Against the Wall: Baby Did a Bad Thing (S1, EP5)

Well, Richie Kowalski (Brandon Quinn) most certainly did take it bad when he figured out that his partner, Brody (Andrew W. Walker), was sleeping with his sister, Abby (Rachael Carpani). How did it come to light? Well, Brody is falling in love with Abby. It’s usually the woman that the no-strings arrangement doesn’t work out for, but it was working out fine for Abby. After some very steamy sex that was interrupted by a knock on the door, Brody asks Abby to stay. The knock was the pizza man – Brody was planning some together time out of bed involving not only pizza — a game of Scrabble, too. Later, Brody asks her for a real date, and reluctant Abby appears to be melting.

Abby and Lina are assigned to investigate the murder of a stripper, Candy Cane. An anonymous tip came in, claiming she was killed by a cop. In the course of their investigation they find Abby’s dad at the house where they believe the woman was murdered. The cops have a club called “The Blind Bowlers.” Back in the 20s, he explains, three cops busted mobster Dutch Schwartz, took over his speakeasy and turned into a private club that you are either invited into or the key is passed down “generational.” They meet there to play poker. Since her dad won’t spill any other info, she has to take him in.

Richie and Brody answer the call to take Kowalski Sr. to the station and Richie is incensed that Abby would take in their father. Brody tells Abby that her brother will get over it and as he is trying to smooth that over, he smooths her hair back too. Richie just happens to turn around and see that.

It all gels and Richie thinks the worst. He reminds Abby that she once said Brody was “disgusting,” then becomes enraged, believing Brody was talking about Abby when bragging about his sexual exploits. He threatens to kick Brody’s ass but Kowalski Sr. breaks it up.

Richie has obviously been Abby’s favorite and closest brother throughout the show, and he will probably get over Abby keeping him out of the loop, but he puts in a for a new partner, much to Brody’s disbelief. But if that isn’t bad enough, Abby later tells Brody that they’re going to have to take a break. Hardly the romantic segue into a serious relationship Brody had envisioned.

We also got to meet Lina’s husband Carlos (Jason George) in this episode. Abby stops him from “harassing” Lina, unaware that he is an undercover junkie, on the job.

Abby’s mom, Sheila is opening a real bakery because the cake orders runneth over. Neighbor Mackie Phan (Mayko Nguyen) is helping out. When Abby confides that she didn’t tell her mom about Brody, Mackie says she knows why: Abby doesn’t want her mom to know she’s not really a hopeless romantic — she’s a “horny ass nymph.” That might just turn out to be true since it looks like Abby is going to land in the sack with Danny Mitchell (Chris J. Johnson) next week!

Oh, the murder. Yes, they solve it.

Against the Wall Episodes on Amazon