The Satantic serial-killer is still hiding in the shadows, but another episode of Banshee brings more earthy dangers to the fore for several of our characters…
“What is it with this f*cking town? Can’t we go one week without some motherf*cking army shooting at us..?”
A woman walks in to the Banshee police station and seeking out Sheriff Brock ours gasoline all over herself and ignites a lighter, giving him a warning that her masters – those responsible for the satanic serial killing are far from finished. It’s only the start of the drama as Veronica and Hood go looking for clues to their ‘horned’ nemesis and Calvin decides to make his move against Proctor after seizing control of the Brotherhood’s interest and leadership… And Carrie’s vigilante justice may have caught up with her when her home is attacked…
For the first time in Banshee’s history Hood shares a room with an attractive woman and somehow only ends up sleeping on the couch… at least for a while and though we get a subtle glimpse of Dushku’s derriere early on, it’s an atypical scene for a show that’s never been shy of flashing the flesh. Later there’s a more intense scene, but it’s all very carefully edited and it’s likely a case of body-doubling ans strategic choreography rather than anything more risque for the ex-Buffy star. It should also be noted for all due fairness that the full-frontal nudity factor finally gives members of the audience the male version, seasons after the same was true for the female form. It’s seen in a rather brutal rough sex scene for Calvin, the White Supremacist who offed his father-in-law at the end of the previous episode and takes out the pent-up aggression on his wife.
There’s also the return of Deva (Ryann Shane), Carrie’s delinquent daughter who’s headed ‘home’ after staying with a relative to whom she refuses to return because ‘…there’s no wifi there and it smells like ass‘. It’s another case of bad-timing as rogue police-officer Nina Cruz (Ana Ayora) leads an armed-assault on Carrie’s home – a dwelling that noticeably has far too much window-space and non-bullet-proof glass for such a base of operations. Safe to say, after much blood and bullets, it doesn’t end well for the intruders…
Despite the flammable opening which feels more like ‘The Following‘, this is generally Banshee doing what it does best – the demonic killer aspect is there but downplayed as personal agendas come to the fore and indiscretions come home to roost. Add to all this some sparkling, telling dialogue between Hood and Veronica with a sharing of secrets – and all topped-off with a pitch-perfect ‘What’s up, Doc?‘ delivery during an ‘interrogation’ – and Banshee still has a solid prescription for drama….
The end is in sight… but there’s still a couple of episodes left to fill with carnage.
8/10
