We've reached the end of the first season of Copper, a show that raised my interest this summer for its Gangs of New York-style setting, and then bewildered me for the past few months of my life with meandering episodes. But I am still a true Copperhead and I have grown to love the characters, even when I am shaking my fist at the TV screen.
Now that we all know that the initial dead wive's tale was a ruse to us and Corcoran, we can look forward to all-new mind-boggling stuff next season, which will happen with the recent news that there will be a Season Two. Even on its own, this season would have been a great period curio.
The Season One finale begins with an oddly reinvigorated Corcoran helping counteract the Confederate movement of Greek Fire into his city. He also seemingly resigned himself to the fact that the stranger lying in a bed in his home wasn't worth all the pain and misery he went through this past year.
Mrs. Sarah Freeman seems to be going through some sort of partum depression. Instead of after the birth of the baby, she is stressing out during the gestation. Hmmm, kinda odd, considering that there was that vicious house guest a few months back. Rape?
Corcoran breaking a Confederate sympathizer's fingers with his brass knuckles was like watching Houston Texans linebacker Connor Barwin's sacking Joe Flacco on Sunday afternoon. Finally, finally, those things we have seen all season are now doing damage.
Daddy Morehouse and son finally having it out, with Mr. Kennedy in the room? Been waiting for that for a while. The older Morehouse's treachery, and "saving the Morehouse name" is rich-dude bullshit.
Ellen, Annie and Eva all interacting with one another is still creepy, but to see the three women in his life hashing things out is mighty unique. Now if Annie will get on some meds to fix that Corcoran lust.
What, and now Maguire is back to help out? After everything, he wants to help Corcoran, the city and his country again. Seems more a death wish than anything else on his part. He is a man who has more or less erased himself from society, but still wants to save that same society for others.
Among all this, it would be easy to forget about Elizabeth, but her weird flirtation with John Wilkes Booth of all people is too peculiar to look away from. Booth doing Shakespeare? Sure. Plus her Confederate leanings just make me hate seeing her more.
The Greek Fire outbreak begins, and the police department goes on the attack. Maguire gets shot while going after Kennedy, and Corcoran saves his flesh from burning. Maguire begins talking in the hospital, and confessing to things, and he and Corcoran reach an understanding, it seems.
Daddy Morehouse is shipped off to Atlanta to help rebuild, as a sort of bloodless execution. Obviously a man of his stature, with a son like Robert, could not be hung by Lincoln. He will no doubt get back on his well-heeled feet again. We still don't know where Mr. Kennedy went, either, so expect him back next season, and we can all count on Mr. Booth's Washington exploits to be a focal point during season two.
Dr. Freeman going bitchhouse on the snake-oil salesman that put his pregnant wife in a drunken stupor is another Copper scene for the scrapbook. Get angry more, Freeman; you wear it well.
Eva and Corcoran's tender moment in the kitchen leaves the door open for them to begin their affair again. I think that Ellen will stray again, and that in the past year something was totally torn asunder, making a full reconciliation impossible.
Corcoran plunging some morphine into his veins and seeing the ghost of his dead daughter walk out the door was significant. With her specter gone, Ellen back and Eva now in the background, Corcoran can get on with the business of diving into a new world.
What that means, remains to be seen. Crazy junkie cop? Sure, that can play. It worked for House.
