...continued from 12:30 in the CD/digital download version (right after the train crash).
I’m sure we all
wanna know what happened to the two guys on the train—er, more like, Jason and
the trio...I don’t care about what happened to Wooton or those two guys. Or
Penny much for that matter. Only Jason and Connie need to really survive.
Anyways, Wally and Jay are all right, even if we can’t account for the shed.
But what’s a shed when saving the lives of all these people? Then out of the
train comes the last person anyone would expect—Archie Haggler. Of course,
Wally and Jay are confuzzled as to why he’s there. I’m surprised Archie put up
little fight once Wally got around to telling him that he knew just about
everything and that Archie’d be going to jail. That last line of Archie as he
gave a short laugh and said parole almost seemed kind of sad. Did he think
there was no hope for him? Or did he have something else in store?
Then we find out
what’s happened to Connie, Wooton, and Penny. For the first time, Wooton shows
just the slightest bit of concern for the girls, but as soon as he finds out
they’re all right, it’s back to the wisecracks. Oh, joy. And then Connie
realizes who the Stiletto was. It’s Jason! See? She would know him anywhere.
*will avoid long rant on the possibilities of Connie marrying Jason or Jimmy
because the writers dumped Mitch* Of course, Penny has no idea who he is, and
instead of being grateful for his saving them, she complains about the bad
driving service. Understandable, I suppose. But still, be thankful you’re
alive!
With the Skint
music, we go back to Skint and Buck, and Buck is finally starting to realize
that Skint is up to no good. It would have suited me better if he’d realized
that long before. I mean, with everything going on, wouldn’t Buck think
something was wrong? Anywho, they enter the trailer where Katrina is still
making noises. Why would she, if she knew the others would come for her the
next day? I dunno, but it doesn’t seem very Katrina-like. Or perhaps she didn’t
know it was Buck and Skint coming back. But it’s the moment of decision. Buck
decides that he won’t go along with Skint’s plan to take “Ms. Katrina”—and that
should be Mrs. Katrina actually, come to think of it—along as a hostage. And then we see Skint’s other
side. Instead of caring for Buck and taking him, he deserts Buck. There’s a
long moment of silence, and all he says is, “I’m going to miss you. I really
will.” Really? But now, Buck knows that Skint was never who he thought he
was...even if he learned the hard way.
Back at the
train site, Whit is surprised that Monty’s out of the hospital. Oh, that boy.
Monty’s use of “the bad guys” seems...unprofessional and more like something
kids would use. I never say “the bad guys” unless it fits the situation...here
he could have said something like the counterfeiting gang or whatnot. Proof of
trying to make the show for littler kids, or my being overrational? Then Connie
runs up to Whit, and right here, I miss Paul Herlinger. Andre Stojka doesn’t
come off as too worried, yet glad that Connie’s okay. It’ll have to do, but
that bond isn’t here...it still feels too fake. And of course, Connie can’t
keep the secret about Jason, and she immediately tells the message about TLC
and the plates...or, the original engraving plates. And the mystery still isn’t
quite over...because the plates need to be found. Oh, brother.
We do get to see
Matthew and Emily and Eugene, our little overly smart library group who played
a crucial role in the mystery. I remember how at the beginning of the season,
some people were afraid the Jones and Parker Detective Agency would solve it.
Fortunately, we had the usage of children in this, but they didn’t totally
solve the case, and Emily had to drag her sidekick/partner everywhere they
went. Katrina and Buck come back, and there’s the awkward silence of betrayal.
I’ve had those awkward conversations before, where you’re not exactly sure what
to say, and you want to talk about anything but that. There’s some silence, but
Buck quickly explains too. I really don’t like how Katrina kind of smirks and
says, “I told you I was right about him. Na na ne na na,” kinda thing. While
Eugene should have apologized...everything so far makes Buck think he’s
actually “not half-bad”. How will he ever be saved if he finds out he’s a
sinner? It’ll be too hard for him to accept it. Katrina made him feel too much
like he had a big heart. Blah. Buck does apologize to Emily and Matthew, even
if they can’t say anything to him at the moment. At least...the three kids have
come together on slightly better. And hopefully Buck will change in the right
way.
Once again, back
at the train site, Polehaus updates granddad and grandson on the current
situation. Everyone’s blaming each other? Fuuunn. That’s what criminals always
do. Not a real friend bond, I say. Meanwhile, all heads are put together,
trying to figure out what TLC is. We do find out it’s been only a couple of
days since meeting Mr. Skint at the dock...meaning this whole conspiracy happened
in less than a week. Time sure did fly then. However, Monty thinks he has a
clue...another one. And we’re all sure it will work, because we don’t get false
clues in the final episode, do we?
And so we’re off
to TLC—not tender loving care, not Trickle Lake Concrete, but Trickle Lake’s
Dock C. Clever, innit? I’ll give these criminals one thing: the plan was pretty
ingenious. I mean, if nobody knew, I highly doubt they would ever find
engraving plates at a certain dock, chained to a post, and in the water. But
then they hear a noise on the inside and go to look. A hostage? No, just
Trask...TRASK! Arrest him! I’m surprised he didn’t give his whole mumbo-jumbo
talk about admiring the view and seeing the nature of God in it. However, it’s
finally justice, and the “good people of Odyssey” take Trask, who nearly got
away with it, and lead him to jail—and for him to find his several lawyers. And
then Whit kind of says goodbye to Polehaus. Polehaus has definitely been one of
the more interesting characters in this season...can’t say I totally liked him,
but he was okay. He isn’t one for sentiments, so he just thanks Whit for
everything, because if it weren’t for he and Monty and the others, millions of
counterfeit dollars would have been everywhere. And Monty and Whit share their
congratulations, and Monty finally goes to make his call to his mother, which
was promised back at the beginning of the episode.
Back at home, we
come to the closing scene of the Green Ring Conspiracy. We’ve wrapped up things
decently, even if it’s a hasty wrap up—Penny, Connie, Wooton, Eugene, Katrina,
Buck, Emily, Matthew, Monty, Poleahus, Jay and Wally, Archie and Trask, and the
others. Now, it’s time to just about put it all to rest. It’s a nice, slower
scene, after all the excitement we’ve been having. Jason’s back to normal, and
Whit asks him some down-to-earth questions. It’s nice to hear Jason’s normal
voice, but it’s not for long, because Jason’s going back to Hong Kong to stop
Mr. Grote. It’s good that he’s doing that, but who knows what’ll happen to one
of the best characters on the show? Nonetheless, just like that, Jason goes
away once again, off to help save the world. And thus ends the Green Ring
Conspiracy. For now.
*really epic
music ending*
Good grief, even
though there are so many questions which still need to be answered! I mean,
what’s gonna happen to everyone’s—or at least mine—least favorite couple? And
Jason’s going after Mr. Grote? Or Mr. Skint? Or Buck and Katrina and Eugene?
Everything was just thrown together to come for the ending. Chris gives an
extra long talk though at the end of the episode, and I’ll now go to say that
this conspiracy was decent. It was nothing like Novacom or the Blackgaard saga.
There were several less-than-memorable characters, such as Wooton and Trask and
Dirk, and the more prominent ones, like Jay and Polehaus. It’s definitely been
kiddy-ized, and I’ve lost some interest in the show. However, it’s still okay.
Kind of. For now. Time will tell as more comes out regarding this whole
mystery, won’t it? And thus, I give this episode a 8/10 rating, and this album
as a whole, 7.5-8/10 rating.
Whoo, I’m done
reviewing episodes for now!
