S01.E04: Smells Like Bear

[nodorothyparker]

Airdate 2020.10.25

Quote

John and Onion continue their fundraising mission, heading to Canada on foot. When Harriet Tubman endorses Brown in a room full of new recruits, Onion realizes that he may be more invested in the cause and the "old man" than he thought.

 

[Halting Hex]

I wish the episode description hadn't spoiled the appearance of Harriet Tubman.  EH's performance was wonderful, though.

Small technicality:  Brown refers to Canada as a "country" on several occasions.  However, at this time, Canada was still a British Colony, not joining with New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to form the independent Dominion of Canada until 1867.  Perhaps a certain poetic license, but it still took me out of the moment, I admit.  "Land" would have worked just as well, IMO.

[nodorothyparker]

I guess even this show is not willing to not play Harriet Tubman reverently straight.

As talky as some of this could be, I liked Onion calling Brown out on their differing ideas of "freedom." Brown was obliviously treating Onion like one of his many offspring in just assuming that of course he'd be along for the ride without ever once stopping to ask Onion if that's what he wanted. For all their adventuring up to this point, Onion has never really committed to any of it. Both actors were doing good work this episode, with Ethan Hawke shouting to the rafters.