The Good Lord Bird
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Its worth reminding ourselves that Onion is the only fully fictionalized bit ofThe Good Lord Bird.
(Remember: All of this is true.
Most of it happened.)
But until now Onion has been dragged along.
He believes hes been kidnapped hes tried, more than once, to run away.
His reliance on Brown is total.
Smells Like Bear, an exquisitely rendered piece of television, finally regulates Onion and Browns relationship.
His black skin is a tool for Brown to use.
Dammit, Onion yells, I am a Negro and I am ready to be free.
When Brown, befuddled, replies, You are free!
For Gods sake they are standing in Canada, a completely free country (!)
where Onion could simply waltz away into a new life, and hesstilltrailing Brown around.
Hawkes range, to move from sedate to irate to dashed to hopeful, is seemingly limitless.
And the speech itself is a barn burner.
And he wasnt just wishing and hoping.
Hed seen his sons farms burned as an intimidation tactic to push the Free Staters out of the territory.
Brown is not a bystander or observer.
He has, however, mostly failed in his attempts to kickstart a larger movement.
But this speech is his fiercest rallying cry.
And then it escalates.
He is screaming, The Declaration of Independence is a call for sedition and should be burned!
He wants bodies, hands to hold rifles.
But whats his plan?
Earlier in the episode Onion pointed out the frustration of attending Browns rallies and speeches in America.
Only a man as insane as him could put in so much effort and fail so spectacularly.
