Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door
Fezco’s grandmother, a woman of great strength and power, has just killed a club owner in cold blood. In this new episode, we follow Fezco as he tries to understand why she did it and what it means for his future.
This young Fezco is in the back of her car with a blonde-haired guardian, who isn’t exactly a great role-model. But she teaches Fezco everything he needs to know about drug dealing.
Fezco is left to deal with his new brother, Ashtray. He regards them as a family, but their unconventional set-up may not be ideal. When his grandmother dies, Fezco must deal with the whole family business and look after Ashtray too.
Rue, one of their customers, is in the backseat of the car rapping while high. We’re in the present, on New Year’s Eve, as Ashtray and Fezco are angry as they head to a deal.
Rue implores her friend Faye to stay in the car with her, but Faye quickly succumbs to heroin and is dragged into a dark alley by a group of men. Inside, they meet hotheaded Bruce, the man in charge. Bruce immediately demands that everyone strip off to prove they’re not wired with cameras. While Rue is initially hesitant, Bruce throws her into the shower and orders her to strip. ..
Rue eventually vouches for Fezco’s integrity. “She may f*ck around but she’s not an addict,” he says. Once the deal goes down, and the trio head back in their car, Fezco calls out Rue’s nonchalance and laughter, reminding her that this is serious business.
Nate offers to take Cassie on a ride home, but she declines. Maddy tries to get her friend to change her mind, but Cassie is adamant about going alone. Maddy eventually gives up and goes back inside.
Nate and Cassie are driving when they get to a party. They kiss and get hot and heavy in the bathroom. Maddy shows up at the door, pounding and asking to be let in. Cassie eventually hides in the bath, hand on her mouth while the shower curtain is drawn.
Elsewhere, Fezco starts talking to Lexi, commenting on how he likes her name. The pair start to grow closer together, discussing their own views on religion and life. They’re obviously very different people but it’s a really nice moment that shows a bit of vulnerability from Fezco, especially when his ideals are challenged. ..
Fezco eventually admits that talking to her is the highlight of his whole year, managing to get her phone number in the process.
Jules begins to worry, trying to find Rue who keeps taking drugs.
Cassie is saved by her phone buzzing. A partygoer tries to hook up with her, giving her a window of opportunity to leave, despite another partygoer arriving and using the toilet.
Jules and Fezco are about to start their shift when they hear that Rue has relapsed. Rue is upset with Jules for being mean at first, but Jules tells her it’s nothing compared to what’s happening with Fezco and Nate.
As the crowd cheer a New Year, Fezco beats Nate down to a pulp, smashing a glass over his head and pummeling his face. Given his promise to kill him next time they meet, that promise is almost carried out, only stopped by others pulling him off. Lexi can only watch in horror as Nate is dragged outside.
The Episode Review
Nate’s beating is a microcosm of the larger issue at hand: the way that people treat each other. He’s been treated unfairly and he doesn’t like it, but he won’t let himself be bullied or take advantage of. He’s a good person and he wants to help others, even if that means getting his butt kicked.
The entire party turns on a dime, with Fezco beating the man to an absolute pulp without even batting an eyelid. This is an important scene but equally the early parts of this chapter diving into his past and seeing the estranged upbringing and harsh circumstances he’s had to face, make this scene hit that much harder.
The series has been building up to this moment for a while and it’s a nice development that Rue and Jules finally find each other and talk about their feelings. This is a light moment in what is otherwise a dark slice of teen drama.
This show has always been great at depicting the true horrors of drug addiction, and that’s still the case here. As someone who used to do drugs heavily, and witnessing first-hand my friends overdosing – convulsing, passing out or frothing at the mouth – it’s hard to convey that onscreen but this show has always been pretty accurate at that. ..
This second season promises to be every bit as dramatic and enthralling as the first, and this is a great episode to start things off. ..
