"The Electric Company" of FBI: Most Wanted is a standout episode that pits the Fugitive Task Force (FTG) against a small-town gang of corrupt law enforcement officers. In recent weeks, I’ve been critical of this show for how it succumbs to predictable clichés concerning the escalation of mindless violence. Instead, this episode tackles uncomfortable realities of racism and systemic brutality when police turn against its non-white citizens. The writers' exploration of the detrimental impact this case had on the FTG's Black agents, Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg) and Ray Cannon (Edwin Hodge), was commendable, even though it only scratched the surface. Let’s get into it.
"The Electric Company” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The episode's central plot is about the systemic violence that plagued the Archer County, Maryland, community for decades. Manny Birdsong (Apollo Levine) gets tased and stomped in front of his family. The FTF gets involved when Manny, a resident of Archer County, Maryland, is discovered dead across state lines in the same Virginia marsh where two other victims were discovered, with injuries consistent with being lethally tased. Ray mentions that Archer County is known as a "sundown town," implying that non-white residents were required to depart the city’s limits by sundown. Despite suspicions that local law enforcement is still executing this racial policy, Ray and Sheryll volunteer to look for leads there.
The team tracks down Manny’s partner, Joellen Shaeffer (Casey Wortmann) who confirms that two white men in masks had tased and dragged Manny into the yard. The Taser serves as a lynchpin piece of evidence in the case. The team traces the Taser cartridges to a bulk purchase delivered to a disabled deputy sheriff, Elias Nelson (Christopher Thornton). Elias has a son, Eli (Andy Favreau) who he explains, “followed in his footsteps at the sheriff’s department.” Remy Scott (Dylan McDermott), quickly, identifies Eli as the main suspect, leading him to Sheriff Blake (John Bedford Lloyd).
"The Electric Company” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Christopher Thornton as Elias and Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The dialogue between Blake and Remy crackles, revealing how entrenched biases and corrupt practices shape the actions of local law enforcement. For example, Blake laughs off Remy’s inquiry into his deputy, Eli Nelson, saying, “I don’t recall ever seeing Taser cartridge hoarders on the Most Wanted List.” “No,” responded Remy. “It’s evidence that whoever killed Manny Birdsong zapped him with one of Eli’s cartridges.” Blake continues to joke about his anti-crime unit, The Electric Company, referencing his deputies catching a murderer who was executed in the electric chair. However, Remy knows the sheriff is lying and tells Nina, 'No one has ever gotten the chair in Maryland.' The name likely signifies that the sheriff’s gang acts as judge, jury, and executioner."
Certain he’s dealing with lawless, renegade cops, Remy alerts the County’s District Attorney, Barbara Evers (Samantah Steinmetz). She promptly declines to follow up. Meanwhile, two members of the Electric Company profile and frame a citizen, Ronnie McCaffrey (R. A. Guirand) for Manny Birdsong’s murder, by planting a taser in his car. The two then blackmail a couple of teens into reporting an anonymous, fraudulent tip against him.
"The Electric Company” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Following a divide-and-conquer strategy, Remy sends his team to surveille members of The Electric Company. The sheriff and a deputy pull Ray and Sheryll over for speeding. Things escalate. Ray and Sheryll experience first-hand how police in Archer County treat non-white citizens. The deputy shocks Ray with a taser. He and Sheryll find themselves in custody, awaiting arraignment. Judge Winters (Mark Zimmerman) tells Remy, "Sit down and keep your mouth shut," when he tries to help them in court. The team understands that the whole county's legal apparatus is working against them. However, the DA drops the charges to show the FBI they had no power. As they were leaving court, they found out that Ronnie McCaffrey was charged with Manny Birdsong’s murder.
Remy and Nina talk to McCaffrey’s son, James (Denzel Rodriquez), gaining confirmation that his dad, Ronnie, is innocent. The FTF accelerates their investigation to get the menacing Electric Company members off the streets. However, the US Attorney needs corroboration from James. Ray and Sheryll go to his workplace. James is scared and refuses to talk. When he starts his car, it explodes. Ray is deeply affected and shouts, "He (James) was innocent, and they lynched him!" When Sheriff Blake shows up, Remy threatens to arrest him for obstruction, calls him a “racist pig,” and expels him from the crime scene.
Remy, Nina (Shantel VanSanten), and Hana (Keisha Castle-Hughes) track the deputy who had tased Ray earlier. The man chooses to kill himself instead of being arrested. Ray and Sheryll follow deputies Eli Nelson and Logan Dobbs (Shane Patrick) on a dangerous chase that ended in an armed standoff between them and federal officers. Although racism is central to the story, the plot turns on the father-son conflict. Eli's moral dilemma and near-redemption are rooted in deeply disappointing his father.
Eli reveals that his actions were driven by a desire for revenge against the individual responsible for his father’s paralysis. Elias didn’t buy into his son’s excuse and tried to leave. Eli drew his gun to stop him. There was a struggle between the two deputies, and Elias was knocked from his wheelchair to the floor. Elias asked, “My god, didn’t I teach you anything?” “I’m ashamed of you, Eli.” In the end, the deputies surrendered without a shot being fired, and Ray took immense pleasure in arresting Sherriff Blake for conspiracy for James McCaffrey’s murder.
The Electric Company” – FBI: Most Wanted, Pictured (L-R): Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase and Andy Favreau as Deputy Eli Nelson. Photo: Mark Schafer/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
A quick mea culpa about last week's review concerning Remy’s personal life, where I mistakenly assumed Remy didn’t go drinking with his friend, Blake. He did, and in this episode, he seemed to be a bit on the defensive with Abby about it. Remy offers his place to Abby while she’s in town for an extended stay. She declines, and I think he’s confused about why. I think it's because Abby isn’t sure about Remy’s motives. Is he ‘breadcrumbing” her, giving her minimal concessions to keep her interested? Is he feeling pressured to show her that he’s “nothing like that dude (Blake)?” Is Abby just not that into him? What do you think?
How do you feel about the show’s decision to divide the team by race during this investigation? What are your thoughts on how Remy and Abby’s relationship might evolve?
Overall Rating
9/10
Lynette Jones
