In the heart-wrenching sixth chapter of "Manhunt," entitled "Useless," the relentless pursuit of John Wilkes Booth attains its zenith, culminating in a poignant and heartbreaking denouement for the infamous assassin. As the dramatic game of cat and mouse unfolds, Edwin Stanton's fragile health fails him, yet his resolve to bring Booth to justice remains steadfast and unyielding. Meanwhile, Booth's delusions of grandeur and the erroneous belief in the love and fame awaiting him in Richmond propel him deeper into the self-dug abyss.
The episode commences with Booth and David Herold seeking sanctuary at the Garrett farm, where Booth's desperation and illusions are starkly exposed. Portrayed by Anthony Boyle, Booth clung desperately to the mirage of Richmond, a utopia he foolishly fancied would crown him a hero. His obstinate refusal to embrace the stark reality of his predicament—hunted relentlessly, injured, and with no viable escape route—uncovers the profound depths of his self-delusion. David, Booth's once loyal cohort portrayed by Will Harrison, begins to fathom the pointlessness of their venture, his glimmer of hope dimming as the tightening noose encircles them.
The tension escalates exponentially as Booth and David find refuge in the barn, with Booth's dogged insistence on awaiting the Garretts' return for horses mirroring his obstinacy and denial. David's misgivings about Julia Garrett's intentions prove prescient, yet Booth's unshakeable conviction that she harbors Confederate sympathies blinds him to the impending peril. The arrival of Union soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Everton Conger, effectively seals their fate, with Booth's defiance of surrender setting the stage for a climactic confrontation.
In a poignant and irony-laden twist, Booth, who once yearned to be the epicenter of attention, is gunned down by Sergeant Boston Corbett, not in a triumphant blaze of glory but in the obscurity of a blazing barn. The bullet that terminates his life is not one of a hero's demise but of a coward's, mirroring the manner in which he claimed Lincoln's. Booth's final moments starkly contrast his illusory dreams of recognition and fame; instead, he expires sobbing for his mother, finally acknowledging the "useless" moniker his father had once bestowed upon him.
Stanton, in spite of his ailing condition, arrives at the farm the following day, his very presence standing as a resolute testament to his unwavering dedication to justice. Tobias Menzies' portrayal of Stanton captures the intricate tapestry of a man grappling with the conflicting demands of his duty and his deteriorating health. Stanton's harsh decision to deny Booth any dignity in death, instructing his corpse to be unceremoniously dumped into the water, serves as a potent declaration of the legacy he vows to repudiate on Booth's behalf.
As Stanton shifts his focus to constructing a compelling narrative of a grand Confederate conspiracy, his audience with President Johnson unveils the intricate web of political maneuvering at play. Stanton's proposal for a military tribunal, rather than a standard criminal trial, emerges as a strategic maneuver aimed at securing swift and severe justice for the conspirators. The bold inclusion of Jefferson Davis within the conspiracy's folds is a calculated move, intended to nullify a potential adversary to Johnson's presidency.
The apprehension of Jefferson Davis, the former President of the Confederacy, enriches the case with a fresh layer of complexity. His capture, draped in his wife's shawl, is a calculated humiliation orchestrated by Stanton, revealing the personal grievances that underpin the broader political struggle. Stanton's removal of passages from Booth's diary, hinting at the manipulation of evidence, underscores his relentless pursuit to implicate Davis in Lincoln's assassination, irrespective of the factual merits.
"Useless" serves as an apt epithet for this episode, mirroring the ultimate vanity of Booth's deeds and the shattered aspirations of a man who, ultimately, could not escape the sinister label that dogged his steps. This episode intricately intertwines the personal and political narratives, presenting a gripping saga that delves deeply into the mindscape of a man fueled by delusions and the dire repercussions of his actions. As the series nears its climax, the stage is meticulously set for a legal fray that will shape the destiny of those accused in the conspiracy, with Stanton's grand scheme hanging precariously in the balance.
