The Outsider Review: In The Pines, In The Pines (Season 1 Episode 7)
A trip into the pines leaves The Outsider Season 1 Episode 7, “In The Pines, In The Pines,” with a fearful revelation: this is all starting to happen again.
Claude at the strip club has been peppered throughout the season, but it’s not until recently where the check-ins with him are starting to amount to something. He’s likely to be the next suspect that The Outsider sets up, with the scratch Terry’s doppelganger created back at the start of the series.
It’s been curious why someone of Paddy Considine’s caliber has mostly been on the periphery throughout the season when he’s such an incredible performer, but now it’s starting to make more sense: he’s going to be the one to track down over the last stretch before this all happens again. His taking off, with severance, will likely make him a difficult person to track down.
The episode does a lot of great work to give the supporting cast some meat to chew on. Marc Menchaca is wonderful throughout, the immense pain and second guessing going on still very much visible on his face despite the damage done to Jack. There’s so much conflict inside of him, this need to protect himself but also to do the right thing.
The news that he is taking Holly in the wrong direction, away from the barn and potentially The Outsider, opens up the question of whether or not he is trying to help her escape. He does shoot at her when she finally escapes, so it’s open to interpretation exactly what his plan is. He does have an attack or two of pain on his neck, which could be The Outsider lashing out.
The tension of Holly and Jack just driving along, not knowing what could possibly happen next, is a great testament to Dennis Lehane’s writing on the episode combined with Daina Reid’s direction. You can feel the pain inside of Jack, but it’s also Holly’s terror and mind working, trying to figure out an escape plan, that drives the action. The tight shots and precise questions each ask each other work in tandem.
The episode provides Glory more to do, which is a welcome change. She’s mostly been used as a reminder of the human element of the investigation, how hard the pressure can be on a grieving family. Here, though, she’s taking her fate into her own hands by going back into the work force and looking to make things right.
The list of places Glory plans to sue on her call with Howard is more than justified, with what her and her children have gone through. We know that it’s likely an uphill battle, proving bad intent when there’s so much conflicting evidence and confusion, but at least she’s finally taking things on after being boxed in for so long.
The scene where she confronts the nosy couple at the house showing is one of those moments that Glory needed, where she finally strikes back at those who wish to humiliate her. That they’re willing to charge her for emotional distress for causing her pain is a stretch, but it’s the wake-up call she needs to move her family forward.
Ralph’s slowly coming around to seeing things, but it’s certainly been a battle to get here. He speaks of how people open up their heart to God while with his therapist, as though he’s seeing opening up to possibility as equivalent to accepting religion. It’s an interesting take, and it’s a great frame of reference of where his mind goes when considering these more outlandish theories that Holly is putting forward.
Alec (Jeremy Bobb) and Yunis (Yul Vazquez) turn out to be the ones to make the most impact on Ralph. Alec’s story of being lost in the woods makes it sound like he nearly became a meal for The Outsider decades ago, and Yunis’ plea for Ralph to open up more, both speak to something deep inside Ralph. His heart may not be open to accepting this just as much as his head.
The Outsider Season 1 Episode 7, “In The Pines, In The Pines,” clears Holly of Jack’s danger a little too cleanly, but it’s doing some wondrous work with its supporting players, so much so that that part doesn’t matter as much.
The show is approaching its endgame now, and it’s bringing Ralph around, slowly but gradually. Ben Mendelsohn continues to be a force on the show, making his character’s frustrating reluctance a fascinating deep-dive into the soul of a man who needs a reason to believe.
What did you think of this episode of The Outsider? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Outsider airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
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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.