'Barkskins' Episode 5 Review: Tremors are felt in Wobik as a really powerful episode ends with an ominous bang
Spoilers for 'Barkskins' Season Episode 5 'Buttermilk'
Episode 5 of 'Barkskins' begins with the return of the Iroquois. The members of tribe were hanged by the river by Captain Bouchard (David Wilmot). Now upon retrieving the bodies, the Iroquois won't rest until they have avenged their dead. The message that the French wanted to send them by hanging their bodies has been received and in this episode, Ratahsénthos swears for revenge.
They capture Rene Sel (Christian Cooke) and Father Gabriel (Domenic Di Rosa) in order to send a message to the French. Rene's endless begging and persuading don't stop them from burying the father under heavy rocks. They also torture Rene beating him black and blue and tying him to a rock.
At Claude Trepagny's (David Thewlis) estate, his new bride Melissande (Tallulah Haddon) is at constant loggerheads with Mari (Kaniehtiio Horn) and is always on the lookout for an opportunity to reiterate that she is now the mistress of the household. Mari's retorts are not welcomed by Trepagny himself who is not only flummoxed about Rene's disappearance but now is also mad at Mari for hiding his holy things.
This domestic dispute seems to not end anytime soon especially now with Trepagny away to find Father Gabriel and Rene and the two women left to their own devices in a plot far away from the town of Wobik.
Elsewhere in Wobik, things are under pressure. Early on in the episode, Mathilde (Marcia Gay Harden), the indomitable innkeeper ensures the safety of Renardette (Lola Reid) by Elisha Cooke's (Thomas M. Wright) guarantee that he won't be harming her now that she has taken her in. At the moment, Cooke finds himself in the most vulnerable spot he could ever be in. This entire business with the massacre, his involvement and Gus Lafarge's (Matthew Lillard) part to play, everything has now dampened his standing in Wobik. Even though he might not be shackled any longer, no one respects and fears him the way they once would.
On their pursuit, Hamish Goames (Aneurin Barnard) and Yvon (Zahn McClarnon) come across Thom Lafarge's (Kyle Breitkopf) body by the river. When Duquet had last seen him, he had sent him to Quebec City to escape getting killed by Cooke but seems like he perished on the way. Hamish doesn't wish to start a war contrary to what the Hudson's Bay Company expects him to do. And Yvon only supports him reluctantly.
'Buttermilk' was a terrifying yet thrilling ride throughout. With two episodes out each week, 'Barkskins' for the first time presented such a powerful opener and there is no denying that the tremors were felt through the screen. The town of Wobik now stands surrounded by different forces with different agendas but each wanting power over the other.
Ending on a loud ominous bang, the conclusion of Episode 5 signaled the beginning of a strenuous period for Wobik and its residents — new and old.
'Barkskins' airs on National Geographic on Mondays at 9/ 8c.