Rookie Blue recap: Blue is the New Black

With all the action and incredible unspoken acting going on in this episode, I’m pretty sure the sound could have gone out and Rookie Blue would have still been tremendously entertaining this week. And, personally, I think that’s hugely in part to Gregory Smith’s directing. He’s taken the helm a few times over the years, and they’ve all been exceptional episodes of TV.

Additionally, let’s give mega props to the acting happening up in here. These Division 15 coppers really gave us gold this week.

“I’m the Daddy”

Yeah, Marlo, awkward terror was our reaction to that phrasing as well.

Speaking of awkward…

The sun is oblivious to bad sexual subtext. And Duncan’s the perfect idiot to run full steam ahead with this. Odds on this ending in more abject awkwardness and terror: 1 in 2.

Horrified and uncomfortable

Everyone is doing a top-notch job with facial expressions this week.

AHOY!

“Cat scratch fever is not just a song.” Based on what I’ve witnessed on the set of Rookie Blue over the years, I can barely begin to imagine the hijinks and hilarity that ensued when Matty Gordon donned an eye patch for a few days of shooting. See Charlotte Sullivan here?

She’s hiding laughter that cannot be contained. (And Matt Murray, over Priscilla’s left shoulder, looks like he cracked as well.)

Over-sharing and car confessions

It appears the theme of this week’s episode is “Awkward conversations and absurd facial expressions” (which, coincidentally, could be the title of my future autobiography). However, I really appreciate Juliet ‘fessing up immediately to being crazy about Nick, as well as Andy espousing his many virtues.

Dun dun dunnnnn….

Two cell phones makes Andy do this:

Oh, she KNOWS something’s up with Juliet Ward now.

Zingers all around

Collins: See? Some women like me.
Peck: They’re whistling at me, idiot.
Ward: Most women like you. I’m the only police officer here you haven’t slept with.
Collins: Yet.

BOOM.

And then all hell broke loose

Mandatory plot update: McNally, Ward, Peck and Collins were sent out to do prison transfers. A crazy fight broke out before they even got their prisoners out the door. The overtly aggressive prisoner got stabbed (or rather, stabbed herself), while the seemingly demure one was left with Collins when Peck doubled back to help McNally and Ward. Except that Peck ended up trapped in a cell block with a different prisoner. Sigh. When you all look back on this, you will question the policing choices you made this week.

Pirate Shaw and Diaz to the rescue!

Awww, they’re just so handsome and adorable.

Have you ever wanted to yell “THIS IS A BAD IDEA” or “IT’S A TRAP!” more?

Nick Collins, making bonehead decisions since…well, on and off for a while now. This inmate’s whole being screamed “total sociopath” from the get-go.

Baby update

In pregnancy news this week, there was something wrong at the ultrasound, so Sam and Marlo have been waiting around for the doctor to find out what it is. It felt like they were there for like, 3 days, just waiting and bonding over childhoods at Crystal Beach. (Spoiler: false alarm – the baby, a girl, is fine.) Unrelated: I have mad hair envy of Rachel Ancheril these days. She’s rocking glorious Kate Middleton-esque locks and I need to know what her shampoo is.

Loving Greg Smith’s directorial decisions

Seriously though. The blocking and camera placement, the distinct but subtle lighting differences, and everyone’s performances = all around awesome.

Hostage situation

Now, please correct me if I’m wrong, but haven’t our 15 Division officers learned the “always do a thorough pat down of a suspect or criminal” lesson before? Sure, a prison riot and subsequent lockdown is unsettling, but it’s basic protocol!

Prisoner-guard love affairs is (are?) the new black

Tracy’s mild skepticism deserved acknowledgement in the great ranking of this episode’s reactions. And, to recap what is quickly becoming a plot out of OITNB only twistier: Kenzie stabbed herself to see her BFF J-Bird who’s in the infirmary after being stabbed and naming Kenzie as her attacker. Plus there’s a creepster ex-guard Donnelly (who received the above skepticism) who’s corroborated the stabbing story and was also “giving special privileges to” (ahem, boning) Nick’s now-escaped, lunatic, “Indigo child” inmate, Rochelle.

Life got flipped, turned upside down

I bow down to Greg Smith for this shot. And everyone else who was a part of making this scene and all the beautiful chaos in it. Too effing cool.

Parenting tips and fleeting friendship

Peck and Odelle’s day of bonding was quiet perfect poignancy.

You get a hilarious facial expression, and you get a hilarious facial expression!

Dov “wait, whaaaaat?” reactions for all!

Liar, liar, pants on fire

Ward fed Andy a crap story about being undercover and in love with a dealer back in Vancouver. IT’S ALL LIES.

More #relationshipgoals

Beers and catching up on each other’s day while sitting on the floor. Sam and Andy will be okay, if they just keep doing this.

Annnd, that’s a wrap! Hit the comments with your notes about this week’s episode, and feel free to tweet your best awkward facial expression at me (@cjoanporter)!

Rookie Blue airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Global TV. It will premiere Thursday, June 25 on ABC.