In the third installment of "Manhunt," titled "Let the Sheep Flee," the intricate tapestry of conspiracy and evasion deepens further in the wake of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The episode kicks off with a haunting dream sequence, where John Wilkes Booth (played with chilling intensity by Anthony Boyle) envisions himself being inaugurated as the second president of the Confederate States of America, a grim portrayal of his inflated ego and the monumental consequences of his deeds.
As Booth's odyssey takes a decisive turn, he and his cohort David Herold (Will Harrison) are steered by the enigmatic Oswell Swann (Roger Payano) towards Rich Hill, amidst escalating tensions and the omnipresent shadow of Union soldiers. Swann's insistence on payment and their subsequent encounter with Samuel Cox (Thomas Francis Murphy), a Confidential Agent of the Confederate Secret Service, underscore the desperation and disarray permeating the Confederate ranks. Cox's conviction that Booth's act has rekindled the Southern dream stands in stark juxtaposition to the reality of Richmond's ruins and Jefferson Davis's flight.
This episode delves deeply into the personal impetuses and broader ramifications of Booth's relentless pursuit to reach Richmond. His steadfast resolve to locate Davis and ascend to the status of a Confederate symbol speaks volumes of his misguided allegiance to the cause and his inflated sense of self-importance within it. Meanwhile, Herold's refusal to slay the horses under Booth's command introduces a subtle complexity to their bond, hinting at the internal strife and moral dilemmas torturing the conspirators' minds.
President Andrew Johnson (Glenn Morshower), grappling with frustration over Edwin Stanton's (Tobias Menzies) reconstruction blueprint, demands swift victories in his new role, highlighting the turbulent political landscape and power struggle following Lincoln's demise. Johnson's pardon of racist lawman Frank Leech (Ted Welch) and his amnesty plans for the Confederacy exacerbate the rift between him and Stanton, who is steadfast in his mission to bring the traitors to justice.
The nostalgic flashback to Lincoln's (played by Hamish Linklater) fateful encounter with Stanton and the esteemed abolitionist Frederick Douglass (brought to life by Elvis Nolasco) adds rich layers to the historical tapestry, accentuating Lincoln's unwavering dedication to securing enduring liberty for the enslaved and underlining the pivotal role of the Underground Railroad in this noble endeavor. Throughout the episode, Stanton's relentless battle with asthma emerges as a poignant metaphor, symbolizing the stifling of progress and the formidable hurdles in enforcing freedom within a deeply divided nation.
As the dramatic manhunt expands its reach to Montreal, the tension escalates. Wallace (portrayed by Josh Stewart), disguised as a Confederate, uncovers damning evidence implicating Confederate financier George Sanders (Anthony Marble) in the sinister assassination plot. Stanton's perilous journey to Canada to extradite John Surratt Jr. (Joshua Mikel) introduces an international flair to the narrative, uncovering Booth's name on a ship manifest alongside a trunk filled with elaborate costumes, hinting at a cunning plan to orchestrate Booth's apparent demise.
The episode culminates in a moment of profound realization for Stanton, as he grasps the vast scope of the conspiracy and the formidable influence wielded by the media in shaping public opinion. Sanders' acquisition of a newspaper and the publication of a cartoon depicting Stanton in cahoots with Booth underscores the fierce battle for narrative supremacy. Stanton's formidable challenge lies in counteracting the tide of misinformation and exposing the conspiracy's true extent, amidst Sanders and his cohorts' devious scheme to revive the slave trade under the shroud of Johnson's pardons.
"Let the Sheep Flee" stands as a compelling chapter in the "Manhunt" saga, deepening the conspiracy's intricate web and raising the stakes for its intertwined characters. It delves into the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the relentless struggle for power within a nation still grappling with the seismic aftermath of a presidential assassination. As the manhunt intensifies and the conspiracy's tendrils spread further, the episode leaves viewers perched on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the resolution of this historical puzzle and the fateful paths it will carve for its protagonists.
