Well, this is it. The last episode of Battle Creek, likely ever. I wish I could say that I was okay with that, but I’m not. It sort of feels like when I like a show, they cancel it. They heard that I like it, and the cancel it. But, hey, CSI: Cyber is getting a second season! That’s clearly the important thing, right?
The episode begins with Milt getting out of bed to start his day. He drives to a park, psyches himself up, and does his daily run and workout. He soon returns to his car, turns the key, and realizes that it won’t start. He takes a moment to contemplate what that means, and comes to a sudden realization; there’s a bomb set to trigger with his ignition.
Throughout the show, Russ has been of the belief that Milt has a secret, one which he lies to protect. This episode is all about it. Something that has haunted him for years. Something that produces such an incredible feeling of guilt in him that he refuses to share it with anyone. And because of that, the episode isn’t as light or comedic as other episodes. That’s not to say that they didn’t fit any in, but they only did so where it would be appropriate, and it isn’t forced.
The secret? That Milt was actually much like Russ several years ago. Using every trick necessary to make the case, even when that flies in the face of due process. Milt survived the explosion because his car, which was not registered to him but rather to a drug kingpin he put away in the past, was heavily armored. He convinces Russ to be the face of the investigation, because the bomber likely doesn’t realize that he failed to kill Milt with the bomb.
Their first stop is Meredith, their M.E. Since Milt doesn’t want to be noticed, they drive up to her gym in the stake out van, which does not impress her. Russ was a bad choice to do this part, since he and Meredith never get along. She refuses to hop into the “rape van”, as she calls it, but decides to when Milt makes his presence known. They ask her not to give out any information about the car bombing until she hears from Milt.
Over the course of their investigation they get captured. When Russ wakes up, handcuffed, in the trunk of a car next to Milt, he tells him that if they’re being driven out to the middle of nowhere to be killed by this guy, he at the very least deserves to know why. After some coaxing, he decides to tell him. The reason why this guy wants him dead is due to the fact that Milt killed his son. Five years ago, Milt was running a case against a drug lord that dealt in cocaine, the same one whose car he was driving. He started his case by running a sting against a teenager who was a classmate of the drug lord’s son. He nabs the kid, Casey, for trying to buy weed from him, but convinces him that he has a chance to avoid getting charged if he works as an informant for them on their case against the drug lord, named Roderigo Acevedo. Apparently, Acevedo trusts no one but his son, one of Casey’s classmates named Roger. Milt gives Casey two options; inform on his classmates father and help them as their in on a sting operation, or explain to his parents why he’s in jail for trying to buy pot.
The hook goes off as planned. Casey tells Roger that he has 46 kilos of cocaine that he’s trying to help a friend unload for a ten percent cut. Later that night Roger broaches the subject with his father, who insists that he shouldn’t be involved as he’s going to Sanford, and peddling drugs is something he only did so that he could provide a good life for his family. Then Roger tells him how much coke it is. Russ asks Milt how he knew all of this, and Milt admits that they had bugged Acevedo’s home. Illegally.
I won’t spoil the twist of the episode. But needless to say, they protect it well. You’ll have the sneaking suspicion at some point before the episode actually confirms it. The thing that really kills me about the episode is that it shows just how good this show could be if CBS had given it more of a chance. Goodnight, sweet prince. May flights of Nielsen families sing thee to thy rest.
Final Thoughts:
- Sympathy for the Devils is a pretty rockin’ song, and they used it well in the episode.
- Those trunk scenes were very much like something out of Breaking Bad.
- Milt gets one last bit of super trust in, and I love how the writers handled it. God, I’ll miss this show.
Season Rating: 4/5
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