The second episode of the first season of Prime’s Neagley begins right where the previous episode left off, contributing further to the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of the show. Neagley and her partner Rats (who she is growing increasingly to respect, however sparingly) investigate the apparent suicide of a self-secluded, evidently unhappy man, and quickly determine it to be a homicide instead, most likely perpetrated by Echo Canyon Farm and connected to Tommy’s death. At the scene of the crime, Neagley finds evidence pointing to the fact he has a daughter, and laments on the fact that he may not be remembered at all.
This idea of being forgotten seems to follow Neagley throughout the episode, as her father even insists he is worried of her being so alone after he is dead. Though Neagley is not one to express outwardly her fears, the sensation of her worry is evident in the way she obsesses over the man’s death, going so far as to make a scrapbook for his daughter. This characterization – this humanization – of Neagley provides the first insight of vulnerability into her character, and seems to contribute to her willingness to collaborate with Rats, with whom she even shares more personal information with.
When the pair goes to a bar to investigate further, believing a duo caught on a morgue security tape to be the culprits, Rats is informed that his cousin has been spreading lies, implying that he is a dirty cop and a “get out of jail free card.” Unable to control himself, he goes after him in search of retribution. When Neagley steps in to save him (as he, ultimately, was up against too many people), she makes him promise that he will keep it cool and work on his issues should they work together. In response to this, he extends a handshake, challenging Neagley to work on her haphephobia in turn. She refuses, storming out of the diner.
Following this exchange, Neagley questions her father, inquiring upon when her haphephobia truly began. Her father – whether due to true forgetfulness or deceit – lies to her. This further frustrates her, as it seems a trauma of which she does not even know looms over her everyday interactions.
When Neagley later returns home to find Keno, the career petty criminal whom she’s employed as a service in this investigation, on her couch, she hatches a plan for him to infiltrate Echo Canyon Farm. However, the plan goes awry when – having just arrived – the leader pulls a gun on him, insisting he knows who he is, truly.
Much like episode one, episode two is quick into action, and further characterizes Neagley, though in a different way. Whereas episode one emphasized her aloofness, episode two seems to emphasize her humanity, going as far to show her collection of action figures within her apartment. As the story weaves together, we see how complex her character truly is. She is willing to step outside the law, yet cares enough to ensure a daughter does not forget her father.
Plotwise, this episode only grows the complexity of the story. It both raises questions (why send Neagley rye flour?) and answers them (Echo Canyon Farm seems to be a ‘human’ farm from which to pick human specimens for the psychedelic experiment).
Though episode one seems to be stronger in terms of dialogue (episode two is, inherently, impressive, but has many moments that appear on the nose, such as when discussing her haphephobia or her father’s death – moments that may have benefitted from more subtext), episode two still manages to hold its own, and continues in a strong, imposing way which forecast a good outlook for the rest of the season.
8/10
