The Outsider (1×09) Tigers and Bears Review

For our review of last week’s episode of The Outsider, click here.

Synopsis: After obscuring their true purpose in town from local police, Ralph and Yunis interview witnesses from the cave festival, while Holly and Andy visit the scene. Later, the group considers its next move as Claude deals with the weight of his role. (HBO)

Other than an unnecessary history lesson, this penultimate episode of The Outsider was another step back as it sets up what may very well be an exciting finale. It’s just a shame that it took a little while to get there.

Tigers and Bears started with a flashback of kids seemingly getting lost in the forest as their father headed out to search for them. They would eventually get lost in the same bear cave that El Coco tried to take the boy to in the last episode. Many people have died attempting to find those boys (including members of the Bolton family) in the caves but not the cave had since been sealed after the search for the boys was called off or at least that’s what they thought. Meanwhile in the present, there were still the Tennessee cops to deal with after the latest attempted child abduction. Anderson and Sablo got to interview these latest witnesses. Also, with El Coco connected to Claude Bolton, the others would have to be careful of what they do around him as El Coco could possible see and hear what Claude saw or heard (as a precaution, Salomon drove Claude to a fried chicken place). Though what to do once they found it was still up for debate.

While witnesses of the attempted abduction were being interviewed (the others are now up to date with what we know), it was time to find the aforementioned bear cave. Seale Bolton told the others the above story about the cave (and guided them to it). They split up to have deep conversations in the car of course about El Coco and what it meant in the grand scheme of things. Meanwhile, Salomon watched the Boltons but couldn’t stop Seale from telling his brother what was going on and warning El Coco that the others were coming for it (the three immediately bolted to try and warn the others). However, it was ready as Hoskins was setting up a sniper position just outside the cave where it was hiding.

Back at home, DA Hayes (Michael Esper) got a call about the Tennessee case which took him aback and led him to doubt his handling of the Maitland case. Meanwhile, Glory visited Jeannie to try and repair their relationship which was independent from the other investigation. She respected Jeannie’s beliefs even though she didn’t agree with them.

By the time they got to the cave, the tension picked up considerably as they were immediately greeted with gunfire with Pelley being shot and killed by Hoskins as the episode faded to black over the sound of more gunfire. If you don’t want to know who else survives, don’t watch the preview for next week’s finale.

In the end, another semi-filler episode so late into the season is a little disappointing but hopefully it will all be worth it as next week looks to be a showdown at the cave.

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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.