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Recap
It’s a hard episode, mentally and emotionally, for Harmon. Things start with a dog dying, her almost seeing a girl die from an overdose, and then seeing her sister.
That, of all the things, is the hardest, for she loves her sister and followed in her footsteps, yet at the same time, questions if there is much she can do for her. From going to a cop on Oxy for pain to heroin to stealing and becoming homeless as a result, Jen has put the family through a lot.
Luckily, Alex knows of a place where she might be able to get better, but whether or not this will change things is hard to say. Never mind, the more Harmon hears about Gabe and his situation, the more helpless she feels. Now that Alex is helping Jen, there is a new level of responsibility.
But with protective custody not an option and the bridge being burned with Smokey regarding him helping, the only other option is maybe getting Gabe moved to another facility, and there is no guarantee that Harmon’s connection has what the will or the way to make that happen.
Episode Details
| Episode Title | L.A. Woman |
| Originally Aired | January 9, 2025 |
| Network | Prime Video |
| Director(s) | Eriq La Salle |
| Writer(s) | Molly Manning |
| Introduced ACTOR(S) NAME | Abby Brammell, Lobo Sebastian |
New Character Descriptions
Jen (Abby Brammell)
Jen is Harmon’s older sister who she took after in multiple ways. She got into surfing because of her, became a cop because of her, and how their relationship has become pains Harmon. From being a drug addict to a thief, now living on the streets, Jen is almost unrecognizable.
Smokey (Lobo Sebastian)
Smokey is one of the leaders of the East Barrios gang who was a contact of Harmon’s until she disrupted the balance of the relationship.
Review
Trajectory (81/100): Decline
I must admit, with the more the show focuses on the personal matters of Alex and Harmon, there is an adjustment. I still appreciate the humanity and challenges they have as cops, people, and people who are cops, but something is shifting.
A part of me thinks that because Alex and Harmon have siblings who aren’t doing well, the two stories cancel out. Add in Gabe is in prison, so we can’t really get to know him, and the limited access we’ll have to Jen doesn’t allow them to be shown as an individual, and it can be hard not to see them as a means to gain sympathy.
This isn’t to fully push the idea these two are meant to be sob stories, but they do have that vibe. I mean, seeing Harmon triggered by the dog being put down, the guy who almost lost his sister, and all the other family matters she has been through makes sense. You see and understand how what she has gone through with Jen flares up in those moments.
But, I think a disconnect is growing since the show barely gives us Alex or Harmon’s life outside of uniform. The calls they go on can’t be the main, if not sole, means of them being triggered into opening up. We may need a flashback episode or an episode that shows who they are outside of the uniform. Maybe not in a way that trades off every other episode, but with this appearing to be a full-fledged, hoping-to-be-renewed series, not a mini-series, it does appear that a shift is needed.
Highlights
- Learning about Jen’s story
- Seeing The Emotional Toll Of The Job
On The Fence
- Beginning To Feel A Disconnect
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