My Review of Ringer's 1x10: "That's What You Get For Trying To Kill Me"

Written by Eric Charmelo And Nicole Snyder
Directed by Stuart Gillard

Gemma: “That’s what you get for trying to kill me.”
Charlie: “How are you even alive?”
Gemma: “You’ve got bad aim.”

Unfortunately for Gemma though, Charlie/John’s aim managed to improve significantly when she tried to drive away to freedom. I guess after ten episodes, we had to lose a character that mattered and whose death could have consequences for most of the main characters left – namely Siobhan, Bridget and Henry.

I’m going to miss Gemma as a character. Tara Summers didn’t have a lot to work with but she did the best she could and managed to make Gemma likeable enough for her death to matter. I was hoping that Gemma was going to escape from Charlie/John and now sadly she didn’t. On the plus side, at least Charlie/John actually paid for killing Gemma, courtesy of Siobhan.

I have to admit that it’s a little too late for Siobhan to pretend she gave a shit about her best friend but there was something gloriously satisfying in watching her take out her glorified babysitter. Now this is a treacherous side of Siobhan I could get behind. I mean, I liked Charlie/John as a villain but I also liked that Siobhan was the one to take him out.

Siobhan showing some distraught over Gemma’s death doesn’t do anything to erase the fact that she was overall responsible for her friend’s fate though. While both Bridget and Henry both tried to get Gemma out of danger this week, it was Siobhan who put Gemma in more danger by underestimating Charlie/John though.

Of course, if I was hoping that Siobhan would’ve learned that her feminine wiles can go only so far with manipulating men, then I was in for a letdown. Still, I have to admire the fact that she managed to manipulate Tyler into thinking that he was the father of her unborn baby and that Andrew was physically abusing her. Then again I don’t because Tyler really does seem to come across as that gullible.

I don’t even know why Siobhan bothered in bruising herself. I think if she had just put on the tears, Tyler still would’ve fallen for anything she had said but the biggest game changer now seems to be more the fact that after killing Charlie/John she decided to remain in New York. Isn’t that a bit odd considering the lengths she went to get Bridget to take her place?

One of the slight disappointing things about this episode was that I was hoping we would finally get a hint as to what Siobhan is up to and sadly this episode failed on that count. Still, odd as it is that she’s returned to New York, I am interested in seeing what exactly she’s going to get up to in the second half of the season now that she’s nearer her old life again.

As for Bridget – now there’s a true friend. She tried her damndest to rescue Gemma (who sadly died thinking Bridget had done this to her) and even confessed to Andrew that her friend was being held prisoner by Charlie/John and even cried real tears when Andrew told her that Gemma had been killed. There was no way that Bridget was faking any of that, was she?

As for Bridget and Andrew, this was quite the episode for them. For viewers and even for Bridget, it was the first time she slept with him and it was also Andrew and Siobhan’s anniversary. You don’t have to be a genius to see that Bridget is falling for Andrew big time and nor do you have to be one to see that worries Malcolm too. Malcolm has a point though and it’s one that Bridget’s ignoring as well.

Speaking of Bridget and Malcolm, them working together as a team to thwart Charlie/John and rescue Gemma though was fun to watch. Also this episode more or less indicated that they’ll be further investigating into Siobhan’s connection with Charlie/John, which could spell some massive trouble for Siobhan in the second half of the season as well.

Keeping with the investigating, I nearly bowled over with Victor actually being competent for once. I loved that he finally realised that Jimmy had known more about Bridget’s disappearance and about a man of Bodaway’s known as the Matador as well and tricked him in exposing himself. If Victor keeps this up, he might actually get a solid lead on Bridget/Siobhan after all.

Oh and while we’re talking about Victor, I really hope he wasn’t lying about Mary Curtis being more than an informant. I was looking forward to seeing Amber Benson on this show (she really does need to pick more high profile gigs though) and despite the fact she was rather underused and wound up playing a dead character again, she was a joy to watch as well.

As for Juliet and Mr Carpenter – what the hell just happened there? Did he actually rape her or was she making it up? It is sadly hard to tell because she did look genuinely distraught and was left alone with him, yet he did seem to be uninterested in her sexually. I hope this is one mystery that isn’t dredged out for too long.

Last but not least, if I have to moan about someone, I am going to moan about Henry. It’s not the actor’s fault but the character is damn annoying and this week he annoyed me more. Sure contacting the police was believable over Gemma’s kidnapping but maybe he should’ve actually listened to Bridget on this one.

Also in “That’s What You Get For Trying To Kill Me”

Andrew really does know how to woo a woman doesn’t he? I can see why Bridget is falling for the guy.

Andrew: “Can you believe it’s six years? Feels like -”
Bridget: “- Six weeks.”

Juliet managed to reference both Twilight and Big Brother in this episode in a rather clumsy sort of way.

Malcolm: “Anniversary?”
Bridget: “Six years already. Can you believe it?”

Siobhan (re Gemma): “John, if you hurt her, I swear.”
Charlie/John: “Oh, would you spare me? I think it’s a little too late to pretend to give a damn about her.”
Siobhan: “She’s my friend.”
Charlie/John: “Yeah, I hate to see how you treat your enemies.”

Mary mentioned to Victor in her flashback scene that she missed Bridget. I do hope we get some flashbacks to Bridget during her stripping days.

Mary: “Don’t sweet talk a sweet talker Vic. I’m just a blabbermouth stripper, don’t pretend I’m anything else.”

Bridget: “I’m begging you.”
Charlie/John: “Sorry Siobhan. My good will is all maxed out.”

Standout music: Adele’s “Rumour Has It” that played at the end of the episode.

Jimmy: “Sorry, Vic, I didn’t want it to come to this.”
Victor: “Oh no it won’t. I’ve had two agents tailing me ever since we spoke this morning.”

Charlie/John: “Besides you said so yourself. You need me.”
Siobhan: “I don’t. You’re a glorified babysitter who got too expensive.”

Chronology: Six weeks since “Pilot” according to Bridget and the show is back on the CW from January 10th.

As a mid-season finale went, “That’s What You Get For Trying To Kill Me” certainly made the right noises. It’s going to be interesting to see where this show can go in the second half and how much longer Bridget/Siobhan can be kept apart or even what Bodaway plans to do next, seeing as he’s been quiet for a while.

Rating: 9 out of 10