6:11 - "World's Fair" 2007-01-02

[outerbankschick]

I really liked this episode. I like how Logan and Wheeler are growing together and the fact that she can needle him and produce that famous Logan smirk. They are fun to watch together.

I pegged the brother as the killer early on, but it was very interesting to get to the "why". It wasn't just the usual "she shamed the family" thing, though he did cite that as part of it. But the real reason he was so angry was because he gave up what he wanted to be a "traditional" sort of son and she was refusing to do that. He was envious and upset that she was getting away with it where he felt restricted and constrained by culture and tradition. Her parents seemed disapproving but not overly so. It seemed that though they didn't like that she wanted her own life, they were not going out of their way to stop her.

The scene with Wheeler and Mina's mother, where they watch the video, was poignant and filled with regret. I came away from this one feeling really sorry for her because she seemed to have missed something in her relationship with her daughter. There was real surprise on her face when she saw Mina and Rudy and realized how much in love they really were. It was as though she had never really looked into her daughter's heart to see who she was and she was left with only that video to give her a brief glimpse of all that she should have been able to see with her own eyes.

I'm very much looking forward to next week's episode, too. It's been a long wait!

[Sirenna]

Yes, outerbankschick, I agree.

In the midst of all the melodrama, there was such poignancy. That was where the writing and the acting shone for me.

[Techguy]

janethyland said:

Did you see Worlds Fair got FIRST place in the ratings for this one folks!?

Where is Techguy or Filmnoir when you need them!?

Let's not overlook the fact that FOX's Orange Bowl with Louisville vs. Wake Forest is no House. If CI repeats its #1 feat when House is the competition, I'll do my own version of the Goren dance!

[sobergal95]

I'll buy tickets to see that Techguy!

[Sirenna]

I think, in a heavy-handed non-rene balcer way, the melodramatic layer that we've all noticed served the plot really well.

One thing I've always thought as indicative of racism and sexism in North American life (because we are different in attitude from other world regions I think; not right or wrong, just culturally and socially different) is that here it is behind closed doors. It seems to be a mark of higher intelligence or cultural pride not to be seen as ignorant the way a racist or sexist person is but if there is an out, such as the Patriot Act, it is enough to bring what was latent in us or our neighbours out to the forefront.

Melodrama is out there. LOUD. twisted but sort of proud too. It doesn't hesitate to tell us what we should think about the characters - like the nurse in Shakespeare's version.

It's the WORD, as Trisha would say. Agree or not, melodrama as a device has had the courage to do what countless other retellings have had the balls to hint at in the 9-11 aftermath.


Having said that I still think rene would have accomplished this political end in a non-preachy way that would still have left us with tonnes of questions regarding the characters.

Rewrite the next one, Mr. Leight and do it several times and you will have an episode with meaning and finesse.

[elphiefae]

outerbankschick said:

I really liked this episode. I like how Logan and Wheeler are growing together and the fact that she can needle him and produce that famous Logan smirk. They are fun to watch together.

I agree, their partnership was really fun to watch in this episode, and I think I'm actually starting to warm up to Wheeler. She held her own the entire episode and exuded confidence, even when she had a murderer pretending to bash her face into concrete. (Actually, I was a little surprised that Logan let her volunteer for that. I mean, it turned out to be the right move for the situation, but partners are supposed to protect each other, and with a bit more provocation the perp might have actually hurt her. I guess Logan had enough experience to know he wouldn't, but still...I was a little nervous for a moment.)

[mimi]

I thought the re-enactment of the crime scene was a very ballsy move, yet I noticed that during the scene Logan's body language indicated that he was in full intervention mode. I believe if the brother went to deep in re-living the moment, Logan would have been there to intervene.

In fact, the detectives' state of mind at that moment was what I was hoping for during the episode.

Even if the clichés bothered me, I can admit that they did serve a purpose. Balcer and Leight do write their stories, shoot their episodes differently. Balcer might be more sublte and non-preachy in his writing style and I like that in some episodes he left the door open for us to forge our own opinions and that in some others he showed both side, picked one and ran along that tangent, without discrediting the other side.

I equally like when a writer firmly establishes where he/she stands on the matter and expresses that it is the position he/she believes to be the right one. It's less subtle, louder and even arrogant for some but in both cases and in the end, it's up to the viewer to decide where he/she stands.

[doctorj]

maybe it's just me, but i thought it was a little preachy. and for whatever reason, i prefer stories over messages. (as sam goldwyn once said, "if you want to send a message, go to western union.")

[sarahlee]

Still, in this PC world we are in now, it's a relief to see people have the courage to take a firm stand--even if I don't agree. IMHO, I don't have to agree with you to like you, but I do really want to know what you think! Leight does that; heavy-handed, but his opinion is there for all to clearly see.

[doctorj]

well, i may be in the minority here in preferring story over message. i definitely want to know what people think in my daily life... but in art? hm. i like it when an artist has something to say and says it in an interesting way. but i wouldn't want to see CI reduced to the equivalent of an after-school special!

[Sirenna]

Nope, I prefer story too. I hate it when writers hit me over the head with what the character (or plot or whatever) is suposed to be. I'd rather wring the meaning out for myself. What's the point of discussing the show if it's all laid out for us?

[doctorj]

WORD.

(did i use it right?)

[Sirenna]

Yes.

Your nerdiness is showing though...

[Metella]

I thought it did come across as preachy in the begining. It was starting to offend me & if I still had christmas decorations to take down, I would have. However, I also agree that we can get too mired in PC and I DO like to see people stating flat out what they think .... just not in a TV show like this.

I'm surprised the mother didn't burst out crying when she saw the video of her daughter being outright happy. I felt the most "true" characters were the arranged fiance and the daughter - they were really strong and true to a solid backstory.

I think this was a good episode as far as TV goes, but it doesn't have anything that would make me watch it more than the once. It was all so blatant and out there; so spoon fed - that there seems to be no reason to go back to it.

[lovesong]

I am really loving Logan and the pixie chick. This ep was 2nd only to Weeing Willow this season, and all the G/E efforts are trailing far behind. What I can't decide is are G/E now getting the "B" scripts, or are they just tired and bored with the whole thing? Their only even vaguely good one was because of LIZA (Got to say her name in lights when you say it, lol) That was G/Es best, and it wasn't nearly this good. I'm kind of excited about the possibility of the show continuting with just Logan now. It is actually criminal INTENT again. The intentions of all those involved was the axis for the whole ep. just like days of old. And we were spared flying blood when they were flinging around the chainsaw (thanks for listening Warren, now just bring back the chung chungs and all will be forgiven). It was good passive viewing, and has good subtle fodder for the repeat.

As for hair, no one on this show has had a good haircut for years. Long past time to fire the hairdresser and get a new one. Eames has had bad hair for years, Goren has vacillated between bad and horrible for three seasons now. Deakins always had a good cut, and my guess is the actor took care of it himself! And yes, I also caught that Logan got a new leather coat. Since noth is quite a but heavier now than he was when he first shrugged into it (what 16 years ago?), my guess is he had to expand the wardrobe. The ugly ties still fit.