City On A Hill Review: From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice (Season 1 Episode 5)
Though there may be injustices through social means on display, the law slowly catches up on the Ryans on City on a Hill Season 1 Episode 5, “From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice.”
The episode smartly uses the story process Law and Order is so wonderful with to show how the sausage is made: one thing leading to another thing, which leads to the big thing. Finding the originating source of the guns is laborious, but connecting the dots is incrementally leading to justice.
The raid is one of City on a Hill’s more intense moments, leading to Dickie’s potential death. Kevin Chapman has been excellent in the short bursts he appears in; hopefully he’s not fully gone.
Jackie Rohr is the subject of an intense level of disrespect on this episode, like all of his luck during previous episodes has come unraveled all at once.
It doesn’t help that he is treating everyone he can with disrespect first, especially so with Clay and Dickie. Dangling the baggie of drugs in front of Clay, tormenting him as he pumps him for information, is almost like a cat playing with a mouse. Even as Dickie is dying on a stretcher, Jackie is taunting him, making his final moments about how his wife likely never loved him.
There’s a cruelty spreading in Jackie’s heart that certainly is there from the beginning, but there’s a deep-set lashing out now. He wants everyone to feel his wrath, while he seems to completely bask and revel in it. Perhaps he’s feeling inadequate and is taking it out on everyone, now that Jenny is out of the house and making a life for herself.
The Frankie side of the episode is a little slight, mostly a slice of life segment of the troubles of working class life. Relying on yourself to fix home appliances, the past traumas haunting Kick; it all comes back to the previous episode’s notion of taking care of things inside the family.
It’s the kind of small-focused story City on a Hill is doing well with so far, telling of how there are different ways of dealing with things depending on your standing.
It comes in Rachel’s monologue in the car, as well, how her family sent her to America at a young age to thrive as they escaped turmoil in their home country. The personal stories of American life, and how everyone finds a way to prosper in their own way, is such fascinating dressing to the truck robberies case.
The end reveal of Clay partying with Jackie and Jenny’s daughter is a little shaky and far-fetched, something the show doesn’t feel like it needs to get into. For a show about the big picture, this sort of story beat comes as a little too unnecessary when the concern of her partying is enough.
As we reach the halfway point of the season, City on a Hill is settling into a comfortable pace of equal amounts commenting on an American city during a particular period in its history, and a drama of different people from different worlds clashing as they struggle to survive in their own ways.
City on a Hill Season 1 Episode 5, “From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice,” finds that balance with some bumps along the way, but delivers a solid foundation to lead down Jackie’s soul, Decourcy’s search for justice, and the Ryan family’s way of making means.
What did you think of this episode of City on a Hill? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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City on a Hill airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.
One thought on “City On A Hill Review: From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice (Season 1 Episode 5)”
Can someone explain who is Kinicki (not from Grease) and how they expect to tie him to the perps that killed the guards? I’m confused.
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