"Super 8" Review
First off, thank God “Super 8” didn’t immediately dismiss Rosie’s teacher, Bennet as a suspect. That was my fear last week but “Super 8” makes the wonderful decision to implicate Bennet to an almost ridiculous degree.
First, we learn that he has no alibi (well, a really terrible one). Second, we find out that Bennet has a habit of flirting with former students. Then we meet his wife... a pregnant, former student. He also lied about his terrible alibi... oh, and his apartment was filled with ammonia hydroxide - a cleaning chemical used on Rosie’s body.
Damn, he has a lot of explaining to do... but that’s the best part of “Super 8.” The episode lets us in on all these startling revelations without yet interviewing Bennet directly (with the exception of that short exchange at the beginning). As a result, there’s a sense of urgency to the episode that makes the wait for next week all the more painful.
The actual investigation was the strongest aspect of “Super 8.” We’re also given the fascinating film shot by Rosie - it reminded me a bit of The Ring, with that creepy and silent undertone. The conclusion - with Sarah suspiciously staring at the printouts - helped stressed the importance of that home video; the butterfly imagery was a nice touch, too.
Rosie’s parents continue to cope with the daughter’s passing, and that aspect of The Killing is especially painful to watch. It’s a little too dark and realistic for me, making the show shift into just plain depressing. That’s just personal preference though, and I really can’t hold it against the writers for making the show as realistic as possible. Stan’s breakdown after seeing Rosie in her dress (a good choice not to show that on-screen) was well acted and brutal. I like how his character switched from denying a need for closure in the murder investigation to pursuing it on his own.
Darren Richmond’s story-arc was front and center again but there were some interesting revelations this time around. Jamie was able to gather some important info as a mole, leading to the reveal that Richmond’s backer was the one setting him up, not Gwen. It was a nice little twist in the story, since we’d been led to believe Gwen was cheating on Richmond (both in bed and the campaign). It turns out only the former is true.
There’s also some interesting drama going on in Stephen’s life with all those suspicious money transactions. We’re positioned to believe that money is for child support, as he leaves the money in the mailbox of a single mother with kids. His explanation of being celibate only reinforces this notion, but who knows? It could be anything at this point.
All-in-all, “Super 8” is a gripping episode of The Killing that raises the stakes while leaving tons of loose ends. It’ll be interesting to see how Bennet actually fits into this whole mess, and with Stan seeking vengeance, things can get messy, fast.
What did you think of this episode? Let me know in the comments below!
-MP