Episode two is up at the plate, and after a complicated series premiere (you can read about that HERE), let’s see what else Charlie Cale has in store for us as she runs from the mob.

What Happens?: We begin on a movie set and meet Greta (Katie Holmes) who is the woman of the home where the production is taking place. We then meet Fred, who is the actual undertaker doing work in the basement of the house. The two have an argument over the disruption of the production on funeral operations, just as we meet the Hopenstammers, a mourning biker family, who Great forgot to tell about a schedule change. The two argue and Greta asks Fred for a divorce and a split of the latter’s beloved funeral home.

After a night of drinking, Greta comes home and begins packing to leave. After being reassured that the production company would clean up everything, Fred murders Greta on the set where her blood would be mistaken for movie blood and he quickly incarnates her body in the basement.

We catch up with Charlie on the beach having a conversation with an uninterested kid. It seems the hitmen have given her some space for the past couple of months. A production head from the funeral movie rents her car, which gives Charlie proximity with Fred. We learn that they’ve flashed back on us again, and that Charlie was in the coffin while production was taking place.

Charlie is there when Greta is offered a way out, and she also listens to Fred describe how he presses remains into vinyl records (like he eventually does to Greta). After a bonfire rager, Charlie agrees to take Katie to her fresh start away from Fred in Miami.

The next morning, Charlie catches up with Fred and realizes what he’s done to Greta. Fred shoos her away but she returns with Tommy the movie guy and they snoop around the funeral home. Charlie finds a drop of real blood and breaks down Fred’s scheme to his face. Impossibly, Tommy then receives a text from Greta’s phone saying she’s already in Miami, leading Charlie to apologize to Fred and have tea with him.

Before leaving Charlie discovers Greta’s phone and that the text was sent by Fred. Fred then chloroforms her before she can leave. Charlie wakes up in a box, just before Fred plans on putting her in the incinerator. Charlie is able to break the wooden coffin she’s in and throws her vape battery into the fire causing an explosion. Charlie actually tries to help Fred out, but he’s overwhelmed by the ashes (remains, sorry Fred) and decides to stay in the house as it burns down.

As Charlie leaves, we discover that Beatrix Hasps is in the backseat and holds a gun to her head declaring “Unfinished business” before the credits pop.

Trivia and Tie-in:

This episode was directed by Charlie Cale herself, Natasha Lyonne.

Giancarlos Esposito is 67. Katie Holmes is 46. A 21 year old age difference in husband/wife casting.

Finally seeing Charlie in Florida (and outside of a Publix) is a payoff for fans like me that grew up there.

Natasha and Katie have both been acting for decades. You’ll recall they were both already stars in 99′ with “American Pie” and “Dawson’s Creek” both big hits back then.

At points during this episode Giancarlo reminded me of Gus Fring when he was working at “Los Pollos Hermanos” in ‘Breaking Bad’.

Quotes:

Charlie (to a kid on the beach): “I see my Hunter S. Thompson references are lost on you. That’s why we need to keep books in Florida libraries.”

Charlie (at the bonfire rager): “Pouring one out for the dead chihuahua.”

Hoppenstammer mourner at the funeral: “I remember the night we met. Randy Savage had just died and we were pounding shots for the Macho Man.”

Fred: “Excuse me Mrs. Hoppenstammer. This is Banshee’s moment.”