IR TV Review: RABBIT HOLE - EPISODE 5 (“Tom”) [Paramount+]
The context of paranoia and trust can come down to the essence of familiarity and what might seem to be coincidence versus deduction. With "Rabbit Hole" in Episode 5 entitled "Tom", the context of the trap to be built shows its gears but also highlights an interesting function of details which sometimes, even to the keenest minds, can point to different directions. The showrunners in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa knows this which is why they dole out key information in scenes that slowly begin to unfurl Kiefer Sutherland's John Weir and his understanding of the situation. Ben Wilson (Charles Dance) has a different grasp but the aspect of the patriarchal mentality is meant to offset certain connotations or accusations. The same is true of Hailey (Meta Golding) since she has something to cover up.
The structure of the show works well but it doesn't come off as it moves on as diabolical or as dread filled as it should. This might be because the supposed bad guy, though we see the way his operative works, seems a little slimshod. But, of course, this might be because all the cards are not on the table. The only one that seems to have a clearer view, though she is grasping at straws as well, is FBI Agent Madi (Enid Graham). The character that really keeps the balance running interestingly enough is Edward Homm (played with the right amount of tongue-in-cheek flair by Rob Yang). He is the eyes of the audience but the key is you can enjoy the adventures through his perspective, even if he is in over his head. The episode works well in its notion of closing in the thinking protagonist so he is boxed in, which of course is when creative storytelling comes in. B
By Tim Wassberg
