GayTV Recap: Walker (Episode 2x7)

The latest episode of The CW series Walker featured major drama revolving around Liam (played by Keegan Allen). While the Walkers prepared for a family meal, a mishap led to leading man Cordell (played by Jared Padalecki) knocking a bowl out of his brother Liam's hand, breaking it. The resulting spat between the brothers led Cordell to call out his brother's recent actions which have led to his legal career being put in jeopardy.  

Despite their mother trying to calm tempers, Cordell pressed Liam to tell his niece Stella and nephew August what the situation was and what he did when they began to ask questions. Liam then revealed to the teens that he filed a false police report in his efforts to prove that his old rival Dan was up to criminal activity. The teens realized that was a bad thing and Cordell agreed, saying that Liam's poor decision may cost him his career. This led the frustrated Liam to leave. Their mother knew he wouldn't be coming back, to the teens' dismay. She pointedly forced Cordell to admit the same thing.

Later, Cordell was called into the office of his police captain Larry James (played by Coby Bell), who told him about the further fallout of Liam's false report. Dan's wife, and Liam's boss, the district attorney was doing damage control and that included the potential reopening of a major case involving the Walkers. The dangerous Serano had his lawyers requesting an official statement from Liam on the false report, confusing Cordell given that they are unrelated. James pushed to get Liam to make the statement so they could get the truth on record and resolve things, but Liam was now off the grid, not returning calls from the captain. Cordell revealed that Liam also wasn't speaking to him, though he had sent brief texts to their parents and his kids. James urged him to get through to Liam, but Cordell was ready to give up. James reminded him that he owed Liam too much for that to happen.

Out at a remote cabin, the emotional Liam was alone with his thoughts as he chopped wood, until he noticed another call coming from Captain James. He finally answered and James explained the need for him to make a statement. Liam reminded him that he was under no legal obligation to do so, but James revealed to him the stakes of this growing into a larger scandal, including the Serano development. 

Captain James informed him that he schedule the statement to happen at Ranger headquarters, so that Liam can still be protected. Liam wondered if Cordell would be there, causing James to remember his priorities and what's important, which is not his conflict with his brother. James urged him to get to headquarters to help them salvage the situation and Liam said he would have to think about that. He hung up, only to see a text come through on his phone, surprising him. 

Liam was next seen fixing his hair outside a bar, when he saw the arrival of his former fiancé Bret (played by Alex Landi). Liam smiled and gave him a hug, sharing his surprise about him being back in town and sending him that text to meet. Bret revealed that Liam's niece Stella told him that Liam was having some problems and went into isolation so he changed his plans to come to town early. He urged Liam to join him in the bar for an early meal. The disheveled Liam happily agreed.

Liam immediately started ordering drinks, while Bret checked out the menu. Liam asked him about the campaign he's been working on up in New England and Bret told him it was going well, but he could tell Liam was burying the lead. He wanted to know what was going on with him. Liam told him about making a stupid choice because all of his instincts were telling him that Dan was corrupt but he was apparently wrong. He mentioned his leave of absence from his assistant district attorney position. His phone rang and Liam urged him to answer despite the unknown number, as he continued to drink.

Believing it's probably a telemarketer, Liam answered the phone, claiming to be Bret. He was caught off-guard to hear that it was Serano's lawyers, looking for an update on him making a statement about the false police report. Liam told them that he was under no legal obligation to make a statement. They told him that they were informed he'd be making a statement at Ranger HQ, where they were currently. Liam was uncooperative and the lawyer asked if this was his official recusal from the Serano case. This caught him off-guard and he said it wasn't a recusal and he had more to say later. He hung up, giving Bret a troubled look.

As Liam continued to drink at the bar and attempted to play pool with Bret, he couldn't get the phone conversation out of his head. He told Bret about the false police report and how it should be unrelated to Serano's case. Questions from Bret got him thinking even harder, despite his drunken state. It was then that Liam realized that Serano's lawyers may not be targeting him after all. 

As he thought more about it, Liam recounted that Cordell was with him out of town when he made the false report. Liam then realized that Serano's lawyers may be so intent on getting him to recuse himself so that they can make a case for Cordell being compromised in order to get the villainous Serano released from prison completely. Liam said he couldn't let that happen. Bret wondered what he could do about it. 

Liam said that he needed to make his official statement so the truth would be known and those lawyers wouldn't have further ammunition against Cordell to free Serano. He asked Bret to take him to Ranger HQ, since he couldn't drive. Bret told him that he couldn't make a statement right now, given how drunk he is. Liam told him that he had to do this and if Bret didn't agree to take him, he would call a ride share. He told him that headquarters had great coffee and he would sober up there. Bret reluctantly agreed. 

Bret sent a text to Cordell, telling him about Liam's plan go to headquarters while drunk, while Cordell was spending time with Stella, who looked to convince him that he couldn't wash his hands of family when they make mistakes. Cordell relayed a story to her about how he may have been responsible for teaching Liam that it was okay to make bad decisions in order to do the right thing when they were kids. Bret & Liam arrived at Ranger HQ, running right into Captain James who wasn't happy to see Liam drunk. Liam told him that he planned to make his statement and James urged him to do nothing but sober up. 

Their friend Trey offered to help them get him some coffee and Bret agreed, but before they could make it out of the lobby, Serano's lawyers appeared, calling out to Liam about his statement. Bret stepped in, saying that they would be told when Liam was ready to make his statement. When they went after Liam verbally about his job and how he's still an employee of the DA's office. They pointed out his disgrace, causing Liam to lash out, standing up for himself through verbal retort, causing the captain to try to step in, holding him back, as Cordell & Stella arrived, hearing the arguing going on inside. 

Captain James took Liam into his office, with some coffee. He wondered what Liam was doing to himself. Liam told him that he knew he screwed up. He wanted so much to be right about Dan. James told him that this was more than that. He said that ever since Liam lost his campaign for district attorney, he's been spiraling. Liam told him that he lost to the man that killed his sister-in-law. James realized that it all had to be difficult, but he said Liam needed to really think about his future and whether he still wants to work in the DA's office at all. He said that Liam does so much good and can do so much good but if he keeps on this track, they will all lose that and him. He then ordered him to stay away from the lawyers and headquarters until he was sober enough to make his statement.

Liam then found Bret sitting in a break area at headquarters. Liam remarked that he messed things up so badly and Bret rode right in to help clean it up. Talk turned to their relationship, as Liam wondered what was going on with them. Bret said he wasn't sure either. Liam told him that he missed him every day he wasn't there. Bret admitted that he missed him too. Liam said that maybe they were waiting for him to be someone worthy of making a real promise to. Bret put his hand on Liam's hand, saying he was waiting for Liam to realize that he's always been worthy. The two confirmed they were on the same page, hinting at a reunion. 

They were then interrupted by the arrival of Cordell. Liam found himself unable to look his brother in the eye, as Cordell & Bret shared a greeting and hug. Cordell asked if he could have some time to talk to his brother alone. Bret agreed and offered to take Stella home for him. Walker thanked him for doing that and he left. The emotional Liam looked up at his brother and Walker walked over, putting a hand on his brother's head.

Liam & Cordell later traveled home and Cordell brought up his wife and how she was so good at seeing things, like issues between the brothers. Liam assured him that they were good, but Cordell said they both know they haven't been. He apologized to his brother, telling him that he's been dealing with the recent departure of his Ranger partner Micki and how tough that's been, but it's made him forget that Liam is also his partner, his brother and it's made him not see him falling. 

Liam told him that he feels so far away from who he wants to be and so far from who he is to Cordell. He finally thought he found a way to absolution by confronting the Serano situation and making his statement to combat the legal efforts to free the murderer. Cordell said he understood. He told his brother that admitting his problems and owning up to mistakes made him strong. He told Liam that when he makes his statement, Cordell would be there by his side. Liam said being by his side is all he needs from him, leading Cordell to embrace his brother. 

Later, the brothers were shown playing cards with Stella and Bret inside the house. Stella joked about beating her father, as Liam cheered her on. She then revealed that she was applying to college in Connecticut, the same school her mother had gotten a scholarship to. Cordell was caught off-guard by the distance, leading Stella to remark that her uncle Liam left town for school and turned out good. Liam wasn't sure he was a good example at the moment. Cordell reluctantly agreed to support her, while Bret told her that if she got in, he would be close enough to check-in on her regularly. Cordell remarked that the day hadn't gone they way they hoped, but it was ending on a high note.