Critic’s Rating: 3.4 / 5.0
3.4
An evil sociopath came to Gibsons, but it wasn’t who the police force initially suspected.
Murder in a Small Town Season 1 Episode 6 was the first installment not based on one of L. R. Wright’s novels.
It was one of the more graphic and twisted episodes, and that wasn’t exactly a compliment.
I was initially looking forward to this one based on the promo and the spoilers, but I felt let down after this one.
The only part I truly enjoyed was the series didn’t sweep Cassandra’s abduction under the rug. She was given time to process it accordingly.
The Sociopath Murderer Coming to Gibsons Seemed Intriguing Initially
Shane Sloan seemed like a violent murderer. In the opening scene, he attacked a politician, Murray Zuckerman (stunt performer Douglas Chapman).
That almost seemed like a tired storyline since many politicians have secrets, but Zuckerman pleaded with him because he loved his wife.
It didn’t seem like a random murder as Shane beat him with a tire iron and wrapped a bag around his head. It felt personal.
Most sociopaths kill to kill with no agenda and no remorse.
When a dumb hitchhiker, Daryl Newton, picked up Shane, I worried for his life. However, Shane seemed like a different person.
His people skills needed some work, and he stole Daryl’s phone, but it almost looked like they were two guys on a road trip, hanging out.
It made you wonder if he did have a borderline personality disorder or if Dr. Lewis was wrong about him.
Shane’s scenes kept us on the edge of our seats, not knowing what he would do next.
Watching Det. Alberg and Dr. Lewis Work Together Reminded Me of Old-School Procedurals
Do you remember when procedural cases needed a psychiatrist to determine if a suspect was incompetent or had sociopathic tendencies?
That’s where I thought this was going. Dr. Lewis came to warn the Gibsons’ police department that Shane Sloan was nearing Gibson out of courtesy, and she was his next target.
She seemed sincere in wanting to help the cops and frightened for her life. She painted an in-depth picture of Shane as an unwanted child with issues that never fit in, so it made sense he committed some crimes.
The Gibsons police department was suspicious that he went from a robbery to a violent murder.
They tried to decipher how he planned his suspects to contemplate his next move before someone else got hurt.
At first, Using Dr. Lewis as bait to text Shane seemed like a good idea. After all, he trusted her, but one of their own got hurt.
Why Did They Make the Psychiatrist Evil?
Why did they have to make Dr. Lewis evil? Murder in a Small Town had the ideal opportunity to have a psychiatrist and a chief police team up to solve a critical case.
When Dr. Huang analyzed suspects, I thought it would be like an old-school Law and Order: SVU case and it did start that way.
However, it seemed like Dr. Lewis shaped Shane Sloan into a murderer when he was initially a misunderstood teenager who committed one crime.
She was the mastermind manipulator, though she kept her tracks hidden. Isabella found enough dirt on her, and Karl was impressed with her investigative skills.
Dr. Lewis manipulated other patients into discussing issues they had problems with and called them stumbling blocks when they refused.
She even interacted with people under a pseudonym. That’s how Karl and Isabella realized she knew Murray Zuckerman and felt betrayed by him and got Shane Sloan to kill him for her.
It’s heartbreaking when you sympathize with a murderer because Shane was manipulated into thinking he saved her. He was a misunderstood young man who needed help, and she took advantage of that.
Karl and Sid felt for him and were disgusted with her, but Shane was so enchanted with Dr. Lewis that explaining the reason to him was challenging. It’s sad when he’ll be safer in jail away from her.
Cassandra Broke Down as She Processed Her Abduction
This was the best part of the episode. Kristin Kreuk shined as she processed her feelings about her abduction. I’m relieved they didn’t skip this because she needed to understand her feelings were valid.
Cassandra has had difficulty dating a cop from the beginning, and this cemented her feelings. Karl’s job put her in danger, but she didn’t want to be angry with him because he was a caring man, yet she avoided him.
Cassandra was so jumpy she couldn’t handle anyone touching her or even being in the room while she prepared her statement.
She didn’t think it mattered since Gordan Murphy was dying. It took multiple people, and only Edwina convinced Cassandra that she mattered and that her own choices kept her alive.
We rarely see Edwina counsel others, so it was refreshing to see her in this capacity and learn her backstory of why she transferred to Gibsons.
Cassandra probably does need therapy to process her abduction and her relationship with Karl. Just not Dr. Lewis, who was right about one thing. Even if you’re victimized, it does not make you a victim.
However, she was too good at reading people and knew Cassandra had doubts about Karl.
While it made sense, hopefully, they’ll work through that.
Karl loves Cassandra, and their relationship is the centerpiece of the series. I’d hate for them to be apart for the rest of it.
What did you think of “The Madness Method,” TV Fanatics? Were you upset that Dr. Lewis turned out to be evil?
Are you rooting for Cassandra and Karl to reconcile?
Let us know in the comments.
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