really have is a big, dumb soap opera with some bleak landscapes.
Last week, the big reveal was that Stan didn’t know the ‘truth’: that his daughter wasn’t really his. Well, turns out he did, and just didn’t thing it was a big deal, although Rosie’s boyfriend was the son of her father (I think that’s where we stand, right? I’m so confused about Mitch’s young sex life) and he just couldn’t bring himself to tell her that. On top of it all, the ENTIRE ‘Rosie is a hooker’ and ‘Rosie has promiscuous sex at dances’ (though not on tape, that was her friend in her costume) that dominated the last season and a half of investigation is thrown away by Jasper (welcome back, you sniveling shit) who says “Rosie was a virgin.” But may or may not have been banging a politician, a gangster, or her biological father?
Oh, and how could I forget: we get a red herring introduction and shoot down in a ten minute span… “Rosie texted Michael and tried to blackmail him!” says Linden… until Jasper shows up, because he sent the text and thought it would be ‘funny’. I’m not making this up: all these plots and twists and misdirects and complete backtracks on 18 episodes of story happens in ONE segment of this show’s universe. I’m not even getting into the inconsistencies with the police investigation (and Linden stealing lipstick…. why???) and how many dumb founded looks Linden and Holder exchanged before they realize they are in the middle of a massive conspiracy.
But man, when this show adopts a style (like season 1’s obsession with episode-ending herrings), they grind it right down to the bone. The twists and turns continue even in the shows most pointless plot line, Darren’s return to the election. For some reason, Gwen has one lunch with her father making suggestions she gave her up sexually for political power, and then those last four episodes skipping out on changing diapers and being around for the sad moments with Richmond, and Gwen is back, with her job, and only one week left in the election. Jamie of course, accepts her back with open arms, all in the favor of the redemptive story of Richmond (is there no way he wins? Why else would the show keep going through this?).
At the risk of sidetracking, I really can’t stand the absolutely forgiving light Darren is being filmed and written in this season. 13 episodes of painting this guy out to be a hooker-beating creep who can’t get over his dead wife in violent ways, a grimy politician whose words couldn’t be trusted, and looks off in the distance suggested evil ways at work (remember his dating profile!!!)… and now we’re supposed to feel sorry for him, and cheer him on as he tries to come back with a week to go in the election.
It’s the ultimate sign of the inconsistencies the show operates with on a weekly basis, as if its characters are grounded in nothing but the simplest of character tropes. Linden is still a bad cop and mom, obviously being watched at her apartment and bringing her and her son to a cop she STILL hasn’t confronted about lying to her (and, by the looks in his eyes off-screen, might be trying to holla at a little something to stick in his glass pipe). She can’t trust him enough to deliver information, but she will trust her kid’s life at his house? It doesn’t make any sense!
‘Openings’ also spent a LOT of time reminding us that Mitch is still selfishly grieving in a hotel room, unable to grasp even the simplest abilities of normal functioning humans, except crying and looking like she’s in shock 24/7. Did anyone not see her being ripped off when the girl showed up without her ‘boyfriend’ but was never in a rush to get back to him, or talk about him?
Finally, Alexi was watching Stan watch Alexi, so Stan and Alexi both know the truth about Rosie that probably didn’t get her killed, but might have been retribution for Stan stepping out of line and killing Alexi’s father (“at least she knew her father!!!” Alexi says, of course)… but probably wasn’t, because we still have to tie the ominous shots of the mayor and whoever’s watching Linden (and holding up her investigation) into the cause and effects of Rosie’s death. We’re still 7 episodes away from any of that making sense.
So, ‘Openings’ might be credited with moving the plot forward, but as a blind audience being led by blind, deaf, tunnel-visioned police, we really have no grounding to understand what is important, what’s not important, and what general direction anything in the show is going, heading towards, or meaning. Everything remains cryptic, and with everything from season 1 being proved and disproved (ugh, the return of that stupid colorful box, and the fucking crayon drawing of the trees) over and over, all we can do is sit back, shake our heads, and laugh a little.
Overall: D
Other thoughts/observations:
– in the end, will who killed Rosie Larsen matter? at this point, her death is nothing but event A leading to event B, with C and D following around, and events E, F, and G playing out, with result H somehow tying back to event A and killing her. That is, unless things get a lot less convoluted and linear in the next 7 miserable hours.
– so we don’t even know Rosie’s father yet. Unless that letter was fake, and the initials DR stand for Darren Richmond. How will he play into this web of mystery?
– seriously who is writing this show, the Cancelled Soap Opera Writer’s Coalition?
– How could I forget Terry’s tale of ‘classy hooker who defines herself by her relationship with a client’? cause it sucks, that’s why.
– since when did Chandra Levy = Rosie Larsen?
What did you think of ‘Openings’? Did you think the rambling nature of this post matched the tone of this episode well (I can pretend its intentional). Feel free to leave your thoughts/comments below!
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I think you’re missing it. First, the entire premise is that even though it seems like the story is dragging out to you, the investigation is only a few weeks old. The next point is that the murder is emotionally destroying everyone near to it. The detectives are emotionally invested, especially Linden. It’s a dark drama so it focuses on everyone’s less than redeeming qualities, none of which are exactly open for police investigation. They’re all trying to hide their shady parts. The detectives are building a bond as time goes on because they’ve only known each other a few weeks. And we’re all learning that it’s a conspiracy and it’s complicated. There are powerful men involved that want their secrets kept that way.
The comment about soap opera writers writing this season is spot on. I watch weekly and wonder which episode of “One Life to Live” or “telemundo” inspired the episode…
I get the interpersonal impact that the show is trying to sell, that its tearing people apart at the basest level, but come on. The Rainville PD is such a joke, it makes me wish the Portland PD would step in and Nick The Grimm would discover Linden is a Fuchsbau and we could be done with it…
It was worth it just to hear Jasper ask Holder, “Anyone ever tell you you’re white?”