A mob accountant loses a vital ledger, and Mel faces the end of a friendship…

Second chances are at the forefront of this episode’s adventure, with an episode slightly lighter of heart than those in recent weeks.

The theme runs deep as the client, former mob accountant Bert Singer, is seen making his escape from his old boss, JC Romano. Traditionally, it is not a simple thing to get out of working for the mob, and Bert is additionally cursed with both poor luck and a somewhat bungling manner. True to this, the witness protection he arranged for himself with the FBI is immediately placed in jeopardy as he loses the vital evidence he needs to put Romano in jail and confirm himself well clear of his old life. With the FBI left with no reason to protect him without it, he turns to McCall who is hesitant due to his past, but eventually agrees to assist.

Needless to say, the task runs into complications, the type which lead to manipulative car theft ring leader Floyd, whose double-crossing, manipulative ways spell trouble for McCall and Bert, though also introduce viewers to two of his associates, ambitious teenage car thief Jackie Fowler and the troubled Rae. Both are part of the spirit of the show’s strong theme, sharing the need of better lives but diverging in motivations from there. Jackie is not wholly committed to his path and McCall recognises his own need to be saved. Rae on the other hand is a compassionate yet troubled presence, an occasional lover of Floyd’s suffering from fragile self-worth. Yet she instantly connects with Bert, whose passion for plants provide a direction for the future he desires in more ways than one. Bert and Rae’s interactions are frankly adorable throughout, and really lift the episode.

They are not the only ones seeking a second chance this episode. Melody decides it is time to confess to an old friend that she had lied about Harry’s death as his reintegration with mundane life continues. Unsurprisingly Shira does not take the news well at first, but Harry pleads reason with her and ensures the day is not lost. Meanwhile Vi and Delilah reluctantly reunite as partners in a card game after a long losing streak to tackle rivals Kat and Cecil and both discover that which they have been missing out on in the absence of the other.

Despite the premise of the main plot, it is fair to say this manages to be perhaps the most whimsical episode of the show’s run thus far, and that is not a bad thing. Bert is a little stereotypical as a former mob accountant, but a wholly endearing comic relief from the outset despite his status as a client experiencing genuine danger and he stands out for that. His instant connection with Rae transmits just as immediately to the audience and feels sweet rather than forced. Although in no way full of surprises, if anything the predictability is something of a benefit, as we find ourselves wanting the happy ending the characters have earned by the end. In keeping with the tone of the episode, there is one final twist at the end which provides an amusing riff on a fake-out audiences have seen a number of times before, and one which makes perfect sense with all which came before it.

Verdict: The quality of execution of this week’s tale frequently leaves a smile. 8/10

Russell A. Smith