Big Sky: Deadly Trails Season 3 Episode 5 Review: Flesh and Blood

Familial bonds are tested on Big Sky: Deadly Trails Season 3 Episode 5, “Flesh and Blood.” A lot of characters are acting in the name of protecting family, or at least they are telling themselves that.

Sunny (Reba McEntire) is trying to protect her first-born son, Walter (Seth Gabel). Her husband, Buck (Rex Linn), argues with her about it, saying his job is to protect her and what they’ve built. They both want to protect their son Cormac (Luke Mitchell) from learning about Walter.

And Walter, in turn, is holding Paige (Madalyn Horcher) captive in order to “protect” her. 

A case from 20 years ago is continually alluded to—the “bleeding heart” murders—and Cassie (Kylie Bunbury) and Jenny (Katheryn Winnick) don’t see the connection as holding much weight. Although, the blood-red heart carvings adorning trees in the woods and then found on a wooden talisman in the dead hiker’s pocket seem to be a pretty obvious clue.

Thankfully, Cormac is there to tell Cassie about it and she follows the lead, but the breadcrumbs left behind from this plot are small and slow to be discovered. Clues and leads are parceled out methodically and it’s starting to make me impatient. 

Big Sky operates best when it’s fast and loose, and we seem to be killing time on this episode. 

The B-story continues the theme of family, specifically mothers, but also provides much-needed fast-paced action.

The bank robbery is an exciting subplot. There’s danger with Deputy Poppernak (J. Anthony Pena) taken hostage and a high-speed motorcycle chase. Jenny and Beau (Jensen Ackles) work well together to resolve it, save Poppernak, and catch the bad guys.

It’s cut and dry regarding good guys versus bad guys, but it’s not that simple when it comes to family and parenting. 

Jenny: Flesh and blood doesn’t always make you a good parent.

Jenny speaks from experience, having been betrayed by her own mother, played by Rosanna Arquette, on Big Sky: Deadly Trails Season 3 Episode 3, “A Brief History of Crime.”

However, relating Jenny’s experience with her mom to the bank robber’s is weak and contrived. This doesn’t bother me because it has a really sweet side effect. I’ve now decided that I do, in fact, ship Beau and Jenny—they are too friggin’ cute together on this episode. 

Ackles gives Sheriff Beau Arlen an easy charm. He kinda exudes a positive Ted Lasso-y energy the way he serves and protects, and that really comes across in his interactions with Jenny. He comforts her when she’s worried about Poppernak and then he offers poignant perspective on the subject of her grifter mother. 

Beau: All we can do is the best that we can. And at the end of the day, all relationships have to be a two-way street. Even blood. Maybe especially blood.
Jenny: I hate it when you do that. The whole cowboy wisdom thing.
Beau: Well, my bad.
Jenny: Alright, fine, I actually kinda like it.

More than kinda, Miss Hoyt, I saw that lip-bite.

Every episode makes me so happy that Ackles has joined the cast.

Jenny and Beau aren’t the only ones heating things up on Big Sky: Deadly Trails Season 3 Episode 5, “Flesh and Blood.” Sparks are all but igniting between Cassie and Cormac. Bunbury and Mitchell have incredible chemistry and are succeeding in building anticipation around this potential romance. 

Quite a bit of groundwork is laid on this episode, so hopefully the mystery will ramp up its pacing.

What did you think of this episode of Big Sky: Deadly Trails? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Big Sky: Deadly Trails airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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