The rampage at the end, a shocking and jarring as it was, is all the more potent in just how well orchestrated it was, shot through the use of security monitors as Zalewski, after learning from Deaver that he would not pursue litigation against Shawshank, instead opting for settlement, moves throughout the prison with a gun firing upon each and every security guard depicted throughout the episode abusing prisoners. But was it actually Zalewski killing them? Towards the middle of the episode, Zalewski is confident that Deaver would bring publicity to and ring the bell loudly on Shawshank's rampant corruption and abuse, "bumping fists" with prisoner, Skarsgård. That phone call, though, between Deaver (who is struggling with seeing his adoptive mom and her "fog" and the man who is there for her, Pangborn, always reminding him that he left her behind) and Zalewski changed the young man with a baby on the way. Something triggered him: but what? Was that fist bump a "transfer of evil"? That was a question that popped in my mind anyway. That was a significant moment for the entire series up until this point, but there was other goodies including a gnarly (and creepy) visit to the rotted abode of the potential captor of Henry during those "lost eleven days", whose brother (played by Dark Shadows' David Selby!!!) is a barber, and Molly Strand trying to sell the house of a recent decedent whose ashes in an urn still remained inside (including all of the previous owner's possessions!). Selby is an incredible bit of casting, giving off this sinister vibe, revealing to Henry (who is visiting the place on a hunch as memories of his captivity seem to be coming back to him in brief "bursts") files that were dumped/scrapped by the police department in the garbage! Molly trying to work realtor magic while inside a house--still reminding anyone with interest in it that it was very recently occupied-is hilarious, particularly her efforts to hide the urn...the husband's interest in a painting on the wall and seeming disregard for how freshly on-the-market was the house is the icing on the cake. The piano with the splinted floor above it at the Desjardin home and the quick scene from the Twilight Zone episode, "The Howling Man" (for this TZ fan, a major rush!) on a television pass give us cool bits to celebrate. The tension between Deaver and Pangborn is quite an ongoing aspect to the show as is Ruth's bouts with dementia and unyielding resistance towards leaving her home. Molly and Henry's complex relationship continues to be such a rich component for the series.
Review of The Box
