Ep 5. Follow the Leader

In "Murder Chose Me" season 2 episode 5 "Follow the Leader," the viewer is once again invited into the world of Detective Rod Demery, a skilled investigator who uses his own past trauma to connect with victims and solve crimes. This episode begins with the discovery of a body in a shallow grave in the woods outside of Shreveport, LA. The victim is identified as Wallace Scott, a former gang member turned youth mentor who was well-liked and respected in the community.

As Demery starts to investigate the murder, he quickly realizes that the crime scene was carefully staged to look like a drug deal gone bad. However, the more Demery delves into the victim's past, the more he uncovers a complicated web of rivalries, grudges, and secrets that may have led to Scott's death. Scott had recently started a new job as a youth mentor at a local church, and Demery is soon introduced to an eclectic group of teens who had all worked closely with Scott. As Demery gets to know these young people, he begins to realize that they have all been deeply affected by Scott's death in their own way.

One of the key suspects in the case is Charice Lewis, a former gang member who had worked with Scott to help troubled youth find a better path. As Demery interviews Lewis, he learns that she, too, has a complicated history with the victim. Lewis comes across as a sympathetic, if flawed, individual who had struggled to leave her past behind her and start a new life. However, as Demery and his team continue to investigate, they discover that Lewis may have had a much darker motive for wanting Scott dead.

"Follow the Leader" is a tense, engaging episode that showcases the best of "Murder Chose Me's" storytelling. The pacing is excellent, with just enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged without feeling overwhelmed. As always, Demery is a fascinating and multi-dimensional character, and his interactions with the various suspects and witnesses are both empathetic and incisive.

What sets this episode apart, however, is the way that it focuses on the impact that Wallace Scott had on his community, especially the young people he worked with. Instead of simply presenting Scott as a victim and Charice Lewis as a villain, "Follow the Leader" takes a nuanced approach to the case, exploring the complexities of the relationships between these various characters. By the end of the episode, the viewer is left feeling not only shocked by the details of the crime, but also moved by the resilience and hope shown by the young people who were impacted by Scott's life and death.

Overall, "Follow the Leader" is a powerful, compelling episode that showcases the talents of the "Murder Chose Me" cast and crew. Fans of true crime and police procedurals will not want to miss this thrilling, thought-provoking entry in the series.