Memory of a Killer Season 1 Episode 3 Recap: Insulin, Rats and Wrong Numbers

If you thought Patrick Dempsey’s Angelo Flannery was having a rough week in the premiere, "Samurai" officially kicks the spiral into high gear. At The TV Cave, we live for a good anti-hero breakdown and Memory of a Killer Season 1, Episode 3 is delivering the goods.

The Hit That Went Sideways (and Then Some)

The stakes in "Samurai" are personal and by personal, we mean "incriminating evidence" personal. Angelo is tasked with a hit on an Internal Affairs agent who has been doing a little too much homework. This IA agent hasn't just found a trail; he’s got a folder on Angelo, Dutch (Michael Imperioli), and the two dirty cops currently moonlighting for their criminal enterprise.

In a surprising twist of competence, Angelo gives Joe the job of getting close to the agent’s son to gather Intel. Usually, when Joe is involved, we expect a dumpster fire, but he actually pulls it off. After a light-hearted session of literal dumpster diving, they discover the target is a diabetic. The plan? Spike the insulin. Simple, clean and very "accidental death."

Naturally, the plan hits a snag. The agent stays out of town too long, forcing Angelo to track him down manually. During the hunt, Angelo discovers something much worse than a missed medical window: McGee, one of the cops in their pocket, is actually a rat. We all know how this ends. In the world of Memory of a Killer, rats get a permanent retirement. Angelo takes him out with the clinical precision we’ve come to expect, even if his memory is starting to fray at the edges.

Trust Issues and Fridge Logic

While the bodies are dropping, the tension between Angelo and Dutch is simmering. Their subtle conversations this week hint that Dutch’s loyalty might be reaching its expiration date. Dutch isn't an idiot; he sees the cracks in Angelo’s armor and in this business, a broken tool is a liability.

Then we have Nikki. Remember the gun in the fridge from the pilot? Angelo offers a "tidy" explanation that Nikki seemingly swallows. Her mob boyfriend makes a brief appearance to claim his territory with a kiss, prompting Angelo to exit stage left. But Nikki isn't done. She shows up later claiming she ended things with the mobster. We’re calling "suspect" on that one. Even more jarring? She seems totally fine with the fact that Angelo is a murderer, having deduced he’s the one who took out Carl Moiser. Apparently, Nikki has a type and that type is "homicidal and deteriorating."

PTSD and Grocery Store Stalking

Back at the home front, Maria is drowning in PTSD following the premiere’s shooting. With her husband conveniently out of town, she’s spending an inordinate amount of time with Detective Dave. We’ve been calling the chemistry between these two since day one and Maria’s request for a gun only tightens that bond.

But the real MVP of "Samurai" tension is Linda Grant (Gina Torres). She’s currently playing a high-stakes game of "I Know You Know," following Angelo around a grocery store and pretending to engage in idle chitchat. It’s a masterclass in passive-aggressive investigative work and you can practically see the sweat on Angelo’s brow as he tries to navigate a simple produce aisle while being hunted by a pro.

The Final Reveal

The episode closes on a chilling note. Angelo returns to the apprentice bullet maker, but he’s done with the middleman. He demands to be taken to "The Ferryman." It’s an ominous pivot that suggests the endgame for Season 1 is going to be much darker than we anticipated.

"Samurai" proves that while Angelo’s memory might be fading, the consequences of his actions are becoming crystal clear. Between the rat-hunting, the blossoming (and toxic) romances, and Gina Torres looming like a shadow, Memory of a Killer is the best thing on Monday nights.

Who do you think The Ferryman actually is, and is Nikki's sudden devotion a trap or just a really bad life choice? Let us know in the comments!

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