It would be easy for Chapel to use its “NSFW” disclaimers of “VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN” for bald exploitation. Men beating up women. Women beating up women. While in many ways this series has yet to hit its stride, Chapel can’t be faulted for its intentions, which place its title character first and the salacious titillation second.
Chapel’s second chapter, “Battered.” comes in two parts, picking up with Chapel months after her parole has ended. Chapel’s running deals with the shifty Yvonne (Meghan Rose, a member of Little Red Wolf with Emily Mills), who introduces her to small-time, cigarillo-smoking drug lord Benny (Cameron Shimniok). The pair team up on a bit of trial run to prove Chapel’s worth to Benny, and in a way that doesn’t involve oral sex or degrading one’s self on the floor of an indoor skate park. Benny’s a weasel, and while Shimniok isn’t as convincing when the character’s temper flares up, his wise ass malevolence works in the same way Jason Lee’s Azrael works in Dogma. Maybe it’s the hat.
Despite an eagerness to prove her worth, Chapel’s tryout goes awry. Whatever was meant to be dropped off has now found its way into Chapel’s bag. The moment allows Chapel to negotiate her way out of a slit jugular, even after Benny reveals the entire thing was a set up. It’s not clear if Rob Matsushita intended for Yvonne’s treachery to be a surprise, but her betrayal is telegraphed early on in Part One, with more than one incriminating nervous glance. It’s here where “Battered.” not only reveals Chapel was thrown in the clink for the second degree murder of her rapist, but that Chapel’s abuser was Yvonne’s brother.
The reveal is a bit clunky, but Chapel wears many of its pulp influences on its sleeve, and its “soap” feel isn’t out of place. In fact, the ugly stuff is where this series has excelled in thus far. Chapel gets her shots in on Yvonne, and Yvonne gets a mouthful of blood in return. Matsushita uses the explosion of emotion to reinforce what’s been a bit of recurring theme, exploring the fractured persona of his title character as he cross-cuts between the skate park and a monochromatic flashback. I faulted “Audited.” for its inconsistent visuals, but it’s great to see a steadied use of black-and-white filters for the Artist Formerly Known as Ashley Banks. Matsushita executes the flashback with aplomb, opening Part Two with an eerie monologue from Jessie before his prompt bludgeoning via monkey wrench. The series’ use of sound and makeup have been an advantage thus far, but the way this sequence plays with shadow shows promise in its visuals, too.
After taking her to task with a pair of brass knuckles, Chapel seemingly leaves Yvonne to her death, but “Battered.” drops the other shoe in its treachery-within-treachery narrative. Chapel returns for Yvonne, exploding the moment into a crazed, skate park shoot out. In spite of its unclear sense of space, the ramps and quarter pipes make for an inspired set piece and an excellent whirlwind of skaters and gunfire. Like the reveal of Yvonne’s brother, Chapel’s decision to return for her doubles the character’s importance. Yes, Part Two reveals that this was all a set up by Chapel and a crooked cop to bust Benny on some charges, but there’s an economy to the storytelling as well. Outside the drug business and its profits, Chapel still has a code. She isn’t above letting her emotions get the best of her, but she has standards beyond blind revenge and murder, standards that separate her and someone like Yvonne.
The need for “Battered.” to come in two parts seems questionable, especially considering how efficient the series can be in certain moments, but the episode realizes Chapel as a full-fledged anti-hero. Emily Mills remains the strongest part of this series, but this is a sign that the rest of Chapel can in fact catch up to her.
Stray Observations:
- “The only way I’m getting busy with Yvonne is if you toss me a sack of LEGOs.”
- “Ashley’s the girl who got raped by Jessie. I’m the woman who’s going to walk away while they kill you.” That there’s some solid writing.
- Leave it to Emily Mills to sell the crap out of “I forgot my purse.”
- Anyone taking a “loopy cunt” tally here? I’d set the over/under at seven and take the over.
- “Still want to get some licks in?” “You were the one who wanted me and her to get busy down there.”
- He’s dead in the present story, but I hope the flashbacks mean this isn’t the last we see of Chris Braunschweig as Jessie. He puts in some solid (and creepy) work.