Marshals: Blast Radius

Their insomnia benefits our public safety. Deputy Marshal Andrea Cruz still has unresolved PTSD from her abduction, while her teammate Kayce Dutton has his moody passive aggressive son Tate moping around the house, so they start spending their nights apprehending fugitives. How many can there be in Montana? Evidently, a lot. However, one collars offers information on a much bigger fish in “Blast Radius,” tonight’s new episode of showrunner Stephen Hudnut’s Marshals.

Way back in “The Gathering Storm,” Dutton and his team-leader Pete Calvin inadvertently released Rudy Carpenter, assuming he was just another backwoods oddball. At the time, they were busy saving industrialist-turned-rancher Tom Weaver, but it was still rather embarrassing to learn Carpenter is a Unabomber style domestic terrorist.

Calvin’s boss, the slimy political appointee Harry Gifford, backed their decision, but he still constantly holds it over Calvin’s head. Since then, Calvin started chemo therapy and so far, so good. However, Gifford offers his support, in the most annoying and undermining way possible.

Clearly, “Bast Radius” sets up a two-part story arc, because it ends with a blatantly manipulative cliffhanger. Fortunately, director Guy Ferland leads up to it with a lot of door-kicking action, which will keep procedural viewers satisfied. There is also a brief flashback that might have Yellowstone franchise fans hoping it is a precursor of more Dutton lore to follow.

Yet, the best aspect of this episode is the way it depicts the team’s cohesion and loyalty. There isn’t much they can do to help Calvin beat cancer, but at least they can bag Carpenter, which would shut Gifford up. “Blast Radius” also showcases the unlikely chemistry developing between Dutton and Cruz, nicely played by Luke Grimes and Ash Santos. Plus, Brett Cullen is colorfully sleazy as Gifford, in a J.T. Walsh kind of way.

Marshals might not have the complexity of the mothership Yellowstone series, but it is highly competent network television. Tonight’s episode is a perfect example. Still recommended for fans of NCIS, JAG, and other military-themed cop shows, “Blast Radius” airs tonight (10/26) on CBS.