Kudos again to the writing team.
After what seems a slow start, the episode catches fire at the end as the viewer realizes, belatedly, that this has been one of the most artfully written scripts in the series.
It is like watching a master weaver make a coat. The threads seems to go nowhere ... until you suddenly have something to wear.
The expression "warp and woof" actually appears in the script, as do many other others of equally dubious historical measure, but, bottom line, this episode is a writers' dream.
Olyphant's character (one of the most righteous and upright characters since the bygone days of the 50s westerns) wrestles with two problems that seem un-related. But to the writers, they are one and the same. And this becomes clear by the conclusion.
Also noticed for the first time how the writing team uses the marvellous Ian McShane like the Chorus in a Greek play, or Mr. Interlocutor in a Minstrel Show. He is both a character on his own, but also the voice of the narrator as he says whatever passes over his mind, and so brings the audience with him.
Art.
After what seems a slow start, the episode catches fire at the end as the viewer realizes, belatedly, that this has been one of the most artfully written scripts in the series.
It is like watching a master weaver make a coat. The threads seems to go nowhere ... until you suddenly have something to wear.
The expression "warp and woof" actually appears in the script, as do many other others of equally dubious historical measure, but, bottom line, this episode is a writers' dream.
Olyphant's character (one of the most righteous and upright characters since the bygone days of the 50s westerns) wrestles with two problems that seem un-related. But to the writers, they are one and the same. And this becomes clear by the conclusion.
Also noticed for the first time how the writing team uses the marvellous Ian McShane like the Chorus in a Greek play, or Mr. Interlocutor in a Minstrel Show. He is both a character on his own, but also the voice of the narrator as he says whatever passes over his mind, and so brings the audience with him.
Art.