What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep” 

Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others.  It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world of trouble and an undoubted explosion in next week’s season finale. But all in all, the episode was filled with fantastic moments and even more fantastic quotes, so without further ado, let’s take a look at my top 4 quotable moments.

#1: Briggs finally reveals the “why” to Paige & Johnny

Briggs: I don’t know what you guys know, okay, but you have known me for years. Do you really think I’m the villain in all this? Paige, this is not about me, it has never been about me. It’s about Colby, Martun murdered him and things have to be made right.

Finally! Finally finally finally. If you’ve been following along with our blog this season, you know that Tina and I have always refused to believe Briggs is the villain. Yes, there have been moments that have given us pause, but never have we allowed ourself to buy in to Mike’s cockamamie theory. It may have taken a bullet to the thigh to get him to open up to Paige and Johnny, but I’m so glad it finally happened. Well, sort of. There was no revelation of the master plan, but he shared his “why” and the point was made. He is not a bad guy. And Paige and Johnny should know that. They have lived, worked and played with him for years.

Tina and I have made this point before, too, which is why it hurt me a little to see Johnny not only SHOOT Briggs (which shocked the bajeezus out of me!) but also feel the need to keep tabs on him like he was a prisoner. That being said, Briggs did put Johnny in the middle of a major funeral home shoot out and force him to out himself to end it, so I’m inclined to give Johnny a pass on this one. However, I’m not feeling quite so generous with Mike. He gets pissed when he doesn’t know the truth and he gets pissed when he does know the truth. I can’t help but feel his trust issues go deeper than just Briggs and that those need to be explored next season (do you hear me, USA?! Next season!). I mean, let’s be honest, he got to capture the head of one of the biggest crime families and he learned that there was never actually any real danger of a sarin gas attack on U.S. soil, you think he’d be a little more grateful and a little less punchy. But as Briggs’ left cheek discovered, that wasn’t the case. That being said, ultimately, I’m glad Briggs finally gets to come clean…or at least start to.

#2 Charlie praises Jakes

Charlie: You’re the best of us. No joke.

I LOVE the relationship between these two so much this season. So so much. In addition to making for some great moments, it’s also given us a chance to see a new side of Jakes. But more on that later. First this. I loved this back alley, trash-dump scene. While it wasn’t apparent at the time that Charlie was coming to Jakes because she truly needed him, when she found out he had a date planned, she was nothing but thrilled for him. He has been there for her all season and indulged her revengenda faithfully and up until that very moment, she was right, he was the best of them. And that’s why I loved this scene. The irony of her choosing that exact moment to compliment him for being a truly stand-up guy while he is literally in the midst of hauling away a trash bag full of cash could not have played better. You could read the guilt and hesitation on his face as glanced back at the trash bag. I honestly thought for a second he may reconsider, but at that point he was in too deep and there was no backing out. But he should’ve. Obviously. After what felt like a 6-months-in relationship fight with Courtney and some serious making up, she found the dough. Under the bed. I have to admit, I saw this coming a mile away. And wish Jakes had too. That being said, I’m interested to see how it plays out.

#3 Jakes praises Charlie

Charlie: If you’re alone, it’s because you haven’t found a car worth chasing.

And the only reason Courtney found that cash was because of his hallway conversation with Charlie, which I could not have loved more and kind of justified the whole leaving-Courtney-with-the-stolen-cash thing in my mind. This scene was easily my favorite of the episode. Charlie’s melodic knock started the scene with a jovial tone, but her drunken state made it clear that something was wrong and finally, after holding it together for so long in front of the team, she cracked. And I have to admit, her identity crisis now that she’s caught Germaine is nothing if not realistic. Her life has revolved around this for so long and she’s put so many emotions aside to deal with it. Now that it’s over, what is she to do? Sure, she can go back to more cases, but they won’t have the same motivation and until she deals with her feelings and grief, I can’t imagine she’ll have the same drive. I loved her analogies in this conversation and as I mentioned earlier, it’s moments like this that allow us to see a new side of Jakes. In past seasons, he’s been tough and, in his own words, “grumpy,” but by actually giving him a real friendship with Charlie and a chance to be empathetic, we finally get to see that he’s actually a big softie with a heart of gold. I worry that the discovery of the money (and potentially messing up Charlie’s whole plan) may throw a major snag in their friendship, but I’m hopeful they can work through it. Mostly because Charlie needs someone she can trust and who she can count on, but also because I think after the sh*t hits the fan, Jakes may need it too.

#4 There is no sarin gas. And never has been

Mike: Why didn’t Briggs just tell us?

Paige: Because we never would’ve gone for it.

Mike: That’s bullshit.

Paige: Charlie is after Germaine. You were after 47 birds. Johnny and Jakes were over him and I, I don’t think I would’ve done this.

Okay, so it wasn’t the best line, per se, but she makes a great point. No one else has the foresight, patience or downright mastermind-ability to go along with this kind of elaborate scheme on the same level as Briggs. Had he told any of them the truth from the beginning…or even the middle…they would’ve tried to either talk him out of it, told the Bureau or just rolled their eyes and walked away. So Briggs did what he does best, he went out on a limb and manipulated each and every step to make sure everything went according to plan. Or at least as close to the plan as possible. And you can’t deny that the man gets results. There was no sarin in the canister all along (pat-on-the-back alert: I totally called this last week!), but that doesn’t matter. As long as everyone THINKS the gas is in there and Martun INTENDS to blow Sotos Street to kingdom come, they are set. And 45 moves ago, this is where Briggs was aiming to land. With Martun in jail. Check. Mate.

But with Ari (Rhys Coiro) still on the loose (and now in charge by default) and Briggs about to get his escape money via Jakes, I’m eager to see where his next move takes us.

The Graceland season — better not  be series — finale airs next Thursday at 10/9c on USA.

Finale Preview

Synopsis for “No Old Tigers”: While the agents of Graceland struggle in the aftermath of the gang war, Briggs (Daniel Sunjata) must track down the final loose end he needs to bring Ari Adamian (guest star Rhys Coiro) to justice.