Burden of Truth Review: Where The Shadows Lie Waiting… (Season 4 Episode 7)

The penultimate episode finds everyone racing against time to accomplish their goals: to make good on a promise, to help keep someone safe, to help save a town. Things are tense, and the pressure is high on Burden of Truth Season 4 Episode 7, “Where The Shadows Lie Waiting…”.

The tension of everything at stake for Joanna, Dee, and Millwood seep into every moment of the hour, building up for what’s promising to be a solid farewell to Burden of Truth and its characters.

It’s Joanna’s last day as an attorney—at least she’s convinced it is—and is determined to make good on Helen’s promise and keep Millwood from sinking further at the hands of Oro North. As Billy’s working with the miner’s union rep to get the core samples they need, Joanna falls into her element for what she feels like the last time, as she tries to stop Millwood’s buy-in of Oro North.

The stalling while Billy gets the surveillance and proof to stop it all culminates in a phenomenal moment between Joanna, the escrow agent holding the funds, Elyse, and the Oro North’s owner.

Joanna’s unwavering faith in her argument, determination to derail the mine’s plans and her masterful final play against Elyse using her opinion letter against her makes all their frustrating interactions throughout the season so worth it.

Elyse has crowed for seven episodes that she’s a better lawyer than Joanna. It’s in this episode that we realize precisely how wrong Elyse is about her assumption.

Joanna imparts one last, and inarguably important, lesson to her former mentee on what being a lawyer is about. There’s something so incredibly cathartic and powerful about this moment as she explains the importance behind the dual pillars of the legal profession: integrity and honesty.

Joanna wins out, saving Millwood from another disaster, exemplifying those pillars brilliantly.

This conclusion does a beautiful job juxtaposing Joanna’s decisions that led to her disciplinary hearing in front of the Bar. She’s grown so much, not just personally but professionally, and it’s been remarkable to watch over the seasons.

It’s what makes her decision simultaneously surprising and not surprising at all.

Elsewhere, Luna and Stevie’s work on finding adequate grounds for their lawsuit against Oro North poses another obstacle in helping Dee get out and free from the life she’s had up to now. Luna’s spine of steel takes center stage as she confronts Atherton at the Oro North encampment that feels like the essence of Joanna’s determination when she’s represented clients.

Unfortunately for Luna, that tenacity in her work and Dee’s case is what sets heartbreak in motion as Stevie breaks up with her. The reason makes sense; her unwavering dedication to doing right by her job isn’t compatible with what Stevie has in mind for her future long-term relationship with someone.

It doesn’t stop from feeling the pain emanating from Luna as she gets the news. It feels like a relationship she’s taken slightly for granted when she went back to Millwood, but it also feels like her first adult relationship and hurts just as much.

From the moment Taylor traces a potential lead to find not only Wes but also the people who have been trafficking these young women, it’s clear that danger is looming ever closer. “Where The Shadows Lie Waiting…” seemingly takes a page from a quiet, horror indie, taking the essence of what makes those kinds of films frightening to the viewer and incorporating that tone as Taylor goes looking around on her own. The jump scares combined with the genuine horror of trafficking made for a frightening scene before Taylor manages to take Wes down.

Owen’s dealing with the threat of extortion from Kip’s foster dad leads to a potentially life-changing decision for Owen, Diane, and Kip. What starts as a sweet moment that should bring happiness quickly devolves into confusion, anger, and sadness as Kip walks away before answering.

The decision to adopt Kip makes sense given how we’ve seen Owen and Kip’s dynamic shift over the season, and it feels like a sensible next step for Owen and Diane to take on that kind of pseudo parental role for him, given the fact that they care so much for him.

It’s just ultimately a heartbreaking moment for all three of them as they’re each dealing with their own set of emotions during a tumultuous time.

With only one hour left with the residents of Millwood and everyone staring down some significant life changes, will we get to see the beginnings of a new chapter in everyone’s lives?

Random Thoughts

I wish we would have gotten more of Hank, Billy, and Joanna’s dynamic this season. Still, this subtle integration into their daily life, especially looking after baby Crawford-Chang, is lovely to see.

I feel like there is so much that we could have seen from every single character as we enter the final episode. I’m going to miss these Millwood residents.

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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