The Hunting Party "Amanda Weiss"

This week’s installment of The Hunting Party delivered one of the most psychologically jarring "Inmate of the Week" stories so far, while finally blowing the lid off the central mystery connecting our team to the enigmatic Lazarus. Here's a recap and review. 

The team sets its sights on Amanda Weiss, a spree killer known as "The Masseuse." A victim of horrific childhood abuse, Amanda’s only tether to humanity was her sister, Lucy. When Lucy died of an overdose, Amanda snapped, murdering six people by snapping their necks during massage sessions.

We learn that in the Pit, a therapist named Celia Erikson tried a radical "emotional attachment" therapy on Amanda. When that failed, Celia created a fake inmate persona named "Alice," communicating with Amanda through the walls to form a deep bond.

Post-escape, a delusional Amanda kidnaps a woman named Tiffany from a Narcotics Anonymous meeting, trying to force her into the role of her deceased sister at a remote mountain cabin.

In a high-tension sequence, Bex realizes the only way to get close to Amanda is to pretend to be the imaginary Alice. She successfully ingratiates herself into Amanda’s fantasy, but the ruse nearly falls apart when Amanda demands a show of "ultimate loyalty." Bex manages to disarm her just as Shane and Hassani arrive to secure the scene.

But by the end of the episode, the biggest shock comes in the final moments. Bex and Morales piece together the evidence from previous episodes and realize that the high-level threat Lazarus is actually Shane’s mother. While Shane finally confesses to Bex that he’s been looking for his mom, he doesn't yet know she is the monster they are hunting—or that she just murdered Dr. Dulles to keep her secrets buried.

"Amanda "Weiss" stands out as one of the most powerful episodes of the season, thanks to an unforgettable guest performance and significant story developments. It artfully balanced a gripping "case of the week" with heartfelt emotional moments. Now that Bex knows Shane’s secret about his parentage and Lazarus is making big changes, the second half of the season is set for an exciting and intense showdown.

Elizabeth Gillies gave a fantastic performance as Amanda. She brought to life a character who was both dangerously unpredictable and intensely lonely, making her truly memorable. Her "sisterly" moments with Tiffany added a layer of suspense reminiscent of Misery, keeping the audience captivated.

Watching Bex expertly use her profiling skills to "become" a fictional prisoner was a real highlight for Melissa Roxburgh. The intense psychological chess game between her and Amanda in the cabin was incredibly gripping. We've all been eager to learn more about Shane’s background, and connecting him directly to Lazarus as her son really raises the stakes for everyone. It transforms what could be a typical procedural into a compelling Shakespearean family tragedy.

Once again, a doctor from the Pit seems to get away pretty easily for creating a monster. The show’s recurring theme about "unaccountable medical professionals" is starting to feel a bit frustrating—surely someone eventually needs to lose their license, right? 

As some fans have pointed out, Bex’s knack for surviving solo encounters with spree killers every week is starting to feel a bit unrealistic. She’s an agent, not a superhero, and those "perfectly timed" rescues are becoming a predictable pattern. Overall, I give this episode an 8/10

What did you think of this week's episode? Now that Bex knows Lazarus is Shane's mother, do you think her silence is a move to protect him, or is she waiting for the right moment to use that information as leverage? Leave a comment.

You can catch The Hunting Party on Thursdays at 10/9c on NBC and stream it the next day on Peacock.