Beyond: Season 1/ Episode 4 "The Man in the Yellow Jacket" – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

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Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

As things get worse for Arthur, and Kevin’s body is discovered, it becomes more and more clear the battle for Holden is going to be personal and life altering for those in his life.

Trigger Warning(s):

Blood

Topic 1: This Is Normal (Holden, Luke, and Diane)

Diane isn’t dating the pastor, but arguably someone doesn’t realize that their relationship can be more than it currently is. With that said, Holden asks Jamie out. However, with what happens in Topic 2 and 3, he flakes on her. Then with Luke, it is becoming clear he and his girlfriend may have a drug addiction. Which kind? Well, that’s hard to say. But they seem to love popping pills.

Commentary

I’m going to take back one previous comment and stand by another. The family drama, or anything dealing with Holden’s parents, I don’t care for, I can’t see why anyone watching this would care, and while in anime I may find myself asking “Where are the parents?” Shows on FreeForm sort of answer why it is sometimes best to just omit the parents.

That aside, the whole Luke being a pull popper has me on the fence. On one hand, The US has an opioid/ pill addiction problem and one of the things I always liked about FreeForm is their shows reflect American culture. Sometimes in a way which is better in concept than execution, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, or else it is done like The Fosters which has covered sexuality, gender, rape, abortion, the foster care system, and probably more. So with that said, I hope if they decide to have Luke step up, with his girlfriend, and take on this topic, I can only say:

Leading to me having to backtrack a previous comment. While I still do feel that the relationships on this show seem kind of forced, I will admit Jamie and Holden are laying the groundwork to possibly be interesting. Though I do feel that shows like this, which have so much going on already, must we always have a relationship through in for good measure?

Topic 2: We’re Doing This For Kevin (Holden & Jeff)

Out of all people, would you choose Holden to be your lookout? You have friends who are in the military, maybe even cops, you have friends in college as well, so would Holden be anywhere near your top choices? Apparently, Jeff decided he would be despite all Holden being able to do is confirm Mustard Jacket is this person who has had various aliases.

Yet, all that comes from this is Mustard Jacket being brought in for questioning when it comes to Kevin’s death, him asking Holden to keep their families out of their situation, and Holden showing what happens when you make Holden angry.

Commentary

Kevin has been killed off and now with his death being confirmed, a part of me would like to see Jeff go away now. However, with Jeff being connected, and like a detective, it seems he is going to look into Mustard Jacket’s employer Hollow City. In particular, he is going to meet, or rather seek to meet, with Tess who isn’t Mr. Frost’s assistant but his CFO.

Topic 3: You Can’t Control Him (Mustard Jacket & Willa)

Needless to say, Willa is getting desperate. Arthur’s vitals are dropping, he is now unresponsive, and with Daniel (Patrick Sabongui) refusing to put her into a medically induced coma, her nerves are on edge. So with the reveal that Holden, after Mustard Jacket was released and not held over Kevin’s death, beat him within an inch of his life, she tries to kill him. Not with her bare hands but by trying to have him overdose on morphine. Yet, because she isn’t a skilled assassin, nurses likely come in time to save him.

Commentary

All things considered, with the dent left in the asphalt from Holden bashing Mustard Jacket’s face in, shouldn’t he be dead? The way things looked, his skull should have caved in. Much less, this town seems to be in the middle of nowhere, who saw Mustard Jacket on the side of the road? Not to forget, after an ass whooping like that, ok he didn’t die. However, you telling me he is not at least in a coma?

That aside, Holden mentioned The Matrix and this episode sort of leads you to wonder if this show is possibly inspired by the movie franchise in some way. The first episode kind of made it seem so with Holden punching the ground and people flying back, but that’s so general, right? However, with him noting how Willa dresses being like the movie, being in a coma allowing you into “The Realm,” which in itself sounds like a corny name for “The Matrix,” the similarities are sort of becoming more and more apparent. Heck, with how everyone makes Holden seem like the one who will control the destiny of the world, it continues to push you into raising an eyebrow in terms of what this show is doing.

With all that said, though, I was kind of surprised they showed us how messed up Mustard Jacket’s face was when Holden stopped punching him. Violence isn’t new to the network but showing such a bloody face seems new to me. Making it seem FreeForm isn’t just going more mature with its storyline but also how graphic they make things.

Things to Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. Even though it kind of wouldn’t make any sense, why do I feel like Daniel could be Willa’s dad?
2. Apparently, Arthur has had people like Holden under his tutelage before but then something happened. I wonder what and whether Willa noticed? Hell, all things considered, could it be that Arthur isn’t Willa’s grandpa and he just said that thinking she may one day have the power he wants? Much less, maybe he stole her from her parents?

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