'American Rust' Episode 2 explores Billy, Lee and Issac's relationship
Jealousy, former romances and new loves, 'American Rust' Episode 2, titled 'Happy Returns', offers fans a deeper look into the relationships of the residents of Buell. While the Novicks' murderer is still at large, a wedding in the town helps rekindle some former flames.
As per the synopsis of the show: "In an economically devastated Pennsylvania steel town, a complicated and compromised chief of police (Daniels) is forced to decide how far he's willing to go when the son of the woman he loves (Tierney) is accused of murder. A harrowing journey into the lives of a small town with big secrets, where people are driven by loyalty, love and desperation – and bad choices come far too easy." You can check out what happened in Episode 1 before we get into the events of Episode 2.
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Episode 2, 'Happy Returns,' picks up where episode 1 left off and helps fans understand Lee (Julia Mayorga), Billy, and Issac's tenuous relationship. Lee returns home after Billy tells her that Issac is missing, leaving her father without a caretaker. On her arrival, she notices her childhood home in a complete mess, seeing that although she had been sending money, her father refused to hire help, forcing Issac to be his primary caretaker. Buell gears up for the wedding of Jimbo Connelly and Katie Danek, but Novick's murderer is still at large.
Harris and police chief Frank, investigating the case, meet with the prosecutor, who asks them to look into the anonymous call. While this does give Harris to look further into the case, he has not stopped helping Billy, as he catches him near the site of the murder yet again.
Harris has Billy buy new shoes in a different size and brand from a nearby town to protect him. Later in the episode, he is even seen burning his old shoes, which could've proved to be incriminating evidence otherwise. Billy soon learns that Issac hasn't skipped town yet and meets with him, unbeknownst to Lee. He encourages his friend to leave and live his life, even if it means they will never meet again. Issac is clearly affected by this knowledge but hugs Billy nonetheless before leaving Buell behind.
Whereas with Lee and Billy, having her come back home seems to have sparks chemistry between them, as Billy still feels deeply about her. After spending time together at the wedding, Billy helps her take her father home, and they soon begin to get intimate with each other.
However, it is at this moment that Issac returns and catches them together, although they are unaware of his presence. Issac calls Lee and informs her that he will not be returning. In Episode 1, before Issac attempts suicide by walking into the frozen lake, he brings up the topic of how he and Billy are only friends due to Lee. Seeing as to just how upset he got watching Lee and Billy together, it's possible that he does feel a certain kind of way toward Billy and is tired of playing second fiddle to her in his life.
Seeing them together could have possibly triggered something in him, as he always seems to get the short end of the stick -- from being stuck in Buell to having Billy pick Lee. Meanwhile, Harris and Grace also end up sleeping together. Although it seemed as though Grace was getting back with Virgil, she and Harris rekindled their romance after a misunderstanding. This pushes Harris further into a situation where he is compelled to help Billy even more than before.
'American Rust' airs Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT on Showtime.