Manifest Destiny (Terriers)

Last updated
"Manifest Destiny"
Terriers episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 5
Directed by Rian Johnson
Written by Leslye Headland
Produced by
Cinematography byCurtis Wehr
Editing byJordan Goldman
Production code1WAD04
Original air dateOctober 6, 2010 (2010-10-06)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Fustercluck"
Next 
"Ring-a-Ding-Ding"

"Manifest Destiny" is the fifth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers . The episode was written by Leslye Headland, and directed by Rian Johnson. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on October 6, 2010.

Contents

The series is set in Ocean Beach, San Diego and focuses on ex-cop and recovering alcoholic Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue) and his best friend, former criminal Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), who both decide to open an unlicensed private investigation business. In the episode, Hank and Britt try to get rid of the problem with Lindus' corpse, while also investigating a law firm that seems to be involved with him.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.486 million household viewers and gained a 0.2/1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics, who praised the resolution to some of the story arcs, performances and directing.

Plot

Lindus (Christopher Cousins) is reported missing by his wife Josephine (Jackie Debatin), who accuses Hank (Donal Logue) and Britt (Michael Raymond-James) of having kidnapped him. Mark (Rockmond Dunbar) questions Hank, who suggests he may have accessed Lindus' office for him.

Returning home, they find that Steph (Karina Logue) has placed Lindus' corpse in a bathtub with ice. Britt retrieves one of Lindus' cars from his mansion use the body to stage Lindus' death to appear like a drunk driving accident. The next day, they visit Josephine and claim that retrieving Lindus from the airfield was part of their plan with Lindus. Josephine informs them that Lindus' associates wanted to meet with him and she provided them with Hank's and Britt's information. Hank takes Steph to live with Gretchen (Kimberly Quinn) while Britt moves out of his house with Katie (Laura Allen).

To draw out his associates, Hank and Britt use Lindus' frozen credit card to make it appear like he stayed in a motel room. Later, a man (Daren Scott) whom Hank identifies as Mickey’s killer visits the motel and leaves. They follow him to a law firm, Zeitlin & Associates. As Hank follows the man, he is greeted by Ben Zeitlin (Michael Gaston), who offers to represent him and Britt on the kidnapping accusation. After Hank brings up Mickey’s death and suspicious activity at the resort construction site, Zeitlin asks for the environmental study that Lindus possessed, threatening him and Britt by showing that the suspicious man, Mr. Burke, has been following them and their loved ones for days. On his way out, Hank punches Mr. Burke in the nose.

Hank and Britt visit Maggie (Jamie Denbo), who has just given birth to her son. Learning that Zeitlin is involved, she tells them to give them everything they want and then leave. To complicate matters, Gretchen and Jason (Loren Dean) have checked the soil report, which reveals massive amounts of carcinogens at the construction site. Concerned for their safety, Hank and Britt locate Lindus' wrecked car and place the soil study in Lindus' jacket. They report the crashed car so the police discover the body and the study.

As Hank and Britt watch the news coverage on a bar, they are joined by Mark, who knows they called in the car and wonders if they had a role in Lindus' death, which the pair denies. Mark thanks them for whatever they did. The next day, Zeitlin is forced to give a conference to condemn Lindus and the soil study, which halts the development. Hank thanks Jason and Gretchen for helping him with Steph. As they leave, Hank tells Gretchen that he still loves her. While driving home, Steph casually mentions the soil study had fake readings that were incompatible with one another, merely giving the impression the development was carcinogenic. A shocked Hank drives to the construction site, where he sees Mr. Burke supervising workers on the project. As Gretchen asks if the case remains open, Hank doubtfully says that it is closed.

Reception

Viewers

The episode was watched by 0.486 million viewers, earning a 0.2/1 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. This means that 0.2 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 1 percent of all households watching television at that time watched it. [1] This was a 26% decrease in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.649 million viewers with a 0.3/1 in the 18-49 rating demographics. [2]

Critical reviews

"Manifest Destiny" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Noel Murray of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "Waiting to see how Hank would get pulled back in added a layer of tension to an episode that was a fraction less grabby than the previous four Terriers. 'Manifest Destiny' was every bit as clever and funny as what we've seen so far — with a little stylistic flourish provided by director Rian Johnson — but with no new case for our heroes to investigate, there was more of a businesslike feel to the episode. Dice to roll. Cards to play. Pieces to move." [3]

Alan Sepinwall of HitFix wrote, "'Manifest Destiny' wraps up the Lindus/Montague story arc for now, but in a way that makes it clear Britt and Hank will be wading through this particular septic tank again before the season's end. The hour, written by Lesley Headland and directed by Rian Johnson, kept up the chaotic feeling of the closing minutes of last week's episode." [4]

Matt Richenthal of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.2 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I sincerely have no idea what will happen next with this storyline, which is always a great feeling to have when watching any show. But it's an especially great feeling to have for a show that started out as a simple look at the lives of two close friends, and has evolved into an intricate world of murder, cover-ups and so much more." [5] Cory Barker of TV Overmind wrote, "In 'Manifest Destiny', they have to deal with the consequences of that decision while the whole world starts to suck in around them. That element is probably one of my favorite parts of Terriers." [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>Terriers</i> (TV series) US crime comedy-drama television series

Terriers is an American crime comedy-drama noir television series created by Ted Griffin that aired on FX from September 8 to December 1, 2010. The show was canceled by FX on December 6, 2010, after the first season.

"Gliding Over All" is the eighth episode and mid-season finale of the fifth season of the American television drama series Breaking Bad, and the 54th overall episode of the series. Written by Moira Walley-Beckett and directed by Michelle MacLaren, it aired on AMC in the United States on September 2, 2012.

"The Thing with Feathers" is the 16th episode of season 1 of the supernatural drama television series Grimm, which was premiered in the United States on April 6, 2012, on NBC. The episode was written by Richard Hatem and was directed by Darnell Martin.

"Love Sick" is the 17th episode of the supernatural drama television series Grimm of season 1, which premiered on April 13, 2012, on NBC. The episode was written by Catherine Butterfield, and was directed by David Solomon.

"Bad Moon Rising" is the 3rd episode of the supernatural drama television series Grimm of season 2 and the 25th overall, which premiered on August 27, 2012, on NBC. The episode was written by Richard Hatem, and was directed by David Solomon.

"Quill" is the 4th episode of the supernatural drama television series Grimm of season 2 and the 26th overall, which premiered on September 3, 2012, on NBC. The episode was written by David Simkins, and was directed by David Straiton.

"The Hour of Death" is the 10th episode of the supernatural drama television series Grimm of season 2 and the 32nd overall, which premiered on November 2, 2012, on NBC. The episode was written by Sean Calder, and was directed by Peter Werner.

"The Waking Dead" is the 21st episode of season 2 of supernatural drama television series Grimm and the 43rd episode overall, which premiered on May 14, 2013, on the cable network NBC. The episode was written by series creators Jim Kouf and David Greenwalt, and was directed by Steven DePaul.

"Pilot" is the series premiere of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by series creator Ted Griffin, and directed by Craig Brewer. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on September 8, 2010.

"Dog and Pony" is the second episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by executive producer Shawn Ryan and consulting producer Jed Seidel, and directed by Clark Johnson. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on September 15, 2010.

"Change Partners" is the third episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by consulting producer Phoef Sutton, and directed by Guy Ferland. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on September 22, 2010.

"Fustercluck" is the fourth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Jon Worley, and directed by Michael Offer. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on September 29, 2010.

"Ring-a-Ding-Ding" is the sixth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Angela Kang, and directed by Billy Gierhart. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on October 13, 2010.

"Missing Persons" is the seventh episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Jed Seidel, and directed by Michael Zinberg. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on October 20, 2010.

"Agua Caliente" is the eighth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Phoef Sutton and Jon Worley, and directed by John Dahl. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on October 27, 2010.

"Pimp Daddy" is the ninth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by executive producer Shawn Ryan and Kelly Wheeler, and directed by Adam Arkin. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on November 3, 2010.

"Asunder" is the tenth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Nicholas Griffin, and directed by series creator Ted Griffin. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on November 10, 2010.

"Sins of the Past" is the eleventh episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by executive producer Tim Minear, and directed by Tucker Gates. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on November 17, 2010.

"Quid Pro Quo" is the twelfth episode of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by Angela Kang and Leslye Headland, and directed by Adam Arkin. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on November 24, 2010.

"Hail Mary" is the thirteenth episode and series finale of the American crime comedy-drama television series Terriers. The episode was written by series creator Ted Griffin and Nicholas Griffin, and directed by Ted Griffin. It was first broadcast on FX in the United States on December 1, 2010. Five days after its airing, FX announced the series' cancellation, making the episode the series finale.

References

  1. Seidman, Robert (October 7, 2010). "Wednesday Cable: Yankees/Twins Tops Night; South Park Top Scripted; Terriers Falls & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  2. Gorman, Bill (September 30, 2010). "Wednesday Cable: Tosh.0 Slips; Terriers Barks A *Little* Louder; Ghost Hunters, Top Chef, Real World & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  3. Murray, Joel (October 6, 2010). "Terriers: "Manifest Destiny"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  4. Sepinwall, Alan (October 6, 2010). "'Terriers' – 'Manifest Destiny': Clase closed?". HitFix . Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  5. Richenthal, Matt (October 6, 2010). "Terriers Review: "Manifest Destiny"". TV Fanatic. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  6. Barker, Cory (October 7, 2010). "Terriers 1.05 "Manifest Destiny" Review". TV Overmind. Retrieved July 6, 2022.