Critic’s Rating: 4.2 / 5.0
Billy just bit off more than he can chew, and so has June.
It didn’t take long for the Suffolk murder investigation to expand into something far grander and more intense.
Criminal Record Season 2 Episode 2 dives into a conspiracy so pressing that the uneasy alliance between Hegarty and June not only cements itself, but deepens.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) Hegarty is always three steps ahead of everyone, including viewers. By the end of the Criminal Record Season 2 premiere , it was clear that Billy knew exactly who Hegarty was, and they had a history.
Shortly into this hour, one has to wonder if Hegarty was planning to use Billy as an asset to catch Cosmo this entire time.
We saw him in prison with his friend, and it was clear that Cosmo was his next target.
The man is an alt-right enthusiast with a following and money to spare, and that’s not a great combination. He’s also apparently on a watchlist, so he’s a prominent threat.
Hegarty quickly chose Billy as an asset, suggesting he planned this all along. It’s not an idea made on impulse.
However, it required some backing and support to legitimize. That’s where the hour has Hegarty doing what he does best: outwitting and manipulating.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) He immediately took charge at the scene, directing people efficiently. Assigning June to hospital duty and driving JP kept her away from Billy during the transport conversation.
Hegarty was in there alone with Billy for a while, likely making his case and talking the kid through his assignment and what to say.
It wasn’t until later that Hegarty called June in to serve as a witness to Billy spilling information about Cosmo and his plans that included possible bombs.
Hegarty is such a puppetmaster. He pulls strings to get what he needs. The worst part is, even when it’s obvious, you can’t do much because he’s so good.
Hegarty covers his tracks well. He gives the illusion of sharing power, doing things openly.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) He orchestrated this entire scenario to get them exactly where they were—Billy going undercover in Cosmo’s group rather than back to prison.
And on paper, it was sound. June’s investigation has no leads whatsoever. There aren’t any eyewitnesses who saw the person who stabbed Rohaan. They’re no closer to resolving that case.
Billy’s connection to Cosmo and the alt-right group there at the time means that he likely knows or can figure out who killed Rohaan.
Sending Billy undercover gives June a shot at solving the case she’s guilty about, and lets Hegarty prevent a likely terrorist attack. Everyone wins.
But it never fully feels like a win when there’s so much secrecy, distrust, and clear manipulation at play.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) I don’t expect that anytime soon. It’s clear that Hegarty, and likely Kim, are doing things off-book. But having June around gives them some legitimacy and favor with the AC.
Given June’s reputation and her previous history with Hegarty, having her around to back what he says gives him a bit more leeway. It’s fascinating to watch how he handles June, too.
There’s an undercurrent of respect he seems to have for her. She often sees through his actions. But it doesn’t stop him from trying to manipulate or control what he tells her.
The dynamic between Hegarty and June anchors Criminal Record and is its most compelling aspect.
In some ways, they operate on totally different planes. In another sense, what makes them formidable is that they’re working together.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) We see little nuggets of that and how it works sprinkled throughout the hour. Like, June saved their behinds when she distracted Kieran from his relentless hunt for Billy. She can be quick on her feet and just as clever as Hegarty.
And she’s often full of surprises. Despite his request, Hegarty still seemed shocked by June’s backing him in front of the AC and by her agreement with his call to put Billy undercover.
Now, on paper, it would seem reasonable to allow June to take point on some aspects of this mission, but, interestingly, Hegarty placed JP in charge as Billy’s handler.
He stated it was because JP and Billy now have a connection, since Billy saved JP.
And that’s not untrue at all, but the move also feels like a way for Hegarty to put some distance between himself and Billy while also controlling the situation with his subordinate.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) Hegarty is definitely calling the shots with Billy, though, and it seems the price for Billy’s participation is freedom despite his murder charge.
We do find out that he apparently killed Cerys by giving her a bad batch of ketamine.
According to Hegarty, he liked Cerys, was upset about a prom rejection, and maybe gave her the drugs, knowing they were bad, but didn’t anticipate her having a deadly reaction to them or something. And the murkiness of that and his actions as a “kid” meant he wasn’t some cold-blooded killer.
And it almost meant he deserved a chance at redemption. Whether that’s true or not, well, that remains to be seen.
But to his credit, Billy did save JP, and that has to count for something, doesn’t it?
It is concerning that they’re throwing him into the deep end with Cosmo and his gang. Those guys are intense. The relentless pursuit of Billy was harrowing.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) Billy has a tough task ahead. He must convince Cosmo’s group he’s not working with the police. This sets the stakes of what Billy faces. The case is stressful for a young adult new to a sketchy world and unsure of himself.
Cosmo is such a tool, too. He’s already online, spreading the notion to his followers that the Suffolk Square stabbing wasn’t what it seemed, and he’s pointing out that the lighting in the picture published in the paper is off.
It means that the picture is fake if the lighting and shading don’t align. At least that’s what he’s selling to people. But to what end?
The stabbing is something that still has both June and JP rattled, and it’s a relief that they haven’t completely shifted to this alt-right terrorist arc without letting the stabbing carry the necessary weight.
Hegarty is on to the next thing, but June and JP are both deep in their feelings and riddled with guilt, and those are moments that really ground them as characters. They also have nice chemistry.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) June doesn’t connect well with other people, but they have a nice rapport that adds a bit of levity and humanity to all of this, which could get buried with Hegarty alone.
It’s nice that June seems to have at least one person in this ordeal she can bond with, even if JP is a shameless flirt. At a time when June’s marriage seems to be a hot mess, that’s a dangerous thing.
June struggles to balance work and home life. Listening to her heartbreak and confusion over her son wanting to move in with his father was tough.
She immediately thought it was her fault, that she’d done something wrong to push him away, and goodness knows her husband didn’t help matters.
It seemed like he was gatekeeping the whole interaction, which was irksome.
(Courtesy of Apple TV) I can never tell if he genuinely loves June and wants to work things out, or if he likes hurting and punishing her for every little thing. Their marriage is complicated, to say the least.
And it’s those interactions that sometimes put into perspective why June flees to work and feels that, at least, she has some footing and control over things when she’s on a case.
But this case? Something tells me nothing will be in her control, and it has me on edge.
How about you, Criminal Record Fanatics?
Let’s hear all of your thoughts and theories below. How do you feel about the Hegarty and Billy dynamic? Did you anticipate the terrorist arc? Sound off below!
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