Contributor: Henry T.
Written by Cathryn Humphris
Directed by Jean de Segonzac
For two-thirds of this episode, it was more of the same material that had been presented in the three prior episodes of this series. Everything that was happening during that time was of no particular note. A dullness that had been present since the pilot episode hung over the proceedings like a black cloud. Then the plot seemed to jolt awake with revelation after revelation that didn’t let up until the very end. I feel this is very crucial to the lifeblood of the series since it has proven to easily lose my attention with the episodes that have already aired. I have to wonder if they can continue this or it will be more of the same, but for now, there is some hope that “Ringer” isn’t as bad as previously shown.
The episode is centered on Bridget and Siobhan’s birthday. Andrew tries to make up for the fact that he missed Siobhan’s birthday last year by arranging for a lavish celebration during a weekend in the Hamptons. The weekend starts off simply enough, with time spent on the beach and some re-connecting between Bridget-as-Siobhan and Andrew. Henry and Gemma arrives and they all seem reasonably happy, even if Bridget again acts like an amnesiac version of Siobhan. All of this is intermixed with flashbacks to happier times between Bridget and Siobhan as they acquire, then pass between each other, a small necklace on their collective birthdays. It’s a nice way to connect the sisters emotionally and thematically, even if they’re not together physically at the present. Bridget obviously attaches more sentimental value to the necklace than her sister, who sees it as beneath her and a reminder of her blue-collar roots.
That mindset fuels the current state of Siobhan’s life. Her husband acts almost in fear of her; she has a spirited affair with another man (indeed, Sarah Michelle Gellar showed more life and spunk in the Siobhan flashback with Henry here than at any other point in the series) that results in an unwanted pregnancy; she is now in the midst of pulling a long con from the other side of the world. My theory is that Siobhan is using Tyler to rob Andrew blind, keep her lavish lifestyle under the guise of funding by Andrew’s company, and leave Bridget in a lurch, possibly shifting blame for the robbery to her. Her baby is going to present complications, but I have a feeling that Siobhan is working on a contingency plan to account for the child, perhaps running away with Henry once all of the smoke clears. All of this is a result of a seemingly deep unsatisfaction with her life. It’s early, but that theory seems as good as any to jive with what has been shown in four episodes so far.
I liked that the episode woke up when Gemma eavesdrops on Henry and Bridget’s conversation about their affair. It doesn’t stretch out the tension, instead having Gemma explode in anger at the birthday dinner. I wondered how Bridget was going to explain the whole mess to Gemma, but then she had to deal with Agent Machado. He’s been given little to do once again, though his investigation into Bridget’s acitivities deepens. Bridget lies her way out of that certainly damning recording of the distress call from the pilot episode. She is caught by Machado in another lie that she may not be able to explain. The episode caps with one piece of truth among all of the lies: Bridget reveals to Gemma that she’s not Siobhan. How long will it be until all of the characters know this truth?
It’s not too early to wonder about the sustainability of this series. Plenty of secrets have come out in the four episodes so far, and there’s still the bulk of the season to go. I’m not sure how long they can keep this up. Personally, I enjoy Siobhan’s long con game more than the events happening in New York. Gellar looks to be having more fun being the scrappy, scheming, seductive Siobhan than the more dull Bridget. I’d like it very much if the majority of one episode with Siobhan rather than Bridget, which I’m reasonably sure is coming later. The series needs to have more fun with its premise, rather than starting out every episode in such a comatose state. It’s not a great episode, but the last few minutes give hope that it can deliver if it plays more to its strengths.
Grade: 7/10
