Ringer retorts "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me"

     In the mid-season finale of the CW's Ringer, "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me," Gemma's (Tara Summers) fate hangs in the balance. Charlie, a.k.a. John (Billy Miller, The Young & the Restless) grows impatient with the lack of resolution. Siobhan (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who hires Charlie in the first place, offers to pay him if he will let Gemma live. When she isn't fast enough with the money, Charlie asks Bridget (also Gellar) for a ransom. Even though Bridget tries to pay, Charlie gets spooked, and gos ahead and kills Gemma. Siobhan is angry, and takes out Charlie in revenge.

     The death of Gemma in "That's What You Get for Trying to Kill Me" is both interesting and disappointing. Viewers are believing Gemma is dead for weeks, only to learn she is merely Charlie's captive. Then there is a completely contrived, terrible scene in which Gemma somehow survives a shot to the head (Charlie's aim is bad at THAT range!?), almost escapes, and learns that Siobhan is still alive. Yet, Charlie recovers from the blow she gives him in time to kill her before she can tell anyone. The whole sequence is handled so poorly, one almost forgets how cool it is that Gemma's murder is unexpected, especially after she is given a vital piece of information. Thus, the entire thing is a mediocre wash, that with a little better plotting, could have been really awesome.

     Siobhan's emotional attachment to Gemma is somewhat unexpected. Up to this point, Ringer paints Siobhan has a cold, heartless bitch. Of course, she must have been nice at some point, or Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd) would never have married her, and Gemma wouldn't have been her friend. That empathetic side of Siobhan is shown briefly, as she kills Charlie.

     Bridget and Andrew are now a firm couple. It's a little icky, since Andrew is Bridget's twin sister's husband, and Andrew thinks Bridget is Siobhan.  But since the two are such a good match in personality, and they are both happy together, that kind of overrides the gross factor. As long as one doesn't think too hard on it. Of course, it can't last. Siobhan is back in town, and she probably won't be please that Bridget is 'fixing' her life. So poor Andrew, brought even closer to Bridget by recent tradgedy, faces a betrayal that might prove impossible for him to get over.

     Henry (Kristoffer Polaha) is just a big ball of mad these days. He hates Bridget, whom he thinks is Siobhan. He blames her for Gemma's death, and mucking up the ransom, eevn though it is Henry that spooks Charlie. His rage needs some focus, and it's a mystery who will get the brunt of it. Look for Tyler (Justin Bruening) to be a very similar character once it comes out that Siobhan's baby isn't his.

     The coolest part of "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me) is when Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell) unmasks Jimmy (Darren Pettie, Mad Men), as a mole. Machado is a heck of a detective, and puts together the most obscure reference to do so. With smarts like these, it shouldn't take Machado too much longer to realize that Bridget is posing as Siobhan, especially with the real Siobhan back in town. Wonderful character who deserves more screen time!

     Also, kudos for the great Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) guest appearance! Too bad it is so short, and she is murdered, so can't return in any part of substance.

     The final story in "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me" is the least satisfying. Juliet (Zoey Deutch) puts the moves very hard on Mr. Carpenter (Jason Dohring), only to be rebuffed. Then she claims that he rapes her. Carpenter is pretty mad at Juliet, but given his professionalism thus far, it seems unlikely he would commit such a heinous act. It's possible, but more likely, Juliet is lying because she is hurt at being rejected. Not really interested to see how this plays out, but hope it resolves quickly.

     Ringer will return to the CW in January.

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"The Poor Kids Do It Everyday" on Ringer

     Six episodes in, the mysteries on the CW's new drama Ringer keep coming. In this week's episode, "The Poor Kids Do It Everyday," Bridget (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Henry (Kristoffer Polaha) both wonder what happen to Gemma (Tara Summers), wondering if each other engaged in foul play. They seem to come to an understanding, but then Bridget calls in an anonymous tip to the police on the crime scene evidence that Henry cleaned up, and leaves her own fingerprints on the weapon. Also, Machado (Nestor Carbonell) searches for the also missing Malcolm (Mike Colter), and Juliet (Zoey Deutch) finds an ally in Mr. Carpenter (Jason Dohring, Veronica Mars, Moonlight) at her new school.

     In Ringer, the viewers get the important clues long before the characters do. By this point, audiences can assume that no one is trying to kill Siobhan (also Gellar) because the man that Bridget killed in self-defense was sent by Siobhan, though he carried Siobhan's picture, not Bridget's. This means it is likely that Siobhan wanted everyone to think she is dead, and by Bridget taking over her life, Bridget ruined Siobhan's plan. Or at least a part of it. It's why Siobhan wanted to kill Bridget. It's also why she has Gemma taken out, probably, as Gemma knows about the twin sisters, and also knows that Bridget has taken Siobhan's place.

     But is Gemma maybe somehow still alive? If not, why not show her body?

      Why does Siobhan want everyone to think she is dead? It's obviously something she plans for, setting aside money that Bridget also unwittingly takes, and heading to Paris. It's interesting that Ringer shows so much, but explains so little. Though fans know what Siobhan is doing, the why has not been covered for any of it, leaving as more questions that the series is answering.

     In "The Poor Kids Do It Everyday," the series does the same with Bridget. We see that Bridget implicates herself in the possible murder of Gemma, but it is not clear why. This gets Machado's attention, of course, as he has Bridget flagged. But for now, everyone except the missing Gemma assumes that Siobhan is still living her life, and if they even know who Bridget is, thinks she is the one missing. Without knowing that Siobhan is still alive, Bridget thinks that will be no suspect to be found for Gemma. It keeps Henry and Siobhan, meaning her, since she's taken Siobhan's place, clear of any suspicion. But, still, setting up herself is a big risk. Why not find a bum in the alley to get prints from? If Machado realizes the rouse, then he might think Bridget did something to Gemma, creating even more problems.

      Malcolm's capture and torture by the men looking for Bridget is a big complication that will have to be resolved soon. Given the CW's penchant for killing off main characters, his number might just be up. After all, he is certainly the most expendably of the main characters. Bridget already has a new sponsor, and Machado is only looking for Malcolm because he has information on Bridget. If Malcolm dies, Bridget's secrets are protected a bit longer. Hopefully, Ringer will find a new and interesting twist to keep Malcolm around, but it seems unlikely. Unless Gemma is really dead, and Ringer doesn't want to off two characters so soon.

     Also, is it really a coincidence that Bridget finds a new sponsor so quickly in Charlie (Billy Miller, The Young and the Restless). Is anyone fooled? Who is he working for, and why is he there?

     It also seems odd that Juliet gets any plot at all. She isn't a main character, nor is she paramount to what is going on with Bridget and Siobhan. This isn't exactly a complaint, since following Juliet to schools opens up the door to see Dohring back on television. However, her scenes seem out of place, especially coming after so little independent development for the character in the first few episodes.

     Is Bridget sleeping with Siobhan's husband, Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd)? She would have to, to completely sell the charade, especially since Bridget is determined to fix the marriage, but the series shies from showing this explicitly. Probably because of the gross factor involved in sleeping with one's own brother-in-law. If one stops and thinks about it, Andrew is living a common male fantasy, and not even getting to enjoy it. But, more likely, he will be morally offended when the truth comes out. Or he'll choose Bridget over Siobhan since Bridget is actually good to him. It sure seems like Bridget might be falling for Andrew, though whether that's because of the life she has with him, or because she genuinely cares, is uncertain.

     Ringer airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

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