In the gripping sixth episode of Manhunt, titled "Useless," the relentless pursuit of John Wilkes Booth reaches its climax, culminating in a poignant and tragic end for the assassin. As the cat-and-mouse game unfolds, Edwin Stanton's health deteriorates, yet his determination to bring Booth to justice remains unyielding. Meanwhile, Booth's delusions of grandeur and the love and fame he believes await him in Richmond drive him further into the abyss of his own making.
The episode opens with Booth and David Herold seeking refuge at the Garrett farm, where Booth's desperation and delusions are laid bare. Booth, played by Anthony Boyle, clings to the mirage of Richmond, a place he believes will herald him as a hero. His refusal to accept the reality of his situation—hunted, injured, and with no clear path to safety—highlights the depth of his self-deception. David, once Booth's loyal accomplice, portrayed by Will Harrison, begins to see the futility of their quest, his hope dwindling as the net closes around them.
The tension escalates as Booth and David take shelter in the barn, with Booth's insistence on waiting for the Garretts' return to gain horses reflecting his stubbornness and denial. David's suspicion of Julia Garrett's intentions rings true, yet Booth's conviction that she is a Confederate sympathizer blinds him to the danger they are in. The arrival of Union soldiers, led by Lieutenant Colonel Everton Conger, seals their fate, with Booth's refusal to surrender setting the stage for a dramatic standoff.
In a tragic and ironic twist, Booth, who once sought to be the center of attention, is shot by Sergeant Boston Corbett, not in a blaze of glory but in the darkness of a burning barn. The bullet that ends his life is not a heroic's death but a coward's, echoing the manner in which he took Lincoln's. Booth's final moments are a stark contrast to his dreams of recognition and fame; instead, he dies crying for his mother, accepting the label "useless" that his father once bestowed upon him.
Stanton, despite his illness, arrives at the farm the next day, his presence a testament to his unwavering commitment to justice. Tobias Menzies' portrayal of Stanton captures the complexity of a man torn between his duty and his health. Stanton's decision to deny Booth any respect in death, ordering his body to be dumped in the water, is a powerful statement on the legacy he wishes to deny Booth.
As Stanton turns his attention to building the case for a grand Confederate conspiracy, his meeting with President Johnson reveals the political machinations at play. Stanton's proposal for a military tribunal, rather than a criminal trial, is a strategic move to ensure swift punishment for the conspirators. The inclusion of Jefferson Davis in the conspiracy theory is a bold move, aimed at neutralizing a potential threat to Johnson's presidency.
The arrest of Jefferson Davis, former President of the Confederacy, adds a new dimension to the case. His capture, dressed in his wife's shawl, is a humiliation deliberately orchestrated by Stanton, reflecting the personal vendettas that underpin the larger political struggle. Stanton's removal of pages from Booth's diary, suggesting the manipulation of evidence, underscores his determination to tie Davis to Lincoln's assassination, regardless of the actual evidence.
"Useless" is a fitting title for this episode, as it reflects the ultimate futility of Booth's actions and the shattered dreams of a man who, in the end, could not escape the label that haunted him. The episode masterfully weaves together the personal and political, offering a compelling narrative that delves into the psyche of a man driven by delusions and the consequences of his actions. As the series draws to a close, the stage is set for a legal battle that will determine the fate of those accused in the conspiracy, with Stanton's grand plan hanging in the balance.