Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13 Review: Sunrise, Sunset

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13, “Sunrise, Sunset,” is a season finale of sentimental payoffs that lead to one gripping cliffhanger. 

The episode, written by Michael Konyves & James Thorpe and directed by James Genn, is carefully constructed to subvert expectations and take the characters somewhere new. Like Wild Cards Season 1 Episode 10, “Romancing the Egg,” it’s also a season finale that encourages a rewatch of the entire season.

Without a doubt, “Sunrise, Sunset” is yet another example of Wild Cards‘s growing confidence in the consultant procedural subgenre. It relishes in playing in the worlds of both sides of its detective/con-artist coin.

Structurally, this season finale represents that in how quickly it jumps back into the action from Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 12, “Clouds in My Eyes.”

Not a second is wasted between episodes — Max’s cover is blown at the club, and Ellis is learning critical details from Samson about Daniel’s murder.

Unexpectedly, the latter leads to the first flashbacks on Wild Cards that include Daniel, portrayed by Jonathon Mason. While that decision becomes clear when revealing the mole in the police department, “Sunrise, Sunset” certainly surprises by having Daniel’s first scenes on the show being with anyone other than Ellis.

Still, both sides of the coin work separately yet together at a breakneck speed.

That kinetic energy could undercut the closure “Sunrise, Sunset” plans to bring to Ellis’s investigation into Daniel’s death. It may seem like everything is coming together too fast. To some degree, it does when Ellis realizes who is protecting Locke, but that ephiphany is expected after two years.

Regardless, Wild Cards uses decisive beats to slow everything down.

One of the earliest and best examples is Max singing a cover of The Cars’ “Drive.”

The lyrics elevate the scene so well that it’s easy to want the show to utilize music more in the future. Not to mention, the song itself works as a touching callback to Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 2, “Once a Con a Time in the West.”

The other notable scene that gives the characters a second to check their pulses is when Ellis reveals to Max why he blames himself for Daniel’s death. All of Ellis’s self-sacrificing actions on “Sunrise, Sunset” gain a devastating context, and Giacomo Gianniotti has one of his best performances on the show.

Gianniotti’s delivery of “He was my little baby brother” is crushing.

The raw emotion grounds Max, Ellis, and the viewers in that scene, so everyone can catch their breath before Wild Cards concludes outstanding storylines. The most notable unravels alongside Ellis discovering why Daniel died — Commissioner Russo’s desire to climb the political ladder faster, so illegally.

Her series-long — until now —  quest for power has a violent history that Wild Cards finally uncovers. In that process, “Sunrise, Sunset” plays with the idea of Chief Li being the mole because Ellis pretends not to know their identity when he’s in the room with Li and Russo. Thankfully, the show goes another route.

The show spends more time with Li. Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 7, “The Big Bang Theory,” finally reveals more about his past. Li’s relationship with Ellis is fundamental; his dynamic with Max only grows this season. The show’s sophomore run also features Li working with Yates and Simmons more often.

Given that investment, it would certainly shake things up for Li to be the one orchestrating all of this with Locke. However, Wild Cards knows it works better for Commissioner Russo to be the one pulling the strings. 

This show never pretends that Li is anyone other than one of the good guys.

Alternatively, Russo’s plan is a dangerous long con for all the wrong reasons.

It distinctly juxtaposes the Robin Hood-esque crimes that Max pulls. That comparison works because Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1, “Con in 60 Seconds,” sets it up only for the season finale to reveal how much they oppose one another.

Wild Cards makes that payoff all the more excellent — as Ellis notes — because Russo is the one who brings Max into the mix, helping Ellis solve this case.

It’s the kind of conclusion that makes Max getting a bedazzled, pink — per Yates — badge all the more rewarding. That gift feels like something Wild Cards would save for its series finale, but this show has more exciting things in store.

After all, “Sunrise, Sunset” wraps up this case in Act Three, leaving plenty of time for Wild Cards to make Jonathan Ashford’s seemingly endless video diaries into a deeply moving puzzle tailor-made for con artists.

Max, George, and Ricky working together in the replica of Ashford’s office is a payoff within a payoff. Ricky’s tags, collecting seemingly disconnected objects for an off-screen office, come together to reveal the true reason for the videos.

The episode pulls back to “Con in 60 Seconds” and Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4, “Dial A for Alibi.” This show is genuinely one of the most rewarding watches. 

Nevertheless, Ashford admits he was wrong to push people he loves — namely, George — away. It’s such a nice bow on the season. It draws distinct parallels between George & Vivian and Max & Ellis. It adds extra meaning to Ellis reaching out for Max, and Max missing the boat trip because her mother is alive.

Considering Max tells Ellis on Wild Cards Season 1 Episode 2, “Show Me the Murder,” that her mother died in a car accident, there is plenty for the show to unpack moving forward. This show just keeps getting better! 

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

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