Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Catch Me If You Con

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 5, “Catch Me If You Con,” brings the heat to Max’s friendship with fellow con artist, Maddy, portrayed by guest star Katie Findlay.

Written by Carina Samuels and directed by Shawn Piller, this episode swaps case-of-the-week intrigue for the truth hidden in Max’s most important relationships.

Consequently, “Catch Me If You Con” has a lot of heavy lifting to do.

Max — while being accused of murder — stands by her best friend that she has known since she was six years old. That loyalty isn’t unusual for Max.

Still, Wild Cards has to fill in those gaps to make their friendship believable.

To its credit, the script does that with Max and Maddy’s shorthand and Max’s stories about how George nicknamed her “Hurricane Maddie.” Those details and anecdotes breathe life into the dynamic meant to span decades.

Vanessa Morgan and Findlay take Max and Maddy’s “grifter sisters” and “con queens” dynamic duo to another level. The shared history is palpable between them. Wild Cards makes exciting use of it in a pickpocketing montage.

Using that as a slippery slope to Max’s more active con artist days is smart.

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2, “Once a Con a Time in the West,” establishes those initial concerns from George and Ricky about Max going “soft.” “Catch Me If You Con” is this season’s mid-season episode, so the story almost calls for a check-in.

This episode’s efforts are particularly effective because of the more subtle instances of Max doing — and avoiding — her homework. Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4, “Dial A for Alibi,” for example, does a great job keeping Ashford’s work in the audience and Max’s mind without being too heavy-handed. 

So “Catch Me If You Con” is the ultimate test, and Max passes.

Understandably, the episode stirs up some old drama between Max and Maddy, but the conflict doesn’t come out of nowhere. It actually lands complementary to how “Catch Me If You Con” begins — with Max alone before Maddy arrives.

Wild Cards then builds to the revelation that Maddy is hurt that Max ghosted her, leaving her alone. It’s a sore spot in their friendship that Morgan and Findlay portray with care. Their mutual love declaration is endearing — it’s nice to see those aren’t exclusive to romantic relationships. Friendships are love stories, too!

To that point, it’s a shame that this show has yet to feature Ricky more.

His friendship is one of Max’s most consistent and supportive relationships. Unfortunately, it has yet to receive the same undivided attention as Max and George, Max and Ellis, or — after “Catch Me If You Con” — Max and Maddy.

Wild Cards is good at providing glimpses into their dynamic. However, that’s usually where it starts and stops before Ricky jets off for his predominantly off-screen personal life. Hopefully, “Catch Me If You Con” begins that shift.

After “Dial A for Alibi” celebrates what Yates and Simmons bring to the show, this episode continues that momentum by strengthening Wild Cards‘s ensemble.

For instance, “Catch Me If You Con” brings Manuela Sosa back as Olive, the coroner. Like many others that Max and Ellis encounter during their cases, her character could appear on one episode. Instead, Wild Cards brings her back, suggesting that the show is trying to establish consistency in its supporting cast.

Meanwhile, the consultant procedural stretches new muscles with Chief Li.

So, here’s to hoping that the show continues its pattern of utilizing its entire ensemble more often — it has an impressive roster full of talent. Moreover, all of these characters are interesting. George has been pulling grifts in jail before he gets out, but that’s only a blip on the show’s radar. 

Wild Cards can’t focus on every person. Not only is that unreasonable, but it would also not serve the ensemble or the show well to spread itself that thin. Nevertheless, it’s impressive that even the tertiary characters are interesting.

But, of course, it wouldn’t be Wild Cards without Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti’s incredible chemistry as Max and Ellis at the heart. It’s endless fun that Maddy breezes into town and immediately locks into their chemistry.

It’s another thing entirely that Maddy recognizes that Max’s “gleam” in her eye appears when she’s with Ellis. “Catch Me If You Con” confirms that this slow-burn relationship is one to watch, even when they aren’t the main focus.

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

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