Risking everything, Brennan and Embry appeal to a powerful local militia leader with the truth about Eric, and a call for unity and moral courage.
In 2019, the television industry aired 532 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides 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 Spectrum's Manhunt: Deadly Games.
"Don't Tread on Me" was written by Nick Schenk and directed by Michael Dinner
For people with devout and extreme ideologies, can any piece of contradictory information convince them to change their perspective? Big John's men are convinced that he is conspiring with their sworn enemies. He is working with the federal officers to sell out Rudolph. This standoff with the government has gone on for too long and he lacks the clear devotion that is rampant in the ranks of this local militia. These men are willing to overthrow him based on that supposition. Their fears are driving them because they have no clue what's going on behind closed doors with Big John, Brennan and Embry. The federal agents just want to present their evidence and hope that the other side of this conflict has enough reason to believe it. These two forces have been pitted against each other by a nefarious evil that is the true enemy to all of them. Rudolph has manipulated both sides to ensure even more destruction. He doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. He simply wants people to suffer and die at his hands. He has been roaming these woods preparing for as much destruction as possible. It's not until the dynamite is discovered in the cave that the militia members start to believe that Rudolph has been using them. Until this point, they saw him as a kindred spirit. It was easy for him to blend into their ranks because he knew how to say the right things to seem sympathetic to their cause. They had the resources to help him survive. Big John gave Rudolph a map of the area. He wanted to help him escape to freedom. That wasn't what Rudolph wanted though. As such, it's reasonable for Big John to have concerns about the end game here. His greatest fear has seemingly become a reality. The government has descended upon his town wishing to destroy his way of life completely. His men are armed and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what is theirs. Knox isn't quick to embrace this potential help either. She sees a group of individuals who stand opposed to everything she has worked to achieve in her career. And yet, Brennan is right. He knows that Rudolph was responsible for the bombing in Centennial Park. He knows that Rudolph has planted eight more bombs to detonate in this area. The federal agents move quickly enough to disarm the bombs to ensure that no one is injured. There are some precarious moments. Embry disables a bomb at the precise moment that Rudolph pulls the trigger. The walls are closing in on Rudolph. The manhunt for his capture intensifies. It's because these two opposing sides are able to come together with a clear understanding. The FBI knows that these militia members could be arrested as well for the items in their possession. However, they see the benefit of having people guide the search who know these woods. Rudolph has made plans to survive for months in the wilderness. It's much more complicated than the officials would like it to be. But again, it's powerful for this understanding to come so that everyone can move forward in a way that is beneficial to all. Sure, the show presents it in a simplistic way. This militia doesn't need to have a personal connection to the Centennial Park bombing in order to care about the innocent lives Rudolph has always targeted. The show still presents that argument to make this move just a bit faster. Moreover, Brennan has to be praised and uplifted because he speaks truth to power in saying that the FBI was wrong to investigate Richard Jewell. The man in Atlanta still struggles to defeat this impression of him that is out there in the world. That stigma will always be attached to him because of the actions of the federal government. The agents thought they knew what was for the best. Brennan goes against the orders of his superior. The culture at the FBI doesn't condone that. It's still the right and necessary move to hopefully fix things. Some things can't be changed though. There is only the hope that a new understanding can make things slightly better. Jewell still needs that hope. Rudolph hasn't been caught yet. The ending hasn't been found in this saga. But the intensity ensures that justice is sweeping up all involved. That means different things for different people. For some, it's vindication. For others, it's punishment. But for many, it is simply understanding and finding good in the world. That takes hard work and a willingness to see from different perspectives. The refusal to do so creates so much heartbreak and despair. The world is easily divided. This story hopes to fix that by highlighting the power of the ideals the world wants society to operate under.
For people with devout and extreme ideologies, can any piece of contradictory information convince them to change their perspective? Big John's men are convinced that he is conspiring with their sworn enemies. He is working with the federal officers to sell out Rudolph. This standoff with the government has gone on for too long and he lacks the clear devotion that is rampant in the ranks of this local militia. These men are willing to overthrow him based on that supposition. Their fears are driving them because they have no clue what's going on behind closed doors with Big John, Brennan and Embry. The federal agents just want to present their evidence and hope that the other side of this conflict has enough reason to believe it. These two forces have been pitted against each other by a nefarious evil that is the true enemy to all of them. Rudolph has manipulated both sides to ensure even more destruction. He doesn't care who gets hurt in the process. He simply wants people to suffer and die at his hands. He has been roaming these woods preparing for as much destruction as possible. It's not until the dynamite is discovered in the cave that the militia members start to believe that Rudolph has been using them. Until this point, they saw him as a kindred spirit. It was easy for him to blend into their ranks because he knew how to say the right things to seem sympathetic to their cause. They had the resources to help him survive. Big John gave Rudolph a map of the area. He wanted to help him escape to freedom. That wasn't what Rudolph wanted though. As such, it's reasonable for Big John to have concerns about the end game here. His greatest fear has seemingly become a reality. The government has descended upon his town wishing to destroy his way of life completely. His men are armed and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what is theirs. Knox isn't quick to embrace this potential help either. She sees a group of individuals who stand opposed to everything she has worked to achieve in her career. And yet, Brennan is right. He knows that Rudolph was responsible for the bombing in Centennial Park. He knows that Rudolph has planted eight more bombs to detonate in this area. The federal agents move quickly enough to disarm the bombs to ensure that no one is injured. There are some precarious moments. Embry disables a bomb at the precise moment that Rudolph pulls the trigger. The walls are closing in on Rudolph. The manhunt for his capture intensifies. It's because these two opposing sides are able to come together with a clear understanding. The FBI knows that these militia members could be arrested as well for the items in their possession. However, they see the benefit of having people guide the search who know these woods. Rudolph has made plans to survive for months in the wilderness. It's much more complicated than the officials would like it to be. But again, it's powerful for this understanding to come so that everyone can move forward in a way that is beneficial to all. Sure, the show presents it in a simplistic way. This militia doesn't need to have a personal connection to the Centennial Park bombing in order to care about the innocent lives Rudolph has always targeted. The show still presents that argument to make this move just a bit faster. Moreover, Brennan has to be praised and uplifted because he speaks truth to power in saying that the FBI was wrong to investigate Richard Jewell. The man in Atlanta still struggles to defeat this impression of him that is out there in the world. That stigma will always be attached to him because of the actions of the federal government. The agents thought they knew what was for the best. Brennan goes against the orders of his superior. The culture at the FBI doesn't condone that. It's still the right and necessary move to hopefully fix things. Some things can't be changed though. There is only the hope that a new understanding can make things slightly better. Jewell still needs that hope. Rudolph hasn't been caught yet. The ending hasn't been found in this saga. But the intensity ensures that justice is sweeping up all involved. That means different things for different people. For some, it's vindication. For others, it's punishment. But for many, it is simply understanding and finding good in the world. That takes hard work and a willingness to see from different perspectives. The refusal to do so creates so much heartbreak and despair. The world is easily divided. This story hopes to fix that by highlighting the power of the ideals the world wants society to operate under.
