The Hanged Man

Queen of Swords Episode Review

In which Grisham needs new friends.

What Happened

Grisham's former commanding officer, once nearly hanged for murder on Grisham's testimony, comes to Santa Helena while Montoya is in Monterrey.

The Good

• "For once, why can't I dance." Nice scene with Marta and Tessa. And Marta says, "It wasn't a dream, it was a vision," with a straight face.
• Vera wants to know when Grisham is going to get her husband out of Craine's clutches, and he says, "Soon." Loved Anthony Lemke's tone here; Grisham will tell her what she wants to hear even if he has no idea of how he's going to do it.
• Tessa and Marta arguing about Marta's attempt to kill Craine was powerful. Their friendship was always one of the strongest parts of this show.

The Bad

• Grisham threatening the soldier to keep him from telling anyone that he saw Grisham and Vera together. Like the entire town doesn't already know they're screwing?
• Craine was such a predictable twit. Grisham totally should have been able to think circles around him, instead of being kicked around. That's what we have Montoya for.
• The wives drove two wagons loaded with gold into town but Craine thinks he's got it all when he has that one piddly chest?

The Cliche

• "Don't take it personally." Of course Craine took it personally. Being hanged will do that to a man.
• "Does anyone want out?" Tessa asks. "You have a whole nanosecond to say something before I guilt you into this by talking about how proud of you I am."
• Like no one would notice a person dressed all in black sneaking around the white buildings in the middle of the desert in broad daylight.
• Big fight scene in the middle of the get-away. As the Queen hand-over-handed along underneath the wagon, it was so obviously a stuntman down there.

What Did I Think?

Hero-centrism rears it's ugly head. Even though the episode should be about Grisham, the Queen and her ill-fated attempt to turn the Dons' wives into fighters hijack the story halfway through.

"Fever" proved that Grisham could be a sneaky snake, why didn't we see that again? He should have been able to handle Craine, and maybe even work out a way to off Hidalgo and snare Vera for himself in the bargain. Not to mention that watching him and the Queen "cooperate" against Craine would have been a huge kick.