Burden of Truth Review: River City (Season 4 Episode 1)

Time’s passed, and though it seems like a lot has changed for some of our favorite Millwood citizens, some things manage to remain the same on the aptly titled Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 1, “River City.”

Joanna’s ready to take on one more Goliath in the final season as Oro North 1 descends on Millwood with promises of jobs and prosperity for the town.

The show always had an engaging way of adding a sinister undercurrent and superficiality to the mining companies and big corporations Joanna and Billy find themselves against every season. From the opening moments of the administrative hearing in front of the panel, that aspect of Oro North 1 is evident.

Oro North’s determination to buy up Helen Graham’s farm puts Joanna’s client in their crosshairs, setting the stage for the first of what will probably many face-offs against the company featuring one of Joanna’s former mentees.

Casting a former friend as a new challenger presents a perfect opportunity to relitigate some seemingly poorly healed wounds that Joanna’s ignored since leaving the corporate world. Add the stress of making sure you’re a good parent, and it’s a perfect storm of emotion and doubt.

There’s a sense of frustration and need to prove herself that’s paired with her unconscious journey of figuring out who she is as an attorney and a mother that is just heartbreaking and refreshing to see. There’s a sense of vulnerability and openness in Joanna throughout that is excellent to see and a lovely show of growth.

She’s never been one to back down from a fight, but when there’s an elevated threat, what will her choices be?

The question posed throughout the opening hour for Joanna after discovering an ominous dark SUV is following her.

This bubbling conflict also bleeds into her and Billy’s dynamic. The pair are figuring life out as parents, and it’s sweet but tough to see them struggling with it in their ways.

While Joanna’s dealing with how she’s adjusting to motherhood and maintaining her professional tenacity, Billy’s concern is for Joanna’s adjustment period looking for ways to accommodate and care for both of his girls.

I love the brief respites from the impending legal battle where they’re just parents working to understand their little girl, whom we learn is named Cassidy (after apparently, a few names changes). It serves as a nice balance to the grimmer, heartbreaking story unfurling with Helen and Oro North considering the last moments  of the hour.

As a rookie cop in Millwood, Taylor’s life puts her in a challenging position when she’s determined to stop a shipment from coming into the town. It’s great that she can still recognize the flaws and huge systemic issues of it all despite her position.

While Joanna’s dealing with Oro North and motherhood, Taylor is working on accepting the limitations of her role as a rookie cop, Luna’s presented with an opportunity that puts her plans that she thought she had into some doubt.

We immediately find Luna kicking ass and helping a young woman with an unlawful eviction. She’s as determined as her sister in finding solutions for her clients and is ready to take a position at the legal center for the summer for work experience as a law student.

That is until she gets an offer from an unexpected—and unwelcomed—source: the attorney representing Clear Dawn Labs.

When your morals and convictions come up against the possibility of a lucrative future and potential for helping your community in a potentially more impactful way, it may be tougher to choose. It’s an unenviable position for Luna but a foundation for an excellent arc for her as we finish off the series.

Overall, it’s a solid first entry for the show’s final season. Though it relies on some similar beats so far, it adds a certain depth for the characters as circumstances have changed for everyone, from Joanna to Taylor to Luna.

It will be interesting to see whether these new roles they find themselves in as they face these challenges will change them or keep them steadfast in their beliefs and plans.

Random Thoughts

• My favorite line of the night goes to the kid that Owen talks to and later finds in the back of Taylor and Thorpe’s cop car: It’s a colonial system. Can’t change.
• The frosty conversation between Owen and Billy feels wrong, and I’m going to need them to keep to the same side of this fight. Though, it will be interesting what side that ends up being.
• I’m glad that Billy’s dad is back this season, and I’m curious to see what the extent of his presence in both his and his family’s life will be. Has he recovered?
• Helen was a lovely, sensitive, and understanding voice for Joanna, and I hope we see more of those two together despite her accident.
• The Rain Man reference is very well placed and a perfect comparison.
• Taking bets on when we’ll see Billy giving Joanna that ring!

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

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Burden of Truth airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW.

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