The show is continuing on the theme of character evolution and this episode allowed us to finally learn more about Camille. We’ve gotten snippets of her back story but this was the first time we were given firm details. The impression she has given is that she has no family to speak of and to be honest I can fully see why she never laid claim to her brother. This episode also delved deeper into Cameron’s need to experience more of life. We also got to learn more about Fisher and his early days as a cop. It was an episode about character exploration and it was nice to delve deeper into Fisher and Camille’s stories.
Stitchers has several potential romantic relationships brewing but the one consistent relationship from the start of the series has been that of the one between Camille and Kirsten. They have an amazing friendship that I enjoy seeing play out on screen. Camille may have a horrible big brother but I think in Kirsten she’s found someone she looks at like a sister. In some ways I think Kirsten is the sibling she wishes she’d had in Theo. They support and protect each other but still bicker like siblings would. I hope the show continues to develop this friendship because Emma Istha and Allison Scagliotti have great chemistry together that really sells the friendship between their characters. I see them on screen together and I fully believe them as friends.
I think I’ve become so spoiled by some great sibling relationships on television lately (see Supergirl and Wynonna Earp for some great sibling relationships) that I really wanted Theo to be someone I could at least root for to change his life around for his sister. I know the press releases and other information provided warning that he’d cause trouble but I was hopeful there would be something in him that could be redeemed. As things stand right now I’d be happy if he never appeared in Camille’s life again. But that’s not going to happen because he’ll be in future episodes. At least Camille has Kirsten and Linus to have her back but I’d really like Theo to see the error of his ways and actually try and be there for his little sister. I have a younger brother and I could never imagine using him or causing him pain like Theo has done to Camille. A good older sibling supports their younger sibling and is always there for them when they need them. My brother and I have our disagreements but I would go to the ends of the Earth for him so Theo acting as he does just doesn’t compute for me.
Theo is a disgrace to all older siblings out there and I was so proud of the way Linus reacted to protect Camille. I kind of feel bad that Linus got screwed over by Theo in the end but he should have listened to Camille and not trusted Theo. I hope he has learned his lesson and the next time he sees Theo he just gives him a good punch to the face. That’s not his style, but I can definitely see Camille slamming her fist into him when he returns. Camille doesn’t take kindly to people she cares about being wronged so as soon as she finds out Theo wiped out Linus I suspect she’ll be the one tracking Theo down to fix things for Linus.
At least the whole experience with Theo did bring Camille and Linus back together for a bit as a united front. It also showed how much he still cares for her and I believe she still has some lingering feelings for him. Though, as I stated in the last review, I think she’s on her own journey this season and I don’t necessarily think that journey includes Linus as a boyfriend. I could be wrong and I do love the chemistry Scagliotti and Ritesh Rajan have so I would not be opposed to seeing these characters reunite as a couple simply to give these actors more screen time together. With that said I think the season has Camille earmarked for a relationship just not with Linus. I also don’t believe the Fisher and Camille dynamic will become anything more than friends. He is training her and that seems to be all the interest she has in him.
Fisher is on his own journey this season as he gets more deeply involved with the cases each week. The case in this episode was personal for him and the more screen time Damon Dayoub gets the happier I am they secured him as a series regular this season. He’s an integral part of the team and does great work protecting them. I liked the juxtaposition of Fisher trying to avenge his murdered mentor while also taking on the role as a mentor himself to Camille. He has come a long way since that green in the gills rookie cop shown during the stitches this week. It is his time to be a mentor and considering how much Camille’s form is improving I’d say he’s doing fantastic work and his mentor would have been very proud of the detective he has become. I think Fisher is too professional to blur the lines with either Camille or Kirsten which is kind of nice. I like Fisher is an integral part of the story without having to be a part of a relationship. Not every character has to be in a relationship and I hope they spend time exploring him more before even thinking of writing the character into any kind of relationship.
Two characters that do seem destined to one day be together are Cameron and Kirsten. However, I don’t see that happening anytime soon because, just as I predicted last week, Kirsten is too consumed by trying to deal with her newfound feelings and finding her dad to have time for a relationship. It was nice that someone else noticed the tension between them even if that person was a psychotic serial killer. I loved the hug these two shared after Kirsten and Fisher arrived at Cameron’s place to try and save him. It was blatantly obvious how scared Kirsten was for Cameron. I’m still adjusting to seeing Kirsten embrace her emotions but that’s how it should be since Kirsten herself is still adjusting. I’m hoping one day they get their timing right and can be together but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. It was nice of Cameron to give Kirsten the space and time she needs and I hope he is still single and waiting when she is ready to be with him. Since this is television and they are essential the top leads it won’t be that easy, but it would be nice if it was.
That is all pending Cameron can manage to keep himself alive long enough for Kirsten to be ready to be with him. Between chasing armed suspects, picking fights, and bringing home serial killers he was lucky to make it out of this episode intact. At one point even Kirsten was forced to put herself between Cameron and the suspect he was challenging. It is fascinating to watch a character that was so structured and disciplined last season kind of self destruct to a degree this season. Cameron is as smart as ever but he is definitely in the midst of a life crisis in the wake of his near death experience. I also feel like he is slightly over compensating for not being able to be with Kirsten and that’s not helping his current situation. His heart to heart with Kirsten did show some insight into what is going on in his head but I imagine he’ll continue to make stupid decisions until he can find some way to stabilize his life. I feel like Kirsten could be the key to that, but as I said above that doesn’t seem in the cards anytime soon.
The one dynamic that I’m not so sure about is that of Maggie and Blair. I like that they introduced a character with deeper ties to the program but I don’t like how little we know about him. For me to invest in his place in the show I want to know more about him and really understand what he does and why he does it. John Billingsley is a phenomenal actor and has proven over the years how brilliantly he can do nuanced acting. I can’t think of a better actor to play Blair but he needs to be given more to work with to make me really interested in the character. It was nice to see Maggie be so assertive in taking control and taking on the case of Fisher’s mentor, but I predict it will only be a matter of time before she regrets bending the rules. I am curious what Blair meant when he was talking about this case disrupting the purity of the cases. The cases are apparently not as random as they seem and are picked for specific reasons. What those reasons are is anyone’s guess at this point, but I for one can’t wait to find out more.
I liked the ending where Kirsten was mapping out her own case board on her wall. I’m interested to watch that grow as she finds out more about her dad. When she finally finds him she will have definitely earned the answers she’s seeking from him. Though I get the impression her dad is a part of some very shady things and I suspect she won’t like the answers she finds. Emma Istha continued to brilliantly guide Kirsten through a world full of confusing emotions she’s still trying to process. I love the smiles, smirks, and laughs Kirsten is now capable of because it shows how she is evolving. Every moment of emotion helps in her journey and brings her one step closer to being in a place where she can be at peace and maybe be with Cameron.
This was another great episode of the show and I can’t wait to see how things continue to change and evolve in the lives of these characters. A lot was asked of the actors and they all accepted the challenge and delivered some great performances. This might be a procedural show but it’s a new breed that understands the characters and their relationships are the heart of the show. In this episode the case of the week fell into second place to what was going on with each of the characters. The case helped drive those character moments but it wasn’t the main focus of the episode.
Be sure to tune in to
Freeform on Tuesday, April 12th at 10/9C for the next all new episode.
Hit the comments with your thoughts about this episode.
