Oct 15 2012

No Thanks In This Home. Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, “A Day To Give Thanks”

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  • October 15, 2012

  • 5 mins to read
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Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, “A Day to Give Thanks”

Air date: Sunday, October 14, 2012, 10/9C on BBC America

Rating: ★★★★★

There’s no other way to celebrate Thanksgiving in Five Points other than to watch turkeys being slaughtered in the streets, with blood spilled everywhere and an Irish song playing in the background. Brian Keene’s musical score made me feel right at home.

No Thanks In This Home. Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, "A Day To Give Thanks" 1

Annie says a Thanksgiving prayer

For Corky (Tom Weston-Jones), it’s just too sad of a time to celebrate anything. His wife Ellen (Alex Paxton-Beesley) is in recovery, Maguire (Kevin Ryan) has gone missing, and Corky doesn’t know who to trust anymore. Interestingly, Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmid) feels the same now that he’s dealing with Kennedy (Aaron Poole).  The lives of these two men are more inextricably linked than we think.

With Maguire missing, Corky is turning over every corner in town to find him. He wants answers and will stop at nothing to get them, even stepping over Capt. Sullivan (Ron White) to keep the police force on the hunt with him. I felt like he was going to kill someone, but thankfully he does not, not even during a tense face-to-face moment, with gun at the ready. He’s teetering dangerously on the edge, my Corky!

No Thanks In This Home. Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, "A Day To Give Thanks" 2

Kennedy tries to blackmail Norbert

Not only does Corky believe his close friend was involved with Ellen’s disappearance, but he now knows Maguire is behind the deaths of Mary Lockwood (Joanne Boland) and Jeremiah McLean (Dylan Trowbridge). I would never have taken Maguire for such a wanton killer (or maybe not so wanton) even if he felt justified. When “A Day to Give Thanks” ends, Maguire’s actions become clearer, though not exactly forgivable. All I can say is, I’m surprised by this turn of events; I thought I had sussed Maguire out. As O’Brien (Dylan Taylor) is to Corky, I believed him to be a loyal and steadfast friend. Some things aren’t so cut and dried.

Morehouse is getting himself into hot water with his dealings with Kennedy, especially after Kennedy’s attempt to blackmail Norbert (Geordie Johnson): “Let the Confederate apocalypse befall New York City.” Frankly, this storyline bores me a bit. I’d much rather see more of Freeman (Ato Essandoh) and Sara’s (Tessa Thompson) relationship, and the struggles they’ve gone through together. Both Essandoh and Thompson are such terrific actors; it’s a shame to see them get short shrift. The sweet way Freeman compliments Sara’s Thanksgiving meal, and the gentle manner Sara uses when slapping away his hand when he takes it upon himself to sample the meal warmed my heart. Their relationship is to be envied.

No Thanks In This Home. Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, "A Day To Give Thanks" 3

Will he or won’t he?

Through Ellen’s incoherent ramblings (“a locket for a life”), it becomes clear Maguire was involved with her in some way. The truth only gets uglier when Corky confronts him in a church. What a tense showdown between the two men! Maguire’s question, “You going to kill me?” shows he was ready for any reaction from Corky, and was prepared to deal with his fate. The ugly accusations they throw at each other probably broke their friendship; the anger between the two was palpable and also sad, considering their history. But it’s Corky’s confrontation with Ellen that proved even more heartbreaking. The stunning truth about their daughter’s death literally sends him reeling; he’s struck dumb and ever so regretful. Weston-Jones does such a stunning job in this scene, holding his stomach as if in acute physical pain, and forcing himself to stand up and then collapse in tears. It was glorious to witness such superb acting.

No Thanks In This Home. Review: Copper, S1 Ep 9, "A Day To Give Thanks" 4

Ellen makes a heartbreaking confession

So, who was that pounding on the door? We’ll find out in next week’s season finale, but my bet is on Maguire. What do you think?

 

Follow Copper on Twitter: @CopperTV.

LIKE Copper on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CopperTV

Follow the actors on Twitter: Kevin Corcoran @tomwestonjones, Det. Maguire @KevinRyanII, Matthew Freeman @AtoEssandoh, Robert Morehouse @iamkyleschmid, and Elizabeth Haverford @AnastasiaGLive.

 

Photos ©2012 BBC America. All Rights Reserved.

 

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Juana

My favorite forms of escapism are books and telly/film. I require plenty of solitude.

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