I’m still reeling from that image of Judge Reeves and Orlandio shagging, and the quick recap ahead of Monday’s new episode further burned the picture into my mind. It also caused me to say out loud: what’s next on Shoot the Messenger?
“Careful What you Pray For” began like a gunshot, quickly and unexpectedly, with Khaalif feeling he’d avenged his brother’s death and all debts paid. Not so much, as it turned out. The police had the final say, breaking down the door and sweeping Khaalif and his crew up in a guns and gangs raid.
In the very next scene, Simon was saying goodbye to Cassie. She was off on a week-long business trip and before hopping in the cab uttered a line that is the basis for everything unravelling on Shoot the Messenger: “You always have a choice.”
Simon’s choice seems to be—at this point anyway—whether he’ll let little Simon take command of big Simon and head back into bed with Daisy. That didn’t happen, and perhaps it didn’t because that’s what I expected would occur, and Shoot the Messenger is unique because it doesn’t go with the obvious. Yes, Daisy was having an affair with Lutz and slept with Simon, but she appears to have stopped with the pillow talk; by episode end she and Simon shared a mutual respect. They’re going to need each other’s backs going forward because the video of Sam and Khalid in bed together is going to blow the roof off the story.
It certainly pushed Judge Reeves and Orlandio to the background, and that was unexpected too. I assumed Reeves and her husband, Glen, were sexual deviants who would do anything to keep their bedroom tastes quiet—going to far as to murdering Khalid to keep it under wraps—but instead we were treated to a scene where they broke down and supporting each other, realizing their careers are likely in the gutter. (Also? I was convinced Mary was going to stifle what Daisy and Simon has uncovered.)
Juxtaposing scenes of grief, shock and resignation were a quiet few moments between Lutz and his son, Noah. Lutz was helping Noah get ready for school and the soccer practice afterwards; it offered a sweet respite from the drama swirling in the other storylines.
Production-wise, I love the camera angles Sudz Sutherland uses, especially during intense, loaded conversations. Everyone is always just off-centre, I imagine to show no one in Shoot the Messenger is being totally honest with the other and are always a little crooked.
Shoot the Messenger airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBC.
Images courtesy of CBC.
