Post by lodi on May 16, 2007 21:04:01 GMT -5
Wow, where to begin...
Rita Merino was just brilliant and I think this is the best cast they have ever put together. I loved that Wally came back. Also loved D'Onofrio's performance.
About Frances - Schitzophrenia is becoming less popular as a diagnosis with psychologists because it covers such a wide range of symptoms, and because of the stigma. I think it is interesting that we have thought of Mother Goren as the "victim" because of her illness and because Father Goren was such a jerk, but now we see that each played their role - here is a woman who is also playing around, and leaves her 7 year old son to watch the 4 year old. She is lucky social services never caught up to her. Anyway, maybe the incident did play a role in her illness. Schitzo-affective disorder can manifest from trauma.
I think the Prodigal son comment was interesting because the prodigal son in the Bible is the son who wanders off and does not take responsibility at home, and then returns to his father's joy and welcome. Frances refers to Bobby as the prodigal son, but clearly that role belongs to Frank. However, I think she was just making a light-hearted "I'm glad to see you" sort of comment. Also, as Bobby is her caretaker his absence likely affects her more.
What I got was that "Uncle Mark" (a name given to explain his presence to the kids) and Frances were having an affair. Then, they go upstate and "Uncle Mark" beats the crap out of her, chokes her, rapes her, etc. Sort of like the woman who dated him, and then he tormented for nine hours. Frances also was clever enough to stay alive - she is a survivor. She had to explain all of the bruises, etc - thus, the "car accident." And then she stays with Grandma. Leaving Frank with Bobby again? When Frank is telling the story, I didn't get that he was enjoying bothering Bobby - he had the same sort of tone and humor that my sister and I have when we talk about our childhood abuse.
Speaking of Frank - thank God he made the lousy play for money, because before that I was thinking, Oh, come on!!! No addict has ever cleaned up that fast in my experience. Even his teeth were white. Eyes not red. No sniffing. Pleeaase. He barely even had time to detox. Also enjoyed how God plays a role in Frank's good fortune at the casino - God comes in really handy with Frank. However, on Frank's behalf - imagine being 7 and left with the responsibility of keeping your little brother alive. And knowing a lot more about what is going on than Bobby did. Must have been one lonely kid. His parents abandoned him. Not so hard for me to see how he would leave in turn. In fact, I still feel that Bobby was way too enmeshed with Mother.
I don't think that Goren seriously wanted Eames to meet his mother. He was making light of it. He was trying to tell his mother that Eames is not his "girlfriend."
Mother had some nice digs, given the fact that she was on Medicaid. Not generally the case.
I think that Ross is trying to be gracious to Goren much of the time, and Goren is not very gracious in return. What is that "you don't know me, you don't know how I think" stuff? Ross never said he knew how Goren thinks, but it is his job to remove a detective from a case when there is a conflict of interest or when the case gets too close. If Goren wants Ross to think he is stable and capable, he is not doing such a good job of acting like it.
I think Roy Schneider was great. I don't think that he was looking at Bobby with love - sociopaths don't "love" in the sense that we do. It is all about self-interest and manipulation. I think that he was telling Bobby to kill him and that he "had it in him" just to mess with Bobby's mind - one last life to destroy. Also, I think that he would rather have died that way - the way he lived. I don't think that he knows, any more than Goren knows, whether or not he could be the father. Of course, he left behind his "diary" on the legal pad... I'm sure that will come into play.
Finally, great acting by D'Onofrio, great story but, for the Love of God, please do not let the serial killer be the father!! And I hope the question of who the father is does not occupy next season. Get a DNA test and get it over with. It rings of the Olivia Benson "child of rape" storyline - I can't even watch that show anymore, the way they have milked that one.
I also was reminded of "shibboleth" and "warrior" with regard to the sins of the father being visited on the son, and the son overcoming. If the serial killer is the father, I hope Goren can remember the message that he so often gives others.
Lodi
Rita Merino was just brilliant and I think this is the best cast they have ever put together. I loved that Wally came back. Also loved D'Onofrio's performance.
About Frances - Schitzophrenia is becoming less popular as a diagnosis with psychologists because it covers such a wide range of symptoms, and because of the stigma. I think it is interesting that we have thought of Mother Goren as the "victim" because of her illness and because Father Goren was such a jerk, but now we see that each played their role - here is a woman who is also playing around, and leaves her 7 year old son to watch the 4 year old. She is lucky social services never caught up to her. Anyway, maybe the incident did play a role in her illness. Schitzo-affective disorder can manifest from trauma.
I think the Prodigal son comment was interesting because the prodigal son in the Bible is the son who wanders off and does not take responsibility at home, and then returns to his father's joy and welcome. Frances refers to Bobby as the prodigal son, but clearly that role belongs to Frank. However, I think she was just making a light-hearted "I'm glad to see you" sort of comment. Also, as Bobby is her caretaker his absence likely affects her more.
What I got was that "Uncle Mark" (a name given to explain his presence to the kids) and Frances were having an affair. Then, they go upstate and "Uncle Mark" beats the crap out of her, chokes her, rapes her, etc. Sort of like the woman who dated him, and then he tormented for nine hours. Frances also was clever enough to stay alive - she is a survivor. She had to explain all of the bruises, etc - thus, the "car accident." And then she stays with Grandma. Leaving Frank with Bobby again? When Frank is telling the story, I didn't get that he was enjoying bothering Bobby - he had the same sort of tone and humor that my sister and I have when we talk about our childhood abuse.
Speaking of Frank - thank God he made the lousy play for money, because before that I was thinking, Oh, come on!!! No addict has ever cleaned up that fast in my experience. Even his teeth were white. Eyes not red. No sniffing. Pleeaase. He barely even had time to detox. Also enjoyed how God plays a role in Frank's good fortune at the casino - God comes in really handy with Frank. However, on Frank's behalf - imagine being 7 and left with the responsibility of keeping your little brother alive. And knowing a lot more about what is going on than Bobby did. Must have been one lonely kid. His parents abandoned him. Not so hard for me to see how he would leave in turn. In fact, I still feel that Bobby was way too enmeshed with Mother.
I don't think that Goren seriously wanted Eames to meet his mother. He was making light of it. He was trying to tell his mother that Eames is not his "girlfriend."
Mother had some nice digs, given the fact that she was on Medicaid. Not generally the case.
I think that Ross is trying to be gracious to Goren much of the time, and Goren is not very gracious in return. What is that "you don't know me, you don't know how I think" stuff? Ross never said he knew how Goren thinks, but it is his job to remove a detective from a case when there is a conflict of interest or when the case gets too close. If Goren wants Ross to think he is stable and capable, he is not doing such a good job of acting like it.
I think Roy Schneider was great. I don't think that he was looking at Bobby with love - sociopaths don't "love" in the sense that we do. It is all about self-interest and manipulation. I think that he was telling Bobby to kill him and that he "had it in him" just to mess with Bobby's mind - one last life to destroy. Also, I think that he would rather have died that way - the way he lived. I don't think that he knows, any more than Goren knows, whether or not he could be the father. Of course, he left behind his "diary" on the legal pad... I'm sure that will come into play.
Finally, great acting by D'Onofrio, great story but, for the Love of God, please do not let the serial killer be the father!! And I hope the question of who the father is does not occupy next season. Get a DNA test and get it over with. It rings of the Olivia Benson "child of rape" storyline - I can't even watch that show anymore, the way they have milked that one.
I also was reminded of "shibboleth" and "warrior" with regard to the sins of the father being visited on the son, and the son overcoming. If the serial killer is the father, I hope Goren can remember the message that he so often gives others.
Lodi