Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 4 Review: Dead Weight

Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 4, “Dead Weight,” is all about making choices, even if said choice is choosing to ignore the process altogether.

This episode, written by Alex Zarowny and directed by Amanda Tapping, examines that through its case-of-the-week. In which a woman lives a double life with the same number of husbands, that ends in the murder of a third man, who wants the truth to come out, but winds up crushed under it.

The lessons for Max and Ellis — and the broader ensemble — are plain and simple, yet so sticky for the characters to address and unpack.

Like Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 3, “M.D-CEASED,” does with Ricky, this episode finds its most compelling angle outside of its leads and with George.

“Dead Weight” opens up the character and, therefore, a different aspect of the serialized story.

Instead of leaving the prison support group off-screen and leaning on exposition, Wild Cards knows it has more to gain in keeping that storyline on-screen. 

It’s productive on multiple accounts. On the one hand, it introduces new characters, like Artie, through whom the show can discuss the reality of how difficult it is for incarcerated individuals to adjust to life outside jail. 

Of course, that sentiment is particularly relevant to George, even in his unique context of finding himself coming face-to-face with his wife and the mother of his child, whom he believed to be dead for more than a decade.

Refreshingly, the storyline also seems to be a genuine attempt to engage with the humanity of incarcerated individuals. Wild Cards infuses humor into one of the inmates reading his journal. Even so, it’s emotionally affecting to see George help the inmates figure out who they are and reconnect with their inner child.

There’s a great chance that George is giving Artie and the other inmates emotional resources, like writing, that they may not have otherwise. 

In turn, “Dead Weight” cracks George Graham open in a much-needed scene with Vivienne, where Jason Priestley shines. 

It’s a sign of George’s own intentions to be and do better for himself and others that he seems to realize he can’t give advice that he’s not willing to take.

So, it’s incredibly moving to end “Dead Weight” in a place where he finally lifts that bearing down on his chest regarding Vivienne returning from the dead with a life-or-death heist to complete. 

This conversation very much lands as the first of many. Still, Wild Cards knows that it’s necessary for any progress for both characters.

Priestley’s best emotional beat in the sequence is when George exhales and puts his tongue in cheek to stop himself from getting caught up. It’s in that expression that the actor homes in on how heavy all of this is — the character’s wife reappearing after 15 years of grief and pain and trying to hold Max up through it.

On paper, Vivienne’s story is almost too wild to believe, but the details aren’t all that important if Wild Cards can sell the character-driven impacts.

This season does an excellent job with Max and, surprisingly, Ricky. It’s a delight that “Dead Weight” continues that pattern with George. 

It’s all the more compelling that Vivienne seems to want to fold Ellis into the mix for some reason. It’s good conflict that the audience knows that Vivienne called Ellis before Max learns the truth — whatever it may be. It makes for a more active viewing experience. That wrinkle compounds the season’s stakes and tension.

It comes at the same time that Wild Cards is working overtime to make Ellis and Jessica’s relationship seem like all sunshine and rainbows — and couple runs and salads. Sadly, it’s challenging to champion a couple that has less screentime to showcase any chemistry than Simmons and Yates do with their partnership.

By the way, Simmons and Yates come back swinging after being away since Wild Cards Season 3 Episode 2, “Quit Playing Games (With My Life).” It’s just a cherry on top for “Dead Weight” to end with Yates behind the wheel of the Mustang from Wild Cards Season 2 Episode 1, “Con in 60 Seconds.” 

Regardless, the episode’s attempts to highlight the appeal of Ellis and Jessica’s relationship just don’t work in comparison to Ellis and Max’s seamless chemistry.

Their take-out orders complete each other! She also knows that he has heartburn before he even realizes it himself. She has him thinking about “sympathy calories.” More importantly, Ellis avoids choosing between Max and Jessica because of a surprise and much less deadly third option — for now.

Eventually, Max and Ellis will have to address the truth about their feelings for each other, but Wild Cards is taking the slow-burn route.

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

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