I am really starting to wonder why it’s always Ezra’s family that draws the attention of The Doctor and his henchman. Ezra was presented to us as the sweetest, nicest, member of the TOV. Yet he is suddenly world-class pickpocket and con man? My brain is too tired at this time of night to sort this all out. If it was about money, Jules’ family would be the one to go after.
Back at the kooky retreat, Maddie has apparently confessed the entire scheme to the psychiatrist. Maddie says that one of the marks she became a bit attached to. That was Ezra. The shrink wants to know why she doesn’t contact the police. She says because her boss is smarter than the police and he would kill her. Maddie doesn’t know what her next step should be. The therapist tells her to focus on what it is she needs and wants and to stop lying. She gives her a red rubber band for her wrist and tells her to snap it every time she starts to lie.
GET CAUGHT UP ON IMPOSTORS RECAPS HERE AND DON’T MISS THE COMMENT SECTIONS
The police pay a little visit to the artist commune. They are there to see Herman who is turning in the POV in exchange for a kickback. He got a whooping four hundred dollars for ratting them out.
At Ezra’s parents’ house his brother Josh’s smart mouth is getting him in trouble. Sally is really not fond of him. His parents Marsha and Arthur seem to be doing as well as can be expected. Max and Arthur chat over a couple of whiskeys. Max says they need to get Sally away from Josh. He suggest that the two of them and Sally go to a hotel. He also says that the FBI and some people worse than him are looking for Ezra.
Two police detectives show up at The Retreat. It seems they traced the call she made to the hospital to find out if Shelly was dead and have come to question her. Maddie hugs the wind chime guy goodbye and steals the keys to his car. Then we see that the police are there for couples counseling for work partners.
Poppy arrives to save the day and thinks that she can just drop the family name and get her out of trouble. When Jules explains how much trouble they are in, and that they are wanted by the FBI and a bunch of scarier people Poppy is shocked. She says she can get them across the border, but she has to agree to come home.
The TOV and Poppy all meet up to find their coyote. Richard experiences lust at first sight with Poppy. The bus is there and Poppy says, “Andiamo!” (Let’s go! In Italian) They all get on the bus. I thought Sophia was supposed to be there. Where are they meeting up? Richard and Poppy sit next to each other on the bus. He seems to know everything about her. As it turns out, Poppy was the prototype for Richard’s version of Maddie, Alice. While Maddie was with Jules she was studying Poppy for her next con with Richard. Well that is a twist I didn’t see coming. What did Poppy major in? I could understand what they were saying because they were talking over each other. Alice would say andiamo! all the time and she wore the same perfume and had Poppy’s exact life story. This is a crazy twist. I love it. Poppy says she’s married, barely when Jules mentions her husband.
Maddie calls a tow truck driver and acts all young and stupid and says she needs a tow. Then she yanks a belt out of the car and pitches it. It is at this point that her rubber band finally breaks from all the lying. When the tow truck driver comes she keeps talking about how she has to get to a surgery or her mother will kill her. Clearly the plan is to convince the guy to loan her a car while hers is being worked on. She’s in a big hurry and has no time to spare. She gave him $1000 in cash for the work on the car and took his ratty pickup truck.
Arthur goes to the hotel with Sally and Max but not before handcuffing Joshua to the staircase. His mother has the key and will not uncuff him.
Finally we see Patrick and his new/old partner. She has put an audio romance novel on the CD player in the car. Patrick can’t take it. She wants to talk about his twelve-year marriage. She’s a great person and a great mother they just couldn’t make it work. Patrick seems to still be in love with…Maddie. These two go to see Maddie’s mother. They tell her she is a professional con artist who is wanted by the FBI and unless they can find her, her life is most definitely in danger. She said that she has suspected that her daughter was lying to he about her job and her whereabouts. The female agents says all three of them are on the same page about keeping Maddie safe. Her mother says she doesn’t have any friends or boyfriends, she’s never been married and even if she had friends, she’s not sure she would tell Patrick because he is rude. He does continue to get snippy with her. The female agent tells him to give them a few minutes to talk alone, mother to mother. It’s good cop, bad cop. Good cop players the mother role. She’s just trying to keep her daughter safe. If she thinks of anything please contact her. She hands her her card. And off these to go. The next thing on their list is Ezra. Fuck, maybe it has been all about Ezra this whole time.
The TOV and Poppy make it to Nowheresville, Mexico it seems. I presume this is some outpost near the border. Jules has fallen in love with Mexico and doesn’t want to leave. Ezra suggests she stay. She says after his family is safe, she can come back. Ezra says life never works that way. He says it would make him feel better to know that at least some of the people he loves are safe and happy. Poppy is going to blow a gasket when she finds out about this.
I missed where Maddie got all the cash she has in her purse. But she is checked into a roadside motel somewhere drinking. She calls Max. It doesn’t take long for the two of them to start to argue. She wants to know how mad The Doctor is and he talks about how maid he is at her. She says he sold out Sally so he is not one to talk about loyalty. She asks again about how mad he is. Max says that the has decided to broaden his scope of pressure and he is sitting next to Arthur Bloom at the moment. Maddie freaks out and hangs up. She flees her hotel. I thought for sure she would call her mother to check on her. But the next time we see her, it’s the next day and she buys a gun.
Apparently, the TOV were just stopping to eat in the middle of nowhere. They got back on the bus and ended up and a bustling town. Sophia is supposed to meet them there in an hour and a half. It must be Tuesday because they all go for beer and tacos. Richard tells Jules he expects a postcard every week.
Ezra is the first one to notice the cops. It’s a foot chase through an outdoor market. They manage to give the cops the slip and go to look for their coyote early. In this very busy Mexican town apparently all you have to do is ask for Miguel and you are sent straight to your coyote, because clearly there is only one guy named Miguel in all of Mexico. Sadly, it appears that Poppy’s pink sombrero ($5!) was lost in the escape. It really worked with her outfit.
Miguel says they will leave in an hour with the rest of the group. They insist they must leave now. This results in him asking his friend, Jesus, if he has room for four. He does. This results in them being locked into the trunks of two cars on one of those big car moving trucks. Before they get in, Ezra leaves a note with a kid to give to Sophia. The police say they are looking for four Americans, two men and two women. How the hell would they know Poppy was with them? The truck driver asks if they are dangerous and says he has not seen them. As the truck pulls away, Poppy says to her trunkmate Jules, “Wait I am not supposed to be going!” Jules replies, “Me neither.” The kid gives the note to a woman who is not Sophia.
Max and Sally and Arthur have been driving for a really long time. They are even taking turns driving. Something tells me they are not going to a hotel. Arthur has a metal fork up his sleeve. Wouldn’t a knife have been a better option?
Next week, Maddie goes home to her mother. Her mother contacts the good cop. The TOV and Poppy are still in the trunks of two cars. I think Arthur is able to contact Ezra and tells him to “keep his wits about him.” My DVR cut off with Poppy and Jules talking in the trunk but I didn’t get to hear what they said. Can someone fill me in on that and anything that happened afterward?
If I were part of production, I would have named this episode, Jesus Take The Wheel. I am disappointed in that lost opportunity.
Was there any music at all this episode?
Oh and someone tell me what the good cops name is. Is it Ester?
I think the good cops name is Colleen or Corrine (or something like that), Patrick said it last week when she answered her door. I missed most of the episode and don’t have the brain to watch the replay at 1:30 a.m. I’ll catch it tomorrow morning.
According to IMDb the character is Colleen played by Denise Dowse.
Thanks! I will have forgotten that by the next episode.
Maddie got the money from the blonde woman at the retreat who offered to pay her stay under the pretence that Maddie would be continuing her stay at the retreat.
I thought about that. But I didn’t see it happen. I presumed she would just put the bill on her account. Isn’t it weird that she would just give her a big bag of Benjamin’s?
I swear I remember a conversation where they were showing Maddie’s “escape” from the retreat where we see the blonde lady telling Maddie it was her pleasure and shes so glad that Maddie changed her mind about staying
Yeah. I saw that, I just assumed she added Maddie to her tab. It would seem odd for her to have a pile of cash laying around to give to Maddie.
I thought that in the first episode (season 2) there is a scene where Maddie goes to a storage unit. It is there she gets a wig, the book with the knife stashed in it and retrieves a wad of cash from a suitcase. I’m thinking it is the very first scene.
Now that I remember! Thanks, Tammy!
But she ran out of the house when Shelly(?) was chasing her without anything.
I didn’t see where or when Joyce gave her the money either.. TT, I agree with you it’s odd she gave her a bunch of cash.
Why did Maddie tell her entire story to the therapist? Wont the therapist wonder why she ranvand perhaps start looking for her as well? I don’t think we have seen the last of the therapist
So many questions about the Ezra angle. His Dad and Mom seem to know this time would come. Almost like they were expecting it. To me that suggests they’re aware of the Doctor.
I liked the curve ball they threw at us with the FBI agents going for couples therapy. I had a hunch it wasn’t Maddie’s room.
Nice twist that Richard figured out Poppy was Maddie’s role model. My question is why Poppy’s being introduced now? How does she got in?
Interesting that Maddie mentioned to the therapist she could’ve been happy with one of her exes. I immediately thought it was Ezra. But on second thought, could it have been Patrick? FBI agent Colleen (last name Cook?) asked Patrick if he really thought there was something there between him and Maddie?
That’s all I’ve got for now. Got home half way into the episode, then watched the first half. I’m a bit discombobulated, so I’ll comment again after doing my rewatches! WHY ISN’T EVERYONE WATCHING THIS?
You answered your own question about Poppy. She fits in because she was the proto type for Alice.
This is only a guess/feeling/theory: what if Ezra is really the doctor’s son?
This theory would require some sort of explanation about why the doctor would select his own son as a target for Maddie to emotionally and financially wipe out. The marks all seem to be single rich people.
It’s just an “in the works theory” but I don’t think the doctor realized Ezra was his son til recently. Before it was more like a revenge for the Mom choosing Arthur over him. She kept it from him, now he just found out and is trying to get his son back? Only theory.
I mean who knows at this point.
Jesus Take the Wheel is an inspired title!
This show is full of twists and surprises. A fun romp with beautiful locales and actors. How they all emerge unscathed is the big question.
I wonder if Sofia is a throwaway character or if she will be angry and try to hunt down Ezra too.
Interesting. Yes, who is Sofia and why is she there?
I think she might return to save the day in the future. I love this show too! Tamara thanks for the recap!
I bet you’re right!
This episode brought me back to season one and the victim Sally killed…hector, I think? We found out that he stole from the doctor and thought that was most likely reason he was chosen as a target.
So I’m thinking again why were these three chosen as targets? What did they personally do to the doctor? Does he only choose victims that have wronged him in some way?
It would kind of make sense to me that Ezra’s parents somehow wronged the doctor. That’s why they don’t seem shocked by Sally & Max. And It’s still interesting to me that one of the fbi photos in last episode was of Ezra’s mom!
I love the twist with Poppy! But I think there’s more to the story with her.
Sally seems to be stewing with anger. I wonder if she will end up killing max.
The cops in Mexico are the first to show the three wanted by fbi. In the states it has only been Ezra. Could this this be because of intel from Sophia?
I think it’s strange too that Chicago lady at spa just gave Maddie a bag of cash. Something must be up.
Great points. I wonder why Sally is so angry and silent. Something seems off about her. I think TT said it looked like she had acid thrown on her face. I thought she looked beautiful and seeing her for the first time this season, I thought to myself, wow her skin looks really good.
I think Uma Thurmond character did the damage to Sally’s face but didn’t kill her. Also Sally was dressed like Uma. 🤔
Thank you. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but you’re absolutely correct. Good catch. I wonder if Shelly will get her thinking it’s Lenny.
I just watched while puttering around prepping to paint (hopefully )! I just watch, then listen to you all go into the theories, too complicated for my brain I guess, everything you all contribute makes sense.
Didn’t Ezra’s Dad have some shady business dealings last season, Mom probably knew about…maybe they borowed money or somehow crossed the Dr.?
I keep flipping between posts! Love Coop!
Tamaratattles… Just popping in to thank you for doing recaps of Imposters. I don’t get to watch it until later, but I don’t want to wait to find out what the episodes are about. Your recaps are perfect. So, again, thank you. 🙂
Tamaratattles… You said your DVR cut off before you could hear what Poppy and Jules were saying. Jules said, “Oy vey” and Poppy said, “You’re speaking Hebrew??”. Then the narrator says something about the border patrol. The camera is inside the trunk as it opens to show what looks like an armed military guy standing there.
Thanks, Dianne!
I’m guessing he opens the trunk with no one in it.
Watched this episode twice and still more confused than ever. I think it was giving clues of what is to come more than past episodes.
FBI now has all the TOV names. Isn’t this new? I thought they only had Ezra’s name before. I’m wondering how Ezra’s family is involved too. How did Max know they went on vacation? Why did they cut it short? Wasn’t is supposed to be a 6-month cruise? Who are the other people looking for Ezra that are “more dangerous” than Max, Sally & the FBI? The Doctor? But Max & Sally work for the Doctor so is there another group? Where the hell is the hotel they’re driving to?
I wasn’t surprised (finally something) by the door knock thing at the spa. It was done before when Ezra and Richard thought they found Maddie, but it was Jules.
Loving Poppy, “I’m married, barely”. How did the cops know where to find them while they were waiting for Sophia? I don’t think it came from Herman. Disappointed in him. What happened to honor among thieves? Good thing I didn’t start packing to move to The Neighborhood. Will we see Sophia again?
I wonder where Patrick’s ex-wife works. He said her career took off and she’s a hot shot. CIA maybe? The TOV went across the border so now maybe CIA is involved?
Love/hate the way FBI played Maddie’s mom (Mel Harris). Does anyone remember the show 30 Something from a million years ago?
The music director is doing a fantastic job. I picked up (with the help of Google) 2 songs from this episode. Morphine, “I Had My Chance” and Howling Bells, “I’m Not Afraid”. I’m a Southern Rock person so never heard them before but fit the scenes perfectly.
At my advanced age, I’m having my last wisdom tooth removed next week. I’m going to watch every episode. I’ll be taking pain pills so I’m sure I’ll be more confused than ever.
I was excited to see Mel Harris too! I loved “30 Something”! Seems to me she is probably a wealth of knowledge as Maddie’s mom, she didn’t have any fear facing down the FBI, I’d be a blithering idiot if FBI showed up at my door looking for my daughter!
AAL you made some excellent points. I thought the people more dangerous than Max, Sally and the FBI was the Doctor. But aren’t Max and Sally working for the Doctor? I never thought about Patrick’s wife/ex being a big shot some where. That went right over my head. Good catch.
Loved 30 Something. Good luck with the teeth.
What does that mean poppy thinks she can just drop the family name
I thought Patrick’s comment about his wife was interesting too. Patrick obviously has personal interest in finding Maddie.. she conned him and maybe to show up his ex wife..
But why the good cop? Did she come out of retirement to simply right what was wronged or does she have personal interest too? She seems intent on getting the doctor
What dose she thinks she can just drop the family name mean
What does that mean poppy thinks she can just drop the family name
Last season and this season they’ve made a few references to julie/poppy’s family as being well off and well connected. Julie has also said they love to bail her out
They must be reason Julie was target by the doctor. I’m sure we will find out more about them
So this means that there family are connected to bad guys and when said she thinks she can just drop the family name meaning know where your come from I’m guessing
Poppy doesn’t understand, in this case, that Daddy’s last name can’t do shit for them in their situation. Where as in other cases mentioning the family name is a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. If that helps.
Did anyone catch Inbar Lavi on WWHL after this episode? I recorded it and will watch and report back to y’all.
I watched it. She was crazy gorgeous. And tipsy and fun and smart.
Totally agree 100%. Was A.C. actually behaving? I think the sneak peak they showed of this week’s episode is just Maddie imaging it. Only a guess.
What did Poppy major in in Princeton?