Actress Jolene Purdy stars as Midge Kusatsu in Kevin Bacon’s hit Amazon Prime Video series “The Bondsman.”
Purdy is known for her acting work in “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Orange is the New Black,” and “The White Lotus.”
In “The Bondsman,” murdered bounty hunter Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon) is resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of Hell.
By chasing down those demons with the help and hinderance of his estranged family, Hub learns how his own sins got his soul condemned — which pushes him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.
While we are introduced to Midge’s character early on, she has a standalone episode No. 5 titled “Slypharis,” where the audience really gets the backstory of her character.
The audience gets to see Midge’s life in flashbacks, nine years earlier, when her son Benji was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the only thing that she was left to do was sell her business, personal belongings, and her savings.
In an online ad, Midge discovered a “Pot O’Gold” commercial, where two reps come to her house, and tell her to sell her soul in exchange of her son’s recovery, health, and wellness.
We then learn that Midge has to convince other people to sell their sous as well in a marketing/pyramid scheme.
Midge is still mortal so she is unable to see demons, as Hub Halloran is able to, but she can see the supernatural in a mirror reflection.
Possessing an investigative nature, Hub is able to find Midge and her house, and he shows her his research, and tries to make her see things differently, and he is unsuccessful.
Purdy’s acting in this episode runs the gamut: she is sentimental, emotional, sassy, and badass, all in one. She knows how to hold her ground, and she is tough with Hub. The writers did a solid job unveiling her character’s development in this episode, which is bound to resonate with fans and viewers.
The audience gets to see that she has a heart in there after all, and that even though she may have done wrong things, it was for the right reason (to help restore the help of her ailing son Benji).
Jolene Purdy is Emmy-worthy in this series (whether she decides to go “Supporting” or “Guest Performer” is up to her) for her sublime portrayal of Midge. “The Bondsman” show is great to begin with, but the addition of Jolene Purdy helps elevate it to a higher level. Well done.
