A finalist, Jake (James Immekus) at a World Series poker tournament is missing after he witnesses a murder and Cal (Tim Roth), Gillian (Kelli Williams) and Ben (Mekhi Phifer) are in Las Vegas to scope out his disappearance and monitor the other players. Cal is requested by even organizer, Ellis (Todd Stashwick). The one place where Gillian told Cal not to go in episode 2.1 The Core of It when they were having financial trouble and yet, funnily enough; they end up here. Gillian: "...promise me you'll never go back to Vegas." Well someone made Cal forget that promise.
Ria (Monica Raymund) and Eli (Brendan Hines) hold the fort at the office and end up in a bet when Eli keeps talking about his date and Ria tells him she's only into him cos of the expensive restaurants he's talking her too. Ria seems jealous. Yeah maybe she wanted to eat at those restaurants too! There was a brief moment of visible attraction when she leans into him telling him to look into her eyes to show him her dilated pupils and Ria touched his leg. Then she backed off quick smart. Perhaps this moment was nothing more than lust! So if Ria didn't like him romantically or lustfully in the past, why did she dilate her pupils to demonstrate, more importantly if there was no attraction there, how did she get her pupils to dilate? Silly question, oh never mind.
Also why the big fuss over who Eli was dating, just co he has the world's lousiest success rate when it comes to women, er, Ria hasn't fared much better when it comes to men. Did Eli not read the micro expressions in Ria's face when she was that close to him? Eli and Ria's burgeoning 'friendship' seems rushed for someone who didn't much like him. A case of when the cat's away - this is what they'll end up doing at the office. Let's hope not. Ria had a nerve trying to play Eli since she doesn't lie or much like those who do normally or voluntarily. Yet she had no qualms about doing so when he was seeing someone else. She was peeved at him for lying on several occasions in season 1 and for drawing her into that web of deceit too, but it seems okay for her to lie now.
A distinct lack of continuity here when Cal doesn't leave use his webcams behind to monitor his office, okay they didn't have to show him visibly watch his staff, but at least he could have mentioned it. Since this was his second foray away and Gillian was with him this time. Think that 'spying' was just to watch Gillian and his rival back then. The "world's best liars" in one place and yet they weren't good enough to fool Cal. They were full of it, manipulating and using each other. Mason (Richy Jay) faked the kidnapping to remove Amadeo (Jose Pablo Cantillo) as a player and competitor and he was doing much the same to Mason. Poppy (Abby Brammell) accuses Cal of not being able to read her and where did she get off criticizing and insulting Gillian and her walk. Cal: "[Gillian] feels women like you bring out the worst in me." Which they do and she did. So much for defending Gillian that's all he had to say.
Highlights: Cal telling Ben to bet on 00, Ben betting on his own lucky numbers. Ben decides he's going to show Gillian there's more to Vegas than gambling and (crime scenes, ha!) Gillian finally letting her hair down in another black number. Cal in his suit and tie just so he could bet everything on his numbers of choice. What a huge risk that was, especially as roulette was one game where he couldn't cheat by reading the roulette table for lies. Cal thinks Gillian is "smothering" him when she mentions the "pull this town has on you."
Once again showing she knows a lot about Cal and his past, more so than we do. Hey Ben was a former drinker, should he even be gambling; appears that too is an addiction for him, or is it just cos they're in Vegas. You know the saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Maybe Cal had that in mind when he slept with Poppy. After Gillian called her "roulette" and tried to make him stay away. Not only did he get to play with Poppy but also the roulette table at the end.
I didn't much enjoy the main storyline of this episode, the interaction between the characters was more interesting. The way people were using each other; including Cal who managed to have a good time out of it all with Poppy, who was also using him too.
This episode was out of order production-wise and was supposed to air during Fox's Simpson's Week. Hence Cal's reference to sideshow Bob. Also after Cal and Gillian being so close in the past, this week it was as if they hadn't progressed at all in their 'relationship', especially having been with Poppy and then taking her to the CS where the DB was found.
Cal: "You know what my fave poker phrase is?"
Ben: "All in, open limp, the nuts?"
Cal: "On tilt. It's so expressive."
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