The “Strap Set” convenes at Rhyis’s (Amin Joseph) home to
unwind a bit. Rhyis is a gracious host,
until a lapse in judgment on Khalil’s (Maurice Whitfield) part tests his
patience. After the situation is
rectified, Rhyis and Zho (Tracey Dukes) discuss more serious matters. Later on, Ox (Chyna McCoy) summons Rhyis’s to
a rooftop meeting. Ox gives Rhyis a
simple ultimatum that might prove costly for the “Strap Set” if they fail to heed
it.
The title for the season finale of Touye Pwen is the literal English translation for that of the show
itself: Kill Point. It brings all the
members of the “Strap Set” together, adding a few more layers and quirks to
certain key characters. It also proves
to be a rather literal exploration of their weaknesses. Seemingly infallible characters reveal
weaknesses that could prove fatal if exploited by the enemy.
With each episode, Zho increasingly seems like a pawn on a
giant chessboard. He is manipulated by
both players. Detective Ash treats him like
an expendable asset. Rhyis shows him
something that resembles actual love, yet still coldly reminds him of the debt
he owes. Zho is a man who struggles
between a rock and a hard place, having no semblance of control over his
predicament. As things stand, I think
he’d be better off throwing his cards in with the Strap Set, as detective Ash
seems exceedingly unstable. My gut tells
me he’s headed for a fall.
Khalil continues to undergo minor character alterations with
every appearance he makes. In the “The
Strap Set,” he was the stoic face of Black Hand style organization. In “Ties that Bind” he was reduced to tears when
in the presence of his biological father.
That was his first sign of weakness.
In “Kill Point” he reveals yet another: Bad judgment in regards to
extracurricular activities. He is
subsequently scolded by Rhyis, who immediately puts him in his place. This is the second time where Khalil’s
authoritative presence is diminished by that of another.
The scene is reminiscent of the one from Goodfellas in which the members of the
Vario crew showed up to a Christmas party with extravagant purchases not soon
after pulling off the infamous Lufthansa heist.
Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) gave them all strict orders against making
any purchases after the heist, and became irate upon seeing their disobedience. He doesn’t hesitate to embarrass them
publicly. Rhyis doesn’t make as much of
scene, allowing Khalil to save face. He
also tempers his angry outburst with a reassurance of brotherly love.
The scene in Goodfellas
alternates between feelings of hilarity and discomfort. As De Niro’s voice rises, the soundtrack
diminishes, showing all eyes and ears in the room to be trained on his public
admonishment of an underling. He does
the exact same thing to Carbone in the next moment, only then it’s played for
laughs. In classic Touye Pwen fashion, Rhyis’s admonishment is delivered in a near
whisper tone.
In the episodes second half, Ox and Rhyis have a heart to
heart talk on a rooftop. Ox demands that Zho be made to answer for his transgressions. He starts by telling Rhyis a story that
reminds me of the one Pheobe Cates tells Zack Galligan in Gremlins. That may sound
like an oddball comparison, until one takes a closer look at each story. The one in “Kill Point” is meant to be deadly
serious and plays as such, remaining in perfect fidelity with the tone of the
scene. The one in Gremlins, adds an even darker shade to an already sadistic kids
film. It inspires uneasy laughter in the
viewer because of how grisly and heavy handed it is.
That Ox reveals this story to a rival is, in a sense, a show
of weakness on his part. As he himself
says, this bit of business with the Strap Set is personal. As any number of gangster films have shown,
revenge is a dish best served cold. Even
the most heartfelt matters should be handled as business. Ox seems to be forgetting that old adage. To punctuate that fact, he lets out a DMX
style growl at the end of his rant. This
growl instantly inspired me to laughter upon hearing it. Never missing a beat, R.L. Scott allows Rhyis
to react the exact same way. The timing is perfect.
This first season of Touye
Pwen has been both a dissection of the criminal mind and an ongoing study
of a group of characters. Though it has
definite similarities to any number of undercover cop dramas, it bears little resemblance
to any of them. R.L. Scott has guided
this ship with a steady and sure hand since the first episode. His actors and actresses have been loyal and
valued crew members who’ve helped to make sure that his vision stays on
course. I actually feel slightly annoyed
that this season is already over. It
seemed to just be hitting its stride.
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