4/2/2025 Kick Recap - "Shadow Of A Man"

Lang smokes his morning cigarette, someone drives by and throws a book at his feet. Lang finds photos of CJ and Nino, them meeting on his boat, and photos of the Rooster's Rest. An unknown number calls, telling Lang that Nino is a known Faceless asset, but CJ and other people he's close to may not be who they seem. Lang becomes paranoid, especially of CJ talking to Nino. Beric arrives to inform Lang that he will be taken to his psych evaluation later, he finally speaks to Beric since the interrogation, confirming.

Lang and Edgar chat on the couch, Edgar asks where Lang put Brandon Valentino's phone after their shootout. Lang remembers that he gave them to Nino, and grows even more suspicious of Nino's involvement. Opal comes by to check on them, leaving food. Lang and Edgar continue chatting about Nino, and how he relates to Edgar. Edgar laughs about Nino reminds him of a weasel. CJ arrives to drop off the wood, Lang asks her to leave it in the yard. Edgar is interested in what he's building, Lang says he's making a better cane.

Lang and CJ chat about last night, her meet with Nino, and his growing paranoia of things. CJ knows he's paranoid, but Nino didn't want to get involved in more than what he's been told. Lang questions her about Nino, unsure if CJ knows that he works for the Faceless. Lang tell her that the Faceless called, but he isn't sure why she's keeping things from him. Lang and CJ argue about trust, CJ argues that she can't be left alone to handle everything. Lang finds it frustrating that CJ knows that Nino is a rifle connect, but doesn't connect how he's related to the Faceless. Lang thinks that she's still too curious for her own good, and pleads with her to stay out of the chaos. CJ tells Lang that she was pinged to the Rest to get a book, with a task to steal a USB from a Faceless meeting.

Lang asks CJ if she's willing to be a part of Talon. She answers yes, but he details what it means. Eventually she's going to have to deal with things in place of him. A lot of people before her have answered yes, but they didn't make the cut - including Yeager and his friends. Lang left the kill list behind, but knows one day he'll eventually have to kill everyone that has failed. Lang warns CJ that she can't be concerned with him under house arrest, whatever happens was his fate. She must be capable and ready for what her duties are, as a member of Talon. As he walks away, he leaves her with a final reminder: they are merely vessels for him.

Lang gathers some of the wood by the bench, but Tony arrives with hopes to speak to Lang. Tony thanks Lang for everything they've been through, and everything they've achieved together. After their soft moment, Lang puts on the TV and they watch commercials together. Tony offers to bring Lang a set of DVDs to watch, Lang heads back to the yard to work on his cane. Cuddles finds Lang in the yard, checking to see if he needs help with anything. Cuddles tries to prod Lang about being weak, offering to read his tarot cards. Lang and Cuddles head into the living room, Edgar jokes with Cuddles about being with Cypress and Lang being her leader. Cuddles thinks that the Northerners coddle Lang like a baby, she's not interested in that. She thinks it's funny that the city is calling him a serial killer.

Cuddles thinks that Lang is a leaf in the river, waiting for things to flow into him. His mind is occupied with other things, distracted by what punishment he thinks is fit. Cuddles pulls a 10 of Swords, in reverse. Cuddles explains that while the card normally means he's reached rock bottom, the reverse means he's not there yet. She thinks that he isn't aware of the suffering to come, but to steel himself and face it strongly, so that he may return to glory. Opal arrives, giving Cuddles her stuff back and taking Lang to his evaluation.

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Lang meets Jackie Leggs at the hospital, he lays on the bed in his office as he's questioned. They determine pretty quickly that Lang isn't resistant to his sentencing, nor does he have any greater plot behind his killings. Lang is allowed to return to the house, Opal informs him that his family is waiting to see him. Lang tries to hide in the washroom when North Cypress arrives, taking a shower and letting down his hair. He overhears them consider leaving, but Sofia doesn't mind staying to wait. Lang joins them in the living room, but decides to go back outside after Bjorn breaks the toilet while trying to repair it. Saab follows him outside, letting Lang know he's around if needed. Lang continues working on his cane.

Edgar asks Lang why he was taken for an evaluation, when he openly admitted to doing his crimes, but Edgar must wait for one much longer and actually has no memory of any of his crimes. Edgar thinks Lang still has a master plan, Lang is more interested in why Edgar asked about the phone earlier. Edgar recaps the phone's journey, Lang understands that he brought up Nino first. Lang asks Edgar what his plan is, Edgar is having a meeting in a few days that will either kill him or make him more powerful. Lang laughs about Edgar not remembering things, Edgar holds firm that everyone is crazy for thinking that he died. Lang isn't sure what to believe anymore. Edgar is looking for his friend Fregg, who Lang has met many times before. Edgar was told by his circle that Fregg has been captured by someone named Norman Bones, Lang agrees that everyone has gone crazy.

Edgar asks if Lang will help him, Lang agrees to assist with a favour. Edgar uses the leverage of the tunnels to ask for Lang's trust, but presses that he can't share with his circle either. Edgar begins by telling Lang that death isn't atonement, and going to purgatory is nothing more than another layer of punishment. Edgar reveals that he remembers everything. He compares purgatory to whatever Lang is doing, and that atonement isn't something you choose to do, but something that is given to you. Edgar gives a powerful speech, noting that Lang visited him in purgatory, while the Faceless did not. Edgar thinks that atonement comes from beating the devil, not wallowing in it. Edgar reminds Lang of the man he is, hoping that this spurs up some confidence.

Lang reveals that he waits to be judged by the one who matters, and if he's to live, that will be his fate. He speaks openly about Shadow, but doesn't mention his name. Lang confirms that he works for an organization different than the Faceless, he avoided it for a long time throughout major parts of his life. However, now he waits for what 'He' decides. Lang thinks that he will be cleansed, and that the decision is in the hands of someone else. Edgar asks who he's talking about, clarifying that he's not talking about the Faceless, or the Four Horsemen. Lang spent a lot of time considering how they were put in the same place, unsure if it was the Faceless, or something else. Lang and Edgar find peace in sharing about the intense personal stories. Edgar is happy to call Lang a friend, Lang tells him that if he lives, he would be content with doing the same.

Lang checks his phone, finding a bait text from Clark about the Celtics winning the NBA finals this year. Lang texts CJ to bring 'food', but she arrives without the book. He tells her to go retrieve it while he waits. She returns and hands it off, Lang has her sit to re-iterate his thoughts from earlier. Lang tells her that he's waiting to be judged by Shadow before determining what is next. This 'state' is him waiting for it, and she has to idle while they wait. If not, she can leave, and he won't hold it against her. CJ doesn't want to leave, she's in. Lang tells her that his relationship with Nino became thin over the years, so his trust for him wavers. He asks her to stay out of trouble, and then heads to bed.

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