Memory of a Killer Pilot Recap: A Hitman, a Failing Memory and Zero Margin for Error
- Je-Ree
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Forget everything you know about the "Grey’s Anatomy" heartthrob. In the series premiere of FOX’s Memory of a Killer, Patrick Dempsey is unaliving people, at least when he can remember where he put his car keys. The pilot episode, which debuted tonight manages to bridge the gap between a cozy family drama and a gritty NYC noir and the results are as messy as a close-quarters hit.
The Copier Salesman of Cooperstown
We open on Angelo Doyle (Dempsey), the ultimate "Girl Dad." He’s a widower living in upstate Cooperstown, spending his days as a seemingly bland photocopier salesman and his evenings hovering over his pregnant daughter, Maria (Odeya Rush). There’s some classic "she can do better" friction with his son-in-law, Jeff but Angelo plays the part of the buttoned-up suburbanite to perfection.
That is, until he drops Maria off at job as a school teacher. Once the school bus is out of sight, the "salesman" disappears. Angelo heads into the city for his real 9-to-5: professional assassination.
Messy Hits and Handler Drama
The show’s first major action set piece is a breath of fresh air. Angelo isn’t a John Wick superhero; he’s an aging man in a dangerous profession. The fight sequence is refreshingly messy and Angelo takes some serious lumps. It’s a nice touch of realism, if an older guy gets into a scrap, he should probably look like he’s been in a scrap.
We also meet the supporting cast of the criminal underworld. Enter Joe, the nephew of Angelo’s longtime handler and friend,
Dutch (Michael Imperioli). Dutch is the gatekeeper of the contracts, though the actual "Big Bads" paying the bills remain a mystery. Interestingly, we find out Angelo has a brother in a memory care facility, a secret he keeps tucked away along with the fact that he has a family at all. In Angelo’s world, loved ones are liabilities and he’s kept Dutch in the dark for decades to keep Maria safe.
The Fridge Incident
The pilot’s tension ramps up when Angelo’s internal "hard drive" starts to fail. Between bouts of early-onset Alzheimer’s symptoms, he discovers he’s being followed. There is a hit out on the hitman. When Dutch warns him to stay away from a high-level target named Moiser, threatening that Angelo "will have a problem" with him if he goes rogue, Angelo naturally heads straight for the person causing him trouble.
What follows is a sleek, classic Dempsey sequence. He seduces a bartender for intel on Moiser and it’s all very suave until the next morning. In a chilling moment of cognitive decline, she goes to the fridge for a drink and finds Angelo’s gun sitting right next to the milk. She bolts and we’re left with the realization that Angelo isn't just a danger to his targets; he’s a danger to himself.
The Killer Grandfather
The episode’s climax is a brutal reminder of who Angelo really is. He catches up with Moiser and takes him out with a cold-blooded efficiency that stands in jarring contrast to the scene that follows: Angelo sitting in an OBGYN office with Maria, smiling at an ultrasound of his first grandchild.
The episode ends with two major hooks for the season. First, local cop Dave (who seems to have a "more than friends" vibe with Maria) informs Angelo that the drunk driver who killed his wife is being released from prison. Second, we see the mysterious hitman who is hunting Angelo finally closing in.
The Verdict
The Memory of a Killer pilot is a fantastic start to the season. It’s violent and surprisingly emotional. Watching a man lose his mind while trying to settle his old debts is a ticking clock that feels much more urgent than your standard police procedural.
Keep your eyes on The TV Cave as we track Angelo’s body count and his fading memory every week. If the pilot is any indication, this is going to be one hell of a ride. Don't forget episode 2 airs tomorrow night.
Stream the next episode tomorrow on Hulu or catch it live on FOX.
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