In the tense and exhilarating sixth chapter of "Manhunt," entitled "Useless," the relentless chase of John Wilkes Booth reaches its dramatic apex, culminating in a poignant and heart-wrenching conclusion for the assassin. As the intense game of cat and mouse unfolds, Edwin Stanton's health falters, yet his steadfast resolve to bring Booth to justice remains unwavering. Meanwhile, Booth's grandiose delusions and the love and fame he fantasizes are waiting for him in Richmond, propel him deeper into the self-constructed abyss of despair.
The episode kicks off with Booth and David Herold seeking refuge at the Garrett farm, where Booth's desperation and illusions are starkly revealed. Booth, portrayed with fervent intensity by Anthony Boyle, clings desperately to the mirage of Richmond, a place he envisions will crown him as a hero. His steadfast refusal to acknowledge the stark reality of his predicament—hunted relentlessly, injured, and with no discernible path to safety—underscores the profound depth of his self-deception. David, Booth's once loyal accomplice, played with convincing nuance by Will Harrison, starts to grasp the futility of their endeavor, his hopes dwindling as the noose tightens around their necks.
The tension mounts as Booth and David take refuge in the barn, with Booth's obstinate insistence on awaiting the Garretts' return to procure horses mirroring his stubborn denial of their dire circumstances. David's suspicion of Julia Garrett's intentions resonates with truth, yet Booth's unwavering conviction that she is a Confederate sympathizer blinds him to the peril they face. The arrival of Union soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Everton Conger, seals their fate, with Booth's refusal to surrender paving the way for a dramatic and tense confrontation.
In a tragic and ironic twist of fate, Booth, who once aspired to be the center of attention, is felled by Sergeant Boston Corbett, not in a blaze of heroic glory but in the oppressive darkness of a burning barn. The bullet that terminates his life is not that of a hero's death but that of a coward's, mirroring the manner in which he took Lincoln's. Booth's final moments starkly contrast his dreams of recognition and fame; instead, he expires, crying out for his mother, embracing the derogatory label of "useless" that his father once bestowed upon him.
The following day, despite his illness, Stanton arrives at the farm, his mere presence standing as an unyielding testament to his steadfast dedication to justice. Tobias Menzies' portrayal of Stanton vividly captures the intricate struggle of a man pulled between his unwavering duty and his frail health. Stanton's decision to deny Booth any semblance of respect in death, ordering his corpse to be unceremoniously dumped into the waters, serves as a powerful declaration rejecting the legacy Booth sought to leave behind.
As Stanton turns his focus to constructing a compelling case for a grand Confederate conspiracy, his meeting with President Johnson unveils the intricate web of political maneuvering at play. Stanton's strategic proposal for a military tribunal, rather than a conventional criminal trial, is a calculated move aimed at securing swift and severe punishment for the conspirators. The bold inclusion of Jefferson Davis within the conspiracy's narrative is a daring maneuver, intended to neutralize a potential adversary to Johnson's presidency.
The arrest of Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederacy, introduces a new layer of complexity to the case. His capture, shrouded in his wife's shawl, is a calculated humiliation orchestrated by Stanton, reflecting the deeply personal vendettas that underpin the broader political struggle. Stanton's deliberate removal of pages from Booth's diary, hinting at the manipulation of evidence, underscores his relentless pursuit to tie Davis to Lincoln's assassination, regardless of the truthfulness of the available evidence.
The title "Useless" aptly describes this episode, as it mirrors the ultimate vainness of Booth's actions and the shattered aspirations of a man who, in the end, could not escape the shadow that forever haunted him. The episode skillfully intertwines the personal and political threads, offering a riveting narrative that delves deep into the mind of a man driven by grandiose delusions and the grave consequences of his deeds. As the series reaches its climactic conclusion, the stage is set for a legal battle that will ultimately determine the fate of those accused in the conspiracy, with Stanton's grand scheme hanging precariously in the balance.
