American Crime Review: Episode Ten (Season 2 Episode 10)
The finale of American Crime leaves me perplexed and slightly disappointed.
While I expect answers to the questions of if Leslie will resign, if Eric will ever admit that he raped Taylor, and if Becca will be turned in for supplying drugs to Taylor right before he killed Wes, unfortunately, American Crime ends not with a bang but a whimper.
This happens to the greatest of shows. You commit yourself to 10 or 12 episodes. They deliver fantastic character arcs, showcase the best acting, and somehow lose the vision in the end.
“Episode Ten” is a great example of what happens when great writing and great acting just don’t jell to satisfy the audience. American Crime is about a group of people trying to figure out what to do after their lives are turned upside down. Do they protect themselves? Their children? Or even their schools?
And when they do protect these things are they willing to pay the price?
Leslie spends the majority of the season protecting the school’s reputation, thinking that if she plays the game, she won’t have to resign, yet she does over a leak she doesn’t even cause. Dan and Terri do everything they can to protect their children and pay the price. Terri loses her job and Dan’s daughter ends up getting arrested.
And what of Taylor? The one person who has the worst thrown at him ends up paying the price for the death of Wes. His future remains uncertain, as does Eric’s, who sadly isn’t facing arrest for raping Taylor, a plot point that was left vague even in this last episode.
I want more closure.
I want Taylor to get justice and move on from his assault, but sadly I now have a bitter taste in my mouth. American Crime is a clear reflection of real life, where many victims don’t get justice, where people live in the closet, and where sadly misogyny is genuinely put in the minds of young men everywhere. Not only women, but against anyone who dares live outside the spectrum of hetero-normativity.
American Crime slaps me back into reality and while I love this show and the acting ensemble, I can’t forget about the things I can’t change and maybe that was the entire point of ending the season on such a low note.
Not everyone will get their happy ending and sometimes the best of us are the ones who suffer the most.
Final Thoughts:
- The Thurgood Marshall storyline really could have been another review set all on its own. I wish that plot had been saved for a possible third season.
- Felicity Huffman, Regina King, Connor Jessup, and Joey Pollari shined this season and I can only hope they will get some recognition for having the guts to tackle such heavy writing.
- I’m sad to see the show end, but am I ever glad that I don’t have to worry constantly about horrific injustices happening on my television screen every week. I only have to face them on the news. Ugh.
What did you think of this episode of American Crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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American Crime airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.
Jessica Kreamer
Jessica has a degree in History, an MLA is Liberal Arts, and a great desire to consume as much quality television as she can. By day, she's an office worker and caregiver. By night, she's a tea drinking television fanatic. Her current favorite television shows include: Madam Secretary, How To Get Away With Murder, Jane the Virgin, and Veep. Her greatest wish is to make tea drinking into a payable skill. Follow Jessica on Twitter: @pythiaprophet