Gracepoint - Episode 1.06 - Review: "The Death of an Innocent Man"

The episode wasn't heavily focused on the plot , it was more focused on Jack. Anyway the episode kicks off with the reenactment of the route Danny would have taken before his untimely demise. Tom is playing the role of Danny on his skateboard. The route he took goes straight down the street, passing all the shops. Jack is standing in the distance, watching instead of walking with his neighbors through the route. He most likely wants to keep his distance until it all dies down a bit. You would think that somebody would see Danny, especially as he passed so many places. I doubt everyone could have been asleep, maybe someone did see him, but haven't come forward yet.

Speaking of Jack we see a lot of him this episode so it is only fitting for me to talk about him. We find out that Jack actually pleaded guilty to the rape charges against him. He had sex with a 16 year old, who was four weeks away from being the legal age. You have to feel for the man as he did genuinely love the woman; I mean they had a kid together and got married. Some people think it is weird being with someone who is much older/younger than you, but I disagree everyone deserves to be happy whoever they choose to be with as long as its legal.

Owen and Renee are writing a story as usual; I still hate them two. I dislike how they always stick their noses in everything, to try to get a story written. This episode they publish a story about Jack and his past. The article they had written was different to the one that got published, it made Jack look much worse off than he did before. They soon after receive a visit from Dean and Chloe. Chloe and Dean tell them how Jack used to put his hand on Dean's back and always was a bit "touchy feeley". Chloe at this point was near enough talking for Dean when she was speaking to Owen and Renee, I really don't know why she has it in for Jack. Jack clearly didn't touch their back intending it to come across as a sexual nature.I think perhaps Dean is lying just to get Chloe back as they were going through a rough patch (not speaking to one another) a few episode prior to this one. We find out that he liked running the wildlife group and cared for the boys as he had lost his own son. It made him happy; he treated them as if they were his own sons. Owen decides to have a heart for once and opts out of writing a new article about Jack. This was probably only decent thing he has done all series long.

Later on in the episode Vince rallies some men and they storm towards Jack's kayaking shop. It makes me laugh a bit as Vince hasn't got a child and he makes it out as if he is a parent. Mark soon arrives on the scene which is when Jack tells him everything about how his relationship was nearly legal, and how they got married, and had a kid. At this point you could see it in Mark's eyes that he knew Jack was innocent, I mean why would someone who has lost a child want to take someone else's away from them?

Mark tells Jack to leave town "people have already made up their minds". See that is the problem with living in a small town, once something from your past becomes public knowledge, everyone will soon turn on you like they have with Jack. All his friends and neighbors turn on him instead of trying to listen to reason. Towards the end of the episode we see someone break into Jack's shop and write "Paedophille" in red on the floor. My gut feeling was that it was Vince who did this, mainly because he has been giving Jack as hard time during the episode. After seeing it on the floor and realizing people won't be the same around him again, Jack decides enough is enough and takes a stroll towards the beach. He decides to take his own life. It was a very sad scene, I really felt for Jack. He was just a man trying to get away from his past and start fresh in a new town. Like I said in a previous review, nothing stays secret in Gracepoint. RIP Jack.

The episode isn't entirely spent around Jack we see some other interesting things, such as Owen's boat is missing. This was probably the boat that was set and fire and possibly the boat that transported Danny's body to the beach. If it was padlocked which I believe it was how did someone manage to take it. They would need chain cutters (or whatever it is called) Vince has access to them given his job.

Who knows, maybe that is why Susan keeps lurking around everywhere she is trying to protect Vince as we know they share some secret together. We do actually find out around Danny's body there was cigarette butts. This makes me really think Vince and Susan did it. She smokes like a trooper so they are probably her cigarette butts, she also is very interested in the case and the detective.It could be why he was so harsh on Jack, trying to make Jack look guilty to cover his own back, and to make sure that no one looks in his direction. If they didn't do it, which they probably didn't I am just making assumptions here, then I wonder why Susan is so interested in everything. It can't be normal for someone to stand around watching the detectives like a hawk. Can it?

We also see a huge argument explode at the Solano's, Beth reveals finally to Mark she is pregnant. This is when an argument occurs after he hints at wanting to keep it. They then bring up Gemma Fisher again; Mark has the nerve to partially blame Beth for him cheating. There is only one guilty party in the household, and that is Mark. I really don't get why you would marry someone just to cheat on them a few years down the line. Marriage is meant to be for life. I continue to feel sorry for Beth, will she ever get a break from all this heartache.

Episode 6 Prime Suspect

Vince
He looked very suspicious this episode, he went mental at Jack even though he doesn't have a kid so has no kids to worry about being killed. He has easy access to gasoline and matches to burn the boat with; he has access to chain cutters which could be used to cut the chains where Owen's boat was tied up.

Summary
A very sad episode, an innocent man taking his own life because he couldn't stand the heat from his "friends". We find out a few things that point towards another potential suspect, I don't think we have had a main suspect yet throughout these episodes just different people looking very guilty. Anyway, it was another great episode as usual.

As always , thank you for reading! Let me know in the comments what you thought of the episode!

About the Author - Robert Fruin

Robert is a sixth form student from the United Kingdom, who is currently studying IT, Media and Business Studies. Robert is a huge fan of the ended ABC series LOST, he has seen it many times over and has even visited some of the filming locations for it. Robert mainly watches drama series such as Game Of Thrones and Person of Interest, but has a soft spot for the comedy The Middle. Some other shows he watches are The Walking Dead, Arrow and The 100. Some other interests include cycling, photography and kayaking. Robert will be reviewing Z Nation,The Librarians, Sons Of Anarchy, Intruders, The Fosters and Aquarius. Feel free to connect with him on any of these social media sites.

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