Just the (Flare) Tip – The episode begins with Dewey (Jason Daley) explaining the flare modifications to Audrey Stool (Anastasia Phillips) as they play out before them. Despite Marcus’s (Jonni Shreve) gregarious welcome Charles Conch (AC Peterson) and his Driver (Tyler Clucas-Warren) snub him on their way in. Jamar (Yan Joseph), on the other hand, not only takes the time to return his greeting but apologizes. Audrey is officially welcomed to the team when Backwoods (Dan Petronijevic) and the team prank her by welding her coffee mug to the table.
Charles immediately becomes hostile at his meeting when Leonard (Eugene Sampang) and Chelsea Nakamura (Jennifer Spence) when he learns about the plant’s huge deficit under Randy Bennett (Tom Green). He only grows more irate through the meeting and makes note of how all the employees passed their urine tests but magically tested positive for chlamydia. Although he looks at Medhi Chowdry’s (Raoul Bhaneja) modifications and agrees to give the plant time to prove its value, he fires Chelsea. When the room clears, Charles orders his Driver to track down Bennett.
Discussing her dismissal with Todd, Chelsea realizes it’s the first time she’s ever been fired. Todd attempts to comfort her by sharing a bit more about his dismissal. It seemingly works because shortly after, they both make a pack, albeit with different end goals but they make a pack. Chelsea later shares the news of her dismissal where they debate about going out west together. Although Audrey doesn’t give her a definitive yes or no, she jokes about being a light-packer. Their discussion also leads to Audrey bringing up another important point, why was Conch testing for STDs? An eavesdropping Homer (Jesse Camacho) has a bit to add about that.
In Todd’s worksite trailer, Jimi (Enrico Colantoni) argues with someone over the phone while Taser/Big Nate (Brandon Oakes) discusses going to work in the oil fields with Dewey. Todd soon joins them to relay the news about Chelsea’s dismissal which seems ironic to the guys because Todd initially wanted her gone. After explaining how Chelsea was good for the plant, Todd enlists their help finishing the flare stack before Charles leaves.
Modifications on the flare stack are pushed back even further when Audrey drops a pipe wrench from 30 feet in the air that nearly clobbers Backwoods. Todd and Jimi are in the middle of strategizing over how to get more welders when the call about the incident from Steph comes in. Although Backwoods advocates for simply ignoring the incident, somehow Steph got involved. Much to everyone’s surprise, Todd gives the order to make the incident official when he shows up. Shortly after, he tells Audrey that this is a good thing because it will only make her better.
Homer and Chelsea covertly track Bennett to a slummy little one-floor apartment/hotel complex. He initially refuses his help because of his last incident with Chelsea but the even greater threat of Charles’ man coming after him sways his decision. They decide to meet in Chelsea’s car, which turns out to be a good idea because Charles’ man soon shows up and breaks into Bennett’s room. Nothing more is revealed during the conversation other than the fact that Bennett did embezzle money from the plant.
Back-up welders arrive at the plant, including Rod Stool (Patrick McKenna). The progress hits a snag when Operator Phil (Kyle Gillis) discovers a problem in one of the welds. It doesn’t take Todd long to realize that the weld will be incredibly difficult, but no one even wants to attempt it. After a bit of debate and encouragement, the job falls on him. Although he has to make the weld left-handed, without a shield, and an awkwardly bent rod, Todd appears to easily make the weld.
With the weld made, the next step of the process is to light the flare stack, which Bennett is quick to remind everyone at the Conch meeting. By the time Todd joins them, Bennett has blabbed about his and Charles’s embezzlement. Charles’ Driver soon shows up and scares Bennett off and Charles storms out shortly thereafter. As Jamar promises Todd and Chelsea that he will get the full support of the board behind investigating Charles, a call from Jimi comes over the radio. Everyone soon finds themselves gathered outside, awaiting the lighting of the stack. The light of the stack not only goes off without a hitch but it actually performs 4 percent better than the team had originally anticipated.
The good news continues to roll in as the team gathers later that night at the Leaky Pipe. The season ends with Todd and Backwoods learning from a Newscaster (Bob Mann) that Bennett has officially signed on as a witness against Charles Conch. Although Charles has been arrested under suspicion, Conch Industries has refused to comment, which leaves the fate of the refinery hanging in the air.
The Trades Review
As for a series finale, the episode delivered rather cleverly. I personally feel that the way it ended, the series could continue or it could end. Of course, it would be nice to know the fate of the refinery and its employees, but the somewhat happing ending would be enough to satisfy me if the series is not renewed.
I’d give the episode a 5 out of 10 based on the fact that it was typical. Despite not entirely hating the episode, there was nothing shocking or exciting. I would like to see the series continue but if it was canceled, I probably wouldn’t be beside myself.
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