Blindspotting Season 2 Episode 4 Review: By Hook or by Crook
Blindspotting Season 2 Episode 4, “By Hook or by Crook,” finds Ashley, Earl, Janelle, and Trish confronting truths on Halloween while Cuddie fights an unexpected foe in a delightfully silly episode.
“By Hook or by Crook,” which we know means “by any means possible,” feels like an appropriate episode title in more ways than one. Trish tries to fast-track her and her friends to the front of the ride lines at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, while Jacque attempts to make Cuddie presentable to her family. Cuddie fights Dante Basco to prove he’s a Lost Boy. Ashley battles her inner truth and stews in denial.
JANELLE: Ash, you hear something? It sounded like our long-lost friend Earl, but apparently, that dude’s been out of jail for hella long and just been ghosting us.
Of course, there’s the Rufio of it all regarding the episode title, with Hook‘s Dante Basco guest-starring as Jacque’s father, who engages Cuddie in a “sword fight” to prove Cuddie is a pirate, not a Lost Boy. Cuddie’s even dressed similarly to Captain Hook. It’s a charming plotline that’ll make any Millennial squeal in delight.
The idea that Jacque didn’t want Cuddie to dress like a pirate not because her father hates Hook but because he thoroughly embraces it is a fun and unexpected approach. Blindspotting has never taken itself too seriously — it even manages to tackle important topics with humor — but “By Hook or by Crook” blows the lid off in that regard and lets the show get as silly as possible. It’s exhilarating as a viewer.
The Cuddie/Dante scenes should fill anyone who grew up watching Hook with a sense of childlike wonderment. Everything from the fight choreography and the heightened dramatic performances to the lighting and the adventurous score immerses you in a world of make-believe. This show never fails to engage the senses and wholeheartedly commits to setting the stage for Neverland escapades here.
JACQUE: Whenever I bring a boy home, my dad challenges him to a sword fight, and when you lose, it means you’re a pirate forever.
We even hear a sampling of the Lost Boys chanting, along with an emphasis on Dante and Cuddie’s shadows (a nod to Peter Pan) while they battle it out. These sequences are ebullience personified and brimming with verve.
Meanwhile, at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Ashley, Trish, Janelle, and Earl engage in childlike fun of their own. They debate whether it’s okay to “be offensive” on Halloween as Trish pretends to be blind to cut the ride lines. It’s the age-old internet quandary. Well, not for those who understand it’s not okay to culturally appropriate or take advantage of the disability community, but Trish tries to make her case for dressing as a blind nun on Halloween regardless.
Naturally, Blindspotting makes it abundantly clear it doesn’t condone Trish’s behavior, nor does her friends, including Jacque. The debate evolves into what constitutes a disability, with Janelle dismissing mental health illnesses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc., as not falling under that umbrella. The show addresses this topic head-on with its signature biting humor and creative flair.
EARL: I did it. I’m the King of Cheese. Thank you. You may arise, all of you.
“By Hook or by Crook” displays lovely character moments for our core players. Earl and Janelle mend fences, which is a significant development for both. Benjamin Earl Turner and Candace Nicholas-Lippman boast excellent onscreen chemistry.
Ashley denies she’s depressed, even though it’s apparent she’s struggling. So far, the writers have done an excellent job of planting clues that indicate Ashley’s mental state this season, from her anxiety-riddled mood swings in the premiere episode to her silent crying in last week’s outing.
The rollercoaster scene finds Ashley mulling over Trish’s statement about her depression as Trish sits with the potential reality of living in a world without being Jacque’s girlfriend. It’s so inventively shot, and the differences between Earl’s and Janelle’s excitement on the coaster after having acknowledged their issues and Ashley’s and Trish’s pained silence makes for compelling TV. It manages to be simultaneously humorous and heartbreaking.
Overall, “By Hook or by Crook” is another hilarious and innovative installment in the Blindspotting universe. It artfully digs deep into our leading players with its trademark wit and tenderness, crafting an immersive half-hour of television that pushes the bounds of storytelling. Plus, Dante Basco’s guest appearance and the loving homage to Hook are what Millennial dreams are made of. It’s a fun Halloween-themed outing that allows us to embrace the sillier things in life.
Stray Observations:
- Earl clutching that chalice of cheese like it’s the most important thing he’s ever touched is, as the kids say, “a mood.” Earl is easily my favorite character.
- I would give my left pinky finger to partake in a sword fight with Dante Basco, but only if he’s dressed as Rufio. I gasped loudly when he appeared onscreen.
- Fun fact: for those not in the know, Guapdad 4000 played the guy in the haunted house dressed as a skeleton and handing out his mixtape, “Scamboy Color.” He’s an Oakland rapper, singer, and songwriter. “Scamboy Color” is his actual mixtape that was released in 2017. I love that the show includes local musical talent.
- “The King of Cheese Chalice Cheese Challenge conquers all.” Try saying that 10 times fast.
- Janelle and I share something in common: we loathe haunted houses. It’s one thing to watch a horror movie and separate yourself from that; it’s another thing entirely to be in one.
- Was Jacque supposed to be dressed as a fairy? One could argue it’s a version of Tinkerbell, who Julia Roberts played in Hook. Hmm…
- I love the matching nun costumes and how game Earl is to participate. It’s adorable.
What did you think of this episode of Blindspotting? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Blindspotting streams new episodes every Friday on Starz.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.