Kickoff – As the second episode of Killing It begins, Craig (Craig Robinson) begins researching the snake hunting contest in Florida. He learns that he’ll be paid more for longer snakes, they can be no more than two pieces, and the head must be included. The winner will receive a grand prize of $20,000. Then, he begins watching videos about killing big snakes. Craig leaves his house with a nail gun and two crowbars only to remember that his vehicle was burned. Instead, he hops on a small, pink bike and begins peddling toward his destination. He stops to visit with Camille (Stephen Nogueras). When Marco (Arturo Del Puerto) comes out, they begin arguing about climate change and whether Craig was riding a bike.

Craig asks to borrow Camille’s vehicle for work since he is starting a saw palmetto farm. Although Marco doesn’t agree, Camille lets Craig borrow her car until 5:30. Moments later, Craig arrives at the Python Challenge and sees a big group outside. The receptionist outside checks him in and gives him the welcome packet which includes a whistle. He asks whether the whistle scares the snakes away or calls them to you. She only says yes. Wayne Persons (Rob Mello) addresses the crowd and welcomes them to the second annual South Florida Python Challenge. He reminds them that hunting must be done at approved competition locations while hooks, tongs, and bags are permitted.

Traps, explosives, chemicals, and smoke are not permitted. Dead snakes are counted by the food. As for the fertilized eggs in the snake or nest, they’re counted as two feet of snake. Brock (Scott MacArthur) comes over to Craig to say a female can pop out about 100 eggs at a time. Wayne asks everyone to join him in a moment of silence for last year’s champion Boone Finnigan. Craig asks Brock if he was eaten by a snake only to learn he used the prize money to buy a gun that he used to shoot himself. Brock tells Corby (Wyatt Walter) to start shooting him from below and get more flattering angles. Brock reveals he makes hunting videos for YouTube and Corby is his cameraman. He thinks Craig should be intimidated by his 150,000 subscribers which makes him an MTI or mid-tier influencer.

Craig jokes he’ll be a UTI or upper-tier influencer soon. Brock knows what a UTI is because his dad has dementia and gets them all the time. He tells Craig he just made a very powerful enemy. Before they leave, Corby says he is sorry. Jillian G (Claudia O’Doherty) joins Craig to say they should work as a team since snake hunting is so much easier that way. Craig admits he needs all the prize money to start his farm, but Jillian wonders if he can do this on his own. When Craig turns down her offer, Jillian says she is going to destroy him. Craig drives out into the swamp to scout areas. He turns on a Rita Gaines (Kellee Stewart) audiobook, grabs his gear, and begins looking for snakes. Jillian interrupts when she drives up and tells Craig she has teamed up with Silas Humphries (Frank Hoyt Taylor).

Silas wakes up and asks if she is trying to replace him. He warns Craig to stay away from them or he’ll slit his throat. After Jillian leaves, Craig returns to hunting for snakes. Craig sees a snake. He sneaks up on it, grabs it, and shoots it in the head. The nail ends up going through the snake and into his palm. He drops his stuff on his foot when Isaiah (Rell Battle) calls. Craig tells him he already called an ambulance because he nailed a snake to his hand. Isaiah asks him to Facetime him so he can see it, but Jillian arrives before he can. Silas calls him a screw-up as Jillian says she’ll pull the nail out. It won’t work because it hurts so back. Although Silas has some medication, he won’t give it to Craig who is the enemy. He tells him he hopes he dies out here.

Jillian warns Craig that an ambulance is going to cost him like $1,500 since that is what they charged her when she fell off the waterslide. She offers to take him to her friend who might see him for free because they’re friends. Before they can leave, the ambulance arrives looking for a man with a snake nailed to his hand. She tells them a big lie about being in the swamp with her family and Craig being her husband. They managed to get away without giving the ambulance driver Craig’s information.

Craig asks Jillian if she is worried about leaving her car back there. He thanks her for helping him. Jillian pitches the idea of working together again leaving Silas to realize he is being thrown to the curb. Silas needs the money to pay for his funeral although he isn’t dying. He doesn’t have any family to help with the funeral costs. He claims they cremate you when you die in Florida with no money. If you’re an unknown, they bury you so they can identify you later. Silas reveals he is the treasurer of the Scott Lake Business Council and will get a real burial when he wins. Jillian takes Craig to the mall where she admits she really isn’t friends with Tasha (Colleen Elizabeth Miller) after all. Tasha rode in her Uber. Although Jillian thought they hit it off, Tasha never responded to any of her follow-up texts.

Jillian and Tasha talk about that ride and not hanging out later while Camille texts Craig to see when her car is coming back. Tasha believes she can use the cool sculpting machine to freeze the snake and get it off his hand. Jillian claims she was just trying to be helpful while Silas argues she was trying to replace him. Craig asks why she wants him to be her partner so bad when they barely know each other. Jillian just really needs money and realizes she won’t be able to win on her own. Craig apologizes for her life being stressful, but his life is stressful and only got worse when he got into her car. She might be the most stressful person he has ever met in her life. Craig wants her to drive him back to Camille’s place so he can return the car.

Then, he’ll take a cab to the hospital. On the way to Camille’s, Silas apologizes to Craig for earlier since he thought he was trying to steal his partner. He offers him some of his pills, but Craig won’t take them. Once they arrive, Jillian makes up an excuse about them being late although she blows it. They soon learn about the snake nailed to Craig’s hand. Craig wants Camille to yell and be mad at him. She won’t because she is genuinely concerned. Before they can leave, they discover that Silas is dead. When the ambulance arrives, they take care of Craig’s hand. Jillian claims they know nothing about Silas who wanted them to call him pops. Jillian tells Craig that she took Silas’s wallet so he has no ID on him. Since he is officially an unknown, he can be buried like he wanted.

She forgot about the name on his pill bottle though. She tells Craig to create a distraction to give her time to grab the pill bottle. Although it works, a man yells that that junkie is stealing pills from a corpse. After making up a story about wanting to grab his unit, Jillian makes a run for it. Jillian removes the label and stuffs it in her mouth before she is taken down and arrested. Craig is there with her house and car when she gets out of the jail. She reveals it is only a misdemeanor since Silas cannot press charges. Craig wants to team up with her now. Once he saw what she did for Silas, he realizes she isn’t the most stressful person. She just wanted to make sure he would get buried although he might not get a tombstone.

Craig had a thought about that. Later, she sees that the billboard has been turned into a tombstone for Silas. When Craig returns home, Mr. Palimides (Charles Green) is waiting for him because he knows they’ve been making pornography in his apartment. He wants Craig out of the apartment by tomorrow.

 

Killing It Review

A lot of people are likely going to be put off by the portrayal of animal cruelty in Killing It, but I think it is important to remember that it isn’t real. The humor doesn’t always hit home for me personally, but the episode had some funny scenes, especially those from Silas. Truthfully, Killing It is a show that people are either going to love or hate.

It is a good option when you want to turn off your mind and just enjoy some thoughtless entertainment. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of Killing It are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our work at this link.