FRAME: EOTW

[Patcat]

FRAME

Will air 8am(EST) on November 1, 2010, on the USA Network. The 22nd episode of Season Seven. First aired August 24, 2008.

Written by Julie Martin, Katie Rorrick, and Warren Leight. Directed by Norberto Barba

Guest Actors:

Leslie Hendrix as M.E. Rodgers

Olivia D’Abo as Nicole Wallace

Tony Goldwyn as Frank Goren

Molly Gottlieb as Gwen Chapel

John Glover as Declan Gage

Note—everyone in the cast is a repeat offender.

Synopsis: Someone is trying to frame Goren for the murders of Frank Goren and Nicole Wallace.

Quotes:
Nicole (as she died, according to Gage): “Tell Bobby he was the only man I ever loved.”

Ross (to Goren): “Nicole Wallace. I’m told she’s your white whale.”

Eames (to Goren): “Someone is gaslighting you.”

Eames: “With serial killers, the most important interview is with someone who survives.”

Gage (to Goren): “No one came through for you.”

Goren (to Gage): “You cut and pasted the pieces of my life.”

Gage: “You’re free, Bobby. You’re free.”

Queries:

The original discussion contained 22 pages. I think that’s a record, and perhaps we’ve talked this one to death. But some of that discussion drifted away into a debate over Mr. D’Onofrio’s physical appearance, and it’s my hope we can find some more to say about this story. It’s worth it to revisit this story just to read some of the comments in the original discussion.

How did Gage learn about Bobby’s biological father? Did Bobby willingly tell him?

Does Alex know about Bobby’s biological father before the DNA test results are revealed?

Who’s wrong—Rodgers for revealing the test, or Bobby for asking for it and then invading the morgue?

Why did Rodgers cover for Bobby?

Does Ross really think Bobby killed Frank and Nicole?

Was Gage ever a great profiler?

How long was Bobby with Gage? Is it possible Gage overestimates his influence on Bobby? What caused them to not talk for several years?

Does Eames hate Gage? Does Gage hate Eames?

Is Gage still alive? Did he ever see the inside of a courtroom?

Is Jo still alive? Why did she bite her tongue?

There were several questions about the timing of Frances Goren’s birth. Is it possible Frank forgot her birthday, or claimed the date in order to get sympathy?

Did Nicole think she was helping Bobby by killing Frank? Is that how Gage convinced her to kill Frank?

Can we trust anything Gage says?

Was the rest of Nicole’s body ever found?

Are Gage and Bobby the only two men Nicole failed to seduce? Is that why they survived their contact with her? Is it why she was obsessed with Bobby?

Why is Eames so convinced Bobby didn’t kill Frank or Nicole? Her attitude is a great change from PURGATORY. What happened to change it?

Did these events result in a rebirth for Bobby? For LOCI?

Comments:

My view of Declan Gage: Self serving, selfish, egotistic, manipulative, sexist slimeball. Kudos to John Glover for a brilliant, selfless performance.

I admit there are plot holes you could drive a large tank through in this story. I would’ve liked to have actually seen Nicole’s body. But the acting and the story’s roller coaster turns and drops more than make up for its flaws. I thought the irony of having Nicole manipulated and killed by Bobby’s “mentor” brilliant. I recall holding my breath during the last “duet” between Bobby and Gage. The writing, direction, and acting in those last scenes subtly and wonderfully showed how Gage went from being the interrogator to the interrogated.

Submitted, as always, for your responses and remarks.

Patcat

[angua]

"Why is Eames so convinced Bobby didn’t kill Frank or Nicole? Her attitude is a great change from PURGATORY. What happened to change it?"

Eames NEVER suspected Goren of anthing in Purgatory! I'm sure in my own mind that she thought he he had started an investigation on his own to get his badge back. That's why his helping the police without telling her hurt so much.

"Did these events result in a rebirth for Bobby? For LOCI?"

Hardly, on either count. The season following "Frame" was one of the worst ever, and Bobby hardly got over the events overnight. He had to take leave, then after he came home he still carried a beard and extra weight, which can indicate a still-fragile state of mind.

[Patcat]

Angua--I agree that Eames probably didn't suspect Goren of anything in PURGATORY. But her anger at his not letting her know about his undercover work was genuine and deep, and I wonder what happened to change that.

Patcat

[Moonbeam]

I can think of one thing...

[Moonbeam]

She knows there would be nothing gained by him killing Frank. She also knows he'd rather break Nicole psychologically than kill her. And there's the involvement with Gage. She knows better than anyone no good will come of that.

I think we've all had moments such as Eames had. After the dust settles, normally people in a stable relationship or in this context, a partnership such as theirs, move on. Hopefully stronger and more supportive.

One thing bothered me in Purgatory. If Eames was so angry, why was she in the room with Goren when he got his gun and badge back? Was she playing nicey nice for the benefit of Ross and the Chief of D's? She sure was pissy enough right after that when she was leaving her desk.

[Patcat]

I think she was playing nice for Ros and the Chief of Ds. Eames has always been a class act, and she never showed her disagreements with Goren to anyone.

Patcat

[angua]

Or, perhaps she was genuinely happy to have her partner back, but wanted to keep him in the "dog house" a little while longer.