Who Killed Rosie Larsen? Who Cares! (No, wait. I do.)

[krickets]

So basically I was like, Rosie who? throughout this entire episode. But since I probably should mention her a little, here we go: I was grateful to learn that she was working as a maid under-the-table for the casino, it explains the chemicals, and it explains why she was at the casino in the first place. I mean, we don't know why Rosie was working there, but I'll go with the idea that she is doing it to earn money for school and to get out of her parents nest, which we know canonically is something she wanted to do, and leave it at that. Her working there makes the cover-up on their part and their reluctance to cooperate make so much more sense. There's some connection here that I'm not fully getting and I need to re-watch, but the whole cover-up with the construction site at the casino and this whole waterfront thing reminds me so much of Terriers. (Which, god that was a good show!)

Also, I'm kind of glad to put the lid on the whole Beau Soleil thing. Rosie was killed because she was a call girl for "the wrong guy?" That just seemed too small. It never really sat right with me. Especially given everything we know about Rosie. I feel like this episode is the first, in a really long time, to have turned the idea of what Rosie is back to the impression we had of her in the beginning. At least somewhat. She's just a normal kid, really. Earning extra money for college, and who maybe sneaks up to the 10th floor construction site to smoke now and then, overhears a conversation she's not supposed to hear, tries to use it to her advantage, and then gets killed in the process. (It's all coming together. Finally.)

Wow, for me not caring about Rosie, I sure had a lot to say about her.

Speaking of "all coming together" can I just say how utterly brilliant this show is? The show gets a bad wrap for false leads and slow pacing, but to be honest everything is falling together so nicely and so concretely, and none of it seems even remotely thrown-together. I can usually spot that garbage a mile away. Everything here seems deliberate. Every single thing. Just brainstorming right now I can only think of one false lead that hasn't come into play in the 2nd season (unless you count Stan's potential imprisonment) and that's the Mohammed and Bennet story with the girl. (And that was actually something I really enjoyed the outcome of, so I'm not going to complain.) Even the stuff with "the cage" and Sterling is relevant because of Jasper. It's lead them to Eames, who Rosie was blackmailing and who was at the casino the night she was abducted. Rosie is not a girl without secrets. And part of putting this investigation together is finding out who she really was, who her family is. And so far, I feel like everything we have learned, though it all might not play into her death, has told us something vital and something worth knowing. I want to know that Stan Larsen is far from an innocent man, and that because of who Rosie was, Alexi fell for her and gave up his idea of revenge. I'm glad I know that. I kind of want to use the word "masterful" here, but I feel like that might make me seem naive. Especially because I tend to forget stuff. But no, I'm just going to say it: This show is masterful. (I'm probably wrong, but I really don't care!)

A word about Richmond. Gwen may be indirectly responsible for his initial arrest, but he is the one who lied about his whereabouts and about his philandering. He knew that the fisherman was his alibi and he should have told the investigators that right off the bat. For him to lay the blame on Gwen for telling the truth when he couldn't is just BULL FUCKING SHIT. I have had a lot of sympathy for his character this season but this scene with Gwen was not one of them. Take responsibility for your life, man! (That said, his scene with the Mayor was 100% awesome.)

NOW FOR THE REAL REASON FOR THIS POST:

Linden going after Holder, yelling at her boss, searching through the trash, running through the woods, and finally finding Holder was the most intense, perfect fifteen minutes this show has ever seen. I wish I could fully express how fucking perfect that whole thing was. Her face when she sees him? How broken he was. Broke my heart. Same for the stuff in the hospital. God. And the conversation with Jack about the music? I just can't with these two.

I am not really sure what was up with Holder's sister and how protective of him she seemed. Especially since we know she was cutting him out of Davy's life. I want to just call her a douche and be done with it, but at the same time she seems to have finally realized that she wants to give him another chance and doesn't want him to be hurt. And since I care so deeply about his character, it's hard to fault her for that. But she really should understand that Sarah is his family now, too. Is that so unreasonable?

Also, Holder with Davy? SO CUTE, YOU GUYS! I just. Giving him the gold coin back. CRUSHED. Destroyed.

And now for the final few. Jack at Regi's dock. After the last episode, I was kind of confused about what was going on inside his head. I mean I know it must be tough, but I wasn't sure if it was just more of the same "Ugh I hate my mom" stuff that he's been going through or if it was something else. Him showing up there and literally having no where to go, having to run because he doesn't know what is going to happen next? Regi not being there. Made me feel for the kid, big time. And I know it was hard but I'm so glad that Sarah finally sent him to be with his dad. It's too dangerous for him and she's not just a regular mom with a regular job. she literally has no job, no place to live, and is in the middle of an investigation that could get her killed. I know it was hard for her but it needed to be done and it's probably one of the first things she's done for Jack that is truly in his best interest.

And now HOLDER. He is almost literally a broken man, and he comes to the airport because Jack calls. And the look on his face. He totally gets how fucking hard this is for her and he's there for her and he puts his hand on her shoulder and she lets him and finally finally the band is back together. His attack and their separation throughout this episode was just that much harder because of the way they parted in the last episode. "At least I own my addictions." Ugh. Gutted. And now they're back together and even though he's clearly scared shitless, Holder is going to stand by Linden as she delves deeper into this case. Not only because it's the right thing to do, but because she has NOBODY ELSE BUT HIM. And neither does he, really.

And it was her wedding day! Her wedding day, people. And she spent it terrified out of her mind that her partner, her friend, was killed, and ended it with him at her side, supporting her when there was literally no one else left. YOU KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE FIC.

Okay. I am done. I love them. I love you. IS IT NEXT SUNDAY YET?


ETA: This quote from the AV Club:
"She waits at the window to see him take off safely, and Holder hobbles up to her, still creaky but determined to respond to a goodbye call from Jack. They look like the makeshift parents they are, both of them hurting like never before and not afraid to show it."

YES x 1000000000