Episode 5 of "Painkiller" dives into the past. It reveals a young Richard who learns about the importance of family legacy from a heated discussion between his dad and Uncle Arthur. Flash forward to the present. Edie discusses how Purdue Pharma’s dishonesty in court granted Brownlee and his team the authority to subpoena the company's OxyContin-related documents. Richard shocks Edie by handing over an overwhelming number of mostly irrelevant files. This causes Edie to seek additional help for sifting through them. Concurrently, Shannon takes Molly to Dr. Cooper’s clinic after a concerning event.
See Also: Painkiller - Season 1, Episode 4 Recap
Elsewhere, Glen, evicted from his home, checks into a motel where he continues his OxyContin abuse. Unsuccessful attempts to return home lead him to Dr. Hartman's clinic, where he demands a new prescription. Dr. Hartman, visibly struggling with his own addiction, tries to suggest detox medication, causing Glen to explode in rage. Desperate for funds, Glen sells tools and his wedding ring at a pawn shop, only to be robbed after leaving another clinic.
Richard attempts to appease Brownlee's team before they escalate matters. In a meeting with the legal team, Mr. Udall, representing Purdue, minimizes the number of deaths solely related to OxyContin. Brownlee proposes a settlement that includes reclassifying OxyContin as an end-of-life drug and a public apology. Udall counters with a $10 million offer, infuriating Brownlee who demands the drug be removed from the market entirely.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Edie and Brownlee explore alternative routes to build a case against Purdue. Edie reaches out to Deborah, Richard's assistant, who was present at the meeting. Humiliated after a joke about OxyContin led to her expulsion from the gathering. Deborah feeds Edie invaluable information about Purdue's early knowledge of OxyContin's addictiveness. Deborah's willingness to go on record gives the legal team renewed hope.
As Purdue's team parties in Miami, celebrating OxyContin's market dominance, Shannon finds herself increasingly uncomfortable. Glen, in a moment of clarity, tries to quit the drug but grapples with withdrawal symptoms. Shannon, meanwhile, tries OxyContin for the first time and ends up falling into a pool under its influence.
Edie grows concerned when Deborah fails to show up for a scheduled meeting and doesn’t respond to calls. It is later revealed that Deborah herself was addicted to OxyContin, thus potentially compromising her credibility as a witness.
The episode is a hard-hitting look at the real-world consequences of pharmaceutical greed, forcing viewers to question the ethics of profit-driven medicine. A narrative arc involving Alfred Noble subtly questions how legacy can change over time, much like the Sacklers may experience with Purdue.
Shannon emerges as a possible key witness for Edie’s case, but there's a looming fear that she might succumb to addiction. With only one episode remaining, the hope is that Glen will overcome his demons, bringing some semblance of redemption to a haunting story. Overall, the episode leaves viewers eagerly awaiting the series finale, anxious to see if justice will prevail and if those struggling will find a way out of their dark spiral.
Painkiller is now streaming on Netflix.
