As the team juggles small breakthroughs and mounting frustrations, a fresh lead takes Karen across state lines. Marie faces new problems at work.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of Netflix's Unbelievable.
"Episode 5" was written by Jennifer Schuur and directed by Michael Dinner
Grace is absolutely furious that more people aren't upset about what is being done to women all across this country. She sees the police department as enabling and protecting horrifying behavior. There is clearly a double standard. If the statistics showed that female officers had histories of violence, then they would be fired no questions asked. With the men on the force, they are constantly being protected and conveniently excused. This behavior shouldn't be acceptable. And yet, Grace finds herself constantly thrown into that battle. She understands the power of perception. She doesn't want to speak out until she has the evidence to back up her claims. When she is forced to do so, she speaks with so much passion. And yet, that too can be very alienating. It doesn't create too much tension amongst the team though. Nor should it. She is allowed to have her own perspective on the world. It can stand in contrast to Karen and the other investigators. They just have to keep working together and ensure that one mistake doesn't compromise the work they are doing together. Grace has this pent up rage and anger. The system is unfair and abusive. She doesn't see how she can get the access she needs in order to follow up the lead that sparks a ton of intrigue from her. She is taken aback when Elias tells FBI Special Agent Bill Taggart that they may be pursuing the cop angle. The evidence can't rule that out. Of course, this hour also explains how criminals are becoming more savvy in the world. They may not have to be on the force in order to know how police think. Karen is sent to Kansas after discovering that that state also had a series of rapes that match this specific profile. There, she learns from the lead detective that criminals can find helpful books online outlining the ways to avoid getting caught. These police practices are known. That's why it is so important to follow the rules and structures to root out any possible corruption. Grace rages against the system. And yet, she also wants to bend it to her expectations when she needs a favor from her husband. He can't do that though. It may be huge that she is reaching out for help. But this would compromise their jobs in ways that don't hit at the heart of the personal issues at play here. That's her own personal failing. She may still find a creative workaround. She may have found a suspect who could match the profile. She isn't stopping the investigation just because of some bureaucratic road bumps. That too is a part of the job. The bureaucracy can be infuriating a ton of the time. It seems counterproductive that agencies don't have the systems to communicate with each other. The team has to reach out to the FBI for support just to make this seem like a priority. They are operating with urgency. Of course, that may not help the victims of the past. Marie continues to deal with the fallout and suspicion of what actually happened to her in 2008. Colleen reaches out to the detective investigating the new case believing it to be the right thing to do. It could come at a cost for Marie that forces her to relive this experience when she needs to be on her best behavior for her court case. And yet, Marie's life will forever be traumatized. It's chilling to see how any interaction with men can become intimidating and threatening. Men have to be aware of that. They can't simply write off horrifying behavior as a playful joke. They have to be considerate of the female perspective. Connor presents as a good guy. Marie is the one lashing out at him. That simply makes more sense to her right now. She quits her job because it's too unbearable to continue being placed in these awkward situations. That just runs the risk of destroying her life further because she no longer has any system in place to keep her active and engaged. That's absolutely terrifying considering the trauma she has endured.
