Burden of Truth Review: Guilty By Association (Season 2 Episode 4)
In the wake of David Hanley’s murder, Millwood is back in the spotlight on Burden of Truth Season 2 Episode 4, “Guilty By Association,” and the key suspects hit a little too close to home for Joanna.
Joanna seems to have shut down in an attempt to deal with her father’s death, and that means focusing solely on the investigation, which considering Millwood PD’s history, goes about as you’d expect.
It’s a frustrating yet expected process, except Owen—who I now claim as the only decent cop in that town—who wants to add a level of integrity to the investigation. But while he wants to add integrity, Mercer is just concerned with making the department (and himself) look good.
Mercer: I don’t panic. I close cases.
There’s something about Mercer’s reaction to being admonished about how messily he’s running the investigation that is frightening in a way that most nebulous, out-there horror movies aren’t.
It’s the fact that it’s grounded and deals with an officer with power put in charge to conduct a murder investigation with some leeway (for now, at least), that adds that sense of unsettling ominousness.
Burden of Truth manages to do this well and makes the investigative and legal aspects of the story engaging.
On the more personal side of the investigation, Joanna’s way of coping with the news of her father’s murder is as expected, shutting down and opting to go all in on the case. Her father’s death seems to move her closer to her evaluating her emotions, but she refuses to address it.
There are hints of when she allows the emotion to come through, like when she sneaks into the crime scene that was her father’s room and finds new evidence. But, like that moment with Noah and the surveillance software, these are the cracks we’re continuing to see. But will we see her come to grips with those issues?
(That remains my question when it comes to Joanna this season. I hope we get an answer and more insight!)
While the suspicion shifts from Gerilynn to Luna, considering the damning evidence mounting against the younger Spence, there’s a moment when Joanna tries to help her half-sister by offering advice to go to the police that adds more depth to the story.
It’s something Burden of Truth does with small moments like Owen setting that kid straight earlier this season to the Bear Clans mission and Luna’s involvement.
Gerilynn plainly stating that Luna wouldn’t get the same treatment as someone like Joanna would by the police is a quick comment but adds to the commentary of the justice system’s double standards and the town’s issues with racism and inequality.
Though Luna doesn’t go under her own terms, she’s got Joanna and Billy ready to fight for her. Will that be enough against all the evidence (including the voicemail Joanna deletes)? Did Luna really do it?
Random Thoughts
- Could Shane’s request for the specific room David was murdered in something that will be revisited in the back end of the season? What is Shane’s deal in general, because there’s something off, but I still can’t quite figure out what it exactly is.
- Though the circumstances are not exceptional, Joanna and Billy in the same place and working together again is great. The legal dream team is back, and I feel like there’s more there that may be coming their way for the remainder of the season.
What did you think of this episode of Burden of Truth? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Burden of Truth airs Sundays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.