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Waco Recap: “The Strangers Across the Street”

By Kelly Shanaphy

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Waco “The Strangers Across The Street,” is the calm before the storm as both the ATF and the Branch Davidians prepare for the worst possible outcome.

While Waco still seems a bit unsure of how to handle all of the conflicting accounts, this episode does a better job of being less bias. Yes, the government clearly has a hand in the tragic event and how it unfolded, but David Koresh is not an innocent casualty in what happened.

Picking up from last week with the arrival of an ATF agent, Koresh takes two of his followers to go investigate. “The Strangers Across The Street,” makes it clear from the beginning that the Branch Davidians are not only aware that a government agency has taken up shop across the street, but that they have planned for ways to protect themselves legally.

One of his followers immediately starts planning ways to evade any kind of trouble and points out the main cause for arrest would be polygamy or statutory rape. David and Rachel set up for the latter’s sister, Julia, to marry Thibbs, who promptly agrees because of his growing crush on her anyways.

Throughout the episode, Steve and Rachel both try to warn David about the problems their new neighbor could cause them. However, his arrogance has him believing that he can convert anyone to their way of living so he happily invites Jacob into their home. It’s these scenes that truly show the darkness lurking beneath Koresh’s selfless exterior.

Once Jacob has entered, David makes a big show of having to “punish” someone for sneaking a little bit of ice cream. Of course, it turns out to be his son Cyrus, and he only gets more ice cream as a punishment for his behavior. However, based on Cyrus’s fear when he goes up to his father, it’s clear that this isn’t the usual reprimanding he would receive. Yet, Koresh knows this act of kindness will help alleviate any child abuse allegations, if that’s what Jacob is investigating.

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The persona that David exudes is one that is called into question throughout “The Strangers Across The Street.” He gets Jacob to doubt his agency’s decision to storm Mount Carmel, but the dissension among the Branch Davidians has already begun. In a fantastic scene, Julia confronts her older sister about being forced into this life without ever getting a say in it.

The sisterly relationship is one that is barely talked about and Waco is intent on fleshing out some of the people who have gotten less recognition over the years. Melissa Benoist is fantastic as first wife Rachel, who passive-aggressively tries to get the other wives to follow her command since she is David’s “real” wife.

While she’s busy trying to keep them in line and maintain her relationship with her husband, she’s overlooking just how unhappy her sister is. It’s incredibly sad to watch the beginning of the inevitably tragic end to Thibbs and Julia’s relationship but it definitely humanizes characters in the right way.

Koresh finds himself in hot water when the local news writes up an article about him that names him the “Sinful Messiah.” Angry they won’t be the names in the newspapers to take down a cult leader before public opinion can be formed, they send out an early raid. Jacob desperately tries to stop them, but it’s all for naught because the ATF is ready to start a war.

Next: Waco premiere recap: “Visions And Omens”

Unlike last week, “The Strangers Across The Street” doesn’t spend a lot of time with the FBI. However, Gary Noesner’s dislike of what happened in Ruby Ridge is beginning to rub some of the agents the wrong way.

He will eventually be called in with the hopes of finding a peaceful solution to the Waco siege but for now, he’s the only person who wants to have agencies think before they use violent action. If only he could’ve spoken to the ATF before they ordered the first raid of Mount Carmel.

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