What’s In A Name – As the finale of Painkiller begins, Shannon Schaeffer (West Duchovny) meets Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba) and says she is sorry. She thought she was helping people at first, but no longer believed that later. Shannon confesses that she kept doing it anyway because she believes money messed with her head. When Shannon cries and says she is done hurting people, Edie asks if she looks like a psychiatrist. Shannon cries in her car before returning to Edie with emails, call notes, and everything from day one. She goes on to say she’ll do whatever Edie needs.
Once Shannon leaves, Edie begins looking through the documents. Edie admits that Shannon gave them the case they needed to present to the DOJ. As Shannon is interviewed, she mentions that Britt Hufford (Dina Shihabi) told her most of the things to say. She also tells them about Howard Udell. John Brownlee (Tyler Ritter) is told they did a good job and they’ll start with the lieutenants. They want to start with Howard Udell, Paul Goldenheim, and Michael Friedman. John Brownlee talks to Michael Friedman (John Murphy) to see whether he’ll become state’s evidence.
Michael Friedman refuses to cooperate. Howard Udell (Brian Markinson) doubts the DOJ will support it even though they already have. He is told he is being charged specifically with lying to Congress. Brownlee and the team also inform Paul Goldenheim (Cody Porter) that he is being charged. Brownlee doubts Richard Sackler cares about Paul or his family. They give him the opportunity to cooperate. Paul and the others go to Richard Sackler (Matthew Broderick) to complain about the charges and the possibility of going to jail. Richard says no one is going to jail, but Howard believes they want the family. While they continue arguing, Britt visits Shannon to ask what she was thinking.
Britt slaps her around and scolds her. Richard calls everyone down and tells them that they’ll take care of them. Britt tells Shannon she isn’t a bad person. The executives at Purdue have declined to cooperate. John Brownlee realizes they’re going to trial. Raymond Sackler (Sam Anderson) asks Richard if he wants to be remembered as the OxyContin family. Richard says he built it and he is going to defend it. Raymond thinks they should cut a deal. Richard doesn’t because they’ll never stop coming after them if they do. If they admit to any wrongdoing, Richard believes they’ll pay forever. Later, Richard thinks Arthur Sackler (Clark Gregg) is talking to him and telling him to be strong.
Arthur tells Richard he is going to go to war and it will not be nice. Richard cries while saying he doesn’t want to go to war. Arthur insists he doesn’t have a choice. Purdue bought the most expensive lawyers money could buy. They get Mary Jo White (Krista White) who was the first female US attorney for the Southern District of New York. They also get Howard Shapiro who was general counsel for the FBI from 1993 to 1997. Rudolph William Louis Giuliani (Ned Van Zandt) is also on the team. A man tells Glen Kryger (Taylor Kitsch) congrats for being sober for a month. Glen says hi to Shelby and gets his methadone.
In his truck, Glen tells Tyler (Jack Mulhern) what methadone tastes like. Glen insists it is going to work. Once they reach the garage, Glen tells Tyler that none of this was his fault. They begin working on getting the garage up and running. At home with Lily (Carolina Bartczak), Glen and Tyler negotiate how much Tyler will be paid. A bit later, Lily tells Glen that he has to go. He tells her that he misses her as well as being there. Glen asks if he can sleep next to her tonight, but Lily tells him he has to go. He kisses her and says goodbye. Edie looks through her mail and reads letters from Shawn. Then, she says everything was about to pay off. There would be no settlement.
Edie and the others go to the courtroom. Judge James Jones (Frank Moore) surprises everyone by revealing that they’ve reached a settlement. Purdue has agreed to plead guilty to one count of fraudulently misbranding OxyContin. Edie says Raymond and Mortimer called Rudy who called Congress. Then, Congress called the White House and they called the DOJ which called Brownlee who essentially had to cut a deal. Michael Friedman, Howard Udell, and Paul Goldenheim have agreed to plead guilty to one count of misdemeanor misbranding. Edie says that is how the game was played. Outside the courtroom, Mary Jo White says today was a good day for patients suffering from pain.
John Brownlee says he believes Purdue will now be marketing and promoting its products in an honest and responsible manner. Edie argues that calling it a slap on the wrist would be an exaggeration. The worst part is that Purdue didn’t have to stop making OxyContin. Arthur tells Richard that Rudy Giuliani is a swamp creature. He believes settling is a huge mistake. After the settlement, Richard doubled down and the floodgates opened. Everything Edie and the team worked on had to be buried as a result. Edie says she got out because she was done playing the game. She visits Shawn Flowers (Jamaal Grant) at the prison.
Edie admits she never gave him a chance to be anyone other than that ticked-off 19-year-old boy. She mentions everything he said in his letters before apologizing for not listening. Edie wants Shawn to really know her. Glen goes next door where he finds a woman passed out on her bed and a man on the floor. He tries to get them to wake up. Glen notices pills on the table nearby. In the morning, Glen calls Lily to ask if she wants him to pick up anything for dinner so she can have the night off. When she says he sounds tired, Glen complains about the neighbors being up all night. After the call, Glen snorts a line from his nightstand.
Edie tells Brianna Ortiz (Ana Cruz Kayne) that she shows everything she does now. She wishes them luck. Glen does more drugs in his truck. A guy finds Glen passed out in his truck so he tries to wake him. Since they are worried he is dead, they decide to call for an ambulance. Edie makes it home and thanks Shawn for making her go to the meeting. In 2019, Purdue filed for bankruptcy as the result of multi-state lawsuits. The Sackler family agreed to pay a settlement of $6 billion. Arthur complains about Richard ruining the brand. He now owes $4.5 billion. It is paid out over a decade so it can probably be covered with investment returns and interest.
Richard says it’ll likely cost them nothing and they don’t have to admit to any wrongdoing. He argues that the deal gives them full immunity so they can never come after them again. Arthur slaps him while complaining that he let them tear down the name he built. Arthur beats him up when he refuses to apologize. It is estimated that more than 300,00 people died over the past two decades as a result of overdoses involving painkillers like OxyContin. More than 40 people die in the United States from prescription opioid overdoses every day. As of March 2023, the final approval for Purdue’s bankruptcy is still pending.
No member of the Sackler family has ever been criminally charged. When Rosie checks on Richard, he tells her that he is fine.
Painkiller Review
The finale of Painkiller was okay although the episode before it was better. The series could’ve been so much better without building fictional characters and over-the-top dramatic scenes that obviously weren’t possible. The scenes featuring Arthur Sackler were unnecessary and a little silly truthfully, especially those near the end of the season.
Uzo Aduba has proven herself previously, but the Edie Flowers character was not a good addition. The way the character was written really didn’t do her any favors and instead made her fairly obnoxious and unlikeable. Glen Kryger’s story was the highlight of the season even though he wasn’t a real person either.
Even that side of the show could’ve been more effective. The first few minutes are always best because it allows victims’ families the opportunity to tell their stories. It’s a shame that most of the episode after that doesn’t match those raw emotions.
While Painkiller is watchable with some outstanding performances sprinkled in, it is hard not to consider it a disappointment in many ways. The finale scores a 5.5 out of 10. Recaps of Painkiller are available on Reel Mockery here. Find out how to support our independent site at this link. Learn more about advertising on Reel Mockery here.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
