Alright, gather 'round, mystery lovers! Let's talk about Murder In The First. Specifically, that Season 2, Episode 1. The one that dropped way back in 2015. Yes, I know, ancient history in TV terms. But hear me out. I've been rewatching it, or maybe just thinking about it a lot lately, and I've come to a conclusion. It's… well, it’s a bit of an enigma, isn't it?
Now, I'm not going to pretend to be some kind of TV critic. I’m just a regular person who likes a good whodunit with a side of drama. And this episode? It definitely delivered the drama. But the whodunit part? That’s where things get interesting. Or maybe just… complicated.
Let’s start with the premise. We have a new case, right? A seemingly simple one that quickly unravels into a tangled mess. Classic Murder In The First. The show’s never been afraid to dig deep, to make you question everything and everyone. And this episode, “Twenty Fifteen,” was no exception. It threw us into the deep end, no life raft in sight.
We’ve got our favorite detectives, Hildy Mulligan and Terry English, back at it. And they are as fantastic as ever. Their banter, their weary professionalism, the way they just get each other – it’s the heart of the show. You can always count on them to bring their A-game, even when the case is a total head-scratcher. And this one? Oh, it was a head-scratcher, alright.
The episode sets up a really intriguing mystery. A young, seemingly innocent victim. A wealthy, powerful suspect. It’s the kind of setup that promises a juicy investigation. And for a while, it delivers. You're trying to piece it all together, just like Hildy and Terry. You’re pointing fingers, making theories, feeling pretty smart when you think you've figured it out.
But then… things get a little… wobbly. That’s my polite way of saying it. It’s like you’re running a marathon and suddenly the track takes a sharp left turn into a corn maze. You thought you knew where you were going, and suddenly you’re just surrounded by stalks of confusion. And that’s kind of how I feel about “Twenty Fifteen.”
The writers, bless their hearts, they certainly love to keep us on our toes. And sometimes, that’s great! It’s what makes a good mystery. But here, I felt like we were being kept on our toes so much, we might have needed to see a chiropractor by the end of it. The twists and turns felt… a bit much. Almost like they were trying to out-twist themselves.
And don't even get me started on some of the character motivations. I found myself scratching my head more than once. Like, "Wait, why would they do that?" Or, "Is that really how this whole thing works?" It’s the kind of stuff that, if you’re really invested, can pull you out of the story for a moment. You’re too busy trying to suspend your disbelief, and it’s a workout.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. "But it was a brilliant setup for the season!" And maybe it was. Maybe I'm just not seeing the genius. Perhaps I’m too attached to a straightforward narrative. I’m not saying this episode was bad. Not at all. The acting is top-notch. The production value is great. It looks and feels like Murder In The First.
But there's a part of me that missed the slightly tighter focus of previous episodes. This one felt a little… sprawling. Like it was trying to do a lot of things at once, and maybe some of those things didn’t quite land with the impact they intended. It was like a really ambitious chef trying to create a twelve-course meal, and while some dishes were divine, others were just… a bit confusing.
And the ending! Oh, the ending. It left me with more questions than answers. Which, again, is the point of a cliffhanger. But this felt less like a satisfying cliffhanger and more like someone just sort of… stopped the episode mid-sentence. You’re left there, like, "Okay… and then what?"
So, my unpopular opinion? While “Twenty Fifteen” certainly set the stage for a dramatic season, it felt a little overstuffed and perhaps a tad too convoluted for my taste. It was a bit like trying to assemble IKEA furniture without the instructions – you’ll eventually get there, but there will be a lot of puzzling and maybe a few extra screws left over. And you might question your life choices along the way.
But hey, that’s just me! Maybe you loved it. Maybe it was your favorite episode of all time. And if it was, I’m genuinely happy for you. Because at the end of the day, it’s still Murder In The First. And even when it’s a bit of a mess, it’s still a mess I’m willing to watch. Just maybe with a bigger cup of coffee next time.
