In the previous episode of HBO MAX’s ‘Love & Death’, Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen) saw the psychiatrist, Dr. Fred Fason (Brian d’Arcy James). This set an intense tone for not only the series but also gave the audience more information on what Candy’s childhood was like. In the episode, not only did that happen, but Candy’s lawyer, Don Crowder (Tom Pelphrey) told her husband, Pat (Patrick Fugit) that she was guilty of murdering Betty Gore (Lily Rabe). In the opening scene of the sixth episode “The Big Top”, it has been four months since the murder, October 1980. Candy will be on trial on the current day, along with the jury selection being held as well. The trial itself is scheduled to start the next day, with the prosecution and the first witness on trial.
Candy’s lawyer Don told her that she needed to get a new hairdo, so it could look more like she’s not guilty. Cutting her hair will make it seem as though she’s living her life as she normally would. It’s not to her shoulders anymore, it’s a little above her neck. As Candy comes out of the car with Robert Udashen (Adam Cropper), her defense attorney, people crowd around the two of them, as they try to make it inside of the courthouse. This trial was all publicized and on television. It was a huge deal, a murder in Texas, that was rare.
In the next scene, the lawyers take turns speaking to the jury prospects. When it is Don’s turn to speak, he tells them the truth, “On Friday, June 13th, 1980, Candace Montgomery killed Betty Gore.” When he says this, everyone’s heads turn and there are looks of surprise and shock on all of their faces. The reason why he tells them the truth is because he wants to be able to tell them and show that she only did it in self-defense. He mentions that he cannot speak about the law without telling them the truth about the murder. Don also makes sure that the pastor of Candy’s church, Ron Adams (Keir Gilchrist), is a witness. Don believes that it will help the jury’s opinion by hearing how faith and God play a major part in Candy’s daily life.
As the trial begins to start, Judge Tom Ryan (Bruce McGill) makes a statement about Don not following the orders of not speaking to the press about the case. The day before the trial, that is exactly what he did. Don had thought that the order was lifted, but it wasn’t. Because of that, Judge Ryan finds him in contempt for the violation, also filing a one hundred dollar fine and twenty-four hours in the Collin County Jail. After the conclusion of the trial, Judge Ryan will put those on notice and Don will have to do his part in the punishment.
The first witness for the prosecution is Allan Gore (Jesse Plemmons). Allan states that on the day that Betty’s body was found, Allan had called their neighbor Richar Garlington (Aaron Jay Rome). Allan takes the juror back to his concern about Betty not answering his calls. He tells the truth that he and Candy did have an affair. That seemed to turn the heads of not only the jury but the audience as well in the courtroom. He gets asked by his lawyer if he told Betty about the affair and even though he did not, there’s no way to know if she knew or not. The only person who knew that she did know the truth was Candy.
As Don is questioning Allan, he brings up that during that time, Betty could have been depressed since she had a history of having that in the past. When Don asks him, “Can you think of any reason why Candy would wanna harm your wife?” Allan said that he couldn’t. This helps Candy’s case because it shows that Candy wouldn’t have any reason to harm her, other than in a form of self-defense. Not only does that play a part in gaining information that leads to the truth, but so does the fact that Candy did not know that the axe, which was used in the murder, was in the garage before the event took place.
On the second day of the trial, there’s a montage of the neighbors, who were the ones that found Betty’s body and Betty and Allan’s newborn daughter in the house. They all speak as witnesses, stating what they had seen and found that night. After that trial, Don noticed that Candy was taking something. She tells him that she was taking a medication called Serax, to help relax and calm her nerves. Later on that night, Candy asks Pat about his reaction, when Don told him on the phone that Betty was killed by Candy. Pat tells her that he’s grateful that it wasn’t Candy who had gotten killed. He wants her to be strong.
On the fourth day of the trial, the jury got to see the pictures and evidence, of all of the wounds on Betty’s body. The examiner of the body explains each of the forty wounds and what they all could have come from. As he finishes, it’s now Don’s turn to have his witnesses come forward. The first witness is Candy, which is an issue because Candy is still taking the medication, and it looks as if she has no emotion and cannot focus on what is happening at that moment. She’s zoned out. Don tries to push for a later time for them to have her speak, but the Judge only gives them ten minutes.
Overall, this was a good episode. It was focused on the trial, which was most anticipated by the viewers. Don made good points during court. The only question is if Candy will be able to speak on the stand and will show emotions during the questioning.
Rating: 10/10