Grade: B-
With Jonas found & now part of the search crew a new & clearer set direction could be taken with finding Emmet Cole. As Tess rejoices & pushes full steam ahead it also becomes clear that tension is rising that though the main focus of the search is to find Cole, there is also the rest of the crew that is also missing. One of the members of that crew is Russ, Lena’s father, & while much of the episode deals with ghost ships & mysterious environmentalists it is also about the bond of a father & daughter. Unlike the complicated relationship Emmet Cole has had with his wife Tess & son Lincoln, the deep affection & admiration between Russ & Lena is in quit contrast. What makes the episode so special outside of its mystery is the bits & pieces that we get to see from that bond in an episode that is dearly titled after Russ’ nickname for Lena,
”Peaches”.
It’s clear from Tess’ new steadfast direction that tension is becoming high to find the missing crew which also forces Lena to be a constant reminder that its not just Cole who is missing but also her father. As the search continues this causes Tess’ to have the full crew running to guide the Amazon at night which is when they are run aground by a ghost ship. Completely halting any forward progress due to damaged parts they start sending out a constant mayday until a mysterious ship appears & its crew come to their rescue. This leads to the main mystery of just what is going on with their as Jonas & Lena also see that their is a mysterious guest still aboard their ship even though the environmentalists said that their was only four of them. As Jonas & Lena go aboard to find out who is there they discover her father who is being kept bellow the deck chained up.
Much of
”Peaches” &
The River relies on the weekly mystery/procedural & that is what we get with this mysterious crew & boat. What makes the episode special & stand out though is the glimpse we get into the relationships of the crew which is exemplified with Lena & her father. One of the best moments of the episode comes early on during a side interview with AJ & Lena as he films her playing the accordion. As she talks about her father in-between cut scenes of her playing poker as a child with him we get to see deeper into their very strong bond. With Jonas as a crew member we also get a nice aside of jealousness from Lincoln due to the bond that Lena & Jonas have. As the journey continues to find Cole it is crucial to see these moments where these characters can grow & not just be thrown into dangerous situations &
”Peaches” brings a nice mix of both to the table.
