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Post by darmok on Nov 7, 2005 0:20:40 GMT -5
Yes, this episode definitely had a lot of goodies. We finally got a solid courtroom scene (I'm not complaining about the usual CI formula - I like that it's different than the other Law & Orders, but it nice to be reminded once in a while that Carver can operate in the courtroom as well as the grand jury). We also finally got to see Branch in a CI episode.
The two teams worked well together, although there was some competition on both sides. Logan looking out of the window, "Looks like they found something." Eames watching Logan and Barek leave, "Looks like a 3 alarm hunch." Oh, and Logan complaining that they had to go through the luggage. I think it was very natural.
I liked Eames' response to Goren's being upset over his mother. She tried to help, but he wouldn't have it. She looked helpless as he left the room; she was looking around, and then she decided to call Carver. She was careful not to leave Goren alone, not quite sure of what he would do in his anger.
I am glad that Goren wasn't upset (and I believe he truly wasn't) about a letter from 5 years ago. Their partnership has grown so much in those 5 years, there's no reason to hold a grudge about something she didn't even go through with.
Great episode. I'll be watching this one several times. Also, it was a great line from the 1st girl's mother to the reporter. "Don't mistake my desperation for gratitude." The underlying theme of the media was just right. Boy, when they have enough time, they can do a lot in an episode.
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mischa
Rookie
Lobster Samerurai
Posts: 6
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Post by mischa on Nov 7, 2005 1:03:44 GMT -5
Since the FAQ states that posts may only be created after a episode has aired, I shouldn't have posted earlier. I didn't read the implications clearly enough to get the picture: Posts must only be made after the episode is over. Sorry about that...
Anyway: This was the best of CI. Perfect story-line, twists, and charactor portrayal. The other team [of actors] did so well, that I will try watching their episodes again.
I have only one question: Why couldn't In the Wee Small Hours have been the first episode to introduce the new team?
It would have been so much better than Diamond Dogs. (Or whichever was the first.) This had the actors playing interesting charactors to the best of their abilities - Definantly superb!
Now I can't wait to try another of the new teams episodes. It should be able to be pretty good.
P.S. ~ Sorry again about that illigal post. It won't happen again, as I only make mistakes once.
Mischa
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Post by Techguy on Nov 7, 2005 1:32:57 GMT -5
A few comments about my initial reactions--more to come later after further thought and viewing my tape:
Kathryn Erbe really stood out in this episode. She is as snarky as ever, as evidenced by the two quotes that caught my attention. The first one is to Barek as Goren and Logan leave spouting off about Sinatra--"There they go, Ocean's 2." The other to Goren when he tells her he's checking out how fresh the stain is--"They must love you in the produce section."
But the courtroom finale with Eames on the witness stand has moved into my list of top five all time CI scenes. Yes Patcat, KE deserves some kind of award. Not only is Goren lucky that Eames withdrew her request for a new partner, CI and Vincent D'Onofrio are also very lucky to have KE cast as Eames. What a wonderful performance.
Also it's great to see some signs of life from Barek and some snarkiness of her own--"They couldn't stop an asthma attack." I also liked how she defended Logan's actions in the pool hall (from the "Diamond Dogs" episode). But I'm still having problems with her voice inflection, so I'll have to go back to my tape to catch her response to how she knew about the Shock and Awe club. Unless someone here can help me out.
I also enjoyed how all the characters were integrated into the story, especially the competition suggested between the two detective teams--Logan grousing about having to go through the laundry, Logan watching Goren and Eames through the blinds, and Eames saying something about Logan and Barek going out on a three alarm hunch.
Then there's the girl's "granddaughters" comment when Goren shows her some photos. And Goren's dressing down of Judge Garrett, how his medical ailments (rotator cuff, arthritis, hernia) would interfere with...well, you know--wasn't that a vintage Goren moment?
And...wasn't Colm Meaney absolutely smarmy as the womanizing judge? Still another in the long line of fabulous CI guest stars. And whoever decided to bring back Connie from "Sound Bodies" had a brilliant stroke of genius.
Based on what I saw in this episode, I'm hoping that if and when CI ends as a weekly series, there will still be two hour movies with all four detectives sometime down the line.
Was Goren's mother's name ever revealed prior to this episode? I don't recall, so now I know her name is Frances. And based on the other revelations, I would say the brother is still alive, a gambling addict. The revelations passed my no-soap litmus test, as I found them relevant to the story development.
BTW, can everyone tell I absolutely and thoroughly enjoyed this episode? Definitely worth the wait for this entry in the November sweeps.
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Post by Observer2 on Nov 7, 2005 1:53:53 GMT -5
What an incredibly satisfying show!
About the club, Berek said something like, "There's a DJ there that... I know."
I barely caught it myself, I was still recovering from noticing that Goren has taken up D'Onofrio's toothpick habit... or have I missed a previous appearance of the famous Australian Tea-Tree cigarett replacements?
And maybe you can help me out with the "Ocean's 2" comment. I know there was a movie called "Ocean's 11," but I know nothing else about it. What's the connotation of her comment?
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Post by Techguy on Nov 7, 2005 2:02:30 GMT -5
George Clooney et al did a 2001 remake of "Ocean's 11." But the 1960 original starred Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop among others.
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Post by aleema on Nov 7, 2005 2:11:06 GMT -5
My suitemates heard me squeal repeatedly as I watched this episode. At first it was just a normal one, but then it slowly added great features, such as the perspective of detectives on other ones, and I love the realism of it all.
And geez, as soon as I saw the sign "Caramel Ridge" I held my breath. I knew it was going to be a fast ride after that. And I was not disappointed. By far the most memorable scene, and what made it all worth it (for me) was the courtroom scene. I couldn't stop making sounds. I'm not sure why. But she did an outstanding performace. Just brilliant.
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Post by LOCIfan on Nov 7, 2005 2:23:30 GMT -5
Loved it, loved it, loved it!!! Where do I begin?! Some things that stood out:
FANTASTIC send-up of Nancy Grace! The fact that it was Mrs. Peterson who called the Faith Yancy character on overlooking her daughter's disappearance because she was black was perfect. "Now, I'll take your interest any way it comes. But do not confuse my desperation with gratitude." Powerful.
Loved that Logan's a Sinatra fan and something of an expert on old New York.
Eames' Oceans 2 comment was priceless.
The kid who played Ethan was wonderful, and his character was someone who would respond to Connie. I loved how slick Ethan was with the cops. Knowing all about his rights, not giving them an inch. And loved his response to Logan saying he shouldn't be so happy to be there. "Who said I'm happy. I had a full house."
Bringing Connie back was such a treat. If it hadn't worked so well with the plot, it could've seemed gratuitous or gimmicky, but it worked.
Colm Meany was terrific. So arrogant and slimy. Also superficially slick enough to make it realistic that his son would've idolized him and sought his approval by trying to mold himself into what he believed his dad to be -- a super-cool superstar, like Frank and Dino and Sammy. That whole angle of the story rang so true.
The scene where Goren's on the phone yelling at the people at Carmel Ridge was terrific. I don't think we've ever seen Goren so unguardedly out of control, and it built so well to the scene where he confronts Judge Garrett, which was electrifying! Goren going head to head with a defendant who actually managed to wound Goren was truly riveting.
Eames on the witness stand. WOW! Beautiful acting job by Ms. Erbe! I could see how she'd have been taken off guard, angry and humiliated that the information was being revealed in public, in front of Goren. She was also wounded, but contained. Professional. But roiling with emotion.
Carver questioning the Judge was fantastic. He was on fire!
Those are just the bits that come to mind without a chance for reflection. Can't wait to rewatch my tape.
Kudos to the LOCI team (including "our gal" Ms. SenGupta, who wrote the show) for integrating five seasons of history into a compelling story with so many wonderful character moments.
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Post by LOCIfan on Nov 7, 2005 2:45:17 GMT -5
Oh, and how could I have forgotten the Arthur Branch scenes! (Though it's a testament to the quality of this show that I did. In another episode, the Branch moments might've been the highlight of the whole show, where here it was just one in a looooooooong line of highlight moments) Loved how he had to sign the warrant for Hot Tub Harry himself. "It's not enough to do good, you have to BE SEEN doing good." Priceless. And loved him telling Carver it was his head on the block!
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Post by goreneames on Nov 7, 2005 3:31:06 GMT -5
What a pleasure this episode was!!! After a lackluster start to the season, this one knocked it out of the park. I thought they did an amazing job of using the two-hour format to provide a multidimensional take on an engrossing case. I agree with all the wonderful moments others have highlighted. There was such a perfect mixture of high drama and absurd comedy (mostly thanks to "Faith Yancy"). So absurd were the moments that skewered the press, they became tragic. The scene where Bethany's mother and Faith Yancy are in the car together and Yancy's reading a book while the mother is torn up was spot on. And when the body was found and Yancy bolted out of the car screaming for "hair and makeup) while the mother stumbled out of the car and then crumpled to the ground... The cruelty of that scene was so real and heartbreaking. A big BRAVO to everyone involved in tonight's episode!
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Post by inspector on Nov 7, 2005 3:34:08 GMT -5
This one goes down as my favorite episode of the entire series. So much to chew on, not only with the character stuff, but the plot itself, which was tight and fascinating. Once again, Stephanie Sengupta doesn't disappoint! I was worried that I was looking forward to this one too much, but it lived up to all my expectations and then some.
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Post by KellyO on Nov 7, 2005 4:41:05 GMT -5
I won't repeat what's already been said so well by everyone else, but this was a great episode! Kudos to everyone connected with the show - the writers, directors, producers, and especially all of the actors who played their characters to perfection. The story was outstanding - I totally lost myself for two hours (except during commercials, of course).
I read an article that this episode would be the only time this season the two teams will be featured together. I can only hope that we get this treat again in future seasons then - it was fantastic!
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Post by Cassie on Nov 7, 2005 5:40:21 GMT -5
I thought it was a great show! I wouldn't mine more 2 hour movies. They can really cover more of a story and it doesn't feel like they are squeezing it all into a 40 minute episode. where people cry out its too convoluted. In all fairness to Nancy Grace, I must say that in the Philadelphia area there was a black, young, pregnant woman missing for about a month. Which Nancy Grace did talk about on her show regularly. The difference between her and Natalee Holloway. Was this young woman disappeared in her own neighborhood, not vacation. Unfortunately she was found dead and murdered by her boyfriend I was sure hoping we would get a peep of what Goren's mom looks like. Awww well maybe next time. and it's official he has a brother
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Post by LOCIfan on Nov 7, 2005 5:50:39 GMT -5
My initial response is UGH. This did not warrant two hours worth. Plus, there was too much histronics. I thought I was watching SVU or "As the Police Plaza Turns". Then again, I have a splitting headache and need to watch this again. Ahhhh, NicoleMarie! Well, at least the natural order of the universe has been restored! You hated it, I loved it! ;D I thought it absolutely deserved two hours. The case itself IS, as Balcer said in an interview, a window on contemporary society (paraphrasing). The way the press feeds on headlines without regard to individuals, the way society, and even law enforcement, values white lives more than black lives, the extent to which societal standing and money impact a defendant's ability to mount a successful defense, the way that parents -- even those who love their children and try to remain active in their lives -- don't really know what their teenagers are doing (notice that NONE of the parents of the kids even marginally involved in this case had a clue as to what was really going on in their lives -- until it was too late), the way that DAs are driven by the need for either re-election or career advancement, in addition to (or even in lieu of) a desire to see justce served... These issues couldn't all have been covered in a one-hour episode. And the fact that each and every one of these issues was driven home through plot AND character gave the episode heart, NOT histrionics, in my view. The amount of time spent on both Bethany's mom and Tiana's mom wouldn't have been possible in a one-hour episode. And I found those scenes some of the most moving in the entire two hours. The fact that the judge had the political clout and the money to go after the detectives in a way that really got under their skin in a personal, emotional way, couldn't have been done in a single hour. But every bit of personal angst inflicted on our regular characters was a function of the plot -- what was going on in this specific case -- and that not only deepened the emotional and intellectual impact of the story, it rescued the episode from "histrionics". I found this episode to be masterfully constructed and executed.
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Post by LOCIfan on Nov 7, 2005 6:01:31 GMT -5
In all fairness to Nancy Grace, I must say that in the Philadelphia area there was a black, young, pregnant woman missing for about a month. Which Nancy Grace did talk about on her show regularly. Nancy Grace, as far as I'm concerned, is an irresponsible blowhard. When "the runaway bride" was first reported missing, Grace condemned and called for the execution of her fiancé -- with no evidence other than her "sources" and "experience as a prosecutor" to support her "verdict". She has done this on numerous occasions -- she rushes to call for the Hanging of a convenient suspect without regard to the facts. Why? Because hysterical ex-prosecutors apparently bring in mondo ratings. Shame on her. Double shame on her for knowing better, as an ex-prosecutor. I thought it was PERFECT that the Faith Yancy character was initially all over the "male chaperone" who wasn't married as a suspect, and then blithely switched over to "Hot Tub Harry". "With a nickname like 'Hot Tub Harry' why did it take them so long to charge him with murder?" Ummm, well, maybe because a nickname doesn't mean he's a killer? Or, hey, maybe it was because they didn't have enough evidence to charge him! And, do you think she ever officially apologized to the male chaperone she initially accused? And even if she did, how does that make up for the damage to his good name and reputation? The taint of suspicion is already on him. The irresponsible nature of Faith Yancy's buffoonish accusations was perfectly in keeping with the real Nancy Grace's track record. She deserved the skewering she got, and then some.
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Post by E. McCoy on Nov 7, 2005 6:50:52 GMT -5
I have to agree I was hoping to see a moment with Bobby and his mother. But it was a fantastic episode....even if it did take the second hour to prove it to me. I could have done without the detectives being pitted against one another though.
Both VVDO and KE showed what if I didn't know better was true emotion when dealing with the phone call about his mom and her testifying on the stand...beautiful acting on both their parts!!
I wanted to kick Faith Yancy in the teeth! What a witch! The ending proved she was only in it for the ratings and not for the suffering of the parents. Hot Tub Harry's whole family....yikes. I must say I thought something was up when he was talking to his son and wife in the kitchen while he was undressing (which I could have done without). In all I loved it and think they should do more 2 hour movies.
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