Lethal Weapon Season 2 Episode 13: Better Living Through Chemistry Review

If you would like to read my review of last week’s episode, click here.

Synopsis: Murtaugh and Riggs respond to the murder of an escaped patient of Dr. Cahill’s who mysteriously goes off the rails. The investigation brings to light a hidden scheme far bigger than they imagined. Meanwhile, Riggs’ anger gets the better of him once again, causing Avery to consider whether or not he is fit to serve. Also, family tension runs high between Murtaugh and Trish, who have to make big decisions about R.J. (IMDB)

Writer: Zev Borow

Director: Rob Bailey

Rating: TV-14

Running Time: 44mins

This episode was all over the place, more so than usual. We’re not done with Riggs this season as it has uncovered plenty of new information about his childhood and how it has made him the way he was today. Riggs’ anger was brought up again in this episode after an altercation with who we later learned was the deputy mayor of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Cahill visited one of her old patients named Stanley Oliver (Luis Jose Lopez) at an institution who just used her to escape. She was found later in the trunk of a car while Stanley was found murdered. The incident led Cahill to doubt herself.

Santos was unhappy after being called back in from vacation to deal with Riggs. Riggs tried to prove to everyone that he wasn’t as angry but he would be tested when he and Murtaugh went to a seedy bar to look for a person of interest named Carl Edwards (Craig Gellis) that everyone inside claimed to be. A brawl ensued until the man who they were looking for came out of the restroom. He couldn’t have murdered Stanley since he was on the Price is Right. Santos questioned Cahill’s judgment about Riggs and gave her an ultimatum that would determine Riggs’ fate.

Another person of interest was another of Cahill’s patient so in order to find him, she asked for a meeting. He got spooked by the cops and Riggs chased him up a construction site to a beam. Riggs tried to talk him down but the man fell to his death. Meanwhile, Trish believed that RJ was depressed since leaving school and moving back home. She forced Murtaugh to take him to a therapist. RJ simply sensed their disappointment in him.

They later learned that Cahill’s patients weren’t taking their medications. Cahill continued to doubt her ability while drinking. She believed Riggs was so angry and that it would kill him one day. They believed that the doctor running the institution was taking the medications and selling them on the black market which could be why Stanley was murdered. In order to have someone on the inside, they provoked Riggs until he had an outburst. It didn’t take long for him to uncover the truth about what was going on.

Hearing the alarm from outside, Murtaugh and Cahill stormed in. The drugs that Riggs was injected with led him to the moment when his mother died which was intercut with Murtaugh and Cahill attempting to save him. Riggs of course brushed it off.

Cahill signed Santos’ affidavit that kept Riggs around but his behavior would be her responsibility. Riggs wanted Murtaugh to hit him back to make up for earlier but he hit Avery instead. Murtaugh and RJ had a father-son moment where Murtaugh shared all his insecurities. Riggs missed a session with Cahill because he was busy drinking on that earlier beam, however, he thanked her for all she’s done for him.

Overall, this was a decent episode that treaded too many familiar story beats to set it apart from other episodes. The story was decent until it became more about Riggs and there weren’t that many stakes here. Looking into Riggs’ past has been compelling but it just felt forced here. There was still some character development here and Murtaugh and Riggs are never boring to watch so it was still okay at the end of the day.

Score: 7/10

If you liked this, please read my other reviews here and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter, follow me on Instagram, and also like me on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.