Season 1, Episode 5
Air Date: Thursday, July 11, 2013, 10/9c on USA
Rating:
At times, the sexual ambience on Graceland takes away from some of its grittiness. The last few episodes seem more like an episode of Big Brother rather than a cop show and “O-Mouth” is no exception.
Where is a woman in a bikini when you need one?
In my “Pizza Box” review, I wondered if Eddie’s (Sheaun McKinney) death would have any impact on Mike (Aaron Tveit) or would he just brush if off. Given how powerful “Pizza Box” ended, I was disappointed on how “O-Mouth” picks things up the next morning with Mike still shaken and wanting to be left alone. But Tuturro (Manny Montana) informs Mike that Paige (Serinda Swan) has a new bikini and the three are going to play beach football. It felt out of sync that after tackling Paige a few times Mike seems to be better.
Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) and Charlie (Vanessa Ferlito) resume their former undercover identities as an excessively sexual couple named Eric and Katie in attempts to meet a shadowy drug supplier named Odin (who doesn’t make an appearance in this episode). Unbeknownst to Mike who gets quite a shock when he walks in on Charlie and Briggs shooting up. After toying with Mike they explain it’s not the real thing and it’s just practice.
Mike: “So this is what you guys use when you need to shoot up in front of people.”
Charlie: “Looks real, cooks real, smells real. Just wish the needles weren’t real.”
Briggs and Charlie’s attempt to meet Odin is short lived when Whistler (Christopher Redman), a former informant shows up unexpectedly. Just saying “hi” could have easily blown their cover because Whistler knows her as Charlie and not the undercover name she was using. They are able to get out but are left wondering if Whistler noticed them which could put their undercover operation in jeopardy.
Finally we learn why Mike is keeping an eye on Briggs and admittedly, I was a little surprised. The writers have been hyping it up so much that when we realize the FBI suspects Briggs is skimming seized heroin to possibly redistribute and help finance his rainy day fund, I felt slightly let down. I was hoping for something more sinister and in tune with someone like Vic Mackey from the show The Shield. Not that stealing drugs from busts isn’t bad enough but it’s a storyline that has, at some point, been featured in almost every cop show. It does set up an interesting situation since heroin is Bellos (Gbenga Akinnagbe) drug of choice to distribute and with Mike becoming Bellos bodyguard, it gives Mike the perfect chance to possibly set Briggs up and bust him.
Working on their O-Mouth
As much as I am not a fan of the sexual tone within the house, I did enjoy how Briggs and Charlie get even with Tuturro. While conducting a sting at a hotel, Briggs and Charlie learn that Tuturro and Paige make a bet that they would end up having sex within seven days.
Briggs: “You know, um, it’s a shame, we almost got Paige a week’s worth of free drinks.”
Charlie: “You know it’s not too late to give her the win.”
Briggs: “How so?”
The scene cuts as an infuriated Tuturro listens in on the passionate moaning broadcasting through on his eavesdropping equipment; too bad he doesn’t realize the moaning is coming from the television.
Charlie: “Think he’s still listening?”
Briggs: “Um let’s give it another 10 minutes just to be sure.”
Charlie: “You’re just trying to inflate your reputation.”
Briggs: “Ya, let’s make it an hour.”
When the sting does not work, Charlie enlists the help of Whistler but things turn tragic as Charlie finds Whistler dead of an overdose. Making sure he did not die in vain, she continues with the sting that he help set up, but before they can meet Odin, they must prove themselves to Quinn (Arturo Rossi) by shooting up using his product. “O-Mouth” ends with a shot of Charlie shooting up with what appears to be Quinn’s product and not the fake stuff the agents use.
I liked Whistler but I feel like we were missing something. Charlie clearly cared about Whistler but more than she should have. I wouldn’t have loved to seen some flashbacks as she grieves to show where her affection stems from. What set Whistler apart making her want to do so much to help and check in on him?
The real question is did Charlie shoot up with heroin or was she able to make a switch with the fake stuff they practiced on? If it was real, how will she handle it and will there be consequences for her actions? Was all of this just part of the risk in being an undercover agent? Did she do it to prove herself to Quinn or drown the pain of Whistlers death?
“O-Mouth” is a good episode, but not great. I enjoyed the growing friendship between Bello and Mike and I’m interested to see how Briggs will play into it all. I’m also curious to see what ramifications, if any, Charlie has for her actions.
For more information on Graceland, visit the official website.
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All photos © 2013 USA Network, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Greg Staffa
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