Episode Title: “The Children of the Battlefield”
Writer: Kevin Dieboldt
Director: Ken Girotti
Previously on “Copper:”
Even police dramas set way back in 19th century New York aren’t immune to typical cop show tropes. This week’s episode of “Copper” indulged in the one about the overworked detective who puts his job before his family and friends. And we all know how that goes…
As Robert Morehouse (Kyle Schmid) and Elizabeth Haverford’s (Anastasia Griffith) wedding fast approaches, Corky (Tom Weston-Jones) scours Five Points looking for the culprit behind the recent kidnappings of young men. He gets a lead when suspect, Tim Doman confesses to recruiting boys for the Union Army by drugging and then turning over the boys to a Sergeant Major.
Corky pays the high-ranking officer a visit, but he shows no remorse about the operation. The Sergeant Major appeals to Corky’s own feelings about the war, which come up several times throughout this episode. And when he moves out from behind his desk in a wheelchair, revealing his sacrifice for the Union cause, Corky backs off. However, on the way out a young soldier gives Corky a tip as to the whereabouts of the man supplying the Union effort with less-than-willing recruits.
The soldier’s tip turns out to be a good one and Corky arrives at the kidnapper’s hideout just as the McGrath boys’ father shows up to take the boys to the Sergeant Major. Corky considers shooting McGrath, but his surviving son suggests he spend the rest of his life in chains. But Corky has an even better idea; he brings McGrath to the Sergeant Major and makes him enlist.
It’s a job well done for Corky and surely a relief to General Donovan (Donal Logue), who likely feared the political consequences of a serial killer on the lose in Five Points. But Corky pays a personal price for his unwavering pursuit of McGrath by failing to report as Best Man at Robert Morehouse’s wedding and missing a chance to reconnect with Ellen (Alex Paxton-Beesley) at the event.
At home, Ellen asks Corky why he puts helping strangers ahead of being there for his family. The answer seems obvious if you just take a look at his character. Corky’s life is ruled by a sense of duty, be it to country, city and yes, family. But that duty doesn’t seem to extend to beyond providing food and shelter. This is what makes “Copper’s” main man much less interesting than the much more dynamic supporting players. What does Corky want? Who does he love? What is he afraid of? We’ve yet to really find out.
At least the Freemans and Morehouses make their intentions known in this episode. Sara (Tessa Thompson) is determined to move past what happened to her brothers in Five Points and she does so by taking down the lamppost they were hung from, with some help from her neighbors. It’s a powerful scene and it’s great to see Sara evolve from timid and fearful to strong and unafraid.
At the Morehouse home, Robert couldn’t be happier with his new bride, but Elizabeth is still troubled by her involvement with Kennedy. In the midst of an opium stupor, she confesses her crimes to Robert. Like his pal, Corky, Robert decides to take solace at Eva’s whorehouse where Corky finds him drunk and in bed with one of Eva’s girls.
While Corky and Robert sleep off their martial woes, Maguire (Kevin Ryan) makes good on a promise to his new boss, Druid gang leader, O’Rourke. Not convinced the former copper, Maguire is ready for a life of crime, O’Rourke insists he kill a police officer to prove himself. Maguire says he has just the man in mind, leading us to believe he’s targeting Corky. But it’s a young officer (possibly Phinbar?) whom Maguire stabs to death.
And with that, Maguire becomes the most wanted man in Five Points as Captain Sullivan (Ron White) gives strict orders to his men not to rest until the cop killer is caught. As for Corky, Ellen shouldn’t expect to see too much of him when he figures out Maguire is the killer. A Corky/Maguire showdown should be an emotionally charged, violent affair, but it’s the Morehouses and the Freemans’ battles I’m looking forward to.
