Last night's episode of "The Bridge" wasn't good. Plain and simple. Basically nothing happened, the David Tate story took an uninteresting tumble, and it almost seemed as if we were watching a different show. None of the El Paso-Juarez intrigue from the first half of the season was on display, and I'm wondering how far the show will drag this Tate storyline with only three episodes left of the first season. However, one small misstep is not an issue. This FX gem has already proven itself as a complex drama and once it gets rid of the typical and familiar "this is personal" serial killer plot, I hope it can get back to what made it special.

That being said, the acting on this show is still pretty much phenomenal, albeit with some questionable dialogue. Both Matthew Lillard and Demian Bichir brought their A-game as Daniel Frye and Marco Ruiz last night. Lillard's performance as an alcoholic trying to recover is undeniably honest and believable, with his emotional AA meeting speech being the highlight of the episode for me. Bichir has always been great as Marco, but his pleas at the end of the episode with Tate were some of his best work to date.

My main problem with the episode, which took me by surprise, was the Tate storyline. He's kidnapped Gus to toy with Marco, who indirectly caused the death of his wife and son Caleb. I get that. But the entire Beast plot isn't really coming together for me. Is Tate responsible for killing all of the young girls in Juarez, as well as 23 others? If so, what was his motive? I was under the impression that he was angry that so many killings in Juarez are overlooked. If he's not responsible for those, then maybe the show could focus more on that. I'm hoping the Tate storyline gets resolved in the next episode, because it would be a drag if it lasted for two more. With the show's complex environment, I could see new story lines/revelations popping up for the final two episodes.

Diane Kruger was once again stellar as Sonya, though she didn't get to do much this episode. She and Marco sort of formed a bond when she lied for him, but that was it. She's back to work after her serious car accident and bleeding from her side, when she should be in the hospital undergoing surgery. But again, just like the Tate revenge plot, this is a development I've seen played out before. The heroine of the story has to solve the case or meet their goal, even if it almost physically (or mentally) kills them.

Stray bullets

- For the first time, I actually groaned during Charlotte's story line. After finding out her husband left her no money and after murdering Graciela, Char's not playing games. We get it. She's a stone cold killer now. Ray and Charlotte found out about Tim's association with the ATF, so she took matters into her own hands by shooting Tim repeatedly. The scene was too comical to take seriously. Also, will this story ever be integrated into the main plot?

- Any theories on where Gus is? It seems like he's underground below a bathtub or sink somewhere, but what do I know.

- Daniel Frye better not be dead. It was ridiculous that Tate knew where Frye was and abducted him in broad daylight to begin with, but an offscreen death for Frye would be a crime.

- I was disappointed at the lack of Galvan and Linder in this episode, as I find them both infinitely more interesting than Charlotte.

- "You might be my only real friend." "That's pathetic." Gotta love Daniel-Adriana banter.

- Ray's excuse for not killing Tim: "We used to play kickball together!" Tim's excuse? "We took an RV to prom together!"