Fine. I’m all in. This was easily my favorite episode so far. It was a little bit of everything the show does well, relationships and the past. Not to mention Padalecki’s easy chemistry with everyone. Also, I think I might have a wee little crush. It was all the baby dolls and girls and the twang. Ignore me.
Let’s get started.
We start with a flashback. Four months earlier, Walker, as Duke Culpepper, is working at a rodeo. It’s here that we meet Twyla Jean. I’m a fan. I mean, I know she’s going to be no good, but there’s just something about her. Also, Duke Culpepper is still a stupid name.
This was a never-a-dull-moment episode with “Walker,” which included a more complicated case of the week and some excellent emotional beats too.
The opening is adrenaline-fueled from the start. Walker and Micki respond to a call about a shooting in an oil field and chase the shooter in his truck. They go against some ‘new regulations’ to stop him, Walker yelling to Micki to “bulldog it” and Micki doing some impressive driving to cut the guy off.
They find him unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. Micki notices his gang tattoos from the Olvidados gang before the ambulance arrives. The next day, Micki gets pulled onstage at the big press conference celebrating putting away a gang member, although she’s reluctant to take the podium, both because her partner isn’t there and out of an awareness of tokenism.
This was the first episode that started without an Emily flashback. I didn’t mind getting straight into the action. Without them, the episode had a different feel. Honestly, I didn’t mind it. It was just surprising. I know I’m in the minority about the flashbacks, most of you love them. I love seeing Emily and Walker interact, but I don’t think we need flashbacks every episode.
Here we go.
We’re driving past an oil field with Walker and Micki. Walker is still trying to get to know her, and she is still keeping him at arm’s length. I’m sure this is somehow related to her wanting to be an awesome Ranger. I get it, but I also think trusting your partner is a necessity in all relationships.