Wylie Times finally wakes up, in more ways than one. Shepherd's comment "She's in there" stirs Wylie more than it should. This is a recollection of something said in the past referring to the death of Rose Madrid.  Wylie states that she died when he was in prison. This must be a false memory as it is said before he 'wakes up'. At first Shepherd seems resigned to his fate, handing Dizzy back to Graves, having revealed his first name to be Joseph. Was this some sort of activation for Dizzy? Graves still exudes fear to the Trust if Madrid's reaction to his wordless stand outside the bar is any barometer. The Atlantic City flashback shows some division in the ranks of the Minutemen, Wylie suffering from a loss, and wanting to forget, Milo unhappy with the whole thing. At the end of ¡Contrabandolero! Shepherd told Wylie he was sorry, and that he hoped he remembered that, now we see why. Shepherd's comment that Wylie is "sharper" than the other Minutemen enhances Wylie's position as the 'Point' Man. Every shot from Wylie's gun is a deadly accurate kill shot to the forehead. The exchange between Shepherd, Madrid and Wylie before Anwar is shot will probably need some explaining, as many hints are left open. The revelation that more Houses of the Trust are set to fall must be part of Graves' master plan. Dizzy is trained as a replacement. This may be for Lono, as the only Minuteman not on Graves list in #1 was Lono. Loop wasn't even a consideration, and Milo was still alive. Rose is revealed to have made a move against Augustus Medici. Hopefully this will resurface as we fill in the holes leading up to Atlantic City.

Coda Smoke

Shepherd tells Wylie that Dizzy is replacing Milo, but told Lono that Loop was replacing Milo. Seems that Shep was still concealing things from the other players right to the end. Graves must have programmed Dizzy to kill Shepherd on hearing the word. Perhaps this was premature, but possibly not. He knows that Wylie would have the word, and that Shepherd would want it. He also set Wylie on Shepherd's trail with the attaché case. The codenames of the Minutemen are almost fully revealed, the only doubt being whether Jack is the Monster, which is a favourite, or if he is the Saint, which would fit the usual sense of misdirection. If Jack were the Saint, then Graves' method of hiding him in a world of drug addiction seems particularly cruel for one who is described as being so loyal to his master.

Graves' plan is partially revealed, as is Shepherd's, but who is the one leader? Augustus seems to be gaining power with every move Graves makes, but is this really to put Benito in charge and have Augustus killed? Perhaps both men were working to the same plan from different ends. Shepherd must have known he was going to die, or he wouldn't have left the key for Lono, which must have happened during his prison visit in Chill in the Oven. The respect in which Curtis was held by the Minutemen is illustrated once again. The Calm raises plenty more questions about the dynamic of the Minutemen and their relationships with each other. The hug Lono receives is almost out of character. Roll on the storm.

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