SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Anna Pigeon Season 1, Episode 5.
Anna Pigeon Season 1, Episode 5 has an awful lot going on in it. The USA show serves up its first two-part story in “The Rope,” but the hour is also able to stand on its own thanks to a very layered script. And if anyone still somehow had doubts that Tracy Spiridakos was perfect for this part, this episode erases them for good.
It’s already the halfway point for Anna Pigeon Season 1, but “The Rope” could easily be the lead-in to the season finale. That’s because it clearly sets Anna on a collision course with somebody—but what’s interesting is that the script by Rookie Blue veteran Noelle Carbone doesn’t reveal who. The person who shoved Anna into a cave with a murder victim is referred to only as “The Monster.” There is a far more simplistic version of this episode that many other TV series would’ve taken. It involves everyone else on the show frantically looking for Anna, intercut with Anna being taunted by her captor, before being rescued at the last minute by her friends and having an emotional moment. But that’s nowhere near as satisfying as what Anna Pigeon serves up.
It begins with the choice to have Anna, and therefore the audience, not know how she ended up in the cave. This ensures the show doesn’t have to waste time (oftentimes an entire first act) with exposition. “The Rope” also only spends as much time on the search for Anna as makes sense with the other characters—who thankfully are treated as intelligent people, and not taking forever to catch on. Carbone cuts through these cliches in order to focus the episode on character development. It’s not a procedural whodunit; ironically given Anna’s backstory, this episode is more like a play interrupted by a separate play happening at the same time. The mystery is more of a continuing presence in the background, ostensibly to be resolved in the following episode.
Mostly left to her own devices, Spiridakos brings out every ounce of Anna’s grit but also her vulnerability. Her claustrophobia that was revealed during Episode 4 comes into play again here, and the character only has a few lines that would qualify as wisecracks. Anna’s narration that has framed the earlier episodes takes center stage here, as it lets the audience into her internal monologue. Jordan Sledz returns for a few more scenes as Zach, Anna’s late husband, but for the first time Zach turns on Anna too. It’s an interesting twist, since Zach seemed previously to be a constructive presence in Anna’s subconscious. But aside from his appearances and a few flashback beats, Spiridakos is a one-woman show and it’s clear how much she suits the role of Anna Pigeon. It’s not just that she can be tough and sassy; it’s that she can provide such depth and sincerity.
The question then becomes what to do with the rest of the cast, and “The Rope” still finds ways to use almost all of them. Ronnie Rowe Jr. and Tricia Helfer only appear briefly, but this is the second episode in a row where Paulina Alexis has a lot to do, and she’s joined by Cooper Levy as Zoey and Jesse form an unexpected team. “The Rope” is actually a critical episode for Jesse, because it establishes him as more than Anna’s love interest. Of course he’s motivated by his feelings for Anna, but he’s able to contribute to the plot; in fact, it’s Jesse who’s truly sounding the alarm. He deserves to be a fully fleshed-out character beyond the romantic subplot, and this episode demonstrates that.
Anna Pigeon Season 1, Episode 5 treats all of its characters with respect. Just as Anna doesn’t become a damsel in distress, her friends are still smart enough to realize she’s missing and do something about it. Even Geoff doesn’t hesitate for more than a few moments. Nothing is dragged out for dramatic effect, and even the closing scene of Anna stumbling back into camp is left to just be what it is. There’s no emotional music swell to make it melodramatic. “The Rope” tells one very good story, allowing the audience to learn more about Anna on her own as well as the other characters on their own, and then lays the groundwork for a greater whodunit that the audience can look forward to in the future.
Anna Pigeon airs Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on USA. Photo Credit: Michelle Faye/Courtesy of Versant Media.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
