Game of Cat & Mouse. Retrospective: Graceland - “Bag Man”

Season 1, Episode 8

Air Date: Thursday, August 8, 2013, 10/9c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

“Honesty is a hard thing to come by.” – Mike

On the hunt for Odin

We now know Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) is the mysterious drug supplier Odin. And as Odin, Briggs must now get Bello (Gbenga Akinnagbe) the promised drugs without Mike (Aaron Tveit) or the Caza Cartel finding out exactly who Odin is. How long can Briggs play this game of cat and mouse before he is caught, or worse, killed.

Graceland isn’t a bad show, I just don’t feel the writers have the confidence in the audience to return each week so they resort to twists and cliffhangers. The other day, I overheard Fox News reporter Shepard Smith describe a news story they were covering: “I don’t believe much of anything they say anymore because I can’t figure out what parts to believe. So I just choose not to believe any of it.” While this is unrelated, it sums up much of my frustration with Graceland. But, just because I don’t always believe what I see doesn’t mean it’s not a fun ride.

Mike Meeting with Bello

What drives me nuts about Graceland ironically is what makes “Bag Man” such a good episode. The opening scene alone is fascinating to watch as Odin and Bello use Mike to exchange their drugs and money. What makes it so captivating is Sunjata’s riveting performance in a dual role encountering the drugs as both Odin and Briggs in the same exchange. There is such an intense and manipulative balancing act going on that it is hard not to want to watch. The only question is, how much is real?

My thought is Briggs is deep undercover and has been for years although very few people know it. As Bello’s supplier, he now has total access and oversight on everything, which allows him to dictate where and when the drugs and money are. As Odin, he has forced the Caza Cartel to make more dramatic moves in retaliation, as well as draw out the mysterious killer Jangles (whom we have not seen yet. Or have we?).

I still do not get Abby’s (Jennifer Proske) involvement in all of this. Is she simply an east coast girl who fell in love with Mike, or does she have a hidden agenda? She does, after all, use her feminine wiles to get Mike to show her areas of Graceland that are off limits to civilians, only then to conveniently break up with him. Could she be working for Odin, or even someone worse — like Jangles? She just happens to be thousands of miles from home, has no family in the area, and hangs out at the bar where Mike and the other agents hang out. What do you think? Do you trust Abby?

I think the following exchange between Mike and Briggs is interesting and may give us some clues about why Mike was sent to Graceland in the first place.

Briggs: “It’s been a little while since we had our talk, Mike, and I’m still here.”

Mike: “Well, you trusted me with your secret.”

Briggs: “That I did. I also had some friends poke around at the bureau and see if my name or my problem had come up.”

Mike: “OK.”

Briggs: “And it has not.”

Mike’s face instantly shows both relief and confusion. Why haven’t Briggs’ friends uncovered everything Mike told his handler, Juan (Pedro Pascal)? Mike tries to call him to find out but he doesn’t answer. What is Juan’s real intention behind investigating Briggs? Is it personal, professional, or something else?

Working out or on surveillance?

Meanwhile, Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito), who feels she can no longer trust Briggs, starts looking into him with Johnny’s (Manny Montana) reluctant help. In an earlier review, I believe I described her performance as basically being there only for her sexy eyes. But lately, her scenes, especially playing off Briggs, are great. She seems like the only one who can go toe to toe with him.

All the household tension seems to be bothering Johnny so he goes to Jakes (Brandon Jay McLaren) for advice:

Jakes: “Don’t get this place twisted, Johnny. This ain’t your family, son.”

“Bag Man,” in many ways, is the beginning of the end of the illusion that is Graceland. In the “Pilot,” Graceland was presented as a sanctuary for these agents. Now, Graceland is just a house where everyone is suspicious of everyone else. As the deadly game of cat and mouse continues, more lives are put at risk as the Caza Cartel brings the fight to the streets. All this makes Graceland an exciting show to watch.

For more information on Graceland, visit the official website.

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Follow the stars of Graceland on Twitter: @DanielGRACELAND, @MannyMontana, @SwanSerinda, and @brandojay.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.