So Frequency ends its 2016 run with the reveal of the Nightingale: To no one’s surprise, it’s Deacon Joe. Frank, unfortunately, is bogged down in this Maricella and Stan malarkey: Something about a firebomb, and a cemetery meeting with invisible drug dealers?
It appears the theme of the episode is tied to revelations. Once the truth is out, are we better off or worse? Meghan’s attempts to tell the truth in either timeline put her life in danger. Raimy and Daniel finally reveal their feelings for each other, and it turns out he’s engaged to someone else who’s wearing that same engagement ring. That was an interesting twist actually: Raimy has been so devoted to Daniel, but what if he’s a cad in this timeline? What if he is in both and she’s just now finding out? The Moseby references are annoying, apparently meant to show that Raimy is being sneaky as well. But he just seems like a hiccup in the way of the one-true-pairing, as a few-times hookup doesn’t compare with a fiancee. But the fact that Daniel is being duplicitous automatically makes that situation more interesting.
Much more positive is Frank and Julie, who finally seem well on their way to a reconciliation. Julie and Raimy look so much alike that the intercutting of the two discussions was unnerving, but still effective, especially since both conversations were taking place in the same room, 20 years apart. Frank needed to reveal more to get Julie back. Daniel, by exposing more from his life (even his loft), is on shaky ground.
Stan’s diatribe at the cemetery was mostly useless, although nicely shot, especially Stan sitting down next to the giant monument with a cross on it. But he did say one thing that heavy-handedly underlined this episode theme: “In the end, all any of us has is loyalty.” Frank went back to Julie because he said she’s been at his side since the very beginning. Raimy assumed Daniel would be loyal, and was not. Meghan tried to get her mom and brother to back her up in front of her father, but they were too scared to do so. Frank is depending on Satch, who, as it turns out, is more loyal to the department than he is to his partner. In a way, that makes sense: Satch is a company guy, and his whole livelihood depends on that, not on chasing Frank around when he hangs out with drug dealers. Speaking of, I don’t know if Maricella was playing Frank or not. I really am unimpressed with that whole plotline, and wish it would end. If Frank thinks Stan is dirty, and Stan knows it, how in the hell is Frank still alive?
Of course, the greatest loyalty on the show is between Frank and adult Raimy, even though they’re somewhat strangers to each other. Raimy really, really needs her father to kill this guy. For Frank, like Satch, this goes against the morality rule book. But the life of Julie (not to mention all of those other women) trumps all others. It must be why Raimy couldn’t actually help herself from going in after the Deacon, when even those watching at home are familiar with terms like “unlawful entry” and “inadmissible in court.” Going by the book wouldn’t have gotten her into the house, but if she waited for backup, who knows what would have happened?
What Frank and Raimy obviously have in common is not only bull-headedness, but a tendency to go running in first, thinking later. They do it with their relationships, but also on the job. Raimy’s actions let the Deacon get away, but she also discovered he’s the Nightingale. As midseason finales go, that’s a pretty major revelation.
Stray observations
- Why is Meghan’s brother Robbie still missing? I want a great twist like it turns out he’s Daniel or something.
- Speaking of twists, I’m willing to entertain the possibility that this is all a fakeout about the Nightingale. But after nine episodes, and with only four more to go coming back in January, I don’t think so. Especially since it turns out Christa was also a nurse.
- Because some other questions still remain: Where Meghan and Robbie are, and whether Frank will be able to kill the Nightingale before he comes after Julie.
- Was that a working pay phone in 2016?
- Frequency question that makes my head hurt, part five: If Julie lives, what happens to Raimy’s current timeline? She’ll already be with Damiel becuase her mom will have been his nurse, then, and uhhhhh. Although I guess she goes after Frank’s car crash next.
- Frequency question that makes my head hurt, part six: If Frank died, the Nightingale stopped killing also, right? From the first episode? Why exactly?
- Raimy really needs to cool it with this “cut the tree at the trunk” business. Who knew Curtis Armstrong could have such an effect?
- Does any song scream 1996 as much as Supergrass’ “Alright,” the track that kicked off Clueless?
- You don’t turn your ringer off when you break into a house? Really?
- Nice of corpse Christa to have a necklace with her name on it for easy identification purposes.
- And that’s a wrap until January 4, I guess? Thanks for reading, and have a nice holiday.