The title of this episode sounds poetic – “Death Came in Like Thunder.” Sounds like it should be an Emily Dickinson poem. The actual episode is another matter.
In this week’s installment of “Longmire,” we find the sheriff investigating the murder of a scruffy looking Basque sheepherder named Markos Vayos. Apparently, there is a small population of Basque people in Wyoming. Markos was poisoned and secretly married to someone he met through a matchmaker, Jeremiah Rains (guest star “24’s” Xander Berkeley). His brothers didn’t approve of the woman and didn’t even know he had married her.
During the investigation, Longmire partakes in some barrabilak which apparently is Basque for “testicle.” So basically, Longmire was chowing down on some Rocky Mountain oysters. So who murdered Markos? Family? Friend? Stranger? While the episode revolves around this case, it takes second fiddle to what else is going on in Absaroka County.
While looking for the phonebook at Vic’s desk, Longmire discovers the present Lizzie left for him ages ago that Vic tossed into her desk drawer and promptly and purposefully forgot. As Longmire tries to grill her about the gift and why she has been holding on to it for so long, Vic makes a quick escape to avoid answering him.
I hope it wasn’t perishable food because it’s been in that desk for awhile. This answers Reader Dave’s question/post from my Season 3 premiere recap!
While everyone is actually working, Branch is on the campaign trail during his on-duty hours, dragging The Ferg along with him. The Ferg is caught between his loyalty to Longmire and his friendship with Branch. The Ferg always ends up partnered with Branch, as Vic always seems to be with Longmire. He unwittingly endorses Branch when they have their picture taken and it’s published in the town paper.
Branch is a bit shady, taking in campaign contributions from the even shadier Jacob Nighthorse. He may think he has the upper hand, but I’m betting Branch is going to sorely regret getting into bed with Nighthorse.
Meanwhile, over in Denver, Detective Fales is walking through the last hours of the death of Cady’s mom with Cady – showing her where she was at the time of her death. Something she says triggers Fales curiosity and he starts to investigate Henry Standing Bear, Walt’s best friend.
Walt goes to confront Henry to get him to confess to what happen the night of his wife’s murder. For all of season one, the assumption was Longmire had a hand in the death of the man who killed his wife, but this conversation changes everything. Now it looks like Henry took matters into his own hands, and while Longmire has his suspicions, he doesn’t know all the facts and Henry is protecting him by not telling him. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right?
While I love this show, this particular episode seemed a little disjointed to me. I’m not sure why; the crime was solved and we learned more about our main characters, but I left the episode lacking.
What did you think of this episode of “Longmire”?
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