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Post by Techguy on May 22, 2011 21:15:36 GMT -5
I started out happy the arrogant rich guy got murdered. By episode's end I felt sorry for him for losing his one true love and his life. This episode reminds me of B&W film noir, with many shades and hues of gray. The psych scene with Goren and Dr. Severin underscores the paradox of life lived and life remembered, and all the shades of gray that implies. Awesome.
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Post by Patcat on May 22, 2011 21:23:55 GMT -5
I also had that reaction to David. I liked the glimpses into Eames' life, but I'm troubled by what we saw of her relationship with her father. Didn't she have something to do with giving him a grandchild with a surrogate pregnancy? And is her mom dead? And again, I really liked the psych session. More, later.
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Post by skittles4me on May 22, 2011 21:28:56 GMT -5
Patcat, I wondered the same things. As usual, I was left wanting more Eames, but I'm happy for what we got.
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kacesq
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 194
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Post by kacesq on May 22, 2011 21:36:44 GMT -5
I adored this episode but I can't quite articulate why right now...but I have a few scattered thoughts... I felt that Eames' dad was specifically complaining about having no grandkids by Eames, not necessarily that he had no grandkids. I think he's not thrilled that she's alone with no husband and kids. I had hoped we'd see more of Eames' dad than we actually did... skittles, this eppy had some nice shippy moments. I REALLY enjoyed the psych session. I had thought that these were essentially being written as standalones considering that Warren Leight is writing them, and that they were essentially just being inserted into the crime of the week but had no relationship to the crime. I think I was wrong based on the session tonite which tied into the gambling dreamer dad of the Inwood girl. I always keep in mind what Dick Wolf said about these sessions answering questions about Goren that we've had since Season 1 and I think tonight's session answered the "why did he never marry/get engaged/have a serious LTC?" Because at the end of the day, he thinks everyone is lying. It's a protective skill, but obviously one that is not conducive to "intimate relationships." I felt a lot was packed into that session and I'll need to rewatch to get all the nuances. The only thing that spoiled it a bit for me is that I'm 99% sure that Tony Soprano's father did the same thing to him - take him to a girlfriend's and then told Tony to lie to his mother about it.
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Post by Techguy on May 22, 2011 21:44:23 GMT -5
I felt that Eames' dad was specifically complaining about having no grandkids by Eames, not necessarily that he had no grandkids. I think he's not thrilled that she's alone with no husband and kids. I thought of that, but still seemed unnecessarily cruel and irrelevant given the sacrifices Alex made for her sister. Maybe there's more dysfunction between Alex and her Dad that this scene implies, which makes me want to know more about what went on between them, especially after he got caught double dipping when he continued to work while collecting a pension. There's more to this iceberg below the surface.
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kacesq
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 194
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Post by kacesq on May 22, 2011 21:50:54 GMT -5
KE did say in an interview somewhere that Eames' relationship with her dad was "complicated." I agree that there's definitely more here than we've seen, and I'm saddened that we probably won't see more...
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Post by darmok on May 22, 2011 21:51:46 GMT -5
Good episode. Thought the quote at the end was appropriate, "Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy." It's appropriate since the father was always quoting Fitzgerald. I don't think it's a stretch to say that the quote applies to Goren. In the psyche sessions, he's working through the tragic aspects of his life.
As far as Eames' dad is concerned, if he has Alzheimer's, their relationship might have been better before. He may be saying things now he thought before but would never have said.
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Leonore
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Posts: 145
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Post by Leonore on May 22, 2011 21:55:13 GMT -5
I'll have to watch again before I have much to say because there were so many levels of meaning going on as the story unfolded.
Loved the psych session! When they started talking about Goren's father, Goren's thoughts flashed to Mark Ford Brady, but when he talked, I thought at first he was talking about MFB not being there, but then switched to Papa Goren. So well done!!
I like the actor who played Driscoll. He always does good bad guys! I remember him from the X-files where he was a mortician killing women, had Scully and was calling her "girly-girl". He was frightening!
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Post by outerbankschick on May 22, 2011 22:05:33 GMT -5
WOW!
It really is all I can come up with right now. So many things to chew on - and the psyche session! Whoa! Plus, I SO enjoyed seeing Alex with her Dad. SO much more about that later!
Loved the way Bobby watched her with him - and it led him right into thinking of Vanessa with her father, which led them to the answers. That was a tight piece of writing! Well-scripted, well acted!
Be back tomorrow after I digest this.
WOW!
Barbi
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Post by Patcat on May 22, 2011 23:43:00 GMT -5
And how many shows use and quote Proust and Fitzgerald? When did teachers become white trash? I like how Eames was placed in the foreground of many of the shots. It reinforced a sense of her being in the lead in this episode. Mr. D'Onofrio was doing terrific stuff in the background. It seems that Mr. Eames likes Bobby. And I thought the Irish Alzheimer's comment by Alex was a reference to her father's prejudices and selective memory.
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Post by idget on May 23, 2011 0:23:57 GMT -5
I thought this was the best episode yet. I had to watch it a work so I missed a few parts, can't wait to get home and watch it again. I know in one episode Eames had said her mother had a stroke so perhaps she has passed or is in a nursing home as it appears from what Bobby said that Eames often stops by to take care of him. Also loved the psych session can't wait to rewatch that and it appears that flashbacks are going to be a common theme. Liked how he started out on the sofa far away from the therapist and then got closer and I like how she is challenging him. Also agree that there were moments that could be construed as "shippy" so that should help some of our members get over some recent angst!
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roots2rock
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Birthdate: September 6 VIRGO!
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Post by roots2rock on May 23, 2011 1:39:06 GMT -5
Re: Techguy's remark-- I thought of that, but still seemed unnecessarily cruel and irrelevant given the sacrifices Alex made for her sister.
I think it's because he has alzheimer's as Alex mentioned. He's forgotten a lot; so, maybe it was not meant to be cruel. I hope that's the case in this instance.
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kacesq
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Posts: 194
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Post by kacesq on May 23, 2011 8:08:52 GMT -5
I wanted to mention that I enjoyed the underlying theme of children taking care of their parents in this episode - the teacher and her father, Eames and her dad, and the echo of Mama Goren and Bobby.
One minor quibble - if the Wall St. guy never broke up with the teacher, why was he still going out on dates? Because he had paid the $200,000 retainer anyway?
I enjoyed the watch story. It made the victim real, human and sympathetic.
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Leonore
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Posts: 145
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Post by Leonore on May 23, 2011 8:41:49 GMT -5
One minor quibble - if the Wall St. guy never broke up with the teacher, why was he still going out on dates? Because he had paid the $200,000 retainer anyway I thought the frustrated matchmaker asked him to go out one last meet and greet and that was why he went. I liked it that the "Daddies" said they liked Bobby, but in the psych session Bobby showed opinions that might not make him a Daddy's dream for his daughter! Loved the parallels between Eames and Vanessa: both Innwood girls, both caretakers to their fathers. Eames said her father had "Irish Alzheimer's" forgot everything, but the grudges!
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Post by skittles4me on May 23, 2011 8:44:46 GMT -5
I really really really loved this episode. I think it is my new favorite! My random thoughts: I liked Vanessa and her dad and the way their relationship mirrored Alex and Johnny's. I ended up feeling sad that David was killed. Driscoll was a good "bad guy"- his arrest was very satisfying. The dating service lady was funny! Did the French lit professor's legs really go on forever? I didn't think they went on much longer than Alex's. How tall was she? How tall must one be to have legs that go on forever? If a woman is petite but has great legs, do they just go on for a little while? If the short woman's legs aren't much to look at, do they just go? What if one is tall but the gams aren't that great? Do those legs just go on? Where do they go? Bobby and Alex were very friendly and comfortable together and seemed to enjoy working the case with each other as they did in the earlier seasons. In seasons 8 & 9 there was little warmth or familiarity between them IMO. I don't think Johnny really had Alzheimer's. If he did, he shouldn't be living alone. He was oriented, and during the visit, appeared to have met and remembered Bobby. He also remembered names and past events. Bobby wouldn't have asked him about Driscoll if Johnny couldn't give reliable information. I think Johnny is just a somewhat crotchety old man who drinks a little too much and can be insensitive. I know people like that. I'm assuming Alex's mom has passed away. Since her brother and sister are married with families, it seems the responsibility of checking up on Dad has fallen on her. Thank you Patcat! Teachers are NOT white trash! If Vanessa worked in the bar every night as well, when did she have time to date? I'm liking the psych sessions! Bringing in people from Bobby's past in quick flashbacks but not dwelling specifically on them is very effective! Interesting how Dr. Paula can scratch away at his surface with just a question and a comment or two. I'm predicting future flashbacks with Francis, Frank, Declan, and maybe Eames. To Kacesq and Idget- yes, I was singing: "Shippety doo dah, Shippety aaaayyyyy My Oh My Oh What a wonderful daaaayyyy....."thanks for commenting! :blows kisses:
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