Written by Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan
Directed by Michael Uppendahl
Dick (to Rock): "I've been pretending to be someone else, just like you're pretending now. You play the part that they've written for you and then suddenly, suddenly it's too late. You're lost and the person you were. The person that you wanted to be is just swept far out to sea and you're standing on the shore. You're watching the person go under and there's nothing you can do about it, it's just too late. And you hate yourself because you're the one responsible for letting it happen."
Well, this one took one hell of a powerful turn. Going by the speech I just quoted to open this review, it won't be a shock that the performance of the episode definitely went to Joe Mantello because that speech a drunk and regretful Dick gave Rock was the highlight of the episode. Jake Picking also was a highlight, bringing an endearing vulnerability to Rock here as well.
Given how reprehensible we've seen Henry in his treatment of Rock and even towards his brief encounter with Jack, we needed to see Dick be a contrast. He could've taken advantage of Rock but chose not to and gave him some sound advice. While Rock took that advice to heart with Archie, it still didn't stop Henry from getting his claws into Rock that much further.
This episode did however between Henry's erratic and exploitative nature try to humanise him with a story about a former lover that might give insight into his nihilism but it was also depressing to see Rock stuck in Henry's debt even as he had made progress with Archie and had been moved by Dick not taking advantage of him.
Keeping with the theme of the episode, this one seemed to be an epiphany for Jack. He broke down with Henry over his own mistreatment of his wife and vowed to the latter to be better. Somehow I don't think Jack will keep that promise as his admission of not loving his wife seemed rather damning with Claire witnessing the entire exchange between Jack and Henry this week.
While Claire was determined to get closer to Jack and bag the lead for Peg we also had Raymond take some script advice from Camille who also wanted the lead role, albeit with a different name and backstory in mind. I did find the moment where Raymond demanded his girlfriend get a screen test a tad cheesy but it certainly moved both Ellen and Dick to agree to his terms nonetheless.
As for the rest of the episode - there was a debauched party that had the likes of Vivien Leigh (Katie McGuinness), Tallulah Bankhead (Paget Brewster) and Noel Coward (Billy Boyd) in attendance as well as a delightfully bitchy exchange between Avis and Ellen and of course Raymond being versed in underground queer culture between the scenes with Jack and Rock this week. Not to mention that Claire turned out to be Avis and Ace's daughter and neither had any faith in her quest to become a star.
- We got treated to some of Archie's cooking as well as some information on Roy's childhood and Ernie hooking up with Vivien.
- Billy Haines, Lana Turner and Joan Crawford were name dropped here. If only this show could do a crossover with Feud.
- Standout music: The Ink Spots/Ella Fitzgerald's I'm Beginning To See The Light, Jo Stafford's Sometimes I'm Happy and Sandy Williams Afterhours On Dream Street.
- Chronology: Not long from the previous episode.
Outlaws certainly ramped up things this week for our characters, especially with Jack and Rock both going through similar situations in their quest to get the leading man part for Raymond's film. With four episodes left, this one definitely stood out the most but I don't doubt the remaining episodes will too.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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