‘Longmire’ season 3, episode 7 review: Katee Sackhoff shines in ‘Population 25’
Tonight, “Longmire” aired an episode that was certainly different from the average episode. It was 70 minutes long including commercials for one, and it was one of the few that featured Walt having to actually rescue one of his own rather than take on a new mystery.
The main event for this episode is the story of Vic, who was brutalized along with her husband Sean as the two tried to embark on a trip to Wyoming. Do we blame that bear on the road for ruining everything? We really want to, but this was an operation far more complicated than that.
Katee Sackhoff was brilliant throughout this, and she really had to be an emotional anchor courtesy of everything that she went through. (The same goes for Sean, especially in those interrogation / torture scenes.) This is the sort of story that changes a character, and it also tested Longmire to the limits as he had to further atone for some of his own past. That shootout at the very end of the episode was definitely that, and while we do not know who shot who, we imagine that the name of the show basically gives away that Walt lives. That doesn’t mean that he isn’t hurt, or that the captor Chance or anyone else is.
Through this, we learned that Chance didn’t actually kill Walt’s wife, so unfortunately that part of the story is not tied up at all. He’s just another horrible guy that had his own personal vendetta. In between dealing with him and then Ed, Walt is going to take a long nap in order to get his energy back.
Of course, the other ramification here is that Sean is probably going to be gone moving forward, and we don’t quite blame him. Is this the life that you would want for yourself? He may love Vic, but he also doesn’t want to die.
This was overall one of the strongest episodes of “Longmire” to date, and now, we are truly excited to see what happens from here. To think, we didn’t even spend much time at all in here talking about Branch going unhinged. Grade: A.
What did you think about this “Longmire” episode as a whole? Sound off in the comments.
Bhammer100
July 22, 2014 @ 12:18 am
One of the best episodes.
Methusaleh
July 17, 2014 @ 12:05 am
Longmire jumped the shark. Excessively brutal, totally unnecessary violence, with no mystery at all. The plot lines were preposterous. The show has entered a very dark phase and no one is likable any more. Everyone but Ferg has a mess of a life. Meh. Bring back the old shows.
longmire devotee
July 17, 2014 @ 3:54 pm
did branch shoot chance?
elena
July 16, 2014 @ 11:11 am
First time ratings ar up and not down this season. Best episode so far.
Stephen McGill
July 16, 2014 @ 6:12 pm
Best episode if you prefer Longmire done with a Lynch/Cronenberg sensibility. I don’t know. I kind of liked the down to earth tone the show had in seasons 1&2. I’ve nothing against “blood & guts”, I just thought the earlier shows had a refreshing, unique pace to them.
elena
July 16, 2014 @ 9:42 pm
Well, things change in a TV show. And probably this was not supposed to be a simple procedural tv show since the beginning. First season was more like that and I loved that way, too. But since season 2 things started to change. Peter Stormare remembered me of Fargo tonight. And Sackhoff did a powerful performance along with all the cast. When there’s quality, I don’t mind the way it is.
Craig Johnson fan
July 16, 2014 @ 5:14 am
The books are awesome! Who cares what the characters look like? Branch is in the books, granted a very minor character. Yes, Vic gets a divorce before she and Walt get together. Did you really read the books? Craig Johnson is an amazing writer. The books are better if you like character development. The show is great, but different. If you read the books, you would understand that Walt and Vic are good together. Certainly there are things that didn’t make sense in this episode….why would Vic jump a fence with those signs on it, unless there was a different entrance? And violence is disturbing, of course, but I liked this episode. Sean is out, that’s for sure, poor guy.
Bob Ross
July 16, 2014 @ 5:44 am
Much like Game of Thrones or other books made into TV shows, the TV show HAS to stand alone to be good or bad on its own. You can’t like a show just because you like the book or visa versa. And I think many on here think that the characters on the show, despite liking the show, has never really shown any romantic chemistry. There has never been any set up on the show to them having feelings for each other before this episode.
One, there is a large age difference between them. Two, she was married and the only other romantic plotline was between Ed and her, not her and longmire. Three, he had a “Monk” like obsession about his wife’s killer and had one age appropriate relationship in the first season, which Vic seemed totally ok with and displayed no jealousy when he was dating sort of seeing that woman. If she had some buried feeling for Longmire, you would think she would be passive aggressive about any of his lady friends, even if she was married herself.
Therefore, on the show, it is kind of coming out of nowhere.
Jim K
July 16, 2014 @ 3:45 am
Did anyone get what vic said when she was trying to get the bag open that she thought walt was in??? Also… two weak points. Why did walt walk 2 mi. When nothing was wrong with his car??? How did the state trooper get up the driveway when the gate was locked??? Just wondering! !!
Carol_R
July 16, 2014 @ 2:28 am
I enjoyed the episode but I don’t want Walt & Vic as a couple. There is no chemistry between the actors and they don’t fit as characters. If they do put them together IMO it will ruin the show.
D STYRES
July 15, 2014 @ 10:27 pm
LOVE THIS SHOW HOPE ITS ON FOR YEARS, SICK OF THE REALITY CRAP.PS AND LEBRON
diane
July 15, 2014 @ 8:37 pm
Please don’t put Walt and Vic in an affair! That will just ruin a terrific show!
turretgunner
July 15, 2014 @ 9:43 pm
Agree completely, but this episode (albeit, a great one) seemed to really set the stage for that happening. At the very least, Sean will be taking that job overseas…and Vic will not be going with him.
Rain Trueax
July 15, 2014 @ 10:19 pm
well they are together in the books at least after the first ones. She is not married in them though, probably divorced.
Carol_R
July 16, 2014 @ 2:30 am
Well to me the books stunk. The series is so much better than the books. At least both Walt & Vic are attractive unlike in the books. And the Branch character isn’t in the books, but he adds a lot to the show.
Bob Ross
July 16, 2014 @ 5:31 am
I think you need to be prepared for it. I was surprised to. They never showed through several seasons now any attraction between them on the show. There were some misunderstandings between Vic;s husband and Longmire (about the hotel.etc) but this is the first episode where it seemed like she has more than boss feelings for him. You don’t leave your husband and drive back to your boss after that experience without a divorce. It was really odd, because it seemed like they were headed to redeeming Ed, but he seemed to finally be over her after this experience. Also, it was not like her husband was the typical weak guy in a crisis that plots like this usually use as an excuse to get one of the characters divorced so the main characters get together. He was actually pretty brave considering the circumstance.
Maybe its because Katee Sackoff is usually in strong kick-butt characters and does not do flirty, but it was really surprising.
One, there is a large age difference between them. Two, she was married and the only other romantic plot line was between Ed and her, not her and longmire. Three, he had a “Monk” like obsession about his wife’s killer and had one age appropriate relationship in the first season, which Vic seemed totally OK with and displayed no jealousy when he was dating/ sort of seeing that woman. If she had some buried feeling for Longmire, you would think she would be passive aggressive about any of his lady friends, even if she was married herself.
Therefore, on the show, it is kind of coming out of nowhere.
elena
July 16, 2014 @ 2:01 pm
They never showed it completely, but there were little hints since season 1, like when she said to Walt that she needed a real man, because Sean didn’t even consult her, when he decided to move to Australia for his job. This and other few hints. I really started to think they could have been romantically involved since the end of season two actually. When Walt invited her at his house to protect her from Gorsky and that woman (I don’t remember the name) who was in love with him had that outburst of jealousy. There was already tension out there.
Robert Soule
July 15, 2014 @ 8:20 pm
For anyone who has read the Longmire novels, you learn that Vic and Walt have an on again off again relationship after Vic’s divorce from Sean. The show writers should ditch the “Walt’s wife’s killer” storyline. It is dragging Longmire down the path that almost killed The Mentalist with it’s boring “Red John”
storyline. Good episode, but again, don’t go down the “Branch goes nuts” storyline too far. Resolve it and get back to what made the show popular to begin with. I’d like to see a season 4.
Stephen McGill
July 15, 2014 @ 7:24 pm
I really like this show but I gotta admit, for a sparsely populated rural area, a whole lot of wacky, violent stuff happens on a regular basis. The cast is great but the writers seem to be reaching for thrills that are starting to feel a little far-fetched. I think the show would work better as more of a slow burn character study with occasional burst of action. Either way I’ll continue to watch.
Chris Lobina
July 15, 2014 @ 11:28 pm
Well they can’t be too realistic or else it would be incredibly boring
Stephen McGill
July 16, 2014 @ 12:00 am
Yeah, I’m probably nit-picking but it just seems that Vic & Sean should be able to take a romantic, long week-end without being taken hostage by “The Hills Have Eyes” bunch. What’s next? Big Foot!
turretgunner
July 15, 2014 @ 7:11 pm
I think Sean will move on (i.e., divorce Vic), but I don’t think it will have anything to do with what his wife does for a living. It’s who she does it with – Walt. When Vic became almost hysterical in the cellar thinking that it could be Walt’s body that they had thrown there, the look on Sean’s face said it all. And Vic knew what he had to be feeling, as well and didn’t say or do anything to convince him otherwise. Then came the moment between them in the back of that car after they had been rescued. The look and the silence before she jumped out to go see what had happened to Walt couldn’t have made it more obvious that she and Sean were done. But I for one really am said they are going to throw in the towel on Vic and Sean’s marriage. And I definitely do not want to see she and Walt become romantically involved. Yet, I think that may be where the show is heading now. .
PSeeks
July 15, 2014 @ 6:54 pm
I think it was very different than what we expect from Longmire – this was violent and on the edge of your seat….something like “24” I like the mystery, but the violence was a little shocking. I also was very turned off by the boy and the bat…that was too much.
Dean
July 15, 2014 @ 5:41 pm
My only complaint is that more people aren’t watching. I know I know its A&E but stille given the few scripted shows they still have Longmire is one of their best.
Kygail
July 15, 2014 @ 4:05 pm
This is one of the best episodes of Season 3 – Katie S. and Robert T. did fantastic jobs showing so much emotion with just looks. I even felt for poor Sean who has never been a favorite. I see him moving away but not so just because of the job, I think he realized that Vic has deep feelings for Walt, even if she isn’t admitting them to herself. Branch is crazy as a bedbug and the actor that portrays him is doing a great job! Next week’s preview seems to push him over the edge even more. He’s suddenly became Vic’s new “Ed” – he most certainly has crossed the line…. hopefully Cady doesn’t get hurt…..again.
turretgunner
July 15, 2014 @ 7:16 pm
I think you are spot on about Vic’s feelings for Walt and I believe she made that abundantly clear to Sean (and herself) in this episode. That moment before she jumped out of the car to go find out if Walt was still alive, she may as well said to Sean, “I don’t expect you to be home when I get back. Just send me the divorce papers and I’ll sign them.”
Proud Republican
July 15, 2014 @ 2:11 pm
I didn’t get to sleep until 2:00 am! Engrossing. Tense. Scary. The show seems to be saying, you just never know what you’re going to walk into. I plan on keeping the doors locked and the blinds closed for a while.
WarthenJohn
July 15, 2014 @ 1:19 pm
Like much of LONGMIRE’s 3rd season, the survivalist episode mixed narrative foolishness and deeply committed character exposition. Certainly its creators walked headlong into something more intense and startling than anyone watching this season’s lowpoint, the wilderness-adventure murder, would anticipate. I keep hoping the story-runners will just let-go Walt’s incoherent search for his wife’s killer and give undiluted attention to what is going-on among their three excellent leads. In its weird mixture of script-folly and depth, LONGMIRE impresses in the same way SOUTHLAND did: flaws and all, it resembles nothing else on television.
formerly avid viewer
July 15, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
I thought the episode was unnecessarily violent. I switched the channel when that child and his father were hitting Vic and Sean in the head with baseball bats.
CustomerReview2u
July 16, 2014 @ 2:15 pm
I agree. Up until now I have really enjoyed watching the Longmire series. One more episode like episode 7 and I will be Long-gone.
Bob Ross
July 15, 2014 @ 6:26 am
It was a great episode, but I have to say it was kind of a brain cramp by the network to have Walt in the teaser for next week when the episode ended in a cliffhanger with Vic going back for him. Its like TV show 101, if you have a cliffhanger, do not give it away in the preview for next week.