Trickster Review: Episode 4 (Season 1 Episode 4 )

Important answers to some season-long questions, and Jared’s first real manifestation of powers, shake things up on Trickster Season 1 Episode 4.

Every episode of Trickster so far has pulled back the curtain a little more to reveal new pieces and players, but “Episode 4” is the first time we start to see those pieces fit together in a meaningful way. 

Answers and Context

Most of the episode focuses on offering context and explanation through Wade’s backstory and his answers to Jared and Maggie’s questions.

Jared’s physical transformation and first manifestation of his powers is the most dramatic moment on “Episode 4,” but it’s what we learn about Wade that’s the most revealing.

Learning Wade’s history and about the generational cycle of tricksters provides context to understand how these different forces connect, why Jared is special, and define the stakes of what’s to come. 

Before “Episode 4” the story relied on the anxiety of anticipation and mystery to keep the show exciting. Wade’s backstory changes the focus from the foreboding of the unknown to the increasing pressure of destiny and time running short.

Georgina

Through flashbacks, we get a more complicated picture of Georgina but she is still largely a mystery. 

It appears Georgina either came into existence after Wade killed his father or, at the very least, entered our world at that time. That and her need for Wade to open a gateway suggest a stronger link between the two than it originally seemed. 

Their fates are intertwined but we don’t know the exact nature of that connection yet.

Nothing we learn about Georgina on “Episode 4” is enough to move her out of the category of hostile adversary but it does make me question that perception.

I need more information to decide whether Georgina is actually a villain. Specifically, I need to know why this cycle of trickster sons killing their fathers is necessary and why she is so intent on seeing it happen.

Wade

The more we learn about Wade the more suspicious he becomes.  

One minor red flag is that Wade doesn’t correct Jared when he says Georgina hunts tricksters. That’s at best, a half-truth. 

Georgina is after Wade, and by extension Jared, but she’s not a hunter in the way that Jared understands it. She is trying to enforce a tradition for reasons we don’t understand yet, she’s not simply hunting tricksters because that’s what she does. 

The more significant red flag is that Wade had another son who seems to have been a trickster ready to complete the ceremony that would take Wade’s life. Why didn’t the ceremony happen then and what happened to his son?

Why does Wade lie to Jared and tell him he never had other children turn out to be tricksters?

Jared is a direct threat to Wade. It’s reasonable that he would want to avoid that end but that gives him the motive to betray Jared as well.

The history we learn on “Episode 4”, coupled with the fact that he is a trickster who tried to take Jared from his mother when he was born gives us ample cause not to trust Wee’git.

Maggie and Sophia

“Episode 4” also gives us more great scenes with Maggie and Sophia. I really love their dynamic and particularly the way Crystle and Georgina Lightning play off each other. 

In my review of Trickster Season 1 Episode 3, I commented about the opposing energies that each actor brings to their characters and the way that underscores the fraught nature of their relationship. 

On “Episode 4,” Maggie and Sophia have moments of understanding, and that move towards each other is again underscored in their body language and energy. 

As I wrote in my “Episode 3” review, Crystle Lightning plays Maggie with a combative unpredictable energy. It’s high strung and volatile even in her quieter moments. 

In her scenes with Sophia that are more empathetic and compassionate, Lightning isn’t just softer, she physically matches her mother’s calmer energy, reinforcing their connection at that moment. 

This moment is significant because it’s such a departure from Maggie’s normal disposition. It’s a subtle but incredibly effective choice.

Generational Trauma 

Another aspect of Maggie and Sophia’s relationship that makes them so compelling is their exploration of generational trauma. 

Throughout the season, Trickster has woven in references to the oppression of First Nations people, both current and historic, but never more explicitly than in its discussion of Sophia’s experience being force into residential school. 

“Episode 4” is the first time we hear what she experienced and see the harm it caused her. 

We also see the way Sophia’s trauma impacted her relationship with her daughter and the way that original harm ripples through generations and shapes Maggie as well. 

It’s a heartbreaking but important conversation and both actors express the pain, vulnerability, and resilience of these two characters beautifully. 

Trickster continues to deliver strong, exciting episodes week after week while crafting an increasingly intense and emotional season-long story as well. The cast, the source material, and style continue to come together in wonderfully unexpected ways, and “Episode 4” is another fantastic example of that.

Stray Thoughts 

• Sarah and Jared’s reconciliation is really nice. I love the softer more whimsical style with the magical lights during their romantic moments and I’m looking forward to seeing what they mean in the context of the rest of the story.
• The use of color throughout the season has been very cool. The bold split palate of red, green, and yellow give the show a distinct look and feel and make for some beautifully composed shots. 
• We got answers about what a lot of the weird incidences from the first episode were but I’m still not sure what the deal was with Jared’s Doppelgänger. I hope we find out at some point what that was.
• Poor Crashpad. Ever the loyal friend but even for him the scene at Sophia’s was too much. I have faith he’ll come through for Jared in the end, though. 

What did you think of this episode of Trickster? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Trickster airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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