Walker aired a midseason finale that wrapped up the mystery of Grey Flag once and for all—and I can’t say it was all that surprising. 

When Clay Cooper came into the picture a few episodes ago, setting his sights on Kevin Golden and informing Cordell Walker that he had to handle the situation, it was clear that the two of them were somehow related. 

My initial gut instinct was that Clay was Kevin’s father, but it turns out, they were brothers, and Kevin’s motive, which was unclear for much of the season—as was his vendetta against Cordell and his reason for killing off every member of his former unit—was that the foursome abandoned Cooper during battle. 

Color him surprised when Clay walked into that airport hangar very much alive. Unfortunately, by that point, the damage had been done and Kevin was too far gone in his revenge scheme for anyone to actually reason with him. 

Quite frankly, Kevin’s motivation watered down what was a pretty incredible twist that revealed him as the mastermind behind Grey Flag. Though, to be honest, I don’t even know if he was because his brief squabble with the billionaire Danny Dawson, who he then killed, revealed that Kevin was just a political figure “they” recruited—the “they” remaining rather ominous. However, Danny never condoned the kidnapping and torture of Cordell and his brother, so that was solely Kevin’s rogue mission. 

Either way, Kevin was the person that had a beef with Cordell, and he went above and beyond to infiltrate Walker’s life by schmoozing his family and even getting close to Cassie by pursuing her romantically. 

No one saw Kevin coming (I guess maybe Cassie did, in a way), which is kind of concerning since they are all rangers. He played the part well, and before Cordell knew it, he was being framed for a bombing that took out six of his fellow rangers and Julia, the reporter he’d been spending quite a lot of time with, in addition to putting the mayor in the ICU. 

After the explosion, Cordell made a run for it, which made him look guilty. At first, I didn’t really understand why the FBI thought that Cordell was Kevin’s accomplice, but eventually, his decision to run made sense—Kevin planted a ton of evidence against Cordell, which is what Julia was trying to tell him right before the explosion. If someone like Julia, who knew Cordell and trusted him, could be swayed by the information Kevin was feeding her, the FBI would eat it right up. And they did. Graves set her sights on Walker almost immediately, scoffing at Captain James’ suggestions that his ranger and former partner was set up. 

Thankfully, Walker had a few people in his corner, including James, Trey, and Cassie, who tracked Cordell down and stayed in constant communication with him while he kept a low profile. 

The truth is that Cordell knows exactly how these things work, and he wouldn’t have been able to prove his innocence if he got caught. By that point, Kevin might’ve been in the wind. 

His priority was getting to Geri’s and asking her to inform his family that he was alive. It was truly nice to see Geri again, and a brilliant way to bring her back into the fold. If there’s anyone who is going to risk it all for Cordell, it’s her. And she did by not only harboring a fugitive but making a call and passing along a message to Stella, which was understood and received by Cordell’s father. 

Who knew that the team-up we needed in the finale was Bonham and Cordell? That man knows his way around a gun, and he was a damn good lookout for his son! 

Geri did the right thing by calling Cordell’s father because he was spewing nonsense by suggesting that maybe his disappearance would be the best for the family. He’s put them through a lot, that’s true, but their biggest concern is his safety, and not having him around brings them more stress than anything else.

Walker — “False Flag (Part Two)” — Image Number: WLK315fg_0013r — Pictured: Jake Abel as Kevin Golden — Photo: The CW — © 2023 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

It’s also the reason for this mess in the first place because Cooper thought he was doing his family a favor while his brother felt hurt and abandoned. Admittedly, the Clay/Kevin relationship wasn’t really explored, so their conversation fell a bit flat as we couldn’t fully understand the extent of Kevin’s pain when he mentioned being left alone with his father. I assume it means that they weren’t on good terms, but it wasn’t very clear or well executed. 

Regardless, Kevin shot his brother, while Cordell chased Kevin on a motorcycle while trying to stop his plane from taking off. It was the kind of action sequence that fans of Walker find thrilling. The cherry on top of it all was Cassie, who was arguably hurt the most by Kevin’s betrayal, taking the shots that ended his life while protecting Cordell in the process. She. Did. That. 

Cordell’s name was cleared in the end, with Graves and James promising a full apology from the rangers—as they should. Seriously, jumping to conclusions about a decorated ranger was just messy and rash decision-making. 

We’ll have to wait until new episodes return on April 27 to find out how Cordell is coping, how his family reacted to his return, and what will happen between him and Geri upon her return. 

The scene between Cassie and Trey may have been the most heartbreaking if I’m being frank. I didn’t realize how much I was rooting for them until Cassie blamed Trey for making her question her instincts. And while I get where she’s coming from since both Trey and Cordell insisted that she give things with Kevin a go, the truth is that she can’t blame everyone for the choices she made. And the reason she is blaming Trey is that she’s denying her feelings for him. That’s the real reason why it hurts the most. 

As for Trey, I feel for him because he never meant any harm by encouraging her to let her guard down—he never could’ve anticipated this outcome. He thought he had her back, and was shocked by the development himself, though it’s a nice reminder to trust her instincts in the future. The poor guy already placed so much blame on himself, it was a bummer to see him get kicked while he was already down. Not to mention this is his first real gig with the rangers! 

Looking back on how everything transpired, it’s wild to see how the situation got away from them all so quickly—and it’s a lesson that you never really know who you’re dealing with. 

I think with time, Trey and Cassie will rebuild their friendship and trust in each other, and before you know it, they won’t be able to deny their feelings for each other much longer! 

What did you think of Walker Season 3 Episode 15? Are you happy to see the Grey Flag storyline wrap up?

I thought I loved Alaska Daily when the series first premiered, but the season finale—hopefully not the series finale—made me fall in love with it even more.

You don’t go into a show like Alaska Daily, one that deals with tough subjects like crime, corruption, and the murder of missing indigenous women, expecting a happy ending, but it sure feels good when you get one. 

Roz and Eileen gave Gloria Nanmac’s case their all, pursuing the truth and following every lead, wherever it took them. When they hit dead ends, they backtracked and kept digging. And they never ever gave up, not only solving Gloria’s murder but calling out the state of Alaska for the broken system that it had in place. 

They did the heavy lifting that no one else wanted to do because it was important. It mattered. And it’s what sets apart The Daily Alaskan from the competition—they are determined to pursue the truth at any cost.

Several times throughout the episode, it felt as though the answers just fell into their lap while pursuing the real suspect in Gloria’s case, but there was always an air of believability. Eileen and Roz put in a season’s worth of research, so when things started presenting themselves, it was their hard work and perseverance paying off. They established credibility amongst the Alaskan people and were shining a light on issues that others likely wanted to be addressed for a long time, so not only did people feel like they could trust them, many wanted to lend a helping hand in any way that they could, encouraging them to keep digging and keep hunting.

When they finally located Clarence Redding, a.k.a Skeeter, he was the missing puzzle piece that could hammer home the timeline of events from the presumed night of Gloria’s murder. He wasn’t willing to blow up the life he’d created for himself, however, his partner and mother of his child insisted that he finally come clean and stop carrying around Ezra’s secret. 

If it wasn’t for Gloria’s 9-1-1 voicemail setting everything into motion, Skeeter may not have turned on his former friend, Ezra, but since Gloria uttered his name while begging for help—and effectively being ignored by the people who should’ve been putting together a full-fledged search party—there was no denying his involvement. 

Skeeter provided the insight, but he also handed over the smoking gun, or, as Stanley said, the smoking crutches, which linked Ezra to Gloria’s murder. Eileen and Roz’s gut instinct about the guy was right, and I’m glad that he won’t be able to get away with any more violent crimes. 

Not only that, but they were able to provide all of the evidence before Toby’s trial started, which meant that the DA cleared him of all charges. Roz and Eileen obviously wanted to get justice for Gloria, but Toby was their motivation in the end because they were racing against a clock—and they couldn’t see an innocent indigenous man go to jail for a crime he didn’t commit.

And they didn’t stop there. Ezra may have led to Gloria’s murder, but there’s no doubt about it that the broken system in place played a role every step of the way. The fact that the mayor called their reporting “fake news” proves that the government wanted to wash its hands of it.

So many people failed Gloria, and other men and women like Gloria, but Eileen and Roz were determined to bring the corruption to light after getting a tip from an anonymous texter by the name “Disillusioned,” who turned out to be Commissioner Haynes’ assistant, Mary Anne. She knew that there was a report that provided some very basic solutions to the MWIW problem—something as simple, straightforward, and obvious as getting these small towns a functioning 911 system—yet they were ignored and pushed aside because they weren’t a priority when they should’ve been. 

ALASKA DAILY – “Most Reckless Thing I’ve Ever Done” – With rumors of a new Alaskan newspaper swirling, the team investigates their competition and what it means for the future of local news. Meanwhile, Eileen and Roz listen to Gloria’s final call and find their lead before an innocent man is put away. THURSDAY, MARCH 30 (10:01-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Darko Sikman)
IRENE BEDARD

Eventually, Haynes did the right thing after realizing that Mary Anne got into public service because of her and left because of her. Haynes likely got in it for the right reasons once upon a time and then became a disappointment by always turning a blind eye when it was convenient. It was nice to see her finally come around and be on the right side of history after creating so many roadblocks for Eileen and Roz. Everyone views journalists as the enemy until they realize that it’s actually the system in place that’s doing a disservice to the people it’s supposed to be protecting. 

Laying it all out there for the Alaskan people was a good start and a reminder of why they do all of this in the first place. They were holding the right people accountable for the first time ever. And it was also a reminder as to why local journalism matters and should be preserved. Sylvia’s visit and gratitude drove that point home as she wouldn’t have gotten the closure she needed if it wasn’t for Roz and Eileen.

Those two did not start on the best terms at the beginning, but by the end, they were two peas in a pod, bettering each other along the way. Stanley was right when he said that they could both learn a great deal from each other, and they went on one hell of an adventure together that really contributed to their respective character growth. Eileen still possessed the part that made her such a stellar reporter—her integrity never wavered—but she softened around the edges, opening up to the idea of being a part of something and learning new ways to get things done. She didn’t have all the answers when it came to figuring out the dynamics in Alaska, but by the end, she was part of the community that respected her for her work. 

Most importantly, she stopped searching for that next big thing to consume her mind—she was finally comfortable where she was, informing Roz that she wasn’t going to take the job in New York and choosing to stay in Alaska instead. Not only did she have a family at The Daily Alaskan that she couldn’t leave behind, but she owed it to herself to explore a potential romance with the pilot poet, both on and off the ground.

I’m not confident that the series will get renewed, which is a damn shame because, with Gloria’s case wrapped up, there’s so much story left to tell in a series that has so much heart, warmth, and light, despite all the obstacles thrown in its way.

For starters, the situation between Conrad Pritchard and his father is intriguing, and I’d love to see how they would navigate a competitor daily. It’s one thing to say that they won’t be taking the bait and going into war with the Anchorage Eagle, but it’s another thing to actually see it pan out on screen when Pritchard’s money is pushing and pushing them against a wall.  

I feel like things between Eileen and Conrad were also left up in the air, and while the pilot poet was the clear winner of her feelings, I don’t think Conrad would’ve been out of the picture completely. I could see them growing closer as they rallied to remain the best and most just publication in town.

Each newsroom member had storylines that didn’t get closure—from Bob’s sick wife to Yuma and Austin’s budding relationship, right down to Austin’s fight for paternity for his son.

We have a diverse cast of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages that bring so much to the table, and fans deserve more time with them.

On the other hand, if ABC never planned on renewing the series, it wasn’t the worst finale. I’d say it was the best possible finale we could’ve gotten—with the Daily Alaskan’s employees reinvigorated, and Eileen and Stanley soaking up their victory (and lamenting that embarking on this journey was the most reckless thing they’d ever done… though it paid off!) with the Northern Lights and a warm paper fresh off the press, proving that there’s still something to be said about the power of print and the written word. 

What did you think about the season finale of Alaska Daily? 

I think all of the Burzek fandom can sleep well tonight because FINALLY!

Fina-frickin-ly! 

The Burgess and Ruzek hookup/reunion/romance—call it what you will—has been a long time coming, but the wait only made the moment that much sweeter. 

Adam Ruzek has gone to great lengths for Burgess. His love for her has been clear for many episodes and many seasons, but she needed to do the work and the healing so that she could finally arrive at a place where they could happen. Where a relationship between them was healthy for everyone involved, including Makayla. 

The feelings were always there, on both sides, but the timing was always off, especially after Burgess’ near-fatal accident that shook her to her core. All of the feelings she had for Ruzek were diminished as she felt numb, scared, and terrified of taking another step. 

Once she finally realized that she could no longer go on allowing the PTSD to have such a hold on her life, she broached the topic of therapy, eventually putting in all of the work to start healing the trauma. One of the major steps was to confront the situation with help from her partner. They are living together, working together, and co-parenting, but until this moment, they’ve never sat down and had an honest conversation about their feelings—they’ve just skirted around the topic with Ruzek simply accepting that they weren’t in sync. 

He waited, though. He waited until she was finally ready, championing her every step of the way. When her hand didn’t tremble when she took the shot at Ethan, the suspect who reached for his gun at the train yard, Ruzek noticed, and he felt an immense sense of pride. 

And when she suggested that they do a family therapy session, he didn’t think twice about it, agreeing because he knew it could help her. The real reason it took so long for Burgess to ask Ruzek if he’d go with her had nothing to do with her fear that he wouldn’t want to go. Deep down inside she knew that he would do it for her and that meant being completely transparent and raw. It’s a scary thing, but I’m truly so proud of them. 

We honestly should all be thanking that therapist for the great work she’s been doing. 

Also kudos both Marina Squerciati and Patrick Flueger for keeping Burzek alive all these years and somehow managing to keep the spark ignited through all the pain and hardships. It was evident that we’d always get here—that they would be endgame—but for a moment, it did feel like a lost cause, and yet those two never gave up hope or that thing that made fans year for their reunion. Seeing them light up the screen in a moment of realization was magical. 

The rest of the episode was almost irrelevant because of how powerful and passionate those final moments between the two of them were. I said almost because the case was important as it helped Burgess find the bravery to put herself first. 

There were also so many good moments throughout the hour, including Burgess informing Ruby that Ethan wasn’t a partner because he walked away when a good partner stays with you through the hard times. It was at that moment that there was so much clarity for Burgess about the man who has remained by her side this whole time, always checking in on her and making sure that she feels loved and taken care of. My heart is just bursting. 

Burgess is in this unique position where she asks the victims involved in her cases to be brave, but she of all people knows how incredibly hard that is. It’s something she struggles with quite often because it’s not something you can just do because someone asks you to. Burgess had all the tools to help Ruby, a victim-turned-suspect, and she just needed to establish a connection and get through to her. 

Thanks to her own therapist and the important work she’s been doing, Burgess knew how to handle Ruby, deciding that exposure therapy would be the most effective way of getting her to open up. She brought Ruby to the abandoned bar where the rape happened, which made her open up and agree to help the police find Ethan, the man who raped her and was now forcing her to be an accomplice while robbing mom-and-pop shops.

CHICAGO P.D. — “Out of the Depths” Episode 1017 — Pictured: (l-r) Marina Squerciati as Kim Burgess, Patrick John Flueger as Adam Ruzek — (Photo by: Lori Allen/NBC)

It was truly an unfortunate situation because while Burgess knew that Ruby was a victim, she couldn’t let her off the hook as she was an active participant in six robberies that resulted in someone being beaten within an inch of their life or murdered. Ruby never willingly went to any of these robberies, and that might work in her favor, but the reality is that she’d do some time even with a deal for cooperating with the police. 

Chicago PD loves itself an “it’s not black or white” storyline, so it wasn’t a surprise when Burgess felt conflicted about how they got Ruby’s DNA. While there’s no law prohibiting cops from using a rape kit to match DNA to a crime, it was a huge violation of victim rights. It might not have sat well with Burgess, but at least she made the best of it, vouching for Ruby, helping her through the case, and freeing her from a life of captivity. 

It’s a good thing she was the responding officer on the case because things might not have turned out the same.

And though it was an interesting case that forced some introspection on Burgess’ part, there’s no doubt about it that the episode was A+ because #Burzek is officially an item!

What did you think of the episode? Sound off in the comments below!