Burden of Truth Review: Manic Street Preacher (Season 2 Episode 6)
Jury selection begins, and a new lead provides some temporary hope on Burden of Truth Season 2 Episode 6, “Manic Street Preacher,” in an engaging, five-star hour.
The emotional journey all of the characters go through in the hour is what makes this episode stand out to me.
From the visceral reaction to the injustice in the system during the jury selection scene to Joanna’s overwhelmingly overdue emotional moment, and the Crawford family story playing out, it’s all about how effectively those emotions come across.
What strikes me throughout the jury selection arc in “Manic Street Preacher” is how blatant the bias and injustice it all is. From the room full of old, white men to the “accidental” failure of sending a summons to indigenous Millwood citizens, it’s absolutely maddening and believable how all of this is, especially for marginalized communities.
The frustration Joanna feels is palpable throughout as she and Billy struggle to find their way out of the onslaught complications even before Luna’s trial starts. It’s this sense of a further sinking defense, a host of unresolved feelings about Joanna’s father, and Joanna’s boss’ expectations that makes Joanna’s moment of vulnerability as she breaks down so understandable and heartbreaking.
We finally get more blatantly stated insight into what’s always bothered her about her father and what we’ve seen of the end of their relationship, she’s afraid of being her father. Considering the kind of person her father was, it’s an understandable fear.
It’s a great moment and honestly feels like a long time coming, as she finally verbalizes her fears and her anxieties and I love that Billy’s there for her through it. His support and his quiet assurances are sweet, leading to the long-awaited and equally sweet kiss.
It seems like the pair have been working their way toward this moment since Joanna returned to Millwood. But it’s all too brief as Joanna wakes up rested and realizes she let her guarded walls slip a bit.
I hope there’s more forward movement between the two of them and more opportunities for moments of mutual vulnerability and openness, especially with this new insight into Shane’s issues.
There’s a brief moment of hope for Luna, and her case as Shane offers more information on his testimony. Paired with the realization that jobs have gone from willfully ignorant to just straight up negligent in their investigation of David’s murder, it temporarily brings a glimmer of good and a potential end in sight for Luna.
That all falls apart in a heartbreaking and slightly unnerving moment as Shane shares his own “work room” with Billy and the reality sets in that Shane may not be the most reliable witness.
But is there some truth to what Shane is spouting off? Will it be enough to save Luna? Who is the one really responsible?
Random Thoughts
- There’s another side of the jury selection and proceeding procedural aspects of the story that keeps me hooked. Seeing it all playing out has me wishing I understood more of the Canadian legal system and how close to accurate what we see on Burden of Truth is. Because those seeming peremptory-like challenges to the jury feel a little too easy and frequent (by US standards).
- That conversation between Joanna and Mr. Bennet about the ethics committee and malpractice and threats of disbarment honestly gives me secondhand anxiety.
- Owen’s opening scene testimony is heartbreaking, especially when he admits that Luna is entirely capable of having committed the crime. It makes his moment later on with Luna in the jail all the more emotional.
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.