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Waco series finale recap: ‘Day 51’

By Kelly Shanaphy

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Waco has been an uneven retelling of one of the most tragic events in modern American history, but the end of “Day 51” perfectly captures just how devastating that final standoff actually was.

In fact, it might actually be the most powerful scene to air in 2018, capturing the senseless loss of life that fateful day. It makes the entire Waco series worth watching but also leaves viewers wishing there could have been a different outcome with a happier ending.

Over the past two weeks, Waco has tried to portray the rising tensions between the FBI and the Branch Davidians. However, the former has been portrayed as tone-deaf (with the exception of Gary) which made it relatively easy to root for the latter throughout the season.

“Day 51” is the first time throughout the show that the Branch Davidians finally begin to question why they’re sticking around inside the compound. David is infuriated, and last week he sent survivor Kathy Schroeder out, but he thankfully receives a sign from God to lead everyone out.

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Striking a deal with Gary for one week to write his message down, David gets to work trying to fulfill his promise. Sadly, “Day 51” makes it clear that the FBI was never sold on Karesh actually finishing his manuscript because they approach the Attorney General hoping she will give the go-ahead to use tear gas. Of course, with no pages to prove that David is actually doing work and the week finally ending, Gary has run out of options.

He begs Steve to get some proof, but his superior ends up killing the line before relieving him of his duty. Michael Shannon shines in his monologue where he admonishes the tactics being used, knowing that violence will only be met with more of the same.

His second-in-command, Walter, takes a much more aggressive approach with the Branch Davidians like his fellow FBI agents wanted. When the group doesn’t respond well to the new negotiator, they officially send in cannons filled with tear gas meant to flush members out. Most of Waco has struggled to find a way to fairly show both sides of the story but these final moments of “Day 51” makes all of that fall aside.

Watching the mothers and children trapped by debris, screaming for help that will never come is heartbreaking to watch. David isn’t spending his final moments in the chapel, but instead desperately trying to get to his wife and son while the fire blazes all around him.

Thibodeau also rushes to get Michelle and Serenity, before realizing that there’s no way to save them anymore. He shares one heartbroken look at David before jumping out the window to save himself. There’s a lot of standout moments throughout the devastation, but Melissa Benoist steals the show with one of the most powerful scenes in “Day 51.”

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Dragging the lifeless body of her son, Cyrus, she makes one last ditch effort to call for help through a crack to the outside. FBI Agent Mitch finds her and holds onto her hand while he radios in for anyone to come help him lift the debris to get to her. When she finally slips out of his hands and back into the darkness, it finally registers just how many lives were lost during an event that could have been avoided.

The events of Waco have long been debated by the few surviving members of the group as well as the FBI. A million things could have been done differently by both sides which might have resulted in a different ending for everyone. Unfortunately, it will end up being one of the most tragic days in history with 75 people perishing in a fire.

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“Day 51,” is easily the best episode of the mini-series — and one of the hardest to watch.

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