(354-word review) There is far too much going on in this season, which I always perceived, but it's now even more apparent. There are three episodes left, and there is more clutter from every angle than ever before, not to mention a lack of structure/development/screen time; having too many plotlines and off-shoot plot threads inside them makes it more difficult. That was heightened by the fact that this episode was a follow-up to the previous two, which were the greatest of the season; a big reason for that was putting most of the plotlines on the back burner, thus allowing a stronger, more intimate focus on only a few, giving breathing room and not cutting to another scene every five seconds - that's what this one and the other episodes besides the previous two have done to varying extents.
Now, Ming Yu, a new character, has also been introduced. Such a thing had to be done, and the near end of the season was ideal; it makes so much sense. The purpose was likely to put Ah Toy and Mai Ling in the same room so that Ah Toy could accept the wedding invitation; of course, Ming Yu's return is likely, for disposal. Even if their story arc is short, introducing someone fresh at this point shows a little too much ambition. Another element was that Lai somehow followed Strickland; not only does this scene appear unexpectedly, but knowing where he would be, whether that final place or anywhere, then being followed there demands suspending your disbelief.
The scenes with Father Jun, which were effective, stood out the most. I still think his return was unnecessary, but going that route with his character is daring, on top of serving as some extra set-up to the inevitable blow-up between Young Jun and Ah Sahm by being yet another thing that's greatly straining their relationship, slowly but effectively boiling the pot over - while the ending increased interest in where that's going; Jason Tobin's acting in that closing scene was unquestionably superb. Leary's speech to the other Irishmen, alongside his conversation with Ah Sahm, were both reasonably good.
Now, Ming Yu, a new character, has also been introduced. Such a thing had to be done, and the near end of the season was ideal; it makes so much sense. The purpose was likely to put Ah Toy and Mai Ling in the same room so that Ah Toy could accept the wedding invitation; of course, Ming Yu's return is likely, for disposal. Even if their story arc is short, introducing someone fresh at this point shows a little too much ambition. Another element was that Lai somehow followed Strickland; not only does this scene appear unexpectedly, but knowing where he would be, whether that final place or anywhere, then being followed there demands suspending your disbelief.
The scenes with Father Jun, which were effective, stood out the most. I still think his return was unnecessary, but going that route with his character is daring, on top of serving as some extra set-up to the inevitable blow-up between Young Jun and Ah Sahm by being yet another thing that's greatly straining their relationship, slowly but effectively boiling the pot over - while the ending increased interest in where that's going; Jason Tobin's acting in that closing scene was unquestionably superb. Leary's speech to the other Irishmen, alongside his conversation with Ah Sahm, were both reasonably good.
