In the thrilling third installment of The CW's "Wild Cards," entitled "Howl to Get Away with Murder," Detectives Max Mitchell and Ellis are hastily dispatched to the serene yet enigmatic town of Stanford Township, tasked with unraveling the mysterious disappearance of Lucas Mays, a beloved local butcher. The episode kicks off with a morale-boosting exercise at the police precinct but quickly shifts gears as Max and Ellis find themselves ensnared in a tangled web of secrets and intrigue upon their arrival in Stanford Township.
Upon stepping into Lucas's trailers, an eerie emptiness greets them, a stark contrast to the chilling discoveries they soon uncover: three gore-covered animal hearts, a chilling banner inscribed with the word "Banish," and an assortment of eerie wooden totems dangling from the ceiling. These macabre clues hint at a deeper, darker narrative behind Lucas's abrupt disappearance.
The duo embarks on their investigative journey by diving into the town's whispers and rumors. While Ellis infiltrates Karl’s Meat, Lucas's workplace, Max delves into the gossip mill at the town's welcome center. Their inquiries reveal Lucas as a highly esteemed member of the community, further intensifying the mystery surrounding his absence.
Their initial foray leads them to Tralicci, an upscale restaurant nestled within Harlan Stanford's winery. Here, the head chef, Siobhan, reveals she terminated the restaurant's contract with Karl’s Meat on Lucas's final delivery day. Max, astute as ever, perceives Siobhan's demeanor as a telltale sign of a past liaison with Lucas. Their visit to the winery also introduces them to Pam, a dedicated animal activist with acres of adjacent land. Pam, worried about her missing rescued wolf, Tala, leads Max, Ellis, and herself to a harrowing discovery: Lucas's lifeless body, concealed on her property.
The grim find on Pam's land, coupled with Tala's tracker's unusual activity, initially casts a shadow of suspicion over her. However, the towering fence encircling her property and the absence of alternative entry points suggest Pam's involvement is unlikely. Their investigation deepens, drawing them closer to Peter Milford, a local schoolteacher who evades Ellis's probing questions with evident reluctance. Max harbors suspicions that Peter too had an illicit affair with Lucas, which culminates in Peter's abrupt departure from the school, prompting Max and Ellis to tail him with urgency.
In the heart of the woods, they stumble upon Peter, Mona, and Siobhan engaged in a mystical ritual, utilizing effigies clad in Max and Ellis' attire. The trio admits to their clandestine affairs with Lucas and their orchestration of the trailer scene as a means to "banish" him from their lives. Additionally, they were performing the ceremony to ward off Ellis and Max, hoping to steer clear of detection.
Back at the precinct, Max stands in solidarity with Ellis when Detectives Simmons and Yates mock him, but Ellis rejects her support, leaving Max profoundly wounded. Nonetheless, the investigation proceeds, revealing a tunnel utilized by Tala to navigate in and out of the facility, ultimately leading to a basement hidden beneath the winery.
Within the basement's confines, Max and Ellis uncover a startling secret: Harlan has been deceiving his buyers by refilling empty bottles of aged, premium wine with inferior blends, a federal offense that furnishes him with a compelling motive to eliminate Lucas. As Ellis delves deeper, he discovers blood and a bullet embedded in one of the barrels. Just before he can summon assistance, Harlan trains a gun on him. Max intervenes heroically, bringing all the visitors down to the basement, diverting Harlan's attention and enabling Ellis to regain the upper hand. Harlan ultimately confesses to Lucas' murder, revealing that he had discovered the operation and intended to expose Harlan.
"Howl to Get Away with Murder" is an engrossing episode that propels Max and Ellis into the shadowy depths of a seemingly serene small town. The episode not only propels the main narrative forward but also enhances the characters' development, particularly highlighting Max's tumultuous past and her evolving relationship with Ellis. The evolving dynamics between the two set the stage for additional intrigue and seamless teamwork in the series.
