“The Electric Company” of FBI: Most Needed is a standout episode that pits the Fugitive Job Pressure (FTG) towards a small-town gang of corrupt legislation enforcement officers. In latest weeks, I’ve been essential of this present for the way it succumbs to predictable clichés in regards to the escalation of senseless violence. As a substitute, this episode tackles uncomfortable realities of racism and systemic brutality when police flip towards its non-white residents. The writers’ exploration of the detrimental affect this case had on the FTG’s Black brokers, Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge), was commendable, though it solely scratched the floor. Let’s get into it.
“The Electric Company” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The episode’s central plot is about the systemic violence that plagued the Archer County, Maryland, community for decades. Manny Birdsong (Apollo Levine) gets tased and stomped in front of his family. The FTF gets involved when Manny, a resident of Archer County, Maryland, is discovered dead across state lines in the same Virginia marsh where two other victims were discovered, with injuries consistent with being lethally tased. Ray mentions that Archer County is known as a “sunset city,” implying that non-white residents were required to depart the city’s limits by sundown. Despite suspicions that local law enforcement is still executing this racial policy, Ray and Sheryll volunteer to look for leads there.
The team tracks down Manny’s partner, Joellen Shaeffer (Casey Wortmann) who confirms that two white men in masks had tased and dragged Manny into the yard. The Taser serves as a lynchpin piece of evidence in the case. The team traces the Taser cartridges to a bulk purchase delivered to a disabled deputy sheriff, Elias Nelson (Christopher Thornton). Elias has a son, Eli (Andy Favreau) who he explains, “followed in his footsteps at the sheriff’s department.” Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott), quickly, identifies Eli as the main suspect, leading him to Sheriff Blake (John Bedford Lloyd).
“The Electrical Firm” – FBI: Most Needed, Pictured (L-R): Christopher Thornton as Elias and Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Particular Agent Remy Scott. Picture: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The dialogue between Blake and Remy crackles, revealing how entrenched biases and corrupt practices form the actions of native legislation enforcement. For instance, Blake laughs off Remy’s inquiry into his deputy, Eli Nelson, saying, “I don’t recall ever seeing Taser cartridge hoarders on the Most Wanted List.” “No,” responded Remy. “It’s evidence that whoever killed Manny Birdsong zapped him with one of Eli’s cartridges.” Blake continues to joke about his anti-crime unit, The Electrical Firm, referencing his deputies catching a assassin who was executed within the electrical chair. Nevertheless, Remy is aware of the sheriff is mendacity and tells Nina, ‘Nobody has ever gotten the chair in Maryland.’ The identify probably signifies that the sheriff’s gang acts as decide, jury, and executioner.”
Certain he’s dealing with lawless, renegade cops, Remy alerts the County’s District Attorney, Barbara Evers (Samantah Steinmetz). She promptly declines to follow up. Meanwhile, two members of the Electric Company profile and frame a citizen, Ronnie McCaffrey (R. A. Guirand) for Manny Birdsong’s murder, by planting a taser in his car. The two then blackmail a couple of teens into reporting an anonymous, fraudulent tip against him.
“The Electrical Firm” – FBI: Most Needed, Pictured (L-R): Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Particular Agent Remy Scott, Shantel VanSanten as Particular Agent Nina Chase, Roxy Sternberg as Particular Agent Sheryll Barnes, and Edwin Hodge as Particular Agent Ray Cannon. Picture: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Following a divide-and-conquer technique, Remy sends his group to surveille members of The Electrical Firm. The sheriff and a deputy pull Ray and Sheryll over for rushing. Issues escalate. Ray and Sheryll expertise first-hand how police in Archer County deal with non-white residents. The deputy shocks Ray with a taser. He and Sheryll discover themselves in custody, awaiting arraignment. Decide Winters (Mark Zimmerman) tells Remy, “Sit down and keep your mouth shut,” when he tries to assist them in courtroom. The group understands that the entire county’s authorized equipment is working towards them. Nevertheless, the DA drops the fees to point out the FBI they’d no energy. As they have been leaving courtroom, they came upon that Ronnie McCaffrey was charged with Manny Birdsong’s homicide.
Remy and Nina speak to McCaffrey’s son, James (Denzel Rodriquez), gaining affirmation that his dad, Ronnie, is harmless. The FTF accelerates their investigation to get the menacing Electrical Firm members off the streets. Nevertheless, the US Lawyer wants corroboration from James. Ray and Sheryll go to his office. James is scared and refuses to speak. When he begins his automobile, it explodes. Ray is deeply affected and shouts, “He (James) was innocent, and they lynched him!” When Sheriff Blake reveals up, Remy threatens to arrest him for obstruction, calls him a “racist pig,” and expels him from the crime scene.
Remy, Nina (Shantel VanSanten), and Hana (Keisha Fortress-Hughes) monitor the deputy who had tased Ray earlier. The person chooses to kill himself as an alternative of being arrested. Ray and Sheryll observe deputies Eli Nelson and Logan Dobbs (Shane Patrick) on a harmful chase that resulted in an armed standoff between them and federal officers. Though racism is central to the story, the plot activates the father-son battle. Eli’s ethical dilemma and near-redemption are rooted in deeply disappointing his father.
Eli reveals that his actions have been pushed by a want for revenge towards the person answerable for his father’s paralysis. Elias didn’t purchase into his son’s excuse and tried to go away. Eli drew his gun to cease him. There was a wrestle between the 2 deputies, and Elias was knocked from his wheelchair to the ground. Elias requested, “My god, didn’t I teach you anything?” “I’m ashamed of you, Eli.” Ultimately, the deputies surrendered with no shot being fired, and Ray took immense pleasure in arresting Sherriff Blake for conspiracy for James McCaffrey’s homicide.
The Electrical Firm” – FBI: Most Needed, Pictured (L-R): Shantel VanSanten as Particular Agent Nina Chase and Andy Favreau as Deputy Eli Nelson. Picture: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
A fast mea culpa about final week’s evaluation regarding Remy’s private life, the place I mistakenly assumed Remy didn’t go consuming together with his pal, Blake. He did, and on this episode, he gave the impression to be a bit on the defensive with Abby about it. Remy gives his place to Abby whereas she’s on the town for an prolonged keep. She declines, and I believe he’s confused about why. I believe it is as a result of Abby isn’t certain about Remy’s motives. Is he ‘breadcrumbing” her, giving her minimal concessions to keep her interested? Is he feeling pressured to show her that he’s “nothing like that dude (Blake)?” Is Abby simply not that into him? What do you assume?
How do you’re feeling concerning the present’s determination to divide the group by race throughout this investigation? What are your ideas on how Remy and Abby’s relationship would possibly evolve?
Total Score
9/10
Lynette Jones
