Grade: 87%
Starz’s BOSS returns for a second season
with “Louder Than Words.” What words is this title referencing? Each
episode title of season one was a single word. Perhaps this title is
supposed to represent something more? Something bigger?
If so, I wouldn’t say that’s exactly
accurate. “Louder Than Words” continues the story of Tom Kane (Kelsey
Grammer), picking up soon after it left off. While there are some
important differences, mostly concerning power vacuums that must be
filled, I would not say that this season two begins in a dramatically
different way than season one played out. It maintains the same quality
and suspense, pleasing the fans who are already addicted to the heady
drama.
Or, as many season one titles do, it
could refer to a specific moment within the episode that stands out. In
this case, the climatic finale when (SPOILER!) someone decides it is
time to take action to bring Tom down, shots ringing out at an important
event, the groundbreaking ceremony for the O’Hare project. Tom escapes
unharmed, but might his wife, Meredith (Connie Nielsen), have been hit?
Who shot at Tom? The obvious answer is
Darius (Rotimi Akinosho). After all, Darius is angry that Tom put his
own daughter, Darius’s girlfriend, Emma (Hannah Ware), behind bars.
Darius is also shown looking at a gun. There is motive, opportunity, and
foreshadowing of such an event. Which is probably why it wasn’t him,
because this answer is too obvious.
Interestingly, “Louder Than Words” ends
with a shot of Mayor Rutledge (Anthony Mockus Sr.) watching events on
the news. This could be a very important clue. Earlier in “Louder Than
Words,” Meredith made sure that the news was turned on for her father.
Might she be trying to take out Tom, and got caught in the crossfire
herself? Or Tom figured out the move and circumvented it? It is unlikely
Tom is trying to send Rutledge a message, as Rutledge is in no position
to do anything, and Tom’s visits to his father-in-law appear to be done
with fondness. But Meredith has reason to believe that Rutledge might
feel wronged by Tom, so this could be her way of delivering her dad his
revenge. Though if it is, she failed.
Another suspect is Alderman Ross (James
Vincent Meredith), who has dropped out of public life. After learning
that his wife cheated on him, then punching Tom out in public, Ross has
fallen from grace. Rather than persevere, he skips council meetings and
hides from sight. The one scene Ross gets in “Louder Than Words” is
supremely creepy, and shows a man on the edge. He is certainly capable
or heinous acts.
There is also motive for Ross, or one of
the other council members. Tom is trying to push through a legislative
bill that is very divisive. Ross would not want this bill to pass, even
if it seems like he cares about nothing. Or another Alderman could be
trying to stop the bill, taking matters into their own hands, since the
men previously pulling the strings in the chamber all seem to be
suddenly gone.
The only certainty about the shooting is that there is a mystery, and one that might take awhile to play out.
Will Tom be shaken by the near miss on
his life? It’s hard to say. He is already facing imminent death, so it
seems unlikely that being shot at would bother him that much more. He
knows that these are his final days, and does what he can to leave a
great legacy, pushing pet projects through, rather than being content to
wait around and let them play out, as he has in the past. He may only
redouble his efforts, lending even more urgency to his mission.
Unfortunately, Tom is running out of
time. Dr. Harris (Karen Aldridge) tells him the disease is progressing
rapidly. Mona Fredericks (Sanaa Lathan) is assuming Ross’s mantle and
gunning for him. Debra (Jennifer Mudge) is still alive and could expose
Tom’s attempt to strangle her. Zajac (Jeff Hephner) is getting restless
about the lack of support from Tom. Cullen (Francis Guinan) still holds a
grudge, as evidenced by his treatment of Zajac. Kitty (Kathleen
Robertson), a jaded employee, may agree to conspire with the persistent
newsman Sam Miller (Troy Garity), to expose Tom’s dark secrets. Add
these threats to the list of likely shooters, and Tom’s enemy list is
long, indeed.
However, as Meredith tells Zajac in
season one, do not underestimate Tom Kane. The challenges to his
position are numerous and frequent, and yet Tom continues to stay on
top. As season one ended, it looked certain he would crumble, but he
still stands. No matter how many angles they come at him, he weathers it
all.
The question is, how long can Tom
continue to do so, given his declining health? His hallucinations of
Ezra (Martin Donovan) and continuing bumbling speech patterns betray his
weakness. For now, Meredith is the only one alive in the inner circle
that knows about Tom’s illness, having finally gotten it out of Emma.
But it won’t stay buried forever. Whether Tom does himself in, or his
foes finally find that chink in his armor, he will come tumbling down.
This is not underestimation; this is reality. The draw of BOSS is
watching to see just how long it takes for that day to arrive.
BOSS airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Starz.
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