Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Review: Stranded (Season 3 Episode 9)

After a somewhat disastrous episode prior, Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Season 3 Episode 9, “Stranded” manages to pull everything back into focus. The laughs are there at the tips of our tongues as we watch in shock at the meteoric rise of Todd Aberdeen the politician.

Oregon 1844/America 2021

Social commentary aside, this change in direction for Todd should have been much more obvious as we watch the season overall. After all, this is a story about America’s past with ties to America’s present. 

Why didn’t we predict that Todd’s position as the ultra-rich idiot would morph into that of an easily manipulative politician? He is Miracle Workers‘ answer to what happened to America between 2016 and 2020 — Todd Aberdeen is a parody of Donald Trump. 

If only, the real Donald Trump’s wife could be as vocal of an advocate for civil rights as Prudence Aberdeen. Watching her go from influencer to trophy wife in a matter of seconds is so disheartening and has us all begging for the group to catch up with the bandits. 

The inhabitants of Oregon may seem a bit extreme in their lack of individual, intelligent thought, unfortunately, it’s a clearer look into who we are as a country. America has its pockets of people who take a fancy politician’s words at face value and are easily moved to action by them. 

This was demonstrated clearly during Donald Trump’s presidency. It’s eerie how accurate the show manages to highlight that without being too over-the-top obvious about it. We are able to see the humor in the 1844 situation while also groaning to ourselves about how close to home it actually hits. 

Time? What Time?

It’s clear that time is not a construct on this show because it hardly makes sense that the group would fall so far behind the bandits between Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail Season 3 Episode 8, “Over the Mountain” and “Stranded.” It’s not as if the group sizes are much different, plus the bandits do now have Todd to contend with.

And yet, this episode has us believing that the two groups might as well be on completely different planets. One is stuck in a major blizzard while the other group somehow missed the storm and made it to Oregon in no time at all. 

While it’s clear that the snowstorm is meant as a plot device to really move along Zeke’s struggle with his faith and God’s abandonment it just doesn’t make complete sense overall.

God vs. Benny

One of the greatest moments of the whole episode comes when Benny is trying to help his friend Zeke regain his faith in the man upstairs. For avid fans of the show, Benny’s comments about what God could be doing instead are like a throwback.

He jokingly talks about creating another planet or inventing a new kind of giraffe — both of which were actual things God did during Season 1 of Miracle Workers. It’s moments like this where the anthologies of previous seasons come together and unite the show as a whole. 

It’s always cool to see little throwaways that remind us each of these seasons while separate are part of a larger picture. They may all tell a different story, but they are all part of a larger “history.”

Benny taking on the role of God reminds us that Steve Buscemi is a creative genius who can truly embody just about any kind of role. He can be the toughest outlaw or the most benevolent God. Either way, Buscemi really shines this episode and takes the focus away from Zeke’s out-of-character behavior, and pulls us into Benny’s world instead.

It’s interesting that they are stuck in a blizzard because the world must have frozen over if Benny is the moral compass of the group. He’s the one telling everyone they shouldn’t be eating each other? What is wrong with this picture?

Zeke, God’s Message

While Zeke may no longer believe in God’s word as law, he does still believe in the goodness of others. It takes Benny talking to him to really drive that home, which is another beautiful character growth moment. 

Zeke can still have faith in God and his teachings, while also living the life that he truly wants. Zeke doesn’t have to abandon all moral propriety to be a proper husband, preacher, and friend.

Now that he’s realized this it’s going to be an epic showdown to see him go after the woman he loves. I have talked previously about my concern with Zeke’s actions being way too out of character for him. 

It’s easy to see that the writers are simply giving Zeke room to grow and expand his view of the world before having him come back to the center for the rest of his life. Too bad this growth couldn’t have happened without a major dose of cheating. 

Here is hoping Oregon signals more than just a momentous victory against the bandits. Oregon has the potential to showcase renewal and rebirth for the characters as they create a new way of life for themselves in the land of plenty. 

What did you think of this episode of Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The season finale of Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail airs Tuesday, September 14 at 10:30/9:30c on TBS.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Tammy Dahlstrom Talks ‘Miracle Workers: Oregon Trail’ [Interview]