Black Rabbit Recap: A Cascade of Stupidity

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The episode “Attafkinboy” offers a detailed glimpse of what the show *Black Rabbit* could have been like with a different approach. It builds tension toward the central robbery using the style of classic neo-noir films, showing events from multiple perspectives within the same timeframe. While it doesn’t break new ground, it’s an enjoyable and well-connected introduction to the more intense final two episodes. For each character, *Black Rabbit* represents a pivotal moment where they face tempting, but dangerous, choices. The consequences of those choices become clear by the time of the robbery, as everyone ultimately suffers for the decisions they made.

For brothers Jake and Vince Friedken, New York City feels like a place where anything can happen, ever since their father gave them fake watches and a strange lesson: value is what you convince others it is. Jake, the first of the brothers we meet, reflects on this, essentially saying life is short and we should cherish our connections with others. He expresses this at a memorial service for Anna, reminding everyone to appreciate the time they had with her. The brothers grew up believing everything is fleeting, and the only true value lies in what you can sell. While both accepted this idea, Vince fully embraced it and became someone driven by scams and deception. For Jake, however, living this way has always felt like a difficult necessity, a way of life that never quite fit comfortably – like trying to make a Nick Cave suit work at the beach.

Someone threatened Jake, forcing him to come up with their most ambitious scheme yet: stealing the contents of the safe at the Rabbit nightclub on the night of Ben Baller’s big auction. Jake plans to hide the safe’s combination inside a matchbook in the office. All Junior and Babbitt need to do is get inside, grab the diamonds and jewelry, and get out. Jake will leave the back entrance unlocked to make it easy for them. He added a warning that no one would face consequences, but that’s likely a bad omen, considering Junior has a history of ignoring plans and causing trouble.

The tension rises quickly when Campbell unexpectedly visits Jake, immediately after Detective Seung questions him about the security footage. Jake manages to convince Seung he deletes the tapes weekly, but Campbell learns about the encounter through his network of informants and double-checks everything. He gives Jake $500,000 – the easiest and largest payout the Friedken brothers have received so far – with one condition: the footage of Jules and Anna must be completely destroyed. This feels like a convenient plot device, easily resolving Jake’s debt to the Mancusos. It’s frustrating because we’ve seen Jake and Vince come into large sums of money only to lose it all before they can benefit. However, it also highlights the bitter irony of Jake finally getting rid of his enemies, only to be confronted with the devastating reality of his brother’s situation.

Honestly, Jake’s got his hands full with people who are both friends and enemies. Wes and Roxie are really going after him, trying to steal both the Black Rabbit club and his new Pool Room project. Wes is *loving* being the bad guy, twisting the knife at every turn. He even cornered Jake at a party, pretending to be concerned about Estelle, but really just throwing shade – basically saying Jake can’t afford to keep her happy. Sope Dirisu plays Wes brilliantly; you can see this guy is consumed by his own success, and it’s both attracting and pushing people away. It’s actually pretty sad, because the whole scheme to take over everything isn’t even Wes’s idea! It turns out Roxie is the mastermind, already positioning herself as the face of the Black Rabbit and promising a bright future. But in the end, the one who ends up paying the price for all the dirty dealings is the one with the money.

I’ve always felt like Tony was more of an observer than a real character, just hanging around the edges of the story. And honestly, this section doesn’t do a ton to change that. But you know what’s interesting? Seeing things from his perspective is really insightful. He’s the most grounded, street-smart, and frankly, the least powerful person involved. When Roxie tells him she had nothing to do with Anna’s attack, before or after, it’s from his outsider view that we see a clear path forward. He realizes he *can* do something to help. He takes Roxie to the detective, Seung, and helps her reveal what she knows about Anna and Jake’s lies. Then, we get this fantastic shot from up above, showing Seung and Jake talking about the tapes – all seen through Tony’s eyes. He’s at the bottom of the ladder, so he sees the whole game clearly and figures out the quickest way to help his friend. It’s a shame it puts him right in danger the night of the robbery, though.

Next, we see Junior, still energized from practicing his tough-guy routine in the mirror, when Joe arrives and sharply criticizes him. Joe is furious to learn about Junior’s plan to rob the Black Rabbit, telling him he’s a constant letdown. After being sent to Florida for continuing to shake down Friedken despite his father’s orders, Junior focuses his anger on Jake, another underachieving son who seems to be doing better than him. He complains to Babbitt on the way to the airport, saying Jake acts superior because he associates with less intelligent people, and wonders if Jake is the one who will ultimately cause everything to fail. It’s true that many powerful people have risen to prominence despite lacking intelligence, but Junior acts on impulse and won’t be stopped once he sees a chance for revenge. He’s determined to go through with the robbery, and he’s found an unexpected accomplice.

Vince is being sent away to Florida, but his bus doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning. This gives him time to visit Gen at work and tell her he’s leaving again. He proposes a slightly awkward deal: Gen can give him a tattoo if he can come inside and explain himself. The scene unfolds with Gen tattooing Vince’s neck as he shares a deeply personal speech about the importance of chosen family. He powerfully articulates his belief that chosen bonds are stronger than blood ties, stating, “Blood is not thicker than water. I think it’s snake oil. Bond is who you pick.” Vince always longed for a close-knit, supportive group like the Black Rabbit crew, but he couldn’t overcome the pull of his own family. Ironically, this led him to distance himself from his daughter. Now, all he can do is hold onto the hope that his daughter will one day experience the unconditional love he found with those who actively *chose* him.

Vince bluntly tells Junior, “Jake deserved what happened,” as they plan the robbery. While Junior felt pressured into participating, he willingly distanced himself emotionally from his brother. During the heist, Wes is shot in the back and Tony is wounded in the neck. Jake surprisingly escapes unharmed, but he’s left terrified, facing the fear he’s always tried to avoid. Vince manages to steal a bag of diamonds, but not before shooting and killing Junior to protect his brother – a spontaneous act highlighting the undeniable power of family bonds.

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2025-09-19 00:57