IR TV Review: CITY ON A HILL - EPISODE 4 (“Ugly As I Said”) [Showtime-S3]

The reasoning of a mind looking to both advance and do the right thing is based in how corrupt that certain person is willing to be. With Episode 4 of Season 3 of “City On A Hill” entitled “Ugly As I Said”, Jackie Rohr (Kevin Bacon) indulges and yet can't keep his investigation straight into what he sees might be wrong coming to bear. His wife sees this and recognizes that this is the element that makes him slip away. Jenny Rohr (Jill Hennessy) can't decide in a way what it is he needs? The surprise is that she still even sticks around. What is the interesting anomaly is the daughter which caused Jackie so much trouble is now his conscience unknowingly. One call he makes is especially telling because it shows both the irony of the response but also the precedent before it which speaks to his own undoing.

Working for his new boss has its perks but is dependent on how far he is willing to go. The aspect also reflects in his old stomping grounds. Rohr still holds the keys to a lot of what happens behind the scenes in the Boston bureau even though he was pushed out. That is why the ending shot although confusing in a way is also undeniable in what it shows. Ward, like Rohr who is pushing towards the light which he can never reach, is leaning towards more of the dark which might undo him and his marriage. It also might at the same time propel him to heights where he might not be able to live with himself. One scene that shows both the imbalance of power but also the depravity in a way takes place on a pool table and is solely based on perspective. It is both telling but yet explains and shows why Rohr is a man who is lost while another cop, whose wife slowly is coming undone with good reason, is moving towards the end of his path, unless he pulls away. This all come back in a way to Jackie who with his pinky can adjust the strings while being barely and wholly aware at the same time. B

By Tim Wassberg