‘Murder in a Small Town’ Season 2, Episode 2 Recap – Family Feud

I don’t have much hope for the future of Karl and Cassandra’s relationship, if I’m being honest. This was largely the subject of Murder in a Small Town in its first season, and Season 2 seems to be presenting a more united front. But I’m not convinced. While the cases of the week occupy the bulk of the focus, the underlying political push and pull keeps threatening to pull the leads apart. Never mind murder – where should a small town spend its money? Given how many serious crimes take place in Gibsons, I’d say its security infrastructure is a bit more pressing than its vibrant art collection. But what do I know?

Part of me thinks this is why this season is making such a concerted effort to smooth over any interpersonal drama, with Karl and Cassandra and even Cassandra and Karl’s daughter. It feels like sleight of hand, putting us on the wrong foot for when it all inevitably kicks off later. And it will. But in the meantime, there is, once again, a murder to solve (even though that’s underpinned by a development deal as well, only further reiterating the idea that money is always the primary motive).

“Blood Wedding” sketches the essential outline nice and early. Two members of feuding families, Sylvia and John, are getting married, which is a recipe for disaster. The Connolly and Tait clans hate each other, and the idea of bundling them all up together and watering them with a load of alcohol doesn’t seem a good one, even if it’s for a good cause. Problems emerge as early as the rehearsal dinner and, predictably, someone ends up dead – the Connolly patriarch, Griff.

Enter the police, now responsible for a jurisdiction that has extended 150 miles up the highway without the commensurate increase in personnel to properly cover it. And the staff who are present, notably Sid, don’t really have their heads in the game. Sid’s struggling mightily with his heavy-drinking, hard-partying teenage daughter.

One of the most interesting elements of this mystery is the idea of a victim who everyone seems to agree probably deserved it. People aren’t exactly queuing around the block to justify Griff’s death, but you couldn’t fill a downstairs bathroom with the mourners. Jocelyn, who is the prime suspect initially, isn’t guilty of the murder but is supportive of the murderer, since Griff was apparently responsible for the death of her husband, Jerry, by buying out his company and driving him to suicide. With a track record like that, a murder doesn’t solve itself.

Also interesting: The wedding is kind of a cover for the real truth of the matter, which is that Griff was strangled to death by Leland and Rebecca over a redevelopment deal that was unrelated. I like the deployment of crime drama staples as red herrings. And the wedding business does pay off in a bit of late drama and the predictable realisation that life’s too short for so much conflict, which is a nice sentiment, but this won’t be much of a season if anyone listens to it.

You’ll see what I mean about how Murder in a Small Town Season 2, Episode 2 toys with the idea of potential relationship eruptions only to smooth them over without fuss. Karl was supposed to attend Cassandra’s big Art Centre proposal, which he should have given he missed not only the proposal but also Cassandra verbally sparring with the mayor, but work pulled him away. Cassandra feigns not being bothered, since at least the kids were there, but there’s honestly only so long that kind of thing can last, and I reckon we’re rapidly reaching a turning point.

RELATED:

• Murder in a Small Town Season 2 Episode 3 Recap