TV REVIEW: Graceland’s Latest Spotlights the Supporting Cast

Graceland is back this week with “Tinker Bell,” and the supporting characters have been called up to the varsity ranks. This season is not the Briggs/Warren show, instead Jakes, Johnny, and Paige have their moment in that Southern California sun. Jakes turns to alcohol, Johnny just needs a friend, and Paige is falling for a housemate.

Dale Jakes is miserable, not taking the whole restraining order preventing him from seeing his ex and son very well.  He shows up at the beach house drunk first thing in the morning trying to get into his old room. Deny that you need any of those pretty people all you want, D.J., but we know better. He says, “I’m gone five minutes, and you give him my room?” Johnny tries to calm him down, but gets a head butt as a thank you. The commotion causes almost everyone to get involved with Briggs taking charge. Mike is no where to be found. Once the cops clear, we see him slink out of Paige’s room and do the walk of shame back to his.

Mike continues his path to growing up at warp speed, turning into Mr. Bossy Pants. He has an opportunity  to use that Human Resources minor tonight when he gets to decide who will leave Graceland – Jakes or new guy. He decides that both may stay for the night, but he will vote one off the island soon.

Pictured: (l-r) Vanessa Ferlito as Charlie DeMarco, Manny Montana as Johnny Turturro — (Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network)

Charlie and Briggs are apparently sleeping in separate rooms now with Charlie sliding further down the rabbit hole, chain smoking and having to listen to lectures from Mike about the dangers of lung cancer. Lucky girl.

Paige is all flirty fun with Mike telling him that, “One night together doesn’t mean you get to be cocky.” Interesting choice of words. Briggs interrupts the love fest reminding Mike of the case of the season – a shady operation led by bad guy Carlito Solano using buses to haul illegal contraband. Mike wants Briggs and Paige to set up a dealer with a Solano connection even though Paige knows it could spook her guy. Mike insists, so Paige agrees rewarded with a smarmy Mike wink on her way out.

Mike’s transformation from newbie without a clue, to head honcho barking orders at his fellow agents is a little head spinning. We loved him last season, but his climb up the ladder to top asshole is making us hope for a quick transport back to D.C. Let’s hope the writers in Neverland know what they’re doing and the Mikey we loved from last year will return soon.

Meanwhile, Jakes is sleeping off his drunk depression when bossman wakes him up to look at a VHS collection of tapes featuring footage from bus depots…sounds like the perfect cure for a hangover. Once he sobers up enough to work the ancient machinery, he makes the break of the night noticing that different young women show up at the depot with the same Tinker Bell backpack. That’s gotta mean something, right?

Pictured: (l-r) Brandon Jay McLaren as DJ Jakes, Serinda Swan as Paige Arkin, Aaron Tveit as Mike Warren — (Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network)

Paige and Briggs pay jumpy dealer Tom a visit to buy way more than ever before (remember, this is Mike’s brainchild). Who thinks Tom is going to suspect something? Paul throws $1,000 on the table and dealer is spooked stabbing Paige in the hand and pulling a gun on Briggs. In typical Brigg’s fashion, Paul gives the right answers to Tom’s twenty questions effectively removing any doubt and the knife in pretty girl’s hand. Whew, that was a close one.

Because Mike hasn’t quite insulted everyone in the house, he now gets to play condescending boss with the less than confident Johnny. Loveable JT just needs a hug and a smile, but instead he gets a tongue lashing for buying an antique gun to sell to gun-loving Carlito.  Mike says he was insubordinate and almost puts him in time out. Charlie intervenes with the best line of the night, saying, “Mike, at some point you have to stop acting like you invented undercover.”

Mike backs down a little saying he’s just worried, “This guy is a grade A psychopath” he’ll kill friends as easily as enemies.

Later, Mike is talking to his D.C. girlfriend and Johnny wants to talk, tell stories, and make up. Mike waves him off saying he’s on the phone, so Johnny leaves with his tail between his legs. Two seconds later Paige comes in blood all over her white dress and he hangs up mighty quick. She says, “We’re moving too fast. There’s no hurry up offense in undercover work.” Well, yes I’d say they’re moving too fast and not just with the case. She wants a little comforting and the boss is ready to oblige.

Jakes and Briggs share a moment which is always a highlight in Gracelandia. They are hardened by what they’ve seen and done, as well as disillusioned with each other. Briggs wants to find out what happened with Jakes’ ex and son. He warns, “This self-medication is not the move.”

D.J. isn’t taking any hypocritical mumbo jumbo, saying “You’re really gonna come in here spewing that granola B.S. I know you. I know you. If you’re looking for somebody to save, you better look in the mirror.” Yes, heroin taking, drug dealing, FBI killers don’t get to dish out advice to Mr. Jakes.

Pictured: (l-r) Brandon Jay McLaren as DJ Jakes, Aaron Tveit as Mike Warren — (Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network)

Mike has made his big HR decision and unceremoniously tells new guy he’s out. New guy’s a bit of a sweetheart and says don’t tell Johnny before the antique gun deal with Carlito, “He doesn’t need to be distracted.” We all know how ADHD is easily distracted.

Before the deal goes down, Mike is worried about sending Johnny in. JT says don’t sweat it, “I’ve seen Briggs hold shit together plenty of times.”

Mike answers, “Yeah, well, you’re no Briggs.”

“Neither are you,” Johnny says before heading in for his big solo venture.

Johnny gets in and chit chats with Carlito who’s not happy the guns are French pistols and not Spanish. Johnny makes up a French connection and Carlito likes him again, sort of. Johnny shows him how to pack the pistol and they have a little bizarre sex antique gun talk. “So you want me to jam it in with my ramrod?” Carlito asks seductively (no joke).

“You’re not my type,” Johnny replies.

Carlito decides a duel is now what he wants provoking a battle by slapping Johnny in the face.

Mike’s listening with a “disappointed dad” look on his face.

Carlito cheats and turns around early, ready to shoot Johnny in the back. Bad guy’s sister comes in to break it up. Carlito is so upset he didn’t get to shoot anyone that he blasts one into his right hand man’s neck. Johnny works to save the guy until Carlito’s sister says to get lost.

“How was that, Mike? Did I hold it together for you?” Johnny confronts Mike once outside. No love lost here. Wait till J.T. finds out his new BFF is gone because Warren chose Jakes.

Charlie and Briggs get a little screen time together, spending it arguing. Charlie is so guilt-ridden over accusing Briggs of being Odin that she doubts her own crime fighting skills. He tells her about stalking Juan Padillo’s widow and she’s…happy? We know this isn’t a road either one should travel down, but it looks like they’re heading to “fix widow” town where secrets are sure to be revealed.

Pictured: Daniel Sunjata as Paul Briggs — (Photo by: Jeff Daly/USA Network)

Jakes and Paige are on a stake-out at the bus station. A Tinker Bell gets off a bus, so Paige follows and questions her. The Ukrainian lady admits to swallowing balloons of drugs and says she’s supposed to take a bus to a small town. Paige tells her to go through with the deal but promises she’ll find her later. That’s your plan? Tinker Bell reluctantly does what she’s told while Jakes and Paige go after the bus driver.

Mike meets up with Jakes to see where the bus goes to be serviced long before it needs it. This looks like the big break they need.  But where’s Paige?

She’s on a Ukrainian Tinker Bell search, but finds the backpack thrown in a garbage can and no young girl anywhere in sight. We know and she knows that bad things are happening to that girl. It looks like the bus case of the season may be taking on a new, much needed twist. Buses carrying contraband lacks the sexiness of the Jangles/Odin mess in season one.

Also lacking is a layered villain we can love and hate at the same time. Who’s missing Bello right about now? I know I am, but we’ll just have to wait and see if Carlito can pick up the black hat.

What do you think of Graceland so far this season? Are you liking the darker feel and the concentration on the formerly supporting cast?  Are you enjoying the large and in charge Mike or do you long for the fresh out of the Academy agent looking to Briggs for guidance? Let’s meet back here when Graceland returns in two weeks with what promises to be another hour of beautiful people fighting crime and each other.

Graceland airs on USA network Wednesdays at 10 pm.