Perpetual Grace, LTD Review: When Doves Cry (Season 1 Episode 6)
The supporting characters all become the leads on Perpetual Grace, LTD Season 1 Episode 6, “When Doves Cry.”
Pa’s explanation of what real love is, the melodic back and forth, the rhythm he always speaks of, as he cuts down the tree with Hector, is the episode’s most enthralling moment. It’s a tit for tat style of speaking that makes every word count, every syllable matter, and draws you in as he tells Hector the secret to love.
Ben Kingsley dominates the episode, commanding every scene, and even commanding the score. His version of Prince’s “When Doves Cry” is haunting in how it’s used at his most desperate time, digging and searching for Ma.
The episode uses our expectations against us in smart and exciting ways. There’s the single dove crying, its partner lost, signifying and perhaps foreshadowing Pa losing Ma with her limited air supply. There’s Ma talking about her life in the past tense as she reflects, as though it’s come to a close. There’s this growing lack of hope, Ma’s whispers growing weaker, as the sound we hear grows weaker with them.
Perpetual Grace, LTD likes messing with us, using conventional storytelling as a weapon so we don’t get what we may expect.
Chris Conrad
We do, however, get to finally hear some of Hector’s novel, which is more autobiographical than initially explained. His writing style certainly needs a lot of work, but as mentioned, it’s not the newest version, so perhaps it’s a lot better! Pa’s ridiculing of his word choice is another one of the episode’s highlights, black crows being a particular funny moment.
Perpetual Grace, LTD Season 1 Episode 6, “When Doves Cry,” does a great job at effectively tying up some loose ends so that the central focus can come back to what the show began as: the con for the money.
With the Mexico adventure effectively feeling closed now, there’s this impending sense of doom on the farmhouse, as Pa and Ma look to head home, Scotty knows the con’s inner workings, and New Leaf’s buzzer goes off, meaning his parents have passed away. All of these things coming down on James and Paul will likely leave the rest of the season a tense race to who gets them first.
Scotty getting more attention on the show is a welcome surprise, as Hana Mae Lee has been largely absent apart from a scene with James earlier on. Where Scotty’s loyalties lie will be an intriguing turn of events, now that she knows the plan James and Paul have: is she loyal to Ma and Pa, who have been taking care of her, or is she interested in the money, since she appears unhappy in her current situation?
Hana Mae Lee plays Scotty with a subtle, quiet stillness, where a lot of attention in her performance comes from her eyes and her body language. Like the scene as she waits for her husband to come to bed: it’s all in how she’s positioned, how she’s completely still.
Paired with the great writing from Bruce Terris and Steven Conrad, knowing what her husband’s PO box is for and the almost off-frame silhouette of his, helps inform her character so much. She’s looking for a fix to her life, perhaps impulsively, and now with the con at her disposal, this could prove to be her big break.
Perpetual Grace, LTD Season 1 Episode 6, “When Doves Cry,” is a fantastic widening of the show’s scope, giving the spotlight to characters more on the edges and bringing them closer to the middle. It allows everyone to have their story, detailed and always fascinating.
Hopefully Hector comes back in some form, as he’s been a fun foil for Pa, their bonding over sawing the tree and love another classic scene for the series. But for now, Ma and Pa are coming, New Leaf is coming, and Scotty knows.
What did you think of this episode of Perpetual Grace, LTD? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Perpetual Grace, LTD airs Sundays at 10/9c on Epix.
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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.