USA’s The Purge
Episode 5: “Rise Up”
Directed by Julius Ramsay
Written by Jamie Chan

* For a recap & review of Episode 4, “Release the Beast” – click here
* For a recap & review of Episode 6, “The Forgotten” – click here
At the Stanton party, Catalina (Paulina Gálvez) tells Jenna (Hannah Emily Anderson) she should leave, telling her to find Rick (Colin Woodell) and meet her in the cellar. “It‘s not safe here,” she says. Ellie Stanton (Andrea Frankle) keeps a watchful eye on the wife, as Albert Stanton (Reed Diamond) pulls Rick off for more bourgeois bullshit.
On the road, Miguel (Gabriel Chavarria) is still hitching a ride with Cowboy Rex, though they’re a little at odds. Miguel’s not only intent on saving Penelope (Jessica Garza), his conscience pushes him to help other. The Purge isn’t made for good people. At the same time, Penelope’s been bought at the Carnival of Flesh by an old face, Henry— an old flame, a drug dealer. He’s got unfinished business with her.
Jane (Amanda Warren) keeps trying to get in touch with David (William Baldwin), hoping to warn him about the assassin she’s sent. The Matron Saints are keeping her safe for now. Marge (Jannette Sepwa) has a particularly brutal story, leading to the piece of trivia that Purge Night has the “second highest conception rate of the year.”
We watch as Albert gives a small speech about his wife, mostly how she helps replenish the “New Founding Fathers‘ war chest“— not only a wife, Eleanor’s a capitalist warmonger just like himself. The party’s getting wild, too. They’re handing out knives for a group sacrifice. Will Rick join in this time? Will he release the beast?

“Blessed be America— a nation reborn.”

Penelope blames Henry for ruining her life. He poses himself as her savour. We see he absolutely manipulated her, or tried to, anyway. He remains obsessed, believing if he Purges then he can go back to normal. We see more of their previous life, in which Henry got physically violent with her, prompting Miguel to step in. This is how Henry got a fucked up eye, from Miguel cracking him with a piece of brick.
Finally Miguel tries stopping the Cowboy, not willing to forget his morality. The Marine’s able to get the upper hand and chokes his pal out. Afterwards he free the people the Cowboy kidnapped, telling them to try finding a “triage van” for help. He takes the Cowboy’s Trader ID badge and heads for the Carnival of Flesh.
The Matron Saints go out on a call, subduing a man trying to kill a woman. They work on cleaning the lady up. She’s in rough shape. Madelyn (Sabrina Gennarino) further offers advice, trying to make sure this woman will never let another man hurt her again. Then the Matron Saints do what they always do— brand the male pig. They’re smart, they realise the law’s not helping them when women are murdered every day of the year, worse on Purge Night. So, they’ve got to take that power back. Jane, for her part, can’t seem to stomach it, which is why she leaves, and why she’s trying to stop the plan against David she’s already set in motion. Madelyn gives Jane the Saints’ business card, in case of emergency.

“The Purge is not the law“

Shit’s about to go sideways at the Carnival of Flesh, when Cowboy Rex manages to alert the guards of “a breach,” and they haul him out of his cage. Meanwhile, Miguel’s wandering around the place, where he runs into an army buddy Dale (Philip Fornah). His soldier friend engages in the Purge, whereas Miguel sees a strict line being crossed: “We don‘t hurt civilians.” Naivety, really. Because last Father Gore checked the U.S. Army and the Marines have killed plenty of civilians.
At the party, Jenna and Rick start hearing silenced gunshots nearby upstairs. They see people running through the garden with guns, coming for the house. Even the Stanton family’s bourgeois security system can’t withstand the firepower, and soon the whole mansion’s being infiltrated. EAT THE RICH!!! The young couple’s only hope are the wait staff and Catalina— they’re the ones leading the violent charge.
Penelope and Henry make so much noise Miguel hears them. He’s grabbed by security before he can reach her. Then Henry sees he might get another chance to Purge tonight, willing to “pay whatever it takes” for his revenge. In a flashback, we see Miguel leave for the Marines, and leaving Penelope in a facility where she winds up meeting Tavis (Fiona Dourif), the cult leader trolling for weak prey. Damn.
In the streets, Joe (Lee Tergesen) continues on his journey, only more determined after his last discovery of people he knows murdered in their store. He finds people in the street, kicking the shit out of a lone person. He hops out of his van in order to deal out his Purge Night justice. And he looks pissed.

“Be a hero. Step up. Put out that fire. Become the person tonight that you want to be tomorrow.”

Loved this episode. Deepens character, but also keeps making things more intense. There’s a huge build-up for Joe, too. Excited for more of him, as usual. “The Forgotten” is next time.