Instinct Review: Ancient History (Season 2 Episode 5)

On Instinct Season 2 Episode 5 “Ancient History,” even a particularly gruesome murder plays second fiddle to emotional happenings.

There are a lot of ancient tortures I could happily go my entire life being ignorant of. These include being bolted between boats and eaten alive by insects feeding on bodily fluids. (If I’m living with the image, you are too.)

This poor man’s very slow and painful demise is the result of a conspiracy between not one or two, but three conspirators. The more, the disgustingly merrier, I suppose.

Before we reach this solution, we play a lengthy guessing game with an ex-wife and see one of the conspirators swallow cyanide out of guilt. The others share no such emotion and solidify their coldness. Sure, the victim’s a divorce lawyer, but still.

It all makes for a frankly weird (and horrifying—always horrifying) case, but its one that must be played through at a rapid pace. Once again, there’s a lot going on elsewhere. I’m all too happy for the distraction.  

Before this episode, we see Lizzie still a bit tense with newbie Ryan but seemingly happy in her relationship with Julian. By the end of the hour, a lot has changed for better and for worse.

You may remember from season one that nobody will go into a boxing ring to spar with Lizzie lest they find themselves pummeled. Ryan doesn’t yet know this, and it turns out sparring is quite the bonding ritual.

I’m glad any lingering jealousy between these two has been put to bed for the moment, but I’m worried about whatever climactic moment we may be heading toward. With the killer now invading Ryan’s life, I fear this may end in him being killed—or being revealed as the killer himself.

There are certainly signs that something is going to happen, and a lot of things are feeling too coincidental. I wouldn’t put it past the writers to pull off something that will make the bonding we see painful to think of later.

Then there’s Lizzie’s other budding relationship, which now may well be halted in its infancy. She and Julian have been on a roller coaster from day one, so perhaps this is no surprise, but it does remain rather frustrating.

Lizzie has known of Julian’s work and the secrets it entails for some time now. There’s only so long she can keep questioning whether she can accept that or not. True, the answer now seems to be no, but this breakup may be as brief as every moment of happiness they’ve had.

There’s a sense we’re going to try and keep this drama going like this all season, if only to give Lizzie an ongoing story to keep pace with Dylan and Andy’s. That one, at least, has finally taken a swing toward the positive.

After some tension involving Dylan’s motorcycle, which may or may not be departing the show, Sam has said she wants them to adopt her baby. It’s a sweet scene and a lovely payoff for the past few episodes.

Much as I look forward to an ultimate happy ending, I can’t help being nervous. We’re only five episodes into the season. Will the writers resist throwing more drama in along the way? I have my doubts.

At the very least, with Sam’s own presence being more established, I fear the possibility of something happening to her for the sake of drama. I just hope that, if it does, it’s the kind of story that ends in heroic rescue. Don’t let us down when we’re finally glimpsing joy, show.

 

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Instinct airs Sundays at 9/10c on CBS.

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