Average Joe: Season 1/ Episode 8 “Ride Or Die” – Recap and Review (with Spoilers)

General Information

Recap

The episode begins with an insightful flashback, offering the audience a glimpse into Jennifer’s love for Dimitri, the son of the infamous Russian crime boss Nicolai Dughesvelli. The present-day storyline starts with Jennifer undergoing a check-up from a private healthcare provider in the company of Arina and Nicolai. Concurrently, a distressed Angela pleads with Joe to rescue their daughter before being transported to the hospital in Pamela’s patrol car.

Amid these events, Touch is extricated from a precarious situation when Leon pays a visit and the officer fabricates a story about his confinement by Sergeant Pamela Talford. Following his release, the narrative shifts to Cathy, still engrossed in her pursuit to locate the missing millions established in the previous episode. She remains resolute, insisting to return to the first lead if the case goes cold. This determination leads her to valuable information about a person named Eddie Philsky and to the shocking discovery that her beloved Jen is in the clutches of the Russians.

Meanwhile, Nicolai is seen celebrating with champagne, oblivious to Arina’s fervent desire to reunite with her daughter. Joe shares this goal, scouring Milly’s, a Pierogi shop that Angela had overheard the Pierogi-enthusiast Nicolai express interest in acquiring before his departure to Russia.

So Be It

In a tension-filled scene, Jennifer Washington is subjected to the penetratingly violent gaze of Nicolai as the ultrasound technician diligently searches for any sign of the baby Jen claimed to carry. The audience, on edge, tries to decipher the thoughts of the looming mob boss. Nicolai has made his intention clear: he plans to extract the baby from Jen upon reaching Russia, emphasizing the necessity of her pregnancy as it could potentially prolong her life.

Fortunately, the technician’s perseverance pays off. The sight of the baby on the grainy screen prompts Nicolai to holster his gun, filling the room with relief. This chilling scene underscores Nicolai’s ruthless and psychopathic disposition, showing his willingness to eliminate Jen had she lied and proven to be an obstacle in his sinister legacy.

Family Reunion

Sergeant Pamela Talford and Officer Touch visit Pamela’s mother to extract information about Nicolai. Initially, Angela’s mother appears defensive and storms out of the compound. Officer Touch, however, manages to delve into the psyche of this former cop and mother.

He reveals that she’s not as rigid as her daughter might believe and uncovers her motivation for murdering her partner—threats made by Nicolai against Pamela’s life. She admits that the decision to kill her partner, Samuel Banks, was immediate and taken without hesitation to secure her daughter’s safety.

Nicolai, who had been waiting outside Pamela’s apartment years ago, had threatened her with the same fate. This revelation provides insight into Pamela’s mother’s reluctance to divulge information, a likely outcome of fear and the resigned acceptance of her imprisonment. Officer Touch’s probing leads to crucial information—a lead in the search for Jen.

Review

Highlights

Thinking Ahead

Pamela and Joe engage in a candid conversation about the unfolding situation after a prolonged period of secrets and obscured truths. Both realize they are dealing with a vast range of possibilities. The crux of the matter is that Nicolai will stop at nothing to claim his son’s creation—Jen’s unborn baby.

Joe discovers that Jen had reached out to Nicolai, offering herself and the baby in exchange for Angela’s safety. Pamela, intent on locating them, speculates that Nicolai might attempt to flee to Russia. Joe suggests shutting down the local airport, unaware that a high-profile figure like Nicolai would depart privately from a secluded airstrip, as Pamela informs him. It is highly important to have minds on the case like Sergeant Pamela Talford or else this mission would have a success rate cut in half.

A Bit of Humor

In a comically tense moment, Joe and Leon scrutinize a parking lot, reminiscing about the past until Leon tactlessly congratulates a distraught Joe on becoming a grandfather. The bizarre event of Jen’s pregnancy, involving Dimitri, the son of the villain who abducted her, doesn’t escape Joe’s contemplation.

Adding to the comedic relief, their investigation at the pierogi shop leads them to a lavish estate hosting a sweet sixteen party. Their intent to locate Joe’s precious daughter gets them chased by a group of Eastern European men dressed in somber hues. This humorous encounter serves to humanize even the most dubious characters, demonstrating that they too have families and obligations.

Caught On Camera

Following Jen’s kidnapping, Cathy’s despair is palpable. Cynthia Caye McWilliams, who portrays Mrs. Montgomery, gives a stellar performance, embodying the character’s fear, sadness, and eventual rage. Cathy’s complex emotions stemming from Jen’s abduction by the ruthless crime boss hint at an ensuing plot.

Her resourcefulness leads her to a property linked to clues she found in Joe’s office. The investigation unearths a substantial quantity of a mysterious substance, initially mistaken for cocaine but later identified as potent heroin by a recovering addict she targets outside of sober living. This revelation sets Cathy on a new, perilous journey.

Conclusion

Smell The Daisies

As Angela recovers from her abduction injuries, she’s visited by a man with a dog named Daisy. Under the guise of providing future canine therapy sessions, he acquires Angela’s room number. Unbeknownst to her, he’s an operative working for Nicolai and the mob. This critical lapse in judgment sets up the ensuing drama and ends the episode on a cliffhanger.

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