'We Hunt Together' Finale Review: Commentary on love and faith fails to stir emotions but offers thrill aplenty
Spoilers for 'We Hunt Together' Episode 6
Right from the start, Showtime's 'We Hunt Together' had been teased as a dark play of love and lust amid violence. Femme Fatale Freddy Lane or Lily Jenkins, as she was revealed to be, is able to keep her newest vessel Baba entranced and manipulated in equal parts. He makes the ultimate sacrifice once again, that had initiated his journey as a child soldier: shoot someone he loved, but this time he is the one to die.
Jackson's voluntary negotiation goes awry when Baba sparks a philosophical repertoire on love and guilt. There's God and science brought up enough to leave one confused just where they are heading with this. In his final moments with her, Baba's teary goodbye doesn't strike as emotional enough either, but we find ourselves thanking Lola and Jackson for their chemistry, almost leaving one wishing it was their love story instead. And what could be a better segue for a second season?
The episode kicks off with the aftermath of Freddy's hometown acquaintance Johnny threatening her at gunpoint to get out of his truck. Inevitably, Freddy had tied Johnny hostage as she wins Baba over once again with an escape route. Unfortunately, before they can set off, the cops arrive. When Jackson and Lola arrive at the scene, the house is already surrounded. Leaving a frustrated Lola behind, Jackson ventures inside to talk Baba out of this cocktail of love laced madness. He starts with the eyes on Simon's palms and Baba's response doesn't convince him, it is revealed later. So Jackson continues to debate on Freddy's love being poison for Baba's faith and his father's grand ambitions for him. Baba retaliates with putting a timer on blowing Johnny to death, and soon adding Jackson to the mix too. This is where Lola cracks and while one would think the immediate escape of Baba and Freddy would be the end of the season, the first of many twists comes.
Johnny is able to release himself free and has a shoot out with Baba right as he is about to escape with Freddy. The two men shoot at the same time but Johnny's wound is fatal. Baba survives only to decide that Freddy's confession of wanting to love him without actually feeling it wasn't good enough. He shoots Freddy in the shoulder before walking out and refusing Lola's desperate urges to drop the gun. His sacrifice sees him raise the gun high and attract a swarm of bullets, but right before he dies, he confesses to all the murders Freddy was tied in with him as the accomplice. When the police finally go inside, they see Freddy tied inside, claiming Baba shot her and stepped out. The new survivor's narrative becomes the twisted whimsy of Baba's mind that she was manipulated into participating in, and the case is shut.
This is where Lola and Jackson's chemistry offers some respite. It is exceptional writing if not anything else, starting with another of Jackson's preachy confrontation and Lola dressing him down for his holier than thou heart. This final intervention propels Jackson into having 'the talk' with his wife and taking the long awaited step. And somehow being driven by her guilt also makes Lola admit that therapy could be a healthy way out. The episode is contrasted with neon and warm, fuzzy undertones, sort of comparing the two love stories coming full circle side by side.
It is Lola who is able to strike gold in the final moments of the finale, finding evidence that could tie Freddy to her crimes. But mystery lingers as Freddy makes way to Heathrow airport, with 'You Don't Own Me' blasting in the background. All of these twists later, it's a little difficult to take the story seriously anymore. The mind aches for more of Jackson and Lola's partnership and enough with the Freddy and Baba manipulation. It's mixed feelings of sorts, but not one that would recede the nails on our fingers into oblivion.
'We Hunt Together' Season finale, episode 6 aired on September 14 at 10 pm only on Showtime.