Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Once a Con a Time in the West

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2, “Once a Con a Time in the West,” brings Ellis and Max’s partnerships to a crossroads that could change everything.

Written by Marcus Robinson and directed by James Genn, this episode finds their past and future in a standoff that helps Ellis and Max reexamine their present. 

“Once a Con a Time in the West” frames the introspective trip with a question about Max’s ability to be a con artist. In turn, Wild Cards enters an era where Max must revisit the basics by studying the work of Jonathan Ashford. 

Despite Jonathan making it clear in his video diary that his life and schemes remain a mystery to the general public, “Once a Con a Time in the West” isn’t fooling anyone. Wild Cards introduces him as a digital guiding light to steer Max back on course, but the clues point to “Jonathan Ashford” being more influential.

Not only is his book “the con man’s bible,” but Martin Sheen plays him.

There is no way that Wild Cards — a show that knows what it is and relishes in it — will cast Sheen in a role that doesn’t have a broader impact.

After all, “Once a Con a Time in the West” already utilizes another well-known talent for its case of the week. Ally Sheedy boosts the episode’s procedural component, while Sheen supports the season’s serialized one.

The case takes engaging and even unexpected turns as family drama becomes the driving force for horse murder. Still, “Once a Con a Time in the West” finds its most appealing dialogue among the characters’ past, present, and future. 

Of course, most of that hinges on Ellis deciding if he can trust Max again. 

That push-pull is always present on the show. Wild Cards Season 1 Episode 1, “The Infinity Thief,” gets Ellis and Max’s first kiss out of the way, but the tension only builds from there. The steady development of their dynamic helps Max’s betrayal sting on Wild Cards Season 1 Episode 10, “Romancing the Egg.”

That consistent amplification makes the show’s intentional focus on Ellis and Max’s holding hands or Max clinging to Ellis’s back matter. Giacomo Gianniotti and Vanessa Morgan’s chemistry is what makes those beats land. 

It would all fall apart without those two as Wild Cards‘s leads. 

There’s no denying their romantic chemistry — “Once a Con a Time in the West” puts a neon heart between them! Still, that’s not all Gianniotti and Mitchell bring to their characters’ partnership. Their chemistry is easy, making Ellis and Max’s quick-witted exchanges bounce back and forth like good banter should.

With Wild Cards, there’s never a doubt that Ellis and Max will find themselves in a sticky situation. There’s an expectation they will because some of the best parts of the episodes are seeing how their teamwork will pull them out.

Their success often comes down to whether or not the case-of-the-week characters believe in their chemistry. That bit is particularly enthralling during “Once a Con a Time in the West” — Ellis and Max’s dynamic is at a checkpoint.

Instead of swiftly moving past the end of last season, Wild Cards uses that conflict to underscore how much Ellis and Max mean to one another.

On a show like this, line dancing to a Shania Twain cover and slow dancing to The Cars cover is part of the investigation and character work. The cowboy hats and Southern accents are just a nice touch. 

The same applies to how this episode incorporates Yates and Simmons.

“Once a Con a Time in the West” doesn’t need to pull back to the office and loop in these characters. Max and Ellis take on investigations on their own for much of Wild Cards Season 1.

However, the show turns its quality up a notch when it broadens its ensemble on Wild Cards Season 1 Episode 4, “Strangers on a Wave.”

Gradually, the characters — beyond Ellis and Max — interact more, revealing the bond between Ellis and Simmons and creating one between Max and Yates.

Therefore, it’s a pleasant surprise to see “Once a Con a Time in the West” take the lead from Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1, “Con in 60 Seconds,” and foster the community building among the characters.

This episode even follows through by featuring more of Ricky, who is very underrated. “Con in 60 Seconds” shows Ricky and Ellis independently interacting, and “Once a Con a Time in the West” showcases the depths of Ricky and Max’s dynamic in the details (Ronny’s egg rolls!) of their new home. 

They also speak to a permanence that hasn’t existed in Max and Ricky’s other places. Vanessa Morgan’s emotional performance compliments that resonance.

Max’s vulnerable turn lends itself to Ashford asserting that he is a success story because he is alone. Wild Cards proves the opposite with every episode that strengthens the characters’ connections.

“Once a Con a Time in the West” contends with Ellis and Max’s past to conclude that they are much better together, even if that goes against Ashford’s rules.

Now, Ellis and Max have to admit that to themselves — and each other.

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Wild Cards airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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