Episode Title: "La Tempete"
Writer: Will Rokos and Tom Fontana
Director: Jeff Woolnough
Previously on 'Copper:'
Episode 1.04 "The Empty Locket"
Story:
After refing one of "Irish" Jake's fights, Kevin (Tom Weston-Jones) is confronted by Carwin Roderick, a gangster whose brother Kevin shot during a robbery. Roderick promises Kevin he'll be watching him.
Elizabeth Haverford (Anastasia Griffith) meets with Norbert Morehouse about a fundraiser for black soldiers. Morehouse agrees to hold the event at his house. While searching his brother-in-law, Seamus' belongings for money owned him, Andrew (Dylan Taylor) finds an invitation to Morehouse's fundraiser and the layout to his home. Kevin and Andrew manage to get the truth out Seamus after pouring hot coffee on him. He was enlisted by Roderick who plans to rob the event.
Maguire (Kevin Ryan) takes a walk with Madame Grendel's sister, Mary (Joanne Boland). She invites him to run away to Europe with her. Meanwhile, Kevin warns Elizabeth about the planned robbery. She goes to see Captain Sullivan and asks for security detail at the party, headed up by Kevin.
Kevin, Maguire and Andrew go over their plan for the event. In order to get the money safely to the bank, Kevin plans to make a deal with a gang controlling the lower part of the city. Afterwards, Kevin asks about Maguire's new hat and he says it was a gift from Mary, who he's engaged to. Kevin suggests it's too soon after the loss of Molly and that Maguire doesn't know what love is. Maguire in turn makes accuses Kevin of abandoning his wife.
At the Freeman home, Marcus tries to get Sara (Tessa Thompson) to come outside and watch Jasper train. When she refuses, he puts his hands on her and then tries to force himself on her. She locks herself in the bedroom and Jasper rushes in to see what the trouble is. He and Marcus then get into a fight.
That night, Annie (Kiara Glasco) approaches Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmid) at the fundraiser and tells him that Elizabeth had a Confederate soldier over her home. She also accuses him of visiting Madame Pompadou's. He tells Elizabeth what Annie said and she admits to planning a fundraiser for Southerner's in need.
After the party, Kevin and his men leave in a wagon to deposit the money. Elsewhere, Matthew Freeman (Ato Essandoh) comes home to find Marcus sitting outside Sara's door. He tells him that Jasper went crazy and fled. Matthew throws him out and tells him to find Jasper. He then consoles Sara.
When the wagon is shot at, the detectives escape with the money only to be confronted by O'Connell. He tells them that Roderick made him a better deal and takes the box. However, when he opens it later, he finds just a drawing inside.
As they walk home, Morehouse tells Kevin he hid the money in his peg leg. He asks Kevin about refing a fight between "Irish" Jake and Jasper but Kevin worries about the consequences if Jasper should win. Later, Kevin asks Robert what will happen if he dies without learning what happened to his wife and daughter.
Breakdown:
Just an episode after losing his betrothed Molly, Maguire is already taking long strolls among livestock with Madame Grendel's sister, Mary Lockwood. As one of the earlier scenes in this episode, it was a bit unnerving but all was soon explained when Kevin laid it bare to his partner and friend. He doesn't know what love is. Not until you've lost your wife and daughter can you truly understand what it means to love someone, according to Kevin "Corky" Cocoran. Or at least that's how Maguire sees it.
In all fairness, Kevin just wants the best for Maguire, who's moving way too fast. Still, the detective was called out on his sometimes preachy demeanor by both Maguire and Morehouse, after Kevin scoffs at the idea of a fight between "Irish" Jake and Jasper.
And now five episodes in, as dirty as he looks Kevin's shown himself to be squeaky clean in character. Sure, there were some things that went on during the war which Robert alluded to but currently, there isn't much depth or intrigue with Kevin's character. He's a good cop who plays by the rules, mostly and just wants answers about his family. And if he dies without getting them, it will all be for naught according to Robert, who closed out the episode waxing philoshopical with his friend.
With just a couple of fist fights and a botched robbery, "La Tempete" was one of the less exciting episodes of "Copper" to date. If anyone was given an opportunity to shine, it was Elizabeth Haverford, who dropped a couple of witty insults aimed at the arrogant men she's forced to deal with. She's got a thing for Kevin and fundraising, we learned, after she explained her "rendezvous" with a confederate soldier to Morehouse. But there's got to be something darker there. Annie seems to thinks so.
Yes, Annie. The disturbed and disturbing brothel child continues to make the adults around her feel uncomfortable, week and week. Though sometimes her antics are a bit extreme (trying to feel a bulge in Morehouse's pants while she danced with him) she remains one of the show's most interesting characters. She's screwed up, we know why and we believe it. If only it were that easy with the rest of the show's cast.
At the Freeman household, the trouble we expected from Marcus manifested when he tried to get fresh with Sara. Jasper gave him a beating and now he's gone. How will this affect Morehouse's planned fight, who knows? It's not the most riveting storyline.
Not to go back on my criticisms, but "Copper" is a very young show. "La Tempete" had an episodic feel though that's not to say it was a bad episode. "Copper" has its charms and there were plenty of them in this episode, thanks to Elizabeth and Robert. But hopefully, they'll be more to like about this show than a few colorful witticisms before the season's over.
