Previous: Episode 3.6 Continued: Kelvin and Keefe fight, BJ and Stephen fight, and nobody likes hologram Aimee-Leigh
In Episode 3.6, we saw the aftermath of the Judy/BJ and Kelvin/Keefe breakups, with failed reconciliation attempts, a fist fight, and both Kelvin and Judy quitting their jobs at the church. In this episode, things get even worse.
When I watched the first time, I kept yelling "What the f*k!", being annoyed and then outraged by the constant misdirections, chronological flubs, and queerbaiting. It looked very much like Danny McBride was telling us: "Kelvin and Keefe are straight buddies. Fooled you!"
But that's impossible. There were not only 200-plus queer codes, Season 1 and 2 both ended with affirmations of their love. McBride didn't know if the series would be renewed, so each season finale might be the last we see of the characters. And what we see is "They are in love," not "Keefe, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend."
Knowing what comes after, I am going to re-watch this episode, looking for any evidence that suggests that saying "Kelvin and Keefe are just friends" does not mean that "Kelvin and Keefe are just friends."
Title: "Burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Exodus 21:25. Fans argued like mad about trying to connect the burn/wound/stripe to the personalities or kidnapping strategies of the Gemstone siblings, but it's a misdirection. The previous verse has the more familiar "eye for eye, tooth for tooth." It just means that the punishment should fit the crime.
Burn for burn and all that: During the evening of the day of the Aimee-Leigh Hologram debacle, the BJ-Stephen penis fight, and probably the Kelvin-Keefe rocking chair fight, Judy goes to a drug store to buy pain medication for BJ. On her way home, goons from Peter's militia crunch her car with the Redeemer and grab her.
Screaming like a woman: The three siblings are put in what everyone calls a chicken silo, although chickens are housed in coops. They are tied to chairs, with pillowcases over their heads. What for? You don't need to be imprisoned and tied up both.
Kelvin yells for help. Uncle Peter enters and asks if he is "screaming like a woman," maybe a dig at his gayness, but more likely because he considers any emotion "like a woman." He explains that the militia is holding them for ransom.
The Freemans arrive. Tiffany has made dolls of the siblings --very quickly -- "for you to hug and kiss until they come home safe." She gives the Kelvin doll to Eli. Same question: Why doesn't she save it for Keefe? Because they have broken up, or because they were never partners to begin with?
Burn for burn and all that: During the evening of the day of the Aimee-Leigh Hologram debacle, the BJ-Stephen penis fight, and probably the Kelvin-Keefe rocking chair fight, Judy goes to a drug store to buy pain medication for BJ. On her way home, goons from Peter's militia crunch her car with the Redeemer and grab her.
Misdirection alert: the trailer makes it look like she is the one crunching.
Chuck Montgomery tries to trick Jesse, and when that doesn't work, the goons shoot him with a tranquilizer dart.
Kelvin bangs on the door at Woodpecker's Carpentry, yelling: "Are there any woodworkers in there? I'm looking for Keefe Chambers!" Now that he's no longer worried about his job at the church, he's free to reconcile with Keefe. But it's long after hours; the building is dark and deserted. Why would anyone be inside? Besides, Keefe told Kelvin where he was working; wouldn't he give him his new address and phone number, too?
Imagine if someone were inside: "See, my ex-boyfriend and I had this big fight, and he doesn't want me to have his new number, and I don't know where he's staying...I need to see him...no, I am not a stalker!"
Six militia men wearing scary masks surround Kelvin. The trailer makes him look paralyzed with fear, but actually he is quite brave, trying to intimidate them and then defend himself. They punch and hit him, and squirt a toxic liquid into his eyes -- which stings but has no long term effects. Why does Kelvin need six guys to take him down? Why does he get a more brutal kidnapping? I don't know.
Screaming like a woman: The three siblings are put in what everyone calls a chicken silo, although chickens are housed in coops. They are tied to chairs, with pillowcases over their heads. What for? You don't need to be imprisoned and tied up both.
Fans uncomfortable with the idea of gay relationships noticed that Kelvin's pillowcase resembles the trans pride flag, thereby signaling that he is actually a transgender woman. Doubtful: Jesse's depicts the cartoon character Maisie Mouse.
Kelvin yells for help. Uncle Peter enters and asks if he is "screaming like a woman," maybe a dig at his gayness, but more likely because he considers any emotion "like a woman." He explains that the militia is holding them for ransom.
The handsome man: When Keefe arrives for work the next morning, he sees Kelvin's car with the doors still open, checks the ground for signs of a struggle, and asks his coworkers, "Have you seen The Handsome Man?" This makes no sense, as Kelvin only visited once, for a few minutes, and most of the carpenters weren't paying attention.
Cut to Amber and BJ noticing that their partners didn't come home last night. Next, Eli, at the office even though he's retired and should be fishing, receives a scary video of Kelvin crying and Judy and Jesse screaming in rage. The gay one has a "sensitive" reaction. Peter gives the ransom demand.
Eli goes home and confronts May-May: "Your sons have fucked me over." She denies that she has anything to do with the kidnapping.
Back at the chicken silo, the siblings complain about the heat and the food, and bicker. Shouldn't they be praying? They're religious, right?
Cut to BJ, Amber, Gideon, and Eli discussing the kidnapping with Sheriff Brenda. They were kidnapped in town, so it should be the Rogers Police. Notice that Keefe is not there. Why didn't Eli call him? Because his number has changed, because they have broken up, or because he is just a friend, not a partner?
The Freemans arrive. Tiffany has made dolls of the siblings --very quickly -- "for you to hug and kiss until they come home safe." She gives the Kelvin doll to Eli. Same question: Why doesn't she save it for Keefe? Because they have broken up, or because they were never partners to begin with?
Geography problem: How did they get to Eli's house so fast? Don't they live in Florida?
The trailer made it seem like the militia sent the dolls, adding a hint of the paranormal that turned out to be a misdirection. Still, they look like Gullah Island voodoo dolls: "You can hug and kiss them until your loved ones come home safe. And if they ever stray, you can make their privates fall off."
More queerbaiting after the break
