Ready for episode 5 of season 2? Jesse has just discovered that Viktor is Tulip’s husband, so he does what any fine, upstanding young man would do: drags Viktor down to the torture chamber, straps him into a harness hanging from the ceiling, and kicks Tulip out of the room using Genesis.
Aaaaand flashback: we see that, when Carlos abandoned them in the middle of a job, Tulip miscarried the baby she was carrying. Months later, Jesse is looking worn out, drinking beer on the couch. Tulip reminds him that Dany, their old boss, is coming for dinner. Maybe he should clean up a bit.
During dinner, Dany keeps trying to entice Jesse and Tulip back to working some nefarious contracts with her. Tulip says she is happily working in real estate, and Jesse–well, he’s a bartender. Okay. Tulip asks if Dany’s has any info about Carlos. Negative on that, good buddy.
Later, Tulip and Jesse nervously await the results of a pregnancy test. Nope, not this time. They decide to try again, having vigorous sexy time. Later, Jesse wakes up to find Tulip in the kitchen holding a stool. She doesn’t answer him when he asks what she’s doing.
Back to New Orleans: Jesse looks around and finds a nasty tool with which to torture Viktor. Meanwhile, Tulip brings Viktor’s daughter to Denis’s house for safe-keeping, and also to ream Cassidy a new one for telling Jesse where she was. She says she’ll leave Jesse completely if he kills Viktor. Cassidy seems truly heartbroken that she’d consider breaking up the band, so he decides to go have a chat with Jesse. Back in the torture room, Viktor tells Jesse that Tulip was emotionally hurt when she came to him. Viktor blames Jesse for Tulip’s pain.
Flashback to Dallas: so begins a very sad montage. Over and over again, Jesse and Tulip check a pregnancy test, get disappointed, have sex, Jesse goes to buy beer and another pregnancy test, Jesse and Tulip check the pregnancy test, get disappointed, have sex, Jesse goes to buy beer and another pregnancy test, Jesse and Tulip check the pregnancy test, get disappointed, have sex, Jesse goes to buy beer and another pregnancy test and on and on and on. The sex becomes very mechanical and emotionless as it goes on, and the mood is somber. Even praying over the test doesn’t result in anything different.
One day, while fixing a smoke alarm, Jesse discovers a blue plastic bag hiding behind an air vent. That night he confronts Tulip with the thousands of dollars in the bag, plus the birth control pills he found. Tulip admits that she only lasted 3 weeks at the real estate job and has been working with Dany ever since. She does not want the life that Jesse as planned for them. Jesse tells her he’s going back to Annville, to preach at his daddy’s church. She scoffs, “Good luck with that.”
Presently: Cassidy finds Jesse and tries to talk him down from killing Viktor, telling him that Tulip really does love him. Jesse is unimpressed, since Cassidy’s been lying about stuff for the whole trip. Cassidy convinces Jesse that the decision is all his and, no matter what he chooses to do, Cassidy will be there for him.n After Case leaves, Jesse picks up an axe. Viktor gives a final F. U. to Jesse: she came to me because you’re and asshole and I was nice to her. Jesse swings the axe.
Back at Denis’s, when asked about Viktor, Jesse tells them, “I took him down.” Tulip is pissed that Jesse killed her husband, but Jesse tries to explain: he took him down from the harness and got him to sign divorce papers (where the divorce papers magically came from is anybody’s guess, hehehe). They kiss and make up. Jesse apologizes, but Tulip says, “We’re bad for each other.”
Last flashback: Tulip and Viktor are playing Monopoly. When Viktor steps out, Tulip gets a call. Fram Dany. About Carlos. She asks, “Does Jesse know?” When Viktor returns, her dresser is empty and she is gone.
New Orleans: Viktor has his daughter back and is contentedly reading the newspaper to her. A nice moment. Naturally, it doesn’t last. BANG! Screams! More violence! Viktor tells his daughter to hide in the closet, and the Saint of Killers comes blasting through the door with just one question on his lips: “Preacher?” Viktor is killed. The Saint finds the daughter in the closet and before he can even ask, she tells him she knows where the preacher is.
Well, we certainly filled in a few blanks about Jesse and Tulip this week, didn’t we? They have been through some hell together, deceived each other, and ultimately seem destined to be together. For now, I guess. And I’m actually a little sad to say goodbye to Viktor, who seemed like a decent guy if you can ignore the crime, murder, and torture. Cassidy, who is really my favorite character of all time, was left on the sidelines a bit, offering support and commentary, but not much else. I’m sure we’ll get a Cassidy-centric episode soon.
See you next week!
