S02.E09: The Badger

[paulvdb]

Quote

Marty finds a way around the Snells. Charlotte hires a lawyer. The Byrdes get a meeting with the gaming commission, whose approval comes with a big ask.

[paulvdb]

Just started watching this episode. Those cartel people are some incompetent shooters if they fired that many bullets and only managed to hit Jacob in the shoulder. And Darlene appears to not have been hit at all.

[Pike Ludwell]

14 hours ago, paulvdb said:

Just started watching this episode. Those cartel people are some incompetent shooters if they fired that many bullets and only managed to hit Jacob in the shoulder. And Darlene appears to not have been hit at all.

It was like the cartoon where one character walks right up to another's face and blasts him several times. The other is unscathed and says "ya missed!". Pretty ridiculous.

Edited September 2, 2018 by Pat Hoolihan

[DoubleUTeeEff]

14 hours ago, Mindthinkr said:

I was really waiting for Mr Snell to kill his wife Darlene with the knife he had pocketed when cutting the apples. 

He was definitely planning to. Too bad he didn't do it more quickly and they both could have died in a kind of reverse Romeo and Juliet situation. But we have to have Mrs Snell try and put a kink in everyone's plans. I don't know how she is planning to outmaneuver the cartel. I'm going to say it again--Zeke better be safe from her by the end of this. Hopefully Marty and Wendy just use him as bait.

[Mama No Life]

Yeah sorry about that ^.    

[ganesh]

On 9/2/2018 at 12:21 AM, paulvdb said:

Those cartel people are some incompetent shooters if they fired that many bullets and only managed to hit Jacob in the shoulder. And Darlene appears to not have been hit at all.

Seriously. Jacob asked, "hey you need help?" "Sure - can you come over here and help with this tire?" Bam. I can buy they maybe didn't hit Darlene because they were just aiming for him, but still. This all powerful cartel and that's the best they can do. 

Yet the irony being he got shot because of Darlene in the first place. 

I don't really have a problem with the daughter wanting out, but seriously, she isn't thinking through. But the parents should know that though, and kind of let it burn out or let her talk it out. Yelling at her isn't constructive. I kind of wanted them to let her walk and learn the lesson the hard way. Wendy certainly is not helping.

Wow most of the season has been Marty answering the phone and running around putting out fires. 

I can't really disagree with the cartel deciding a response was needed. Marty can be ticked all he wants, but the Snells have been dragging their feet and complaining constantly. Clearly, you have to lay plans to eventually cut them out, but they signed their own fate when Darlene poisoned the product. 

[ganesh]

I can't believe it took this long for Marty to figure out some legal machinations against the Snells. 

How is the daughter paying for the lawyer? I'm having a little bit of a hard time how she escalated so hard so fast. 

Edited September 4, 2018 by ganesh

[ganesh]

22 hours ago, DoubleUTeeEff said:

I don't know how she is planning to outmaneuver the cartel.

I don't know if she's planning to plan anything. Jacob said the US government owns the land and he got the cartel off their backs. With him gone, the price is back on her head. 

[Armchair Critic]

Funny because when Darlene handed him the coffee mug I thought to myself "I don't know if I would dare drink something she gave me".

[Guest]

In the age of binge watching, I know it's difficult sometimes to keep straight what happened on which episode, especially when watching a bunch of them over a short course of time. With that in mind, please be careful to only discuss the current (and/or former, if it relates) episode in each episode thread so as not to spoil other posters who haven't seen future episodes. Thanks! Please PM me with any questions.

[CelticBlackCat]

This penultimate episode deserves an award for best intro and ending ever.  I love the tie-in of The Badger starting and ending with the Snells.  Using Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" made it all the more haunting.

Wow.  I didn't see that twist at the end.  I thought Darlene had gotten too big for her britches, but as Jacob said, she was always one step ahead.

[Rap541]

On ‎9‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 11:21 PM, paulvdb said:

Just started watching this episode. Those cartel people are some incompetent shooters if they fired that many bullets and only managed to hit Jacob in the shoulder. And Darlene appears to not have been hit at all.

This was ridiculous. I mean, they already have set the cartel up as super efficient and yet, they can't kill three hillbillies in a car at point blank range? No one shot the driver? 

 

On ‎9‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 6:30 PM, ganesh said:

I don't really have a problem with the daughter wanting out, but seriously, she isn't thinking through. But the parents should know that though, and kind of let it burn out or let her talk it out. Yelling at her isn't constructive. I kind of wanted them to let her walk and learn the lesson the hard way. Wendy certainly is not helping.

I assume the daughter was being a completely dumb shit, but I question this entire plot because in order to get the lawyer on her side, she would have had to told the whole drug/embezzling story and I can't see a family lawyer not dropping a dime to the feds in part because the daughter and the son are in danger.

[ganesh]

They kept that vague. It didn't appear that she said anything incriminating. Wendy blowing up certainly wasn't doing them any favors. 

[CelticBlackCat]

1 hour ago, Rap541 said:

This was ridiculous. I mean, they already have set the cartel up as super efficient and yet, they can't kill three hillbillies in a car at point blank range? No one shot the driver? 

 

I assume the daughter was being a completely dumb shit, but I question this entire plot because in order to get the lawyer on her side, she would have had to told the whole drug/embezzling story and I can't see a family lawyer not dropping a dime to the feds in part because the daughter and the son are in danger.

Charlotte's lawyer gave The Byrdes two days to sign the emancipation papers and if they didn't, it sounded like she would blow the lid off and go to the feds.  She mentioned the affair "and much, much more" so there had to be some disclosure by Charlotte of the illegal activities.  IMHO.

[ganesh]

It was my take that if they didn't sign the papers, then the case would go to court. I didn't get the impression she was aware of the criminal activity just that stuff like the affair would be aired publicly.

They're trying to get the casino going, and getting all the dirty laundry put out there might give their reputation a hit and put that at risk. 

If the lawyer is aware of criminal activity, wouldn't she be legally obligated to report it?

[CelticBlackCat]

41 minutes ago, ganesh said:

They kept that vague. It didn't appear that she said anything incriminating. Wendy blowing up certainly wasn't doing them any favors. 

Wendy should have played it cooler with lady lawyer, which I thought she did a pretty good job of doing.  She blew up at Charlotte a lot and expressed her concerns to Marty in their bedroom.  I liked how Wendy kicked the lawyer out of her house and then went to apologize the next day, only to be fishing for the disclosed dastardly details in her law office.

Either Charlotte saved enough money from her share of the $10,000 she stole from the cartel (half given to brother Jonah) after she bought her van, jeans and a sweater, or this lawyer took on her case pro bono.  Also, dropping a dime on her family also puts Jonah in danger of getting in trouble with the federal legal system.

[CelticBlackCat]

Charlotte is a "typical teenager", that is, a self-centered entitled brat who thinks she's running the show.  I actually do not like her character.  I won't say anything bad about the actress, other than she looks older than the 15 years old she's supposed to be.  Charlotte only cares about herself and doesn't see the big picture.  There is nothing other than "My mom had an affair" that would be worthy of being emancipated other than the usual stuff the lawyer pointed out in her convo with Wendy (cell phone, car keys), that would warrant being emancipated.  Unless she just told the lawyer she really, really, really hates living in Osage Beach/Lake Ozark and wants to go back to Chicago by herself and start an adult life, but with what?  No GED, no money other than what's left of her stolen money she used to buy a van and weed for her and Wyatt to enjoy.  "I want to be emancipated!  Can I go to my room now?"  Ridiculous.  The lawyer Charlotte hired has to hold what Charlotte told her under attorney-client privilege, but she could be strong-arming the Byrdes to get her case "won" with the two-day time limit.  If the case goes to court, Charlotte reveals all and that's the end of the family.  Charlotte probably thinks she wouldn't get in trouble because her parents made her participate, but what about Jonah's off shore accounts?

[ganesh]

26 minutes ago, CelticBlackCat said:

Unless she just told the lawyer she really, really, really hates living in Osage Beach/Lake Ozark and wants to go back to Chicago by herself and start an adult life, but with what?

She doesn't even want to do that. She just wanted to go to Columbia with Wyatt when he goes to Mizzou. I don't know about that university, but most require freshman to live in the dorms for the first year. 

[CelticBlackCat]

1 hour ago, ganesh said:

She doesn't even want to do that. She just wanted to go to Columbia with Wyatt when he goes to Mizzou. I don't know about that university, but most require freshman to live in the dorms for the first year. 

That's right.  So she told the lawyer she wants to run away with Wyatt and shack up with him?  ROFLMAO.  You're right about the freshmen in dorms requirement.  I looked it up and here's what the University of Missouri has on their website under Residential Life:

INCOMING STUDENT FAQ

Why are freshmen required to live on campus?

National research shows that students who live in residence halls are more successful. We know from our own data that students who live in our halls are more likely to stay in school and graduate in four years than students who do not.

Can I move off campus mid-year? 

No. University policy requires freshmen to live in Residential Life residence halls. Your contract is for a complete academic year. All residents signed a legal contract are required to fulfill their responsibilities. 

If you’re a freshman and you wish to move into an approved fraternity house, however, you can exercise a purchase option and pay 40 percent of the charges for your room, dining plan and social fee through the end of the academic year. If you cancel your contract for any other reason, you are responsible for 100 percent of your contract for the rest of the academic year.
(Copied and pasted pertinent text from MU website)

I guess Charlotte thinks she'll live in her van off campus!

[ganesh]

He could technically enroll as a part time student as well to maybe get around that and get a job. I don't know what rent is like in Columbia, but Charlotte could get an apartment, but with no GED, I'm not what job she could get to afford one. Obviously, this wasn't thought out. I don't blame Wendy for blowing up. 

As much as I like Ruth, the community college option and transferring in 2, 3 years to Mizzou would be far far cheaper. I'm assuming Wyatt isn't a wiz in high school. He got into Mizzou, but that's no guarantee of him staying. I know she wants him to get out of there so he doesn't get dragged down by the family curse (like robbing her strip club). 

[CelticBlackCat]

8 hours ago, ganesh said:

He could technically enroll as a part time student as well to maybe get around that and get a job. I don't know what rent is like in Columbia, but Charlotte could get an apartment, but with no GED, I'm not what job she could get to afford one. Obviously, this wasn't thought out. I don't blame Wendy for blowing up. 

As much as I like Ruth, the community college option and transferring in 2, 3 years to Mizzou would be far far cheaper. I'm assuming Wyatt isn't a wiz in high school. He got into Mizzou, but that's no guarantee of him staying. I know she wants him to get out of there so he doesn't get dragged down by the family curse (like robbing her strip club). 

Ruth wants Wyatt in college full time so he doesn't have any distractions.  She'll get him the money, no problem.  I don't blame Ruth for wanting Charlotte to stay the fuck away from Wyatt, and I don't blame Wendy for blowing up at Charlotte either!

[ChromaKelly]

Ugh, the fucking Snells. They are not interesting. I'm disappointed my glee in them being possibly dead was short-lived. Ruth is great, but her insulting everyone-f-word thing is getting old. She needs some new dialogue. Also, is Wyatt supposed to be a genius, or just kind of average-smart, but a genius compared to the rest of the gang?

[Chaos Theory]

10 minutes ago, ChromaKelly said:

Also, is Wyatt supposed to be a genius, or just kind of average-smart, but a genius compared to the rest of the gang?

Wyatt to me seems like the first person in the family to go off to college so of course that would be a big deal to the people in the family who care about bettering themselves and not just living a life of crime.  For all her other qualities Tuth loves her family an wants to better herself and the rest of them both in the criminal world for herself and the legitimate world for Wyatt.  

[ganesh]

I think Wyatt is basically a typical college student. Good enough to get a degree if he goes to class and does his work; good enough to get a decent job and get out of there after. 

[Audpaud]

On 9/9/2018 at 12:56 AM, CelticBlackCat said:

This penultimate episode deserves an award for best intro and ending ever.  I love the tie-in of The Badger starting and ending with the Snells.  Using Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" made it all the more haunting.

Wow.  I didn't see that twist at the end.  I thought Darlene had gotten too big for her britches, but as Jacob said, she was always one step ahead.

I felt rather silly coming here to post this long after the episode, until I saw your post CBC, saying EXACTLY what I came here to say! 

WOW!

Are there even awards for intro/endings? 

The diner, the uniform, the pick up truck, the skinny dipping circling to the last morning, the walk, the badger and the indeed, haunting lyrics. Perfection.

Well done Show!

[Johnny Dollar]

The problem with Charlotte is that she’s supposed to be 15 and the actress looks like she’s in her early twenties so you feel like the character shouldn’t be so naive.

Don’t understand why anyone is worried about paying for Wyatts college. Based on his backstory (including being an orphan for God’s sake) and living conditions, if this kid doesn’t deserve a full ride then no one does.

And I agree that this is the Worst Cartel Ever. One bazooka missile would’ve done the trick. 

[Raja]

On 4/20/2020 at 6:09 AM, Johnny Dollar said:

One bazooka missile would’ve done the trick. 

The episode before I was expecting a car bomb only to see that they didn't hit the driver first as this episode opened. As if it was a warning shot and the cartel didn't want to kill the Snells. Which brought up thoughts of the Kansas City mob which so far has been less flamboyant just asking for police attention in their dirty deeds

[scrb]

I wondered why they'd kill Jacob off instead of Darlene.  The character has been one-note, just a raging homicidal maniac, ready to kill at the slightest thing.

It can't be because the character is interesting?  Maybe she's this wild card, emphasis on the wild, and they have plans for her to throw more grenades towards the Byrdes.

There's no reason why the cartel would ever trust her.  Is she going to be more rational and calm now that she's killed her husband?  No they're going to be afraid that she'll fuck things up more or worse, try to get some kind of revenge.

Maybe in the short term they can't kill her until the casino gets going.

Now the KC mob could be the big looming threat.  But they had to know in MO, they were not going to get a union shop.

[SlovakPrincess]

This episode annoyed me on so many levels.

I'm opposed to either Snell remaining alive, and especially the fact that Darlene is the one we're stuck with.  Uggghhhhh...  Was I supposed to be touched by the Snells looking at each other lovingly while attempting to murder each other?  🤮

This whole Charlotte-tries-to-get-emancipated plot line ...

• Charlotte is a typical angsty TV teen and miserable right now, but before this story line she was neither stupid nor psychotic.  She has to know if the full truth about her situation comes out in her court case, the cartel will kill her family.  She at least still likes her brother, so what the hell is she doing?
• What exactly did she tell her lawyer?  Getting emancipated is pretty difficult - one parent having an affair is not gonna do it, and even the parents agreeing and signing the paperwork doesn't always convince the judge (the judge may think the parents are simply getting out of supporting their kid, and will probe further).  So the lawyer is either pursuing a very weak case, or she's been told the full truth ... and has to know she's also risking her own life pissing off a drug cartel.   
• What is Charlotte's plan here?  Follow Wyatt of the Unwashed Hair to college and live in his dorm room?  

In what universe does Marty think Ruth is prepared to take over the entire money laundering operation?  And why would Ruth agree, having been tortured by the cartel once already?  They both have to know this likely would not go well for Ruth.  

Also now I have "I am a lineman for the countyyyyyy   🎵  " stuck in my head now ...

🙄🙄🙄

[One Imaginary Girl]

I guess I'm talking to myself, but in case anyone else is reading: No fallout at all in this episode about the break-in at the funeral home in the prior episode?  Even if Cade and Ruth didn't find anything, realistically the Byrdes should have been alarmed and maybe would have developed some theories about the culprits.