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Post by Patcat on Jan 30, 2009 10:17:13 GMT -5
Will air Sunday, February 1 on the Bravo Cable Network at 6 pm and 10 pm (EST)
First aired November 10, 2002. Episode Seven of Season 2.
Written by Stephanie Sengupta and Rene Balcer
Directed by Don Scardino
Guest Actors:
Leslie Hendrix as M.E. Rodgers
Frank Converse as Bill Davenport
Merrett Wever as Hannah Price
Tammy Blanchard as Sarah Eldon
Synopsis: The investigation of the brutal murders of the son and daughter and the son's friend lead Goren and Eames to two suspects with unusual ties and motives.
Quotes:
Davenport: "I divorced my wife. Not my kids."
Deakins: "The wicked stepmother had the kids whacked? By who--the big, bad wolf?"
Goren (about the lined up peas): "An attempt to exercise control in a regimented environment."
Carver: "All you have is peas and corn kernels. You're a few beans short of succotash, detectives."
Carver: "I line up my shoes at night."
Eames: "Why am I not surprised?"
Goren: "Do you or your husband take anti-anxiety pills?"
Mrs. Whilden: "In the first place, I'm divorced, and in the second, that is none of your business."
Eames: "Sounds like a "yes" on the pills."
Carver: "No reason to flee? She's facing the death penalty."
Queries:
Is the second Mrs. Davenport a "stepmonster"?
Where is the first Mrs. Davenport?
Why hasn't Bill Davenport given up on Rick?
Is Amanda Davenport an innocent victim? Why did Hannah and Sarah call her?
How do the mothers treat the nannies? How do Goren and Eames react?
Has Hannah abused Sarah?
Did Hannah really give up Sarah?
Will the sisters be together in prison?
Would Sarah have been ok if Hannah hadn't interfered in her life?
Hannah claims Sarah was an active participant in the murders. But can we trust anything Hannah says?
Does Hannah know how much trouble she's in?
Do Goren's remarks suggest that he might have been in an institution of some kind when he was younger?
Who dislikes Carver more--Eames or Goren?
Comments: The DVD of the Second Season includes a couple of deleted scenes that actually add some clarity to the sisters' motives. One is an extended version of the scene where Goren shows parts of the soap opera to Carver and Deakins and the connection. Another is a conversation with Dr. Emil Skoda who supports Goren's theory that the sisters are acting out the soap opera. Sometimes LOCI is too complicated for 43 minutes (g).
Ah, what a motive and method. Murder by and because of a soap opera (g).
An enjoyable, if, for me, an occasionally muddled episode. I'm still puzzled as to what sister did what for what reason, but Sarah and especially Hannah are two of the more frightening and sad perpetrators in the LOCI world. There's much to enjoy in this episode. Carver and Deakins get to deliver the majority of the snark. We get to see Goren and Eames go undercover as a couple, and even get to see Goren in what someone described as "the black T-shirt of hotness". The final "duet" between Goren and Hannah is well written, very well acted, and inventively staged and filmed.
Now let's see if anyone can tear themselves away from the Super Bowl to watch this one (g).
Patcat
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Post by tjara on May 26, 2009 2:39:56 GMT -5
In the lack of a new episode this week, I thought I might bump up one of the older threads, since I've been meaning to discuss this ep ever since I first saw it a couple of weeks ago. This ep confused me on first viewing, and it only got better after I saw it more often. I agree with Patcat, this episode is somewhat muddled. There's still lots to like, though - especially the aria and the performance Merrett Wever delivers. This was one of the times that I was actually sorry for the perp, I thought it was mean what Goren did to her. Of course, she committed a murder, but I still felt sorry for her. It's so poigiant when she breaks down at the end, and all the police does is cuff her (at least that's what I remember). And I feel bad for Sarah, too, I mean once that little game is over (Hannah confessed), Mr. Davenport is probably gonna revoke his help, thus she'll be left to the system, too. Probably not a stepmonster, but she seemed very much at odds with her stepchildren, which I guess could be caused by the little age difference. I know I used to have troubles with my sister's boyfriend who's old enough to be my father (so in this case the age difference was the trouble). There just was no common ground between us. And I think such things get worse if your parents date/marry people your own age... these mondern "Patchwork"-Families sometimes work on very odd dynamics. I think that was portrayed quite well here. I don't think that was mentioned, was it?? I guess because he's a parent. He hopes and thinks that Rick will come around after his rebellious phase. He realizes that the family dynamics take their toll on his kids, too, and he knows he carries responsiblity for his kids, grown-ups or not. I guess they called her to stage the scene, but she seems to be the truly innocent victim in this. Like they are lower class, and Goren and Eames never react well to that. I mean the scene where they go through Hannah's room because the mother does it regularly anyway... WHOA!! That's a major intrusion of privacy. And the other Nanny, that was fired, she was almost made to work around the clock... I don't think so. You mean at the end? Or when they were younger? Depending on whether Mr. Davenport will take care of Sarah, yes or no. Since I think he'll drop Sarah, yes. It seemed that her life was on the right track until Hannah interfered. I was really torn about that. Maybe they know she wasn't and that's why Mr. Davenport is willing to support Sarah? Hannah was the leader in this, and I'm a little skeptical about her statements, as well. But then, how would one girl be able to overpower two guys and another girl? I think she's one of those perps that never really realizes that she's done wrong. She's dellusional in a way, so I guess she doesn't realize in which position she's put herself. I don't think so. I think that was general knowledge because of his mother and research. You know I don't think Bobby ever went into Foster care. You think they dislike him? I never got that vibe from them... Really? Man I hope the German version does, too, because I'd love to see it!! And we actually meet Dr. Skoda?  ? Now when's that?? I did like he kitchen scene though when they prepared the meal. That looked like a team, each doing at his/her task. It seemed like they'd "been there, done that". Now poeple, COME OUT AND PLAY!! ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by Patcat on May 26, 2009 8:28:14 GMT -5
Thanks for bumping this up.
I saw this again recently, and there's a moment when they're in the cell together when Hannah pinches Sarah. I'm not absolving Sarah of guilt, but I think Hannah has physically and psychologically hurt her.
Patcat
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Post by DonnaJo on May 26, 2009 10:38:32 GMT -5
What I love about the Goren of the past is his ruthlessness. ;D
He emotionally manipulated & lied to Hannah to get her to confess and implicate Sarah. And yes, it was cruel & heartless. But it was done for a higher purpose. Goren never lost sight of the fact that Hannah murdered three people in cold blood. Neither did Carver and Eames, who were also in on the plan.
I did see a flash of unease on Goren's face at the end, when Hannah was screaming on the ground for her sister.
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LO:CI
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 141
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Post by LO:CI on May 26, 2009 11:22:09 GMT -5
? Now when's that?? That was when they talked to the employee of the foster home. |
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Post by annabelleleigh on May 26, 2009 11:30:54 GMT -5
Most notable scene in this episode: black t-shirt, kitchen of "Sarah's" adoptive parents. Ah, those were the days. ;-)
AL
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Post by DonnaJo on May 26, 2009 12:29:25 GMT -5
Most notable scene in this episode: black t-shirt, kitchen of "Sarah's" adoptive parents. Ah, those were the days. AL The famous BTOH. He did look fine in that scene, didn't he AL?  |
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Post by tjara on May 26, 2009 15:08:09 GMT -5
@lo:CI Thanks, I completely forogt! PatcatHmmm, you think that pinch is enough evidence? I don't know - if Hannah abused Sarah, would Sarah still cling to her sister?? I thought the story was that Sarah was the lucky one who caught the breaks and Hannah didn't? @donnajo I think I saw some of that "ruthelessness" in Playing Dead. He pushed the mother so long until she blew up at her son... effectively confessing... |
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Post by Patcat on May 26, 2009 15:10:28 GMT -5
There was the pinch. And just the whole dynamic between Sarah and Hannah. Sarah seemed to be trying to guess what Hannah wanted from her, and there was a possessiveness in Hannah when she was around Sarah that was just...creepy.
Patcat
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Post by idget on May 26, 2009 21:15:19 GMT -5
This is one of those episodes that I am ambivalent about. There are a few scenes that I really love such as the above mentioned Bobby in a black T-shirt scene. I really enjoyed seeing him and Eames play a couple and get info out of the poor orphanage woman. I also love the soap opera scenes, I thought they were brilliantly overacted. Those actors did a wonderful job. There is also a small scene with Goren and Eames sitting on this small sofa waiting for Hannah to get home. They both look so lost in thought before Hannah enters the scene and I wonder what they were thinking. But I totally agree with Patcat that it is at times muddled and they never should have cut the scenes the DVD has. It really helps clear up some of the motive. I also can never decide how much Sara is truly involved and what exactly is her motive. The scene of Sara and Hannah at the park talking about Davenport's trip to France always leaves me confused because it seems Sara knows that Davenport has no intention of taking them yet she tells her sister he might. So if she realizes that the whole thing is a delusion why help commit murder? Did she have her own reasons for the murder and encouraged her sister all along to get her to help?
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Post by tjara on May 27, 2009 2:21:11 GMT -5
Hi Patcat,
I think I've to respectfully disagree. I rewatched that pinch and other parts of the episode, and to me it seems that Sarah clings to Hannah because she thinks she's indebted to her in some way, maybe simply because she "had it good" and Hannah didn't. They say that their mother died of Aids when Hannah was 6 (if I recall correctly), now I don't know how much younger Sarah is - maybe 2 or 3 years? So she would've been 3-4 when she was adopted...?
Hannah always hoped that her father would return, but he never did. So she stayed in the orphanage, essentially having a much harder life than her younger sister.
If I have time I'll rewatch it tonight. Maybe I'll see what you see Patcat.
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Post by Patcat on May 27, 2009 8:17:57 GMT -5
Tjara; Oh, disagreeing isn't a problem. This idea just came to me when I watched this episode recently, and it's really settled in my brain.
If Hannah did hurt Sarah, it would partially explain why Sarah fed some of Hannah's fantasies by telling her that Davenport would rescue them.
Patcat
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Post by tjara on May 30, 2009 2:10:04 GMT -5
With only 3 hours of sleep I hope I can manage to express my thoughts coherently. My season 2 DVDs arrived yesterday, so first thing I did was check out Tomorrow.  First, let me note that I was thought one line sounded very differently in the dub. It's when Sarah and Hannah are at the park. Sarah say's "Come on, Daddy is here". In the dub it sounds as if she was talking to the little Donovan girl, in the original it sounds more like she's talking to Hannah. That was surely interesting! I love the extra scenes. I'm especially saddened by the fact that Dr. Skoda's scene didn't make it into the movie. He gave a lot of background. And at last, I got the vibe you got, Patcat. While I don't think Hannah abused Sarah, I think Hannah threatened to abuse her. When they are in the cell, she's taking Sarah's hair, as if she was about to pull it. She's referring to suffocating rick, but I thought that was very interesting. |
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Post by outerbankschick on May 30, 2009 11:49:44 GMT -5
I have always found that scene in the holding cell to be sad and creepy all at once. When Hannah says "Do they know?" and takes a handful of Sarah's hair, Sarah looks really afraid of her. But I have always thought she was asking if they knew about the girls' fantasy life. Just the way Sarah says, "About that? No. . .I thought they did, but they don't." And then, in the end, when Bobby pushes Hannah with that knowledge, when he asks her if Mr. Davenport looked like the man she had always dreamed was her father, she lost it. It was the knowledge of the girls' shared fantasy that Hannah held so close and so secret. It was important enough to her to make her kill Rick and the others to keep anyone from finding out. And Hannah's delusion was so complete that she even thought she and her sister would be "rescued in the nick of time" just like Eden was rescued from a prison on the soap opera. Hannah truly had no concept of the difference between reality and fantasy. She was totally immersed in her own fantasy and she pulled Sarah along with her.
I'm still unsure about Sarah's involvement before the fact. If what Hannah screamed was true, then Sarah was an active participant, but if not, then she was at the very least involved after the fact. Hannah couldn't have hauled Rick's body to the garbage chute by herself, IMO. So Sarah had some culpability somewhere, even if she didn't' t participate in the actual murders.
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