The fifth episode of Catch-22 is the shortest and darkest episode in the season so far.
After the mission that led to Nately’s (Austin Stowell) death, Cathcart (Kyle Chandler) and Korn (Kevin J. O’Conner) punish Yossarian (Christopher Abbott) by promoting him and giving him a medal for bravery. Yossarian goes AWOL to find Nately’s whore and tell her of his death, leading to one dark night in the Italian capital and a possible way out of the war.
The fourth episode was a dip in quality, feeling much more like a filler episode in a series that is only six episodes long. The fifth episode is a return to form because it was more focus on Yossarian, how his relationships have impacted him, and his attempts to get out of flying missions.
The best part of the episode was Yossarian into Rome. At the brothel Yossarian discovers Aarfy (Rafi Gavron) on leave. Aarfy already revealed himself to be a horrid character in episode 3 and he does an even worst action when he takes a fancy to one of the women (Marilena Anniballi) in the brothel. There was a great yet disturbing sequence when Aarfy forces himself on a woman and a group of men was beating a dog at the same time.
Yossarian has shown himself to be a selfish coward throughout the series but even he has a limit. He’s appalled by Aarfy’s action and prepared to fight him before being interrupted by the Military Police. The series up to this point has been fairly light-hearted, in this episode it verges into a much darker territory because Yossarian gets punished instead of Aarfy. When Yossarian questions why the MPs say it’s a civilian matter. This leads to Yossarian to getting an offer that if he keeps quiet then he will not have to do his remaining missions. Sure, it’s amoral but considering the military will cover it up anyway Yossarian may as well take the offer.
Yossarian past also plays a major part in the episode with the return of Scheisskopf (George Clooney) who has somehow become a general. Because of his return it scuppers Yossarian hopes of return home once again. All of this is making Yossarian’s breakdown inevitable because there are no longer any small signs and he starts to snap at his fellow airmen.
The fifth episode is not just misery and despair, there was some humour. Cathcart and Korn were a double act as they discussed Yossarian’s punishment with the moment was both a satire of army bureaucracy and showing Korn to be a more cunning figure by compelling Yossarian to stay. Milo’s Italian assistants also provided a healthy amount of humour since the Italians are naturally a comedic people.
This episode is much more dramatic episode than the previous one and this is where its greatest strength. It makes for a great penultimate episode to the series as it builds up to an explosive conclusion.
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