Post by Patcat on Mar 31, 2005 11:02:59 GMT -5
I was finally able to see this episode thanks to the rerun last night on USA. It's another from what, unfortunately for me, is the "lost" (g) second season. It's an episode that many others have highly praised, and I generally agree with that praise, with a few qualms.
A frequent complaint about LOCI is that its stories are too complicated, with too many twists and turns, and that may be a legitimate criticism of this episode. There seemed to be a twist before every commercial, and the story tried to pack too much into its 43-45 minutes. It's a story about steroid abuse, no, wait, it's about watered drown drugs, no, it's about assisted suicide, no, it's about religious obsession...it was too much, particularly as I found myself wanting to know more about the dynamics of the relationship between the pharmacist and his wife and their minister.
But the episode had many positives--excellent interaction between Goren and Eames (I especially enjoyed the care and concern they demonstrated towards the widower who had helped his wife to die and their quiet indignation towards the pharmacist); several moments of Goren's in someone's face (the wrestling ring moment was terrific); and Carver's quiet recitation of the realities of the case (yes, he was exasperating, but he was right).
I have to agree with those who argue Goren was a livelier character in the 2nd season--I'm not sure it's to as great a degree as some, but he was more open and prone to do things like jump in the wrestling ring. I think there's some legitimate reasons why Goren's mood became darker through the third and fourth seasons, but that's another area.
And is it just me, or are the 3rd and 4th Seasons darker in their physical settings? It seems that the 2nd Season has more outdoor, daylight settings, while in the 3rd and 4th Seasons we're seeing more interiors and dark lighting.
Patcat (who apologizes for the long post--got started and couldn't stop typing)
A frequent complaint about LOCI is that its stories are too complicated, with too many twists and turns, and that may be a legitimate criticism of this episode. There seemed to be a twist before every commercial, and the story tried to pack too much into its 43-45 minutes. It's a story about steroid abuse, no, wait, it's about watered drown drugs, no, it's about assisted suicide, no, it's about religious obsession...it was too much, particularly as I found myself wanting to know more about the dynamics of the relationship between the pharmacist and his wife and their minister.
But the episode had many positives--excellent interaction between Goren and Eames (I especially enjoyed the care and concern they demonstrated towards the widower who had helped his wife to die and their quiet indignation towards the pharmacist); several moments of Goren's in someone's face (the wrestling ring moment was terrific); and Carver's quiet recitation of the realities of the case (yes, he was exasperating, but he was right).
I have to agree with those who argue Goren was a livelier character in the 2nd season--I'm not sure it's to as great a degree as some, but he was more open and prone to do things like jump in the wrestling ring. I think there's some legitimate reasons why Goren's mood became darker through the third and fourth seasons, but that's another area.
And is it just me, or are the 3rd and 4th Seasons darker in their physical settings? It seems that the 2nd Season has more outdoor, daylight settings, while in the 3rd and 4th Seasons we're seeing more interiors and dark lighting.
Patcat (who apologizes for the long post--got started and couldn't stop typing)