A review of this week's The Lowdown, "A Dog with Two Tails" — with spoilers — coming up just as soon as you’re drafted into the water wars and die...
Alan Sepinwall
Last week's episode concluded with Lee in one of Sheriff Thorne's jail cells, with Thorne and Lonnie suggesting they might try to pin Chili Franks' murder on him. Lee was unconcerned, though, because he planned to call a mysterious "Big D" for help.
"A Dog with Two Tails" wastes little time revealing the identity of Big D, who of course turns out to be Governor Donald Washberg, who still feels indebted to Lee for how Lee helped resolve the matter of Dale Washberg's murder, and kept some of the worst of the family business under wraps. It's a clever story decision on a few levels. First, it gives us more Kyle MacLachlan, which is never a bad thing. Second, Lee one hundred percent is the type to keep calling in favors from the governor. Third, it solves two immediate problems in the narrative: how does Lee escape Thorne's clutches, and how does Lee get to know another key figure in this conspiracy, in the form of Judge Jed Sallsman? And fourth, it makes sure that Lee plays this card as we're just beginning the season's second half, so that it won't be available to him later on. It's a useful trick, but there will be no Donald ex machina when this year's story hits its climax. "Why doesn't Lee just call the governor for help?" isn't quite as obvious a question as "why doesn't Spider-Man just ask the Avengers to pitch in?," but The Lowdown has nonetheless already asked and answered it, and Donald makes clear that there won't be another favor anytime soon, if ever. Done and done.