Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Rack ‘Em Up

Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 1, “Rack ‘Em Up,” introduces a new, serialized arc that gives this consultant procedural drama its biggest stakes yet.

That story hinges on the return of Max’s mother, Vivienne, who Max believed to be dead up until the end of Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 13, “Sunrise, Sunset.”

With the weight of such a character arriving on the scene, it’s a strong choice not to pick up “Rack ‘Em Up” with that cliffhanger. The season premiere, written by Michael Konyves and directed by Andy Mikita, delays the satisfaction of knowing what happens between Max and Viv until well into its first Act. 

The episode builds tension really naturally. Max is so settled in the work — without Ellis — that it’s hard to tell how much time has passed. Not to mention, she keeps dodging calls from George, confirming she’s avoiding something. 

In retrospect, it’s also excellent foreshadowing on the page that the first flashback comes from Max telling Ellis that she’s done with a life in crime. 

That scene is short and bittersweet. Tamara Taylor, who debuts as Vivienne, has a great moment later on in the episode. This one belongs to Vanessa Morgan.

Incredibly, she makes Max look so young (She was only a teenager when she lost Viv) when she hugs her mom and asks, “Mama?” 

Taylor’s moment comes during her delivery of “And I just felt like I had been cut off from my heartbeat.” The emotion in Taylor’s voice creates such a great point of knowing Viv and how hard it has been to be away from her loved ones. Not to mention, it informs so much more of Viv and George’s relationship.

Mikita’s direction catches all the great, understated beats in that scene, too.

Looks — George watching Max move her hand away from Viv, or Max watching George’s reaction to that line — give the scene additional content beyond the dialogue. All of which proves how well the characters know each other.

As for the dialogue, it’s great that Wild Cards doesn’t just have Ricky there as a silent support system for Max. While Viv has been on the outside for the last 15 years because of this new antagonistic character’s threats, Ricky is the opposite.

It’s intentional that Max won’t answer George’s calls but reaches out to Ricky when she concludes what to do with the Ashford money.

So, it’s a relief that Ricky votes “no” out of precaution. He’s right to be suspicious! It’ll be interesting to see if Wild Cards clarifies his perspective as things likely become more complicated throughout the season. 

Plus, any chance to get to know Ricky better is a good one.

Structurally, the flashbacks unraveling alongside a case about Myrna’s long-con-gone-wrong, loosely paralleling Viv’s Monaco con, give the case of the week more substance. Otherwise, it’s not among the most memorable on Wild Cards.

However, it doesn’t necessarily need to be for “Rack ‘Em Up” to deliver on what this show does best — Ellis and Max’s partnership.

The show even handles Yates and Simmons’s place amid the absence and return of that core relationship well. The mundane things, like Yates and Simmons’ workload growing in Ellis’s absence, make the world feel more lived-in.

For character, it’s exciting to see Yates and Simmons navigate that, even if it leads to Yates trying to make voodoo dolls of Ellis and Max. 

Simmons telling Yates to return the office’s coffee machine to its usual place bolsters that dynamic while maintaining Wild Cards‘ sense of humor. It’s also a silly setup that makes Yates telling Simmons that she doesn’t want their hard work to fly under the radar anymore have the payoff it does.

Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 4, “Dial A for Alibi,” establishes why the show succeeds when it utilizes its ensemble. “Rack ‘Em Up” follows suit, which hopefully bodes well for the rest of this season. 

As for Ellis and Max, once again, Giacomo Gianniotti and Vanessa Morgan don’t miss a beat in returning to these characters.

Each season brings a more recognizable ease to Ellis and Max’s undercover operations. “Rack ‘Em Up” comes with a particularly significant use of pet names, making the reveal that Ellis has a girlfriend bittersweet.

Before that, though, Wild Cards exemplifies how good Ellis and Max have become at working together. Ellis has no issue stepping back and watching Max present the information to the locals at the bar, while she exercises her pool skills.

It’s even better to watch how attentive Ellis has become to Max.

It’s believable at this point in their partnership that Ellis can tell that Max is holding something back. Again, the camera captures the details, like Gianniotti’s expressions when Max keeps him at arm’s length. 

After everything they’ve been through, it’s rewarding in-story and for the viewing experience to see Max and Ellis know each other like this.

Likewise, it’s going to make any division that comes from Ellis seeing Jessica, a journalist, and Max doing a life-or-death con for a diamond that much more dramatic. Needless to say, Wild Cards Season 3 is off to a thrilling start.

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

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