As the 4th episode begins, we see a man running through the woods and two men with guns following closely behind. After the man falls to the ground and gets back up, he is shot. After the intro, Daniel Harrow (Ioan Gruffudd) performs an examination with Edwina (Faustina Agolley) nearby. Daniel explains that the cause of death is always cessation of the heart, but it might be bad luck in this case. Daniel talks about the young man gambling with his life so Edwina wonders if he is feeling old. Harrow quickly changes the subject by asking about Grace (Jolene Anderson) but Edwina hasn’t heard from her so she encourages Daniel to call her. Dr. Lyle Fairley (Darren Gilshenan) interrupts because he wants to talk to Daniel for a few seconds. Lyle reminds him of the upcoming trip for his Big Bang with the Gang.

Lyle confirms he has already cleared the upcoming group camping trip with Renae (Miriama Smith). When Renae interrupts, Daniel asks her about the quotas but she reveals that Lyle has been working the hours to make up for both of them and that is why she gave them time off for the camping trip. Later that night, Daniel looks through photos of his ex and his son. It also looks like photos of himself and his father. He contemplates calling Grace but doesn’t. In the morning, Daniel goes to Lyle’s meeting place and runs into Bryan Nichols (Damien Garvey). Both are a part of Lyle’s plans and Bryan had to participate once his boss Crowley heard about it. They wonder where the others are at but Lyle is the only one who shows up. Meanwhile, Callan (Hunter Page-Lochard) wakes up and finds Fern (Ella Newton) prepare breakfast for them.

He is worried because she has spent half a week of rent on the meal, but she says it is only a little treat and she got a new cleaning job. Callan reminds her that they’re feeding three now since James (Harris Gilbertson) will be joining them. Then, they talk about James and his fake passport business. Seconds later, James enters wearing a suit and tells them he doesn’t have time for breakfast since he is going to job interviews. Meanwhile, Lyle and his best friends get into an argument about the songs on the radio before Daniel asks him what all of this is about. Lyle says he thought it would be nice since they know how outdoorsy Bryan is from his “whoot-whoo” dating profile. Lyle eventually admits he has something to share with them, but he isn’t ready to tell them yet. They soon learn that Lyle wants them to walk further into the woods to find their campsite.

While Lyle grabs his belongings, Daniel and Bryan try to figure out what he is going to tell them. They think he might be getting married or coming out of the closet. They eventually conclude that Lyle has cancer before the hike begins. When they find the track closed, Daniel suggests they go back but Lyle climbs over the climb and urges them to continue. While they walk, Bryan talks to Daniel about the passport found on Max Zoric and reveals a false name, Jack Sheppard, was found in it. The name belonged to a notorious young English highwayman and escape artist so the creator likely has a good sense of humor. Bryan says it reminds him of Daniel but Harrow says it is likely a coincidence. Bryan admits he is wondering why Daniel never asked whether the UK police tracked down Tanya Reed. Daniel says he thought Bryan would tell him if he had found anything.

Bryan goes on to say there is pressure to investigate deeper into Max’s death. Meanwhile, James visits the police station and watches as people scan their cards to get through. Then he follows a woman outside and steals her card. He goes back inside and passes through the checkpoint. He goes to the evidence floor in hopes of getting his cellphone back. He tells the woman in charge he is from cyber crime and needs to get a cellphone. He gives her information about the car the phone was found in. She uses the information to find the phone, but it has already been checked out by Bryan Nichols. James has no choice but to leave without it. He is upset though. Meanwhile, Daniel and Bryan try to force Lyle to tell them what his secret is. Bryan goes for a whiz and finds a house nearby so he tells Daniel about it. They’re approached by a party ranger who reminds them that the track is closed.

The state ranger Vincent (Kip Gamblin) asks Lyle for his permit and quickly finds out that everything is in order. Although there have been some slips, Lyle is sure that they’ll be okay. Grace tells Ben (Tim Ross) that they’ve finished but he doesn’t hear her. Then, she gets a call on his phone and answers it. She introduces herself as Ben’s wife and learns that the caller is Kirsty Lifton from HR at St. Catherine’s. She is surprised to learn about Ben’s job offer in Brisbane. Next, Daniel and Bryan learn that they’ve only made it halfway and they’ll have to finish the hike tomorrow. Daniel argues with Lyle who says he wanted a nice place to share his information. Harrow encourages him to tell them now so they can go home, but Lyle takes off his gear and says they’re not going anywhere. Lyle thought Bryan was bringing the stove, but he didn’t.

And, it doesn’t help that Harrow only brought one tent. He says he didn’t even know who was coming, but Lyle doesn’t understand that since he told them he was inviting his best friends. Bryan gets upset, says it is ridiculous, and he doesn’t even like camping. He goes on to say it took him several days to get five pictures of himself outside so he could make a good impression on someone and avoid dying alone. Then, Daniel and Bryan get into an argument about who gets to sleep in the car and Lyle has to step in and break it up. Meanwhile, Grace argues with Ben about his decision to move to Brisbane. He isn’t sure why it matters since they’re divorcing. That night, Lyle cooks for the boys before they turn to alcohol. Lyle begins talking about the job well done surviving their professions and the dead. He tells Daniel that his father didn’t since he saw his share of it in the war and it was too much for him.

He tells Bryan that he survived seeing the worst of what people can do to each other, but Bryan isn’t sure since he has had two failed marriages and one estranged daughter. He admits he thought he has someone special but she wasn’t what she seemed. Daniel says nobody is and Bryan tells him he is no better. After all, his ex just moved to escape him too. After that, Lyle tells them about the dancer, Titania, he knew and how they were going to elope. She left him with a note. What do they get for the job? Daniel says they get the authority to go where others can’t and ask questions of the living and dead. Bryan pulls out his harmonica and sings a song for them. The others join him in song. Daniel sings until a man walks up behind them and says he loved the song. Then, he asks if they want to know how he died.

The man sits down and says he was shot in the back. When Bryan asks who shot him, the man says they did. He hasn’t found his body yet so he isn’t sure where he was killed and he has been left doomed to wander. The man introduces himself as Branch Goddard (Brendan Bacon) and says he was a botanist. Branch believes they’re still after him before he mentions Spirit Falls and leaves. Daniel and the others discuss the man’s claims. Bryan wonders if it too late to go home but Lyle gives them more alcohol. In the morning, James tells Fern he connected with some people and she says she worked. James says he is working a hard job for little money before they receive a delivery from James. Ella checks the door and denies that James is there. The delivery woman returns to her partner and confirms that they’ve met with James’s sister.

Daniel wakes up with Bryan sleeping oddly close to him. He exits the tent and sees Lyle in his tighty whities. They argue about their visitor from the night before. Bryan wakes up and they continue on their hike. They stop because Bryan tries to take Lyle’s alcohol. Lyle stops him and says that is for after their swim in the waterfall although none of them brought tongs. Daniel jumps in front of Lyle and tries to find out what is going on with him. Lyle says he’ll tell them at the waterfall so Daniel checks his phone and learns that Branch went missing three years ago. And, customs was after him on suspicion of bringing in illegal plants. Bryan decides to go back but stops when he sees something nearby. He checks the plant in front of him, chews on the leaves, and confirms it is coca. They agree it shouldn’t grow here unless it was planted by a botanist.

Daniel checks around the root and finds a human pelvis. They begin working to uncover the bones until Bryan says it has the same clothes and boots as the guy from last night. The guy has been here for several years and the tree has grown through his pelvic bone. Daniel says he either had a seed in his pocket or had ingested one and it passed through his digestive system. Lyle chimes in to say the bowel material would’ve made excellent fertilizer. Daniel finds evidence that the victim had been shot in the back. Harrow suggests the botanist went to South America and returned with a coca plant seed in his gut. Daniel says he was shot to death around here when gunshots ring out. They take cover and Lyle gets separated from the others. Bryan encourages Lyle to get help since he knows his way around better than anyone else.

He makes a run for it while Daniel and Bryan learn that there is one shooter and he is getting closer. Bryan leaves Daniel and encourages him to stay put. Harrow is soon taken hostage by the man with the gun, but Bryan uses a branch to the back of the man’s head to convince him to drop the gun. Then, the state ranger Vincent arrives and admits the other guy is with him and he tried to warn them not to come up here. Bryan and Daniel are taken back to the cabin and the guys contemplate what to do with them. During their discussion, we learn that they’ve likely killed more. Vincent wants to know about Lyle so Daniel tells him that Lyle is an excellent bushman with the fitness of an Olympian and the stealth of a ninja. Daniel says he is likely briefing a response team to storm in here and save them, but he looks up and sees Lyle hiding above them.

Lyle motions to Daniel that he is going to ignite a fire with the remaining alcohol. Daniel causes a scene by getting into a fake fight with Bryan and headbutting him a few times. Lyle drops the alcohol and it doesn’t explode so Bryan screams now. They attack the two men and rush for the rifle. Eventually, Bryan ends up with a rifle and the criminals are arrested. The men are taken away by authorities while Daniel and the others discuss the criminals and the coca plants. They say Branch was wanted for interview by Customs after his trip to Peru. He and his young brother Whitman went missing three years ago. Daniel notices Branch in the woods and approaches him. He tells him that they got the men who killed Whitman and who they smuggled coca seeds for. Branch blames himself and says his brother would’ve done whatever he wanted.

Daniel reminds him that they were betrayed and we see a flashback of Whitman’s shooting. Branch was never the same after he saw his brother murdered. Daniel explains he tried to run but he didn’t die. Harrow tells Branch it is time to start looking after himself before leading him back to authorities. Then, he tells Bryan about Cotard’s delusion. Daniel approaches Lyle and tries to get him to tell them what he wanted to say. Lyle says he has decided to retire. When they return, Daniel confronts Lyle at the office and tries to talk to him about it, but Grace’s arrival interrupts. Grace confirms the divorce papers are as good as done. Edwina is glad to see them because Max is having an autopsy. They learn that Dr. Samuel Bramson (Matt Day) is in charge of the autopsy.

Samuel used to work there until he took his silver and left. Lyle wants Renae to tell them what is going on. She wants to talk to Lyle and Grace in her office. Daniel watches as Lyle argues his case to Renae and Mila (Diana Glenn) is with them.

 

Harrow Review

Ultimately, this episode was a bit of a side step for the 3rd season of Harrow. It didn’t push the story in the right direction and barely touched on it really. Nevertheless, I can’t argue too much since I felt the episode was funny and entertaining. It was even a tad bit emotional there in the end with Brand and his brother.

Lyle took his best friends, Daniel and Bryan, on a camping trip that turned into a nightmare and murder and drug smuggling investigation. The trio worked together to save themselves and bring the two men responsible to justice. In the end, we learned that the entire purpose of the camping trip was for Lyle to tell Daniel he was going to retire.

I guess this would open a spot at the QIFM and justify Daniel keeping his job. Fern got a new job, but Callan and James haven’t. Instead, James has been focused on getting his cellphone back, but he has learned that it was checked out by Bryan Nichols. Also, people are looking for James so he is likely in deep trouble.

I appreciate Matt Day being added to the show since I loved him in Rake. I hope he becomes a constant fixture, but I guess we’ll have to see. Although not spectacular, the episode was different and I can accept them trying to do something unique. For that, I’d give the episode a 7 out of 10. Previous recaps of Harrow can be found on Reel Mockery. Please excuse any mistakes above. Have been working all day and don’t have the time to reread 2,500 words.