City on a Hill Review: There Are No F***ing Sides (Season 1 Episode 7)
The ripples of Decourcy’s moves for justice are starting to turn into waves, uncontrollable and difficult to navigate as originally intended, on City on a Hill Season 1 Episode 7, “There Are No F***ing Sides.”
It’s an episode full of showdowns for Jackie, as he loses friends (and even some enemies) left and right.
None comes tougher than the Decourcy and Jackie showdown. While it may not be permanent, as they are on shaky but speaking terms by the end of the episode, it shows that both men may not be as committed as originally intended, as the gun source takes precedence over the armored car robbery.
Jackie sees opportunity for greatness while Decourcy sees the opportunity of idealism. Jackie’s way is more of a broader picture, looking to make sweeping changes that are, in turn, beneficial for themselves; Decourcy, meanwhile, sees getting gun runners off the street as a means of saving lives in the short-term.
This is the sort of arena City on a Hill really shines in: the difference of opinion. They are both right, in their own ways. One wants to do better right now, while the other wants to change the future of Boston. That Decourcy can doubt his decision later on, quietly with Siobhan, shows how painful a decision so large and heavy can be upon reflection.
The show also smartly shows Michaela falling down the stairs, but never what caused her fall. It keeps the question of whether or not Jackie is capable of doing such a thing in the air, especially with how happy he is at the news when Rachel mentions it. My guess is he isn’t responsible, as he never took her notes, which Rachel is now in possession of, and he’s not that bad of a person, as bad as he may be.
Plus, those stairs are awful dangerous; they look like the same ones that shooting happened on a few episodes back.
Even Jenny doesn’t want Jackie around anymore, the couch no longer good enough for him. Jenny’s going through enough, with her fractured relationship with the recuperating Benedetta, and her difficult moment during class. Jill Hennessy has been great throughout the season, but her quiet talk with Benedetta at her bedside is one of the best scenes of the episode.
There’s this disconnect to their discussion, as though Benny is waiting for the shoe to drop and for some guilt to form. But Jenny is soft in her approach, managing to make some headway. It’s a touching moment for two characters who have been through so much, and in a lot of ways, it’s because of Jackie.
Catching Jimmy up with a murder, too, is another line crossed for Jackie. He must have known he’s sending a man to his death in that car; but the question becomes, does Jackie know of Frankie’s involvement now, having possibly witnessed this murder, or is it simply to catch Jimmy up in a web?
With the armored truck guards now uncovered and the walls closing in on the Ryan family, it’s only a matter of time, anyway.
When taken as a whole, it’s fascinating how many pieces of the show Jackie Rohr has under his control. He’s gained so much power over every character in some way, becoming the source for so many people’s pain. Now that Rachel is digging into the investigation notes, there does feel like an inevitability of his downfall is ahead.
The question is, does the show want to tear such a fascinating character from the middle of everything? Jackie is resourceful; he can certainly turn it all to his favor. But now that Jenny knows it’s Clay who instigated Benny’s attack, and Rachel noting Clay’s name in the notes, it’s a question of who will get to Clay first, on top of Jackie’s other spinning plates he has spinning.
City on a Hill Season 1 Episode 7, “There Are No F***ing Sides,” finds the show making significant progress for the armored truck investigation while placing difficult decisions at everyone’s doorstep. The personal lives may be slowly collapsing, but some characters still carry hope in their heart.
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.
2 comments
how did Jimmy know where the 3 guards in the drums were found. there is no mention earlier of Frankie telling anyone, much less Jimmy, the location. Frankie knew Jimmy has loose lips. Jimmy was not part of the first armored car hi-jack.
Was Lupo another of Jackie’s C.I.’s? How else was Lupo involved?
Épisode 7 really brings thé show into thé (really like now and hooked thé last few épisodes almost had me uninterested but this épisode makes u revisit thé 1st few épisodes
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