From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, Episode 4, Season 1,“Let’s Get Ramblin”
Written by Marcel Rodriquez
Directed by Robert Rodriquez
Airs Tuesdays at 9pm (ET) on El Rey Network
“I don’t feel safe with you anymore, you don’t feel like yourself. I don’t think I can trust you”
As has been evident since the pilot, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series is a show that despite any of its issues, knows exactly what it is and where it wants to go. It is, at points, relentlessly violent and over the top; it is insanely campy and fun. It also features exceptional chemistry between its leads D.J. Cotrona and series standout Zane Holtz, who are frequently given the show’s best dialogue. Plus there is, for now, an intriguing central plotline. All of that camp and blood might not work and could make the show dreadful but somehow, mashed together and wrapped up in a nice Robert Rodriquez bow, it all just works.
“Let’s Get Ramblin” deals heavily with the issue of trust. Seth’s (Cotrona) unsure of Richie’s (Holtz) stability, especially after his brutal murder of the bank teller in last week’s episode, “Mistress”, and his ramblings about seeing into the future, even if they do prove to be true. Katie (Madison Davenport) is struggling to understand the lies that her father has told her about her mother’s death.
Cortona’s Seth is becoming an even better defined character. This is especially true when he plays Seth somewhere between detached cool and befuddled, concerned brother. It has become increasingly clear that Richie is the brains of their partnership. Seth even said so during “Mistress” and though he’s smart, he isn’t Richie. This is a great twist on the character we got to know in the film as a reluctant anti-hero. Katie is also slowly coming into her own and becoming a favorite character. Davenport plays Katie as a tough and inquisitive young woman struggling with a terrible loss she can barely understand.
“Let’s Get Ramblin” continues the character development by further exploring Richie. Somehow he has become this reviewer’s favorite part of the show. He is exceptionally twisted yet he manages to be the one character that sees and understands nearly everything, even if he doesn’t always understand what’s happening to him. Holtz is equally terrifying, clever, witty, deranged, and vulnerable and he and Davenport have one of the best scenes of the night, their poolside discussion.
Though not much happens this week, outside of its final moments (that excellent motel shootout) and the Geckos’ crashing into the Fuller’s lives, this is probably the young series’ best episode to date. It’s uncharacteristically simple, but very effective in moving the show forward.
Final Thoughts:
Don Johnson is back! Well kind of. It’s actually a bloody and perfectly shot flashback that shows how awesome he is and how much Earl is missed.
Freddie’s (Jessie Garcia) hallucination of the druggie that Earl killed on his first assignment might just be the creepiest moment of the night.
What exactly is that knife capable of?
“You got the soul of a Ranger”
“I’ve tuned into something and it’s showing me the way. I’m back, which means we’re back”
“Richie’s got a sick soul and I gotta put him away”
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this”
“Sometimes it’s easier to talk to strangers”
“Did my brother do anything to you?”
“He scared me”
“You’re not the only one”
Tressa Eckermann