Damnation Episode 8
Best Episode so far! After last week’s detour from “the norm”, Damnation Episode 8 returned to the style of show I’ve come to love. The Goodness of Men is the best episode to date, with every emotion you can imagine packed into 42 amazing minutes. Ending with a good old fashioned cliffhanger – it’s leaving me chomping at the bit for next week!
We begin this week with another flashback to Wyoming, 1924 where Cynthia (Hannah Masi) tells Seth (Killian Scott) he should be preacher. The first seeds being planted perhaps? Seth returns late to a meeting with his father, but Creeley (Logan Marshall-Green) has covered for him. They discover at the meeting they need to get rid of the last few families so the oil company can start drilling. One of the families is Cynthia’s. We know this won’t end well, but I’m very nervous to find out exactly what will happen.
Back in Holden, 1931 Seth and Amelia (Sarah Jones) discover the church has been broken into. I think it’s someone trying to steal the money from the bank robbery, but it turns out to be Bessie (Chasten Harmon) hiding from the Black Legion. Members show up (out of disguise) claiming to be there for Service, but they are all armed. Seth is no idiot and knows they are there for Bessie. Other members of the congregation turn up as the Legion members unsuccessfully search the church for Bessie.
Creeley shows up at the bank to meet the new banker, John Dyson (Morgan David Jones). I never imagined I would not only miss, but want back, Calvin Rumple (Dan Donohue). I immediately find myself hating the very smug Dyson. Not only did he provide the Black Legion with a very large machine gun, but has hired them to protect the bank.
An Unlikely Alliance
After the church service Bessie comes out of hiding. She tells Seth and Amelia about discovering that Melvin Stubbs (Paul Rae) is the leader of the Black Legion. She also lets them know that the Duvall Family is the one bankrolling everything. Amelia takes Bessie to safety. When Damnation first started I thought these two women would end up clashing, I never expected them to work together.
I loved the exchanges between Amelia and Bessie back when they hated each other, and love them even more now that they are teaming up. When Bessie finds out Amelia is behind the “commie rag” her comment “here I thought you were just a bitchy little preacher’s wife” had me smiling. Amelia’s retort “and here I thought you were just a common whore” had me beaming. I love these two together!
A Planned Hanging
Seth goes to see Myron Eddins (Joel Jackshaw), the butcher who was suppose to feed him information on the Black Legion. I’m glad to see this bit of storyline was not forgotten afterall. Seth threatens to kill him if he doesn’t tell him what is happening. He tells him the Legion plan to hang Sam Riley, Jr (Rohan Mead) at dawn. I am as shocked as Seth is by this news. Sam, Jr. is locked up in the jail and Sheriff Berryman (Christopher Heyerdahl) is not going to just hand him over. I’m not sure how they plan to pull this off.
Seth warns Sheriff Berryman that Melvin Stubbs is the leader of the Black Legion and they plan to hang Sam, Jr. Berryman is not concerned, he thinks the Legion are a bunch of buffoons. I wish the sheriff would take this more seriously. As Seth explains to him The Duvall Family is funding Melvin Stubbs and The Legion, and that they are planning to take over the town. Berryman is not going to move Sam, Jr., I fear for that poor boy’s life.
Brother vs. Brother
When Amelia and Seth star putting Creeley down for making bad decisions Bessie calls Seth out for framing Creeley for a murder. I’m so tired of Seth’s “holier than thou” attitude and I’m so happy Bessie knocked him down a peg or two. The news obviously shocked Amelia, it’s about time she start seeing Seth for who he really is.
Suddenly shots ring out! The house is being shot up…but by who? Creeley! I guess I was wrong, he is willing to kill Seth for his freedom after all. Seth marches out to confront Creeley. The two brothers have each other at gunpoint. The tension is palpable, I’m holding my breath and my heart is racing. Bessie comes running to Creeley’s side and tells him that Seth and Amelia saved her life. It feels like forever before Seth finally puts his gun down. He tells Creeley he is after The Black Legion and that he can kill him when he’s done. While I do hate Seth, I don’t want Creeley to kill him.
Feelings Are Hidden No More
My favorite scene of the season so far! Creeley and Bessie are walking in a field talking about how you don’t let someone close, that you go it alone. Bessie returns the necklace that belonged to Creeley’s mother, telling him “it’s only business”. Creeley tells her “damn right it is,” and then starts kissing her. I literally cheered. It was so obvious they were in love and I wanted them to become a couple so badly. No more pretending they don’t care about each other.
Deputy Raymond Berryman (David Haysom) brings Sam, Jr out of his cell telling him he is taking him somewhere safer. I’m sure he is bringing him to Seth, who is attempting to save his life. Once again Damnation had me fooled, as the deputy delivered Sam, Jr. right into the hands of Melvin Stubbs. I’m not surprised Raymond turned on his Uncle, I never had a good feeling about him.
We flashback to Wyoming again. Earlier Seth has gone off to save Cynthia and her family. Creeley knew where he went and his father was able to trick him into telling where Seth is. Now, as the Raineys back their wagon to escape, Creeley shows up across the field. Seth goes to find out why he’s there and Creeley tells him he told their father that Seth was leaving. Gunshots ring out back at the church and Cynthia screams. Has their father killed her? Is this the murder Seth frames Creeley for? I feel so bad for Creeley because he genuinely did not want to bring any harm to his brother.
Time for a Hanging
While Seth and Preston Riley (Teach Grant) have come to town town attempting to save Sam, Jr, Creeley has come to hide Bessie at the sheriff’s house. A sudden commotion outside gets everyone’s attention. It’s The Black Legion bringing Sam, Jr to be hung. Seth finds a Black Legion robe and goes out undercover to save him. When Sam, Jr refuses to renounce the strike they put the noose around his neck.
I’m so scared for Sam, Jr that poor boy did not hurt anyone and does not deserve to die. Preston and the other farmers being brawling with The Legion in an attempt to save the boy. Sheriff Berryman shows up telling them “fun and games are over”. I’m so relieved to see him, the sheriff to the rescue! Or is he? The Legion pulls out the machine gun they got from that scummy banker Dyson and start shooting.
Seth gets caught attempting to cut the rope around Sam, Jr’s neck. They pull off the hood and discover it’s the Preacher. The Legion decides there will be two people hung and a noose is put around Seth’s neck. Creeley is just standing back watching all this unfold. As my heart races, and my anxiety is sky high the episode ends in a cliffhanger.
I loved this episode! It had everything I could want from Damnation. The excitement I love. Twists and turns everywhere. Creeley and Bessie finally coming together as a couple. This episode was a roller coaster ride of emotions for me and it flew by. Do you think Creeley will save his brother? Will Sam, Jr be saved? Will The Black Legion take over the town? So many questions to be answered. I can’t wait for next week!
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