In its fourth episode, Luck eases up on the betting lingo and invites us to get to know the players a little better. And Dustin Hoffman cracks a smile!
Dumbledore Said What?
Tensions rise as Ace (Dustin Hoffman) meets with Mike (Michael Gambon) for the first time since his release from prison, which is all kinds of awkward. After Mike questions Ace's intentions, he eventually agrees to join in on the casino plan -- but not without spewing enough four-letter words to effectively wipe the wholesome wizard Dumbledore from our minds.
Until this point, I hadn't even considered what must be a constant struggle for a professional jockey: maintaining their weight. Rookie jockey Leon (Tom Payne) spends practically the entire episode running on an isolated highway after his agent, Joey (Richard Kind), points out that he is putting on pounds. Luckily, Leon has the peppy Rosie (Kerry Condon) to cuddle up to at the end of the day -- one relationship that I actually called from the get-go.
Now That's What I Call Television
Rosie mounts "Gettn'up Morning" and hits the tracks for the first time, with Walter (Nick Nolte) looking like he is on the verge of a heart attack as he watches from the stands. Then everything slows down for a truly beautifully composed sequence as the horse takes first in the race and Walter's eyes fill with tears of pride. This moment rivals the euthanasia scene from episode one for emotional impact.
It's Time for an Intervention
Why can't Jerry (Jason Gedrick) take a hint? The poor guy's having a rough time here, and ends up in a high-stakes private poker game with the same guy who has been cleaning him out the entire season. Thank god Marcus (Kevin Dunn) concocts a fake medical emergency that convinces Jerry to take his duffel bag full of cash and leave. What are friends for?
The cold and calculated world of Ace and the horse track juxtaposed with the purity of Walter's love for his horse has officially convinced me that Luck is one of the best new shows around. Who's with me?
Best Lines:
"Get the f___ away from me, I'm having my morning coffee."
--A heavily medicated Ronnie to Joey.
"Hey ma, how you doin' with that filtered cigarette experiment?"
--Renzo to his mother over the phone.
"What about all this global warming bulls___?"
--Marcus to one of Mon Gateau's Spanish-speaking handlers.
"I'll call you 'Ace' now, like everyone else."
--Mike to Ace.
"You're gonna meet somebody."
--Ace to Nathan (Patrick J. Adams), giving him his mysterious job description.
Recommendations:
