Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5 Review: Sweet Caroline

at .

Things went from bad, to worse, to horrendous for Harlee Santos on Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5

But the highlight was Harlee head butting Bianchi's enforcer. I'm betting he never saw that coming, and it was awesome. 

Harlee Santos Gets Set Up - Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5

However, when you mess with a mobster, you need to expect a certain amount of collateral damage. 

Maybe Harlee should be relieved that the person who ended up dead wasn’t closer to her, because I don’t see Bianchi as the kind of guy who cares too much about who he murders. 

Harlee: That woman had nothing to do with you and me.
Bianci: But that's the problem with the dirty end of the field, isn't it? A lot of collateral damage. And that clip of yours holds nine, minus the one. That leaves a lot more bullets.

Other than her team, Cristina is Harlee’s only real weak link. How long until Bianchi decides to use her against Harlee. 

Harlee Confronts Bianci - Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5

Stahl is already doing just that. 

The moment Stahl gave Cristina that thumb drive I knew what was about to happen, and as much as I hate him using the teen to get to her mother, it is almost a case of turn around being fair play.

Harlee put cameras and listening devices in his bedroom, and it's certainly Stahl's style to turn the tables. 

Worst of all, it’s working. He’s quickly gathering intel, including Harlee’s junkie ex-training officer coming to the door. 

I can’t imagine it will take much to get Cady to give us more information, especially if he’s high, or needs to get high. I’m guessing that Cady will be a direct link to finding Miguel’s body. 

The only question there is, what will Stahl do once he finds it?

Will Woz Cover For Harlee - Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5

But back to Caroline's murder…

Woz: You didn't think I'd have you covered?
Harlee: Thank you, Woz.
Woz: If anyone's going to make you pay for your screw ups, it damn well better be me.

Woz honestly sounded hurt in that Shades of Blue quote, when he believed Harlee didn’t think he’d move heaven and earth to cover for her. Of course, I didn’t expect him to go digging a bullet out of the woman’s skull and replacing it with another. 

Never underestimate Woz’s resourcefulness and creativity. 

Every lie I tell is for the family.

Woz

Verco was also creative when he let Wozniak know that he’d uncovered Donny Pomp’s secret sex life. 

Will Loman trust Woz even less after seeing that photo? The photo on the boat was certainly cozy, but not completely suggestive.

It could be written off as two friends on a fishing trip, but it certainly says that Woz and Donnie’s relationship went beyond a professional acquaintance. 

Tess was the odd woman out as Harlee kept her in the dark about Bianchi’s set up, and Verco continued to stick close. I’m now thinking that Verco is doing that simply to rattle the team and make them suspect that Tess is disloyal.

Harlee and Tess Work a Case - Shades of Blue

Despite their obvious cracks, I don’t think it will work. 

Nothing good has come out of you and me.

Nava

That hurt, but it was hard to disagree with Nava’s assessment. He may not have all the facts, but his gut is telling him that Caroline’s murder has something to do with Harlee.

I really liked these two together. Nava is good for Harlee, but she hasn’t proven to be good for him. 

Will there come a time in the near future where Harlee will need Nava to have her back, and if so, will he? It wouldn’t surprise me if that question pops up somewhere near the Shades of Blue season 2 finale. 

Nava Mourns Caroline - Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5

Back home, Linda showed up to refill her suitcase, giving Woz hope, but then leaving him even more heartbroken. 

When it comes to his personal life, Woz continues to make all the wrong moves, because having sex with Julia won’t fix anything.

It will only make it worse.

Julia: I'm not going to be gentle.
Woz: I don't deserve gentle.

Even more disturbing was Julia admitting that she doesn’t have Bianchi on a leash, and she believes she’s trying to change the world. 

She changed it all right, for Caroline. She ended hers. 

It feels like everyone is circling the drain because I don’t see a way out for any of them. 

Of course, the fun of this show is the hope that I might be wrong and the anticipation of seeing who can outplay whom in order to survive. 

Check back later in the week so you can chime in with our Shades of Blue round table team.

And if you need to catch up, you can watch Shades of Blue online here at TV Fanatic.

Sweet Caroline Review

Editor Rating: 4.4 / 5.0
  • 4.4 / 5.0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
User Rating:

Rating: 4.6 / 5.0 (16 Votes)

C. Orlando was a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow her on Twitter.

Show Comments
Tags: ,

Shades of Blue Season 2 Episode 5 Quotes

Be a fall guy if you want, Loman, but don’t make it so damn easy.

Verco

Listen to me very carefully, your baby doesn't need the world, she needs a mother she can look up to. This is your second chance. Don't blow it.

Harlee