It’s such a shame that things have gone down the way they have with Red Widow. It’s been three weeks since our last new episode, and as I worried, the inopportune timing of the break has decimated its viewership. This is disappointing because the relationship between Schiller and Marta is captivating. With a little bit more time, the show could blossom, but it will probably not get that chance.
This week, Marta took care of some serious business. While I was initially bummed to see Mike return, he played a useful role in revealing to Marta that Irwin was responsible for Evan’s death. Finally, Irwin got what was coming to him. Not only did Marta put a bullet through his hand, she disowned him. Mike also let Marta in on her son’s escalating criminal behavior. Gabriel has been a self-centered fool ever since his father died. Marta has largely left him unsupervised – or worse, supervised by Irwin or their father. When she confronted Gabriel about his role in Mike’s beating, I wanted to stand up and cheer. She didn’t yell or get angry. With a voice heavy with heartbreak, she told him that his behavior had made her feel ashamed in front of one of the last people in the world she should feel shame in front of – the man who kidnapped and tried to ransom her daughter. That clearly hit Gabriel like a roundhouse to the gut.
For the minor storylines, Marta’s sister slept with Agent Ramos. I don’t find this relationship very interesting. The show could cut loose Ramos without sacrificing anything important. He’d at least be better as an occasional recurring character. Petrov’s (and his son’s) girlfriend was gunned down in an alley by Schiller’s man who was aiming for Irwin. We have no reason to believe that Schiller ordered this hit and every reason to believe that Patrick acted on his own because Irwin bungled their cocaine sale. The only reason Patrick’s death is significant is because he was wearing the boots that Evan’s killer wore. Now Marta thinks that Schiller is behind Evan’s murder.
Before this turn of events, the relationship between Schiller and Marta was heading in an intriguing direction. Marta was almost killed by Schiller’s cra y father, but rushed him to the hospital when he collapsed. Schiller showed up and was frantic. After trying to keep him from storming the room, Marta called out, “Nicholae!†Both Marta and Schiller fro e. It was an electric moment where you felt like there is something between these characters. Schiller is taking heat from several sources about his weakness for Marta. Can it be true that he is actually developing feelings for her? It seems like it. But this comes to a screeching halt once he finds out that she dumped his cocaine in the bay. Or does it?
If the show continues, the Marta/Schiller relationship needs to be at the heart of it. Watching Radha Mitchell and Goran Visnjic together is fun and tense. Next week, it looks like Marta will confront Schiller about his role in Evan’s death. On the one hand, I think there is no way Schiller would have done that. On the other hand, I think that’s exactly the type of thing Schiller would have done. This unpredictability is what makes him fascinating to watch.
I know there’s probably little hope that we’ll get a second season. With so many bad shows on television, it’s a huge loss when something decent doesn’t get a chance to shine.
Follow me on Twitter @LaVaudreuil
Red Widow Season 1 Review “The Coke”
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