'Sheriff Country' Completely Lost the Plot With Its Latest Unhinged, Shocking Plot Twist

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Sheriff Country Episode 20.Sheriff Country and its sister series, Fire Country, both had hugely contrasting season finales. The Fire Country Season 4 finale had a surprisingly idyllic happy ending with absolutely no cliffhangers. Meanwhile, Sheriff Country did something completely wild and unhinged in its first season finale, "Mexico." Although Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin) took down Alec Kane (Wes Chatham) and arrested her wicked ex-sister-in-law, Miranda Fraley (Kelli O'Hara), another gigantic bombshell dropped in her lap at the end. Eva Santos (Rachel Ticotin), the Deputy Director of the DEA, who was previously investigating Mickey for wrongdoing after arresting her father, Wes Fox (W. Earl Brown), is revealed as Mickey's long-lost, presumably dead, mother, Sarah Bernal Fox. Sheriff Country has taken some wild swings and plot developments before, but this crazy plot twist completely loses the plot for the freshman drama.

Eva's Reveal Came Out of Nowhere in 'Sheriff Country'

Ultimately, the Eva revelation comes off as thinking up the craziest idea possible, throwing it at the proverbial wall, and seeing if it sticks. The show previously established that Mickey lost her mother at a young age, so the revelation came out of nowhere. Earlier in the season, Mickey talked about her parents' arrest for their criminal activities, and it was stated that Sarah died in prison from viral pneumonia while awaiting trial. In another episode, Wes visits Sarah's grave, so there was no reason to doubt Sarah's death or suspect a greater mystery at work.

The revelation that Eva Santos is Mickey's mother was absolutely shocking, but it also felt incredibly forced. It’s been a recurring habit for Sheriff Country throughout the season, and that's not a compliment. It's much like the casual reveal that Nathan Boone (Matt Lauria) was secretly married to Nora (Susan Misner). However, viewers later learned that Boone only married Nora, the spouse of Boone's late partner, out of a sense of guilt and obligation, and the subplot grew ridiculously convoluted and overwrought. Sheriff Country leans too heavily on unrealistic melodrama that produces moments of shock and awe but lacks narrative credibility and cohesion.

Mickey's Mother Being Alive Creates Too Many Plot Holes

The Eva Santos development fails so catastrophically because it raises multiple logistical questions and creates plot holes that a truck can drive through. To offer some semblance of an explanation, Sheriff Country showrunner Matt Lopez informed Soaps that Eva assumed the identity of Sarah Berrnal when she was a young DEA agent, and she was embedded in Edgewater to report back on Wes Fox. Instead, she fell in love with Fox, married him, and the couple started a family. Sheriff Country now expects viewers to accept that after starting a family with Fox and raising their child, she faked her death and resumed her identity at the DEA. Additionally, Eva climbed the ladder, reaching the position of deputy director. It's improbable that after marrying and starting a family with Wes, she would have a strong career at the DEA and become one of their most senior officers.

For one thing, it’s highly illogical that Eva would be able to return to her old life in the DEA and become a high-ranking government official. The public clearly knew about the arrest of the Fox family, and Eva's superiors would also know about her daughter. Plus, it's equally irrational that Eva would be able to maintain the secrecy of her dual identity. Moreover, how did Mickey not recognize Eva at all? Mickey obviously held memories of her mother and was old enough to remember what happened to her parents. It's not a memory she blocked out.

Why Did Eva Attempt To Blackmail Mickey?

Right before Wes reveals that Eva is Mickey's mother, Eva meets with Mickey, explaining that Wes accepted a deal from the DEA to act as an informant against the Bulgarian drug cartel in Edgewater in exchange for his release, and she wants to conduct a joint operation with the sheriff's office. Mickey outright refuses since she wants nothing to do with her father following his latest betrayal. Eva then proceeds to blackmail Mickey, her own daughter, threatening to reveal Mickey's romantic relationship with Alec Kane and ruin her reputation.

Eva knows Mickey is her daughter, and Wes is about to be brought in, which would divulge Eva's secret. Why is Eva attempting to blackmail Mickey right before her whole world is shattered by finding out that her mother has been alive for the last 35+ years? Perhaps a wiser move would be to lead with the mother reveal before attempting to blackmail Mickey. Not to mention, Eva's gambit makes her extremely unlikable. Earlier, she came off as a strict yet fair agent, but her attempt at coercing Mickey makes her appear more malevolent and sinister. Sheriff Country's outlandish plot developments will certainly persist when the show continues for Season 2 later this fall on CBS.