The Outsider Review: Tigers and Bears (Season 1 Episode 9)
While The Outsider Season 1 Episode 9, “Tigers and Bears,” has a lot of smaller character developments, it can’t shake the feeling that the show is in a holding pattern just to get to those final gripping moments.
This isn’t to say it’s not a strong episode; the opposite, in fact. But this episode in particular is starting to show that perhaps The Outsider could have been given a shorter episode order to tell its story without running the risk of feeling a little stretched.
Outside of the visit to the cave carnival, Holly is mostly sidelined, and Ralph is dealing with his reality being shifted mostly in silence until the car ride toward the caves. They are all processing the revelation that The Outsider is real and not a human entity, so it’s understandable that some time away to collect their thoughts is necessary, but on the second-last episode, it feels a little late to slow down.
We do get plenty of Bill Camp and Paddy Considine, which has been a long time coming. Both Howard and Claude have needed a lot more momentum over the course of the season, and this episode doesn’t disappoint. Their conversations end up being two fantastic actors just hanging out and chatting, and something as simple as that goes a long way.
The lengthy sequences of the brothers lost in the caves and their father looking for them is a nice little fake-out, but the show has played with episode-long reveals to a point where it’s more of a wait-and-see situation once new characters are revealed. You’re more waiting for what the result is rather than enjoying the moment.
Claude’s brother being the catalyst to the showdown feels a little funny. He’s been a thorn in everyone’s side when he isn’t playing nice, and so for him to become the warning The Outsider needs is a little lackluster. Uncovering the cave location feels like something Holly could have done, so Claude’s brother, mostly a side character, playing a big part to the ending of the show feels a little off in the grand scheme of the series.
Holly and Andy at the graveyard produces a sweet little moment of showing how opposite they are. Where Andy sees romance in partners dying within days of each other, Holly sees science and facts. It’s interesting how looking at a date on a gravestone can be such a different perspective for them both, but it’s not with malice; it’s that they’re different, and like that about each other.
Holly’s smile at the end of the scene is a reminder of what she likes in him, that he sees the good within the bad. But their long, passionate kiss before heading off to face The Outsider is the largest red herring the show has pulled yet.
The episode ends with Alec taken down, and many more rifle shots firing off. We get a glimpse of how The Outsider works, with the sudden realization dawning on the creature setting Jack off with his rifle. It’s like an “aha” moment, the way Jack’s head comes up and he is on the move. There’s still a question of whether Jack has free will, but it is interesting how he has a chance to shoot both Ralph and Holly but chooses Alec as his first target.
This could partly be to keep them on the finale, story-wise, but this could also be Jack’s attempt to warn them but to still put on a show for The Outsider, who is likely seeing through his eyes the whole time.
With how many of our heroes are out in the open and knowing Jack’s backstory on The Outsider Season 1 Episode 8, “Foxhead,” it’s likely more will fall before they can enter the caves. But there’s also the long shot of the snake noticing Jack that may be their saving grace.
The Outsider Season 1 Episode 9, “Tigers and Bears,” does a lot of great work with its characters, but there’s this hard feeling to shake that the show may be stalling a little to draw out the final showdown. The episode ends with it, however, so it’s finally gotten there, but it’s taken a long time to get here.
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.