Great review!
I think this is an episode you can watch again and again from different perspectives, now that you know the end. You can approach it from a terribly depressing viewpoint, or a darkly humorous one. Similar to 'Locomotives' (I think, where the guy starts out in the cement?), things just don't progress the way the main character intends. People (and a dog in this case) die who are completely innocent, but he goes through the epi unscathed.
I liked the variation of the Romeo and Juliet theme.
I also would like to see more of the Catherine and Vartann storyline.
Finally, I loved the way Sara was used in this episode. She had a scene with every character, except Nick, I think. Since a lot her personal storyline has played out, it seems she is being used to advance the other characters' storylines and personalities. And I'm enjoying it.
Nicely done, writers, and Jorja.