Join me...
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
"Fashion Police" was just solid Lethal Weapon. Aside from the pilot, this episode would be the one I'd show to someone who had questions about whether the TV series was good or not. Also, this chapter wasn't even filled with the usual over-the-top action that can, occasionally, take a viewer out of the story.
Oh, there was action, but it was a touch more grounded than usual. Riggs holding onto a chain and being dragged by a truck was probably as heightened as it got, but even that felt centered, relatively speaking.
Primarily though, this one was just filled with heart and humor. The banter was on point, and felt the most reminiscent to date of the best of the film franchise. Speaking of the films, there were also plenty of references to them, mix tape-style. Firstly, One Tree Hill's Hilarie Burton popped up as a very Lorna Cole-esque character named Karen Palmer - a DEA agent who, like Lorna, transitions from "no nonsense" to "nonsense" during her partnership with Riggs and Murtaugh.
She's possible love interest for Riggs, surely, though the episode worked to spell it out pretty clearly that Martin's not up for anything close to that. Time is not working to heal his wounds, as he so mournfully stated to Dr. Cahill (who herself could be a love interest too, though that seems way more unlikely). I think what I liked about "Fashion Police" the most was how much it kind of smashed up against the typical TV trope of the hero's rebound relationship and squashed it. Riggs isn't ready. Not should he be. And that's why he works so well as a character right now.
More film references include Riggs hanging and being tortured, some Three Stooges, a light nod to the fact that the cartel could behind Miranda's death (Riggs worked a drug case in El Paso, the hitman said Miranda's name - though we then found out it was because Riggs had been saying it) - oh and Riggs' dirty beach mutt. This show though is able to incorporate all those fun film winks and still feel organic and genuine.
Riggs' gentle nightmares may not be new territory from a grief perspective, but thematically it tied in well as his late wife's words "join me" had a simple, creepy layering. As weird as this sounds, I'm glad Riggs is still in mourning and not healing. It's the tragedy of his character that makes him feel unique and vital right now. Well, that, and the fact that he is, honestly, becoming friends with Murtaugh. The way Riggs got fired up when the hitman threatened Roger's family? That was very moving. As was Riggs stopping by to have a two-man "bender" with Murtaugh during the family man's first free weekend in a decade.
The Verdict
"Fashion Police" was Lethal Weapon's best episode to date. With no wasted moments, the heart and soul of these characters (plus new addition Agent Palmer) worked our heartstrings and funny bones. Riggs will heal, but what was refreshing here was the notion that it might not come through romance - but true friendship and teamwork.
Editors' Choice
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