Black Bird Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Hand to Mouth
Black Bird Season 1 Episode 3, “Hand to Mouth,” builds on its premiere episodes while touching on the source material. By bringing these two elements together in an imperfect package, the series still manages to captivate.
It’s strange to think the Apple TV+ drama is now at the halfway point — and yet, so it goes with these limited series. Telling a complete story, especially one as nuanced as the one depicted in this series, is always a tall order.
Yet, Black Bird‘s pacing continues to strike the right balance and keep the story moving.
As Black Bird enters its second half, it’s still clear that Taron Egerton’s charisma alone can carry this series.
Unfortunately, the characterization of Jimmy Keene doesn’t always come through in the way it probably should.
Seeing Edgerton wax poetic about being afraid to die in prison does come across as inauthentic. More specifically, Edgerton’s version of Keene has been developed as incredibly confident that it’s hard to buy that he has doubts about his fate.
Keene’s memoir, In With the Devil, viscerally captures the fear of being undercover while being a convicted criminal himself.
Black Bird doesn’t quite acknowledge this aspect of the narrative, instead choosing to showcase Edgerton’s acting chops. This isn’t necessarily bad, but there are moments when the performance distracts from the story.
In contrast, Paul Walter Hauser’s version of Larry Hall continuing to be treated as a child by the narrative remains the correct choice.
Every scene with Hauser is progressively more jarring when you realize that so many cisgender, heterosexual white men are treated this way for their lives, even if they’ve committed the most heinous crimes.
It may appear that Jimmy and Larry aren’t getting a lot of screen time together. But, if this series is a battle of these two wills, surely the point is to see them together more often?
However, the dynamic that plays out here is very much how Keene described the experience in his own words. It’s commendable that the show is committed to showing this authentically, even if it may throw viewers off.
This episode of Black Bird introduces an essential commentary on America’s criminal justice system, which the series will hopefully flesh out in the drama’s second half.
The fact that “everyone” in prison — guards and inmates alike — are children of cops is a sobering reminder of the dysfunction that permeates the carceral system.
The series is a perfect opportunity to explore these topics, even with its limited time.
One of the most significant and disturbing aspects of this episode is the masterful way it is shot.
The claustrophobic atmosphere is immediately uncomfortable and adds to the visceral feeling of disgust that permeates many scenes.
The graphic discussions between Keene and Hall could trigger anyone who’s been a victim of sexual assault. This imagery further justifies any repulsion one feels towards Hall and validates how vital Keene’s mission is.
The introduction of the mob storyline is frankly a little bit confusing. There was a connection to John Gotti of Gotti infamy in real life, but it’s probably wise not to expect a John Travolta cameo here.
In the source material, Keene’s involvement with the mob fundamentally alters his mission to get Hall to confess. It will be interesting to see how Black Bird handles this dynamic.
While this may seem incredibly random, E.R. fans should watch the closing moments of this episode with caution. Whenever “Battleflag” plays, I sense that Noah Wylie is in mortal danger and that Lucy Knight needs to be avenged.
This is never the right musical choice to close out an episode; the damage this song caused has already been done.
Nonetheless, Black Bird continues to be a solid true-crime entry. In many ways, the show is a direct rebuke to spoiler culture. The outcome of this story is readily available, yet the show continues to build palpable tension to keep viewers engaged.
This adaptation continues to lend itself well to the miniseries format. As we approach the second half, hopefully, these episodes can maintain the energy the drama has built.
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Justine Kraemer
Justine is an unashamed fan of too many TV shows and movies with a particular love of all things Marvel. She balances her love of massive massively popular shows with hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered.