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Thursday, 10 May 2012

Doctor Who - 6.1: "The Impossible Astronaut" Review


Currently I'm blogging some of the past eps I've written and mixing with some new eps of other shows.





Liked the opening teaser with the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his portrait being painted, then hiding under the damsel's dress.   Showing us what the Doctor has been up to without his companions.   He was also imprisoned in the Tower and escaped in the TARDIS.   As well as attempting an escape in a World War Two escape tunnel.   As well as in the Laurel and Hardy movie, on the TV.  Amy (Karen Gillan) opens the blue envelope which is an unsigned invitation to a planet called America.   River (Alex Kingston) also gets one.   As for the name, this tells us we're already in the future, since it's no longer Planet Earth.   The Doctor waits for them to arrive and now sports a Stetson. "Stetsons are cool." River shoots it from his head.   Amy explains that River and the Doctor are time-travellers so they don't meet in the right order; when they compare notes, they're "synchronizing their diaries." The Doctor's been running his whole life and he needs them with him tonight.  A trip to 'Space 1969'.

The Doctor mentions Amy's put on weight and she notices a creature on the mountain.   He says more happened in 1969 "than anyone remembers."  Right, because everyone forgets what they see.   He is shot and killed by an astronaut which appears in the lake.   River says he was "killed in the middle of his regeneration cycle - his body was already dead."  They need to burn his body as empires would take his body apart, even for just one cell.   Rory (Arthur Darvill) suggests they give him a Viking's send off.   An elderly man approaches who appears to know them.   Canton Everett Delaware III, (William Morgan Sheppard) they'll be seeing him.   River notices the number on his invite and says there has to be a fourth invite out there.   Which has to be the Doctor's.   Amy just wants to give up and grieve.

At the diner, they find the Doctor alive and well, he trusted himself the most and his invite is number 1.   River slaps him for "something I haven't done yet."  River can't tell him what's happening and refers to this as "spoilers."  They all agree not to tell him.  The version of him on the beach was from the future.   River comments if they tell him, it would "rip a hole in the universe."  River: "There's a far worse day coming for me."  What could be worse for her than death, if death doesn't frighten her - perhaps ending someone else's life, someone she holds dear to her.    

8th April 1969.   They arrive in Washington DC.   The Doctor warns them they're not able to beat him at his own game.   The Doctor wants to know who she is and River wants him to trust her.   Doctor Who: "...but trust you, seriously."  He wouldn't trust her since he doesn't know her.   Amy wants him to trust her instead.   He has to do this without asking questions and she swears on fish fingers and custard.   Doctor: "My life in your hands..."  He's done that a few times.

Canton (Mark Sheppard) is ex-FBI and is contacted by President Nixon (Stuart Milligan) who receives a call from a girl (Sydney Wade) asking for help.   She's afraid of the 'Space Man'.   She gives her name as Jefferson Adams Hamilton, at least he assumes it's her name.   The Doctor deduces it's a location in Miami.   He's on loan from Scotland Yard; Code name: 'Doctor'.   The location is Florida because of NASA.   Outside the Oval office, Amy sees the same creature from the mountain, an alien in a suit.   She also sees him in the bathroom, where he kills a woman.   She feels sick, but has taken a photo of him on her phone, as she can't remember she's seen him.  The alien wants her to tell the Doctor "what he must know and what he must never know."  Cryptic here, did he mean tell the Doctor about his death in the future, or about the girl.

The names the girl mentioned, Jefferson Adams Hamilton are the surnames of three of America's founding fathers.   Doctor: "two of them fancied me."  He tells River she's got that face again, "the hot when he's clever face."  Seems if he doesn't recall her much, he remembers this face of hers.    River says being here, looking for the girl is a trap and she's thinking the same thing as Amy, that if they can kill the astronaut then it won't be around to kill in the future.   Adding not all of time can be re-written.   River investigates the tunnels under the building and comments she's "quite the screamer.   Now there's a spoiler for you."  Steady on, X-rated territory here!  Doctor has to throw in, she's just a friend.   Oh who was he trying to convince, ha.   River sees aliens in the tunnels and then forgets.

The tunnels are old and no one has noticed them as River tells Rory.   That's because they don't remember them being there.   Amy tries to tell the Doctor 'what he must never know' or we assume she's going to.   River lets on when she first met the Doctor he knew about her.   But everything's "back to front: my past is his future.   We're travelling in opposite directions.   Everytime we meet I know him more, he knows me less.   I live for the days when I see him...day's coming when I will look into that man's eyes, my Doctor and he won't have the faintest idea who I am and I think it's going to kill me."  But won't she kill him, perhaps, 'spoilers'.   Rory does know what it's like for an impressionable young girl to meet the Doctor since Amy went through the same thing.   Rory can picture River and the Doctor together and so can I.

Rory sees the aliens too and then promptly forgets.   That's sinister if they've been alive for so long and can make people forget for centuries.   When Amy remembers to tell the Doctor, things happen and she ends up saying she's pregnant instead.   River feels sick too after she saw the alien, so did Amy, but Rory didn't feel sick when he saw them.   So it must be a female thing.   Amy can't have been pregnant can she, and if she was, wouldn't she tell Rory first and not the Doctor.   The astronaut turns out to be the girl who summoned them here ; hence the trap.   Amy shoots her; she's saving the Doctor's life.   Strange  he didn't ask her what she meant when she said she's shooting her to save him.

River not fearing death, in Silence in the Library and Forests of the Dead, River is killed, but her conscious state remains.   This season 6 episode carries on from the season 5 episode, Silence Will Fall.   These aliens were more akin to the Weeping Angels, blink and they move.   If you turn away from them here, you forget you've seen them.

Intriguing start to the series with aliens having the power to make people forget, thus masking their existence.   River always leaves cryptic clues behind which make you think and most of all about the 'big' reveal as to why she's in prison.   When we meet River in Silence in the Library - that was in her past - she already knew him, thus her diary.   Now what happened in the beginning was in the Doctor's future - if that's the case River should know what's happening in 1969 - how to stop the aliens or is that meant to be left to the Doctor to figure out, as he always does, as she said not all of time can be re-written, or am I going off on a tangent.  It's one of those episodes where you just just go along with the ride (as with all Doctor Who episodes) without figuring out, or even trying to figure out what's happening because explaining it will just confuse!

The aliens, called The Silence were based on Edvard Munch painting, The Scream.

Mark Sheppard's father, William, played the older version of Canton.   Mark is no stranger to sci-fi having appeared in Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica, Warehouse 13, as well as in Leverage.

 I wanted to add some words about the sad passing of  Elisabeth Sladen 1948-2011.

Elisabeth played Sarah Jane Smith, one of the Doctor's best and most loved companions.   Her character transcended generations from her appearances with Jon Pertwee, to Tom Baker, she was the companion from my generation and I, like many others, grew up with her on our screens.   Then her appearances in the new Doctor Who, alongside David Tennant.   She later went on to star in her own TV spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures, where Elisabeth brought her lovable character back for more to enjoy.   With appearances in this show from both David Tennant and Matt Smith.   A great actress; a wonderful person; an icon of our times, she will be sorely missed.   RIP.   As David Tennant's Doctor said most memorably in the episode School Reunion: "Goodbye, my Sarah Jane."

Castle - 1.4: "Hell Hath No Fury" Review




Castle (Nathan Fillion) watches Beckett (Stana Katic) doing boring paperwork and Castle comments on the worst tasting coffee he's ever had.   How does he know what a monkey that's peed in battery acid tastes like.  Beckett thinks he's hiding since his book is out today.   A DB has been found dumped in a rug.   Castle takes photos of the CS without the other's knowledge.   He comments, "every artist needs a muse."  Beckett threatens to break his legs if he calls her his muse.   She's so violent, well if it isn't the use of a gun, it's physical violence she has on her mind.   Castle doesn't believe it was a robbery since he wouldn't hang around to wrap him in a rug.   But he also knows who the Vic is, as usual, kept that to himself for a while.

He's Councilman Jeff Horn ( from the bus ads) he's up for re-election.   His wife, Laurie (Lisa Waltz) says she called him at 11, that's your first clue.   Also note her eyes looking down in a leftish direction, always a sign of lies and the feigned tears.   She tells them Horn would crash on the couch when he wasn't home.   She wonders what she'll tell the girls (that she killed their father.) Well she's gotta be number 1 suspect, as spouses always are.

Castle asks what Beckett's going to do next, establish a timeline, "grab a donut?"  She wants to know what her character's like in his book.  Castle replies, not too bright and kind of slutty..."smart, savvy, hauntingly good looks and kind of slutty." Martha (Susan Sullivan) calls to tell him no one's buying any of his books.   (Know what that feels like, ha.)  Storm isn't Potter (Harry) so there's no line out the door.   A woman looks at Castle's standee and puts the book back.

Ryan (Seamus Deaver) lets Esposito (Jon Huertas) know he picks stuff up from the street, like the red couch Esposito likes.  Castle knows the real robber would have left the wallet where he killed him.   Nesbitt (Michael Reilly Burke) is another suspect as he also says he spoke with Hornaround 11 just like Laurie.  Beckett believes it's premeditated.   (Castle loves his blue, especially in tops.)  Nesbitt points them in the direction of Creason (Bruno Campos), whom Castle also knows, by reputation.  He's left with worthless real estate but denies killing Horn, he actually toasted his death and claims he was at his club.   Castle whispers after the meeting, "I want to take a shower."  Some gals would add with him!  Or both of them.  Ha.  There's no need for Beckett to check his alibi since he e-mailed photos from the CS, specifically the rug, to an interior decorator friend of his.   Then going off on a tangent about sleeping with her too and it wasn't the same afterwards.  He doesn't know "what she is now."  They see the rug in one of the rooms.   And at this point I made my rug, as a hairpiece comment for a joke.   Beckett: "Don't gloat cos it's really unattractive."  Hmm, so she thinks he's attractive when not gloating - no mental or written note on that from Castle.   No wonder he was suffering writer's block when certain comments he can get mileage from just wash right over him.

Creason is brought to the precinct and he hates their coffee too.  Castle now believes Creason is innocent and he's the red herring of the piece, since the evidence points to him, he's a millionaire but not dumb enough to use his own rug.   Castle to Beckett: "You're good at bossing men around, I've noticed."  Beckett tells him Creason wasn't at the club until 1am and Castle can be heard shouting form the other side of the interrogation room.   Creason was positive Horn would lose the election since Jason Bollinger, his opponent (Joshua Lo Bar) had photos of Horn with a woman for blackmailing purposes from a PI.   (Politics, affairs, blackmail, all go hand in hand.)  Kirby (Jonathan Banks) was a former cop (and sometimes they're the worst kind.)

Castle calls Horn "Councilman Horny," knew that was coming.   Beckett wonders why it's always the good guys who end up messing around.   Castle refers to it as the universe loving irony and people are hypocrites (ironic comments in this episode.) Beckett wonders why she thought he'd leave his wife for her, Castle calls that sexist, she could have just wanted the sex and nothing more.   Castle asks what turned Beckett off Horn, "that he was wearing a rug." Hey that's my rug joke and I said it first.  Ha.

Kirby insults Castle as a "second rate novelist."  And what, Kirby's the cornerstone of decency.  The woman was called Tiffany (Alicia Ziegler) and was a prostitute with her own website.   Ryan asks Castle if he's paid for sex and he asks between his ex- wives.  Castle calls and arranges a date with Tiffany much to Beckett's annoyance since the police can't do that.   Castle retorts he's just a lonely gentleman looking for a date.   He buys them an Espresso machine, ulterior motive there too since he mostly has to hang out there.   Castle brings up the rug and if it hadn't been used, then the killing would've been deemed a simple mugging.   Alexis (Molly Quinn) asks about his current book and Beckett, saying, "you have to love your character."  Castle calls Beckett "research."  Now she won't like being called research.   Martha reads him an extract from the Syracuse Times book review and says Harper Lee was literature, but Castle's written many more books.   Tiffany calls back.

Lainie (Tamala Jones) and Beckett have another conversation about Castle as being fun and "do-able"(my word.)  Beckett needs fun.  Castle calls and gloats he's got a date.   Beckett can't believe Horn paid Tiffany just to talk, at first.   So judgemental again.  Castle questions if Laurie knew about them.  (Another clue.)  Horn told Tiffany he was being blackmailed and was looking for the blackmailer.  Not Bollinger, he's too obvious, but a sleazy ex-cop would fit the profile.   Bollinger tells them Laurie is running for Horn's position and if he used the photos now, she'd win for sure.   Ironic comment number 2.   They should follow the money trail.   Nesbitt pretends to be shocked at the photos.

Castle, Ryan and Esposito toast using their Espresso coffee cups, much to Beckett's chagrin.  Kirby was the blackmailer and Horn was paying him a quarter of a million, but didn't show for their meeting.  Captain (Reuben Santiago Hudson) comments a three year old could better than that line.   Castle thinks his reason is so bad it could be true.   Horn would go to the people who gave him money before, but Nesbitt says no one paid him anything from the campaign.   Castle asks Alexis who she would ask for money, naturally him and she reads him an extract from another book review.   That was the final important clue, Horn would've asked Laurie for money as she's from money.  Castle: "I'd ask you." As Beckett sat pondering the case, her hand quietly crept over to the coffee mug seated empty on her desk and she too sneaked over to the Espresso machine...to be startled and caught out by Castle.

Laurie knew of the affair, so she gave Horn money.   She claims Horn forged her signature and she preferred to pay off the blackmailer, after working so hard to get this far.   She posits Horn had the money with him, but it's actually found at her house.  He humiliated her so she made him disappear and called Horn at 11 on her own earlier admission.   Beckett adds conspiracy is still murder.  Nesbitt met him after her call and he shot him.   What's the point in Nesbitt running, he won't get far and he confesses.  The rug was a red herring.   Captain says good work and adds "you too Beckett," joking.

The women are in tears at Castle's book reading and Beckett arrives, throwing her coat off, to take out her annoyance of him at the store.   She's making fun of him and Castle asks if she's telling him how to do his job.   Martha blabs the characters name, 'Nikki Heat', which he calls a "cop name."  Beckett: "It's a stripper name."  Well Castle said she was slutty and that awful dress Beckett wore at the end, "slutty."  I rest my case!  Castle refuses to change the name, he's got "artistic integrity."

If you didn't get the wife as the killer/co-conspirator as your immediate suspect, then the title was a big giveaway.   Since early on in the episode Castle informs Beckett that his new character based on her is "slutty...slutty...slutty..." and what does Beckett do when she turns up at his book signing, looking, well, "slutty." She's encroaching on his territory this time  - he doesn't turn up at the precinct dressed so slobbish, or "male slutty." Ha.   Then she has the audacity to complain about the character's name, 'Nikki Heat'.   Knew the 'In Heat' title was coming up, that's offensive when you really think about it, more than the 'slutty' character.

Once again Castle has to solve the case for Beckett, again with a little help from Alexis, that she'd go to him for money, well of course, Horn's wife was loaded, where else would Horn's money be coming from.   Supposed to be about family values and what were the two of them really like, one slept with a prostitute and the other  wanted him dead.   That's family values and tax dollars hard at work.

Bruno Campos in 'almost' one of his last acting roles, so savour the moment, before he gave it all up for law school!  Not that that isn't a good thing, but the acting world 'lost' a great actor.  Now where did I put my Law Review?

Shame Castle had no chance to comment on her actually using his coffee machine, same said machine she turned her nose up at!  Rugs mentioned in The Mentalist, even though it was in season 3.20 Redacted, the rug wasn't to hide the body, the DB was found on this and was worth a fortune.    However, in 1.14 Crimson Casanova, an adulterous wife was shot and the husband was aware his wife had a lover, he was in control of the money.   Here Laurie was in a similar position.   In 1.19 A Dozen Red Roses: a former State Senator is murdered.   2.2 The Scarlet Letter: a State Senator's aid was having an affair with a Senator's husband.  Lots of similar themes here.

If anyone's interested, the earlier part of the article Alexis mentioned, reads: "For all the talk that so often gets thrown around by critics about who the hottest young writer is...it's seldom spoke what a rare pleasure it is to sit down and read something that is purely and perfectly fun.   That's what Richard Castle writes...! That's what this show is, "purely and perfectly fun."  His book's selling for $28 for 295 pages, that's a bit steep, even for a 'fictional, non-existent, hardback book'.   Though there are books available in the Nikki Heat series, released by ABC to coincide with the show: 'Heat Wave;'  'Naked Heat.' 'Heat Rises.'  'Frozen Heat.'  'A Brewing Storm.'


Supernatural - 6.1: "Exile on Main St." Review




Dean (Jensen Ackles) wakes next to Lisa (Cindy Sampson) as we get a series of scenarios involving Dean as his life used to be and what he does now, so much of it is pretty much the same, aside from the hunting element - such as salting food, whereas before he would salt whilst hunting, tools in his car and tools used for his job, contrasting his job as hunter and now as a family man, sharing beers with Sam (Jared Padalecki) in the past and now with a neighbour, working on the car with Sam and now with Ben (Nicholas Elia).   Dean checks the house with rosary in hand and water and keeps a gun under the bed.

Dean has a drink with Sid (Russel Porter). It's been a year without Sam.   Dean "lived on the road" and had a job in pest control.  Dean is almost respectable now.   The waitress gives Dean her number when he asks for the bill.   Dean: "Chicks dig unavailable guys."  Like that would have made a difference to him, but these days he's strictly a one woman guy.   Dean hears a woman scream which leads him to a hotel renovation.   No missing person's calls and checks out his hunch as he's been a 'cop' for  a long time.

This is Dean's life now, from one lie to another.   So nothing changed there then.   He does his routine checks of the house.   A car drives past when he's outside and watch out for the car as it was there for a reason  Dean checks out a house which has scratches on a post outside of it and on the shed door.   He finds a dog inside.   Sid catches Dean with a gun.   He thought he saw  a possum since they carry rabies.  Then he spots sulphur on the ground.

Dean brings out his trusty tools of his former trade and ye olde Impala.  "I got this Spidey sense," he tells Lisa.   He's OCD about this and he also looks at his leather jacket and Dad's journal.   The light flickers and Dean sees Yellow Eyes/Azazel (Fredric Lehne).   Dean shoots him.   He tells Dean he's not brainy and "You can't outrun your past."  Then he passes out, awakening to Sam.  That's a shock to his system.   Sam asks for a hug, he's real and what Dean has seen isn't.   Dean thinks he's in heaven.   Sam is real and he cuts his arm, as well as drinking holy water.   They hug.

Sam doesn't know how he returned and tells Dean, "Cas doesn't answer my prayers."  That's a clue.  Most probably cos Sam hasn't been a good boy and cos Cas has his own worries.   He's been back weeks, one year to be exact.   Dean: !I wanted my brother alive." Going back to past events in season 2, when Dean wanted to do everything he could to stop Sam becoming evil and even brought him back when he died by selling his soul.   Sam didn't want to reveal himself, cos he had a family, "after everything you deserved some regular life." Sam's been hunting and working with their family, Grandpa Samuel Campbell (Mitch Pileggi).

As we recall Sam did return at the end of last season so that makes him back for four months but never mind, it's a year in Supernatural world.   When he stood outside the window watching Dean with Lisa and Ben, it looked like he would have confronted Dean and made his presence felt, but turns out he didn't and instead chose not to tell Dean and let him have his perfect life.   Mind you, ordinarily under any other circumstance, Sam would have revealed himself.

Sam introduces them to the rest of the family, Gwen (Jessica Heafey) who comments Dean's got delicate features for a hunter to Mark (David Paetkau) and Christian (Corin Nemec).   Like Mom they're hunters.   Flashes to Samuel in season 3, when Dean went back in time.   Samuel tells Dean that 'whatever pulled Sam up, pulled him down.'  Sam wanted Dean left out of their fight and Sam was poisoned by a Djinn too, they blend in now.   They cause them to hallucinate their worst nightmares and for Dean it looks like yellow Eyes is still his worst nightmare, even after he killed him.   Samuel can show them "tricks your daddy didn't even think of."  Well that's only cos he was hunting longer than Dad, who wasn't from a family of hunters.

That was Sam's car that drove past Dean in the truck, so he was checking up on him.   They return to the house and find the watcher looking out for Lisa is dead.   They take Lisa to Bobby's (Jim Beaver).   Bobby knew all about Sam and he didn't tell him cos Dean walked away and he was relieved.   Dean had nightmares and collected books just to see if he could get Sam out.  Dean: "Of course I couldn't let you go.   Sue me."  As said, that was obvious after everything, even dying for each other, why would Dean give up on Sam and if he had known about him being alive earlier? He wouldn't have wasted all that time; and all that grief.  Dean: "Do I look out to you?"  That was the ultimate in cruelty, to keep his beloved brother away from him, especially after everything they endured together and Dean being alone.   Okay Lisa and Ben were around but it's not the same thing.

Dean says he should have known something would come between them and Lisa knew he'd have issues cos of what he did.  Ben had someone he could look up to.   This is the best year of her life and there's plenty who'd want to take her place.   Christian thinks it's better left to the pros to hunt the Djinns.   But Dean knows they're easier to draw out with bait.   Dean: "Seems almost like I'm a pro."  Sam wielding a golfclub, that was an in joke since Dean, or rather Jensen I should say, loves his golf.   Dean: "It's a sport."

Samuel: "I get it."  Dean wanted a normal life and his attitude reminds him of Mom who also wanted a normal life.   Hey Sam wanted the normal life, revealed in season 1 and when he left for college.   Dean carried on hunting cos it was the only think he could do, it was too late for him to have a normal life.

The Campbells count on each other and their ancestors were killing vampires on the Mayflower, they're all blood.   Three Djinn are hiding in the trees.   Dean says they won't enter until they're alone.   Giving Sam and Dean a snatched chance at small talk with Dean wanting to know who brought Sam back and does he recall the cage.   Sam doesn't want to talk.   Dean can relate to that since he spent ages avoiding the subject of hell and what he had to endure there, as well as what he had to do.   Why think about hell when he's back with family; and Dean, well he kept his feelings from Sam for starters.

Sid's attacked and Dean has to get over there. Seems they can't fight a Djinn now Sam using the golfclub and just moments before he was dissing it.   The female Djinn poisons Dean again, he killed her father.  "It's a sport." That's what Dean just said about golf.   Took four years for them to get revenge.   Dean hallucinates Yellow Eyes again and sees Lisa and Ben.  It's  her turn to burn on the ceiling and Ben drinks his blood.   "It's all your fault." Jess said that to Sam when he saw her or thought he did, back in season 1.   Samuel rescues Sam and takes the female Djinn alive.   Samuel doesn't appear to be quite right either, in that for a hunter, he doesn't do any killing.

Sam wanted that life for Dean; now he's not so sure, since he's putting them in danger.   Sam doesn't appear to have any sort of reaction as if he can't feel.   Sam wants Dean around and Dean just went without thinking.   Sam: "It's better with you around." Dean gives Sam the Impala but he's got his own wheels and in black too.   Sam says he's not trying to rescue people cos he'd think about it whereas Dean just did it, sounds like the old Sam, but there's something not quite right about him.   The way Jared is playing Sam this season is so cool and emotionless and we know Sam was never like that.

Revisiting an old enemy - the Djinn from season 2 episode, What Is And What Should Never Be - in a hunt, kind of like reverting back to the old days of season 1, but there's more here, it's not just about hunting anymore.   If Sam really wanted to be with Dean - they why'd he wait until now to tell him, or rather show up and when Sam fights the Djinn.  Is it really to save Dean or as he says Sam needs him, not cos he's Dean and family but to help him hunt, having his own ulterior motives.   Also in the season 2 Djinn episode, when the Djinn had Dean, he dreamt of the perfect family life he would have had, but here when he was poisoned by the Djinn, this leads to his worst nightmare. Wonder what Sam's nightmare would have been when he was poisoned?   Did Sam know Dean was being targeted, or did he do his drive by just to check on Dean all the time?   Let's face it he had to have known about the Djinn and Dean since Samuel was after it and yet Sam waited until Dean was actually poisoned to help him and reveal himself, not before.   Clearly he has no conscience, for starters.

Also in 2.18 they used lamb's blood and a silver knife to kill the Djinn. Here they don't.   In that reality it was Sam who has the perfect life. He was with Jess and doing what he wanted.   This time it was Dean who was in this position with Lisa and Ben, but has to give them up.   Well it wasn't a prefect life without Sam, but at least he had a life.

Beautiful Loser by Bob Seger, was an appropriate song for Dean in this episode and everything he used to be and do, and is now just an ordinary guy.   The title is a Rolling Stones album.   References to Spiderman and The Brady Bunch.



Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Castle - 1.01: "Flowers for Your Grave" Review






 Richard Castle's (Nathan Fillion) ex-wife, Gina (Monet Mazur) introduces his new and last book, but we don't know she's his ex yet and that she's also his publisher too.   Small world.  Castle in the meantime is busy demonstrating his true character by signing autograph's on women's chests.  He's ending the Derek Storm mysteries series his final book, Storm Fall.   (Referring to the death of his famous character, earmarking the death for any literary career when that happens!)   Though as he explains to his daughter, Alexis (Molly C Quinn) he's grown tired of him as he knows everything the character's thinking and he doesn't like that.   (Pedantically, he would know what the character's thinking, he's writing him!)  At least Castle doesn't live vicariously through his characters!

Meanwhile Det Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) investigates the murder of a woman covered in rose petals over her body and daisies over her eyes.  She was Allison Tisdale, a social worker.   Beckett comments that romance is dead for her every Saturday night.   ME Lanie Parish (Tamala Jones) suggests she should try wearing a little lipstick.   It'd make her more appealing, at least give her some character!!  I.e letting her hair down, which is what Castle will tell her later, that she's never tried being spontaneous, she's stuffy.  This CS seems familiar to Beckett.   Castle tells Gina he's paid back his advance already for the book, funding the divorce.  He appears to be suffering from writer's block.   Accompanying him on his book launch is his mother, Martha (Susan Sullivan) who's the stereotypical matriarch looking for a man and likes to drink to excess.  Castle even tries to get Alexis, his daughter,  to have a drink as she's "an old soul;" and he wants to share a "wildly inappropriate" story with her, but he can't.   She should have some of those from her teens too, to pass onto her children.   He knows what would  happen in every scene of his book, another reason for killing off Storm.  

Cue Beckett here to question him about Allison's murder, now that was different, at least for him. Castle has a record, once he stole a police horse and rode it nude.   The charges being dropped, as it pays to have fans in high places, such as the mayor.   Beckett is laying down her law already, which will only cause him more intrigue as far as she's concerned, you see, he can read her like an open book!  She also tells him about the murder of Fisk, a small claims lawyer.   Castle funny comment in tow: states his "claims are on the large side."  Fisk was murdered straight out of his other book, Hell Hath No Fury.   He gets all sorts of fan letters all the time.   The killer's tried to "contact the object of his obsession." I.e Castle (whose object of affection/obsession at said time is Beckett.)  He plays poker with other writers and for him and to them, the ultimate "Red Badge of Courage" is to have a copycat.  Murder usually makes sense to him, but he wonders why these books were chosen.  Beckett lumbers Dets Juavier Esposito (Jon Huertas) and Kevin Ryan (Seamus Dever) with Castle's books for them to read  and make the connection between the Vics.  If Beckett claims to be such a fan why can't she work out the connection.   No, it takes Castle to point that out to her later on, when he tells her that the Vics were differently dressed and staged than in his books.

Castle, being devious, gets her Captain Montgomery (Ruben Santiago-Hudson) to authorize his consulting with her on this case.   She claims he's not here for justice but just for the story.  Why them?  He replies there's "always a story."  Alluding to Beckett, she shouldn't be a detective as beautiful women opt for becoming lawyers.  He profiles her.  She became a cop because something in her past happened to someone she knows and whoever did it was never caught.  As is always the case, to add some angst to the mix.  Just as in The Mentalist it was Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) who was wronged and his family killed by his nemesis.   Here it's reversed so Beckett is the one with the secret. Sketches from Castle's book scrawled onto a fan letter lead to the main suspect.   Esposito comments Beckett is a control freak but she can't control Castle.  Who calls the Mayor to ask him for a personal favor, jumping the queue to obtain a fingerprint analysis.  Much to Beckett's chagrin yet again.   She threatens Castle with a gun, something Lisbon (Robin Tunney) from the Mentalist would do.

The next DB posed is from the book, Death of a Prom Queen and Castle accompanying Beckett, charms Lanie, who happens to be another fan.   Castle presumes to analyze the CS and the COD, as Patrick Jane does.   The Vic was killed and posed after death, her dress was blue in his book and not yellow.   The fingerprints from the earlier analysis match Kyle (Kurt David Anderson).  Oh yeah this scene was really credible: Beckett breaking down the door with her high heels and not a scratch on them, were they made of steel?! At least Lisbon wears decent shoes.   Ha.

Inside they find a shrine to Castle and a gun, as well as the suspect himself.  Castle says Kyle sufferers from ADD and Alison was his social worker.   Beckett deems it an open and shut case.  At his poker game, Castle discusses the death of Storm in his books with James Patterson and Stephen J Cannell, who think he's mad to have killed off Storm.   Castle discusses this latest case with them as a possible plotline for a book.   The suspect needs someone in his corner, to find out the truth and that would happen to be Castle.   He gives Beckett an autographed advanced copy of his new book.  Hey even the music in places is similar to The Mentalist.   A rouse on his part to take her file on the case, allowing her to arrest him.   He tells her the rose petals on Allison's body weren't the same as he used in the book, thus Kyle is innocent. Castle's had plenty of father figures and ponders over murders that don't make sense.   He believes they're looking for one murderer whose intended target was only one of the Vics.   Making it appear as though they're actually looking for a serial killer.  

His mother mentions the Mouse Trap.  I was thinking more along the lines of The ABC Murders by Agatha Christie.   The killer knew his intended Vic well and so it was Allison.  Castle and Beckett figure that out at the same time using very different methods of deduction.   Castle notices Jonathan Tisdale (Keir Dullea) is dying and his son, Harrison (Brian Avers) inherits all of Allison's share now too.   His motive: he was broke and he wouldn't want Allison's share being given away by her to charity.   He wanted it all, but that wasn't the only reason for the killing as Castle later says.  Why do killers always retain evidence after the fact.   Beckett's a detective, so why's she asking Castle why he thinks Tisdale's dying.  

Allison saw the best in people as Harrison tells them, so she didn't see the worst in him.   There's the connection to Kyle, that Allison wanted Harrison to give him a job at his company.  Harrison has his alibi ready, his passport for the time of her murder as well as for the other two Vics as well.    They realize Harrison has a fake passport, using the real one to leave and enter, but using the fake one to get back in without anyone knowing.  Needing a warrant to search his apartment,  Castle knows the Judge too.  Beckett just loves her cuffs, she has Castle in cuffs twice this episode alone.  Obviously he's getting out of those.  As if she would really give him a weapon.  "Cuff me once, shame on you, cuff me twice, shame on me." Everyone loves that saying.  

Harrison takes Castle hostage and tells them their father only cared about Allison which was the other reason he wanted to kill her, so their father would suffer before he died, as Castle suspected there was more than money behind it.    Castle wasn't worried since the safety was on the gun the entire time, something she being a detective, should have noticed. Castle gets the green light from the mayor to shadow Beckett for a character in his new book, called Nikki Heat.  The dynamic works better when the female character doesn't try to be domineering, feign hating the male and having to compete overly forcefully to be accepted.  

Hot on the heels of shows like Remington Steele  which was a great show for the '80's; another show in "love to hate them/love them really" mould.  With this show, I admit I'm biased, it's Mentalist deja vu all over again.  The roles are reversed, Castle has a family - daughter, mother, ex-wife.   It's Beckett with the troubled past.   He's a writer so with his sharp, analytical mind, he can make the same determinations and analysis that Patrick does.   Castle is also egotistical and arrogant, traits also possessed by Patrick Jane.  But alas they're not Lisbon and Jane. Clearly ABC was looking for a show to rival CBS Mentalist. The reason I mentioned The ABC Murders is the plot in this was similar to this ending, but with a twist: a brother murders his brother for greed, wanting his money and property, so he kills other people, casting suspicion away from himself as being his brother's killer.   He makes it seem his brother was the Vic of a serial killer.

Though Nathan Fillion excels as Castle, Beckett and Stana Katic's portrayal of her still leaves a lot to be desired and she hasn't immediately grown on me, like Lisbon/Robin Tunney.   Beckett's a little too abrupt in the "I can compete in the big leagues with the men" mentality.   He's called in as a police consultant, as was Patrick Jane and Castle hangs around to garner inspiration for his new book and character.   The lead actor, Nathan being the saving grace for this show and I shamelessly admit he made me watch the rest of it. Funnily enough in the UK trailer shown on five, mention was made of Murder She Wrote, but Jessica Fletcher Castle is not, was also added just to clarify the distinction.It's an opportunity for people to watch the show who didn't have access to satellite/cable, or subscription TV when it's aired there.

Common elements relied upon: "the will they/won't they" dynamic.   Judging from the Pilot it's a 'probably they won't' scenario, since Beckett's eyes have been opened to what her fave author is really like.   A womanizer, who comes across as uncaring about the Vics, at least to her.   Being in awe of his books and work before she met him in person.   Where this show comes into its own is when Castle thinks about the particular crime and concludes what really happened; who did it etc.   The one thing they have in common, aside from crime - is the "why" - what drives people to commit murder, which is also the basis for solving said crime.


Tuesday, 8 May 2012

The Closer - 6.05: "Heart Attack" Review


Thought this one was great!!


Brenda and the Major Case squad look into the case of a headless DB found in an alley and come across a missing boy, murder and illegal organ harvesting.

Detective Mikki Mendoza (Paolo Turbay) who hasn't been seen in a while, no she's just brought back to blab, contacts Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and Major Crimes when parts of a DB are found, headless.   Brenda wants the head found before some dog is running around with it in its mouth.   The killing portrayed the same MO as Mexican drug cartels.   Commander Taylor (Robert Gossett) doesn't think it's a case for Major Crimes and he should have been able to make that decision, but Brenda  tells him there have been other DBs found in a similar manner.   Mendoza lets slip that Brenda is running for the position of Chief, which Taylor says Brenda should have told him about first and the rest of the team are surprised.

Assistant Chief Pope (JK Simmons) tells Taylor he agreed to Brenda running as she'll only be one of many in the running for the position and currently seems more concerned about the effect on his reputation, once the media get hold of this case.   Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) has brought Reuben in to work again.   He hasn't made any progress in finding his mother yet.   That was apparent from the outset that Sanchez wouldn't want to let Reuben go.   Provenza (GW Bailey) tells Flynn (Tony Denison) that Brenda going for Chief is only politics and they shouldn't be concerned with it.

Dr Morales (Jonathan Del Arco) discovers that one of the DBs, upon close examination, had a small pin in his ankle; such treatment is only available in the US.   Thus Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) believes the Vic isn't Mexican.  At home Brenda discusses the case with Fritz (Jon Tenney) as well as wanting him to help locate Reuben's mother, she doesn't want to be involved with it though.   Fritz notices a missing boy in one of the files has a scar on his ankle, Pedro Moto.   Sanchez has located Pedro's mother, Mrs Moto (Anna Khaja) and Provenza can't help but comment that she's one mother he didn't have any trouble finding.   Mrs Moto was only interested in the welfare money Pedro brought in and inadvertently mentions he was bleeding and she had to take him to the clinic.

Gabriel and Brenda accompany Mrs Moto to the clinic , but the doctor who treated Pedro isn't in and she speaks with Dr Luis Navarro (Bruno Campos).   He's very helpful and gives Brenda Pedro's records, as well as suggesting his dental records would be of more help, which aren't necessary since he was headless and Gabriel almost gives this away too, though Navarro already knows this.   Since there weren't that many suspects in this episode, it's obvious Navarro has something to do with Pedro being missing his head and turning up dead.



Dr Morales informs Brenda that upon further examination the DBs were missing vital organs, leading Brenda to believe they were killed for their organs.   Thus the only logical suspect being Navarro.   A DNA match on the second Vic reveals he's an armed robber so Flynn thinks the gangs have taken to selling organs, but that'd be too complicated for them to even contemplate, as Sanchez explains, they don't have the knowledge for that.   Gabriel finds every organ harvested must first reach the domain of the Organ Procurement organization.   Ms Reed (Merrin Dungey) who represents the organization is angry that the organs of homicide Vics aren't donated, meaning many miss out on this vital resource.   The organs are used as evidence.   Brenda asks for a waiting list of the patients requiring organs.  and one is a boy who was a match to Pedro's kidney. [Merrin was in Alias as Francie and MS Reed was Lauren Reed in the show, played by Melissa George.]

Oscar claims his kidney was donated by his Mexican cousin, but they don't know him.   His father gets defensive upon finding out they are the police.   There is no such cousin.   Reuben states he would donate one of his kidneys to Sanchez and this sets Brenda's mind in motion as she thinks the organs would need to be matched before being used.   Tao ( Michael Paul Chan) examines the charts from the surgery and finds a CT angiogram scan was carried out.   This is a medical assessment to determine the size and suitability of the organs for transplant.   A check on the chart also reveals this was done by Dr Navarro and he works at the hospital.

At the hospital, Flynn distracts the nurse whilst Brenda reads the charts and finds a Mary Witten is scheduled to undergo a heart transplant.   At the clinic, Brenda, Gabriel and Flynn catch Navarro working on another boy to retrieve his heart for Mary.   It's difficult to know what to call the boy, a Vic, a donor or a criminal who deserved what he got.   Unable to get into the room, or break the glass, Brenda gets them to film everything on their phones as she pulls out her trusty tape recorder.   Brenda threatens to shoot but he replies, "shoot at my head - I'm an organ donor."

What follows turns out to be one of the best scenes in the Closer, thus far, okay in opinion it is.   Navarro tells her about a 12 year old girl he had to work on who was repeatedly gang raped by Pedro and others.   Pedro came into the clinic, one of the boys who took part in her brutal rape.   Under the anaesthetic Pedro gave him the names of all his accomplices.   Navarro tried to find DNA on the girl, he looked everywhere but there was nothing.   Navarro agrees to give her his files and to confess if she lets Mary have the heart.   Or will she just let it  go to waste as evidence.

Gabriel asks how many others there were and he replies five.  There are two boys left and he tells Brenda if she gave him a year he'd have this neighbourhood cleaned out.  Brenda tells him he didn't know if the boys were actually guilty or not, but he just told her Pedro gave them up.  

Brenda: "Where's the line for you doctor?  You start by cutting up people you think committed rape, who's next, drug dealers, thieves, people who cross against the light?  Who gave you the right to play God?"

Navarro: "Position was vacant so I took it!"

At the hospital they wait to see if the transplant was a success and on how the heart would be stuck in evidence.   Flynn comments, they "...made lots of decisions weren't ours to make."

Fritz finds Ruben's mother, Maria.   Sanchez asks if she's seeing anyone and asks them to dinner.   Probably he wants to to see Reuben and more likely he wants to ensure she's a good mother to him, cos in past episodes he had doubts about the integrity of his mother abandoning him like that.

Have to say, one of my fave episodes this season delving into the area of organ transplanting and harvesting, something which always borders on the legal, moral and ethical.   How ethical is it to take the organs of criminals and kill them in the process, not only playing god as Brenda says, but judge, jury and executioner too.     Lots of moral issues too, such as where does one draw the line on choosing who should receive an organ when a transplant is needed.   Hospital committees are just as guilty of "playing god" when they decide who lives and dies on the list.   It's an interesting area full of dilemmas and close to my heart, no pun, as one of my legal dissertations was on the ethics of organ donation and transplantation.   Hey Navarro had operated on five Vics and he had two left, which would have made seven, a biblical number.

Bruno Campos gave an excellent and convincing performance as the doctor wanting to 'clean up the neighbourhood' and save lives in the process, doing their job for them.   Navarro didn't see it as wrong, it's a fitting punishment for their crimes.   The question of playing God - well doctors make those decisions everyday, as well as other professionals.   Bruno has played many a doctor on TV shows and many bad guy roles from Cold Case to Castle  to Closer, but this role was different in that was Navarro really all bad or all good in what he did?   Finally the show had some eye candy in Bruno, ha.   He's got totally gorgeous blue eyes.   Bruno is taking a break from acting and is currently in his second year at the University of Michigan Law School.

Monday, 7 May 2012

CSI: NY - 8.13: "The Ripple Effect" Review


Just can't get enough of CSI:NY...do you feel the same?





A man with a chainsaw cuts down a tree as the camera shows two other men in a window above. He then comes out and is chased by a man in red but his bike is gone.  The first man falls down the stairs.  Jo (Sela Ward) comments she shouldn't have done her Stairmaster as she walks down the stairs.  Mac (Gary Sinise) adds it is a long way down and Flack (Eddie Cahill) even counted the steps, 130, on his third trip up.  Ah the poor, amazing guy, what he does for his job and more! The satchel belongs to the Vic, Greg (Tim Barraco) who ended up at the bottom of the 187th Street Steps.  Flack: "Question is, was he pushed?" Mac: "Looks like we'll have to back up a few steps to figure that out."

Jo collects from the ground, a wad of purple residue which suspiciously looks like gum.  Sid (Robert Joy) isn't around and Hawkes (Hill Harper) covers for him.  He suffered skull fractures, breaks.  As they don't have a preliminary autopsy report, Mac determines they can't comment on whether it was an accident or murder.  Hawkes claims he'd take the day off too if he was still in Sid's position for this very reason.

Lindsay (Anna Belknap) finds the purple substance was gum, well that didn't take a genius and was violet flavoured, which she wouldn't eat.  Well there are already violet flavoured sweets available, called 'Parma Violets.'  They do taste awful.  The gum had unidentified male DNA.  Greg was a bike messenger (another one) and Jo wonders what happened to the bike.

Mac calls Christine (Megan Dodds) as he has something for her.  Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) used the new counter-terrorism surveillance cameras installed on the streets (Jo used that last season, so it can't be new, maybe it's improved.)  He used the footage to rewind back and find the man in the red who is chasing Greg.  Facial recognition IDs his chaser as Scott.

Right on cue is our Flack with a short chase scene down yet another fire escape and Scott (Alex Weed) falls down those steps too.  Flack: "Karma's a bitch."  Yeah and I was going to say that was prophetic or rather poetic justice!  He demands to be in hospital from where he's been released and his arm hurts.  Flack asks if his pride hurts too as what Greg sold him weren't drugs.  Mac's a scientist so he can tell him what his bag did contain.  Flack asks why he killed Greg?  Scott bangs his arm on the table which gets a grin out of Flack since he claimed his arm was hurting.  Actually this must be a first where a perp has actually suffered injuries after falling. Usually no one has in the past.  Scott chased Greg who fell and he took his money.

Danny and Jo respond to a DB found in the park, spotted by nature enthusiasts.  Danny: "I'm guessing they're not so enthusiastic anymore."  He's hit by an arrow and has also been strangled. Danny asks which injury killed him.  Lots of questions abound this epsiode.  Then horror of horrors, Lindsay arrives.  Where'd Jo vanish?  Danny found footprints and partials near the path so he was attacked there.  Lindsay shows off. She used to climb trees in Montana and yet needs a lift here; after she uses a laser to determine the direction of the arrow.  Danny asked if she climbed trees, "before or after she started cow tipping?"  It's always about cows with her.   She tricks him into jumping by yelling, 'snake.'  Oh highly droll, not.

She discovers anti-viral medication on the tree which Danny runs and comes up with H7N2 - bird flu and an alert to contact the CDC. Sid's autopsy is inconclusive as far as Greg's death is concerned.  There's no proof it it was an accident or he was pushed.  He avoided telling Mac where he's been.  Jo will get it out of him. Obviously he's nervous and she didn't need to profile him to say that.  He found trace from Jimmy's (Dale Gibson) abrasions round the neck and partial prints at the back of his neck, as well as purple gum from his teeth.  Jo: "When it comes to crime there are no coincidences." Hey that's what Gibbs (Mark Harmon) says in NCIS.  Sid eventually tells Jo he sold his patent for the pillow for $27 million to the Japanese.  They want to use it as an anti-snore pillow, which Jo wishes she'd have had for her ex, Russ (David James Elliott).  Hey I'm sure Dreamboat doesn't snore!!

Danny and Flack check out the condemned building Jimmy owned where they speak to the Super, Toby (Connor Barrett).  He's blowing glass.  Knew that shelf behind Flack was gonna come crashing down at some point and Toby burns his fingers in front of them.  Hawkes determines Jimmy was strangled with a bright orange coloured zip tie.  Then he had to tell Lindsay again!  How boring.  Blood from the arrow shows it was used before.

Mac returns Christine a chewed pen he'd 'borrowed' from her brother, Steve.  Her restaurant is empty.  So Steve's mentioned again for a reason.  Jo and her Post-Its, this time all over Mac's car. She's called about the virus being Avian flu, wasn't that already apparent when it came up on Danny's computer, including the strain, H7N2.  There's only one case in the US carried by Bristow (Bill Zasadil) who hunts animals illegally and was after a deer.  He sneezed when he fired the arrow and it hit Jimmy.  So it was an accident.  Sid finds the arrow wasn't the COD on Jimmy but the strangulation was.  Flack calls Hawkes this time round.  The zip tie is being used in an art sculpture by Patty, who lives at the same condemned hotel.  He got some 'witty responses' from his cops when he asked them to look out for the ties.

Hawkes finds only partials and no match until Danny realizes that's cos they're not partials but actual prints, belonging to Toby since he's got burnt fingers.  Danny takes samples from the hotel which are a match to Toby.  Danny: "Boom."  Flack crashes into the shelf, as predicted, ha, when Toby threatens with the hot glass.  He paid Jimmy $15,000 to bribe Doug on the Building and Safety Commission so the hotel wouldn't be condemned.  The money's missing and Jimmy hired a messenger.  So Toby strangled him - for someone who said they weren't violent, he didn't live up to that.

Jo and yet more Post-Its, wonder if she has shares?  She pieces together everything that happened. The gum was found cos Greg had a pick-up at a diner near the hotel, which was the money from Jimmy for Doug.  She looked at the footage again and found the man who stole the bike with a chainsaw, thus Greg was on foot.  So are they gonna find the bike thief?  He set the events in motion.  As the money couldn't be delivered Jimmy was killed.  Flack: "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard." Mac: "One crime leads to another... and another."  Known as 'The Ripple Effect.'

Mac gets most of the NYPD to eat at the restaurant and Sid buys a piano but not having anywhere big enough to put it, brings it to the lab.  He needs a bigger apartment.  Jo plays piano too.  In the hotel, Danny takes a good look at the woman getting a tattoo which took me back to season 8 episode Get Me Out of Here, when Lindsay was being morbid and planning their funerals.  She said Danny would probably marry that tattooed woman from Coney Island.  Danny must have a penchant for tats on women or just tattoos.  (Carmine also sports a tattoo of his own, at least one that we know of.)

Good to see the show tackle another case where the crimes turn out to be connected and Jo finding the connection too.  This hasn't been done in a while and in the on-line chat with Pam Veasey and Zach Reiter last year, fans commented on how much they love such episodes where two or more stories become one.

It's nice when the cast get equal airtime - sometimes it's not possible, but they're tending to go overboard on Lindsay to the detriment of the others.  She's in this scene, she's in that scene...

Danny mentioning cows and Lindsay cow tipping.  Cows were mentioned by Lindsay in 3.14 The Lying Game, when she left that note for Danny saying, "Montana calls and the cows are heading home.  Moo." There's no getting away from her or the poor cows.

A bike courier was also killed in season 1's Recycling, must be a dangerous job since Castle season 2 had a bike messenger being killed too.  Sid's invention finally pays off, but how long until the others find out?  Seems strange he wanted Mac to try out the pillow and give him his honest opinion and yet he can't share his fortunate news with Mac.  Although he was nervous and excited, Sid's never one to hold back on his thoughts.

Flack's one-liners were desperately needed this episode - welcome relief.  I can never fault Flack! Sid and Jo play Heart and Soul by Hoagy Carmichael.  Adam (AJ Buckley) was missing second week in a row.

Sunday, 6 May 2012

CSI: 11.15: "Targets of Obsession" Review

Had to blog this ep review of mine, if only for the fans who watch CSI but more so for those who watch Once Upon a Time since this ep guested Josh Dallas who plays Prince Charming...



Nick (George Eads) and Ray (Laurence Fishburne) talk of Ray's impending court hearing with Nate Haskell (Bill Irwin) .   Nick needs to get to the gym or he'll never go.  Ray: "Are you felling obligated to leave Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) a good-looking corpse."  To which Nick replies, 

"Yeah, something like that."  Hey his hair's grown back, now any chance of George leaving it like that!  Anyway, prophetic words from Ray regarding Nick, as he almost does meet his doom.   Ray tells him he's putting on his game face for the trial.   Nick retorts he should give Haskell hell, but he's bound for there anyway.   Ray and Haskell prepare for court simultaneously and you know from Haskell's smirk he's got something up his sleeve, literally.

In court, Haskell comments the last three days he's been trying to control the monster and the media are portraying him as such.   Hey that's Ray's word, calling such dregs of society, "monsters."  The jury needs to see the vulnerable boy, abused by an alcoholic father.   He was taunting Ray and played him like Jason played Nick.   He argues for being a Pro Per and wants to represent himself.   (See also the CSI:Miami episode Pro Per).

Nick's moved house and as he arrives home, Jason McCann (Justin Bieber) calls to remind him Nick said he wanted to be his friend.   He should let Nick die for what he did to his brother, Alex, in Shock Waves, but he warns him to not go home instead.   Ahh, too late, he's already there and it was a bit naive of Nick to think that all this wasn't a set-up.   His appearing out of the blue and warning him like that.   Nick notices writing on the wall and almost walks into the trip wire.   Nick has to call in the bomb squad for help, hence Kip (Josh Dallas) the guest star for this episode, actually that should read, expendable guest star for this episode, which was obvious, as that's why Brit woman bomb expert, Kacey Monahan (Sienna Guillory) wasn't in this episode.   Nick tells Kip, "I'm already eight lives down" and he is.

Nick loses his cool, well he is Texan after all, ha.   Kip will sweep his house for explosives.   Kip reads the message on the wall: "Sic  Semper  Tyrannus, meaning As always to Tyrants."   Nick is angry that Jason has his number and he's not afraid to die.   Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) tells him to calm down.   The voice of reason that she is.   Nick recalls seeing a maroon van and Vartann (Alex Carter) adds the neighbours reported seeing the same van.   Nick believes Jason saved his life and Vartann says he belongs in jail.   Catherine doesn't think it was a coincidence Jason called Nick. 

Haskell wants to relive the moment he stabbed Ray since state of mind is key to his defence.   Ray recalls he felt a sharp, white hot pain and felt light headed.   Flashes to the last season finale.   Also feelings of disbelief and fear.   Haskell refers to this as a normal reaction.   Judge Granston (Megan Gallagher) tells him to only question the witness and not make statements.   Haskell doesn't feel anything but he wants to feel normal emotions.

Sara (Jorga Fox) says the bomber was a leftie.   Greg (Eric Szmanda) cites stats: only 15% of the population are lefties.   The bomb has the same signature used by Alex.   Sara says Nick should get Jason's autograph.   Jason tells Nick he got the bruise when he fell and  picks up the can with his left hand.   Nick wants a name and in return he'll help him.   Oh quit the play acting Jason!  You're not fooling anyone, he's so guilty! Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) questions Huxbee (Jude Ciccolella) who was in the coastguard so he knows how to tie that particular type of knot.   Brass tells Huxbee he only makes the bombs, he doesn't plant them and he's also a leftie.   Nick tells Jason he'll protect them.   He didn't give his brother a choice.   He has Nick's number (clue.) Nick can't seem to read Jason.   Brass replies Nick shot his brother, why would Jason want to save his life.   Stands to reason he wouldn't.   But Nick doesn't immediately see the bad in people.

Hodges (Wallace Langham) found the bomb had trace amounts of benzyl benzoate.   Catherine calls this acetone and Sara recalls this is found in TATP, acetone is one of its ingredients.   Greg finds Huxbee took out a credit card in his name and bought acetone.   Nick, Catherine, Vartann and Kip check out the new lease Huxbee signed on a building and discover him dead inside.  The same scene plays out from the end of Shock Waves.  When the body was wired to explode and Vartann was in peril again, saved by Greg.   Which is commented on by Catherine saying the scene's too familiar.   Kip notices the DB is wired and lasers surround the bomb.   Kip to Nick: "Are you some kind of a bomb magnet?" (and gun magnet too.)  Catherine notices a sensor whilst they attempt to leave and this holds an invisible laser.   They're stuck there, well at least not with Brit woman!  Phones and radios don't work.   Kip warns them against breaking any beams as the C4 will explode.   They need to diffuse it, i.e.  he needs to.   The transmitter is connected to the lasers with only 14 minutes left on the clock.   Vartann asks, 14 minutes "to disarm it, or is that just what we've got left?"  Kip answers both, which in his case meant all he had left.

Haskell questions Dr Corby (Robert Pine) about the scan he conducted on his brain using a mobile MORI machine, whilst showing him violent images and shows the effect on a normal brain and then on Haskell's brain.   His shows no activity so he's impaired; caused by a genetic mutation, known as Monoamineoxydase A: the MOMA gene.   Also known as the warrior gene.   The Dr mentions studies show since Haskell suffered abuse in childhood, his chances of carrying out violence  are 400 times more.   Haskell calls himself a "monster made of biology behind my control."  He shouts out and asks who the real Vic is here.

Nick says they're being watched and pretends to take out the camera with his gun in a shooting motion.   Catherine uses a laser to disrupt their feed.   Kip finds the only way to disarm is to go over the beams and for this they can build a platform using the wooden planks and crates.   Vartann steps on  a booby trap and a bullet explodes into his leg, knicking an artery.

Ray meets Vivien (Kate Blumberg) Haskell's fiance.   He gave her a Star of David pendant.   Ray tells her Haskell's first two Vics both wore pendants and he killed them both.   They also found the DBs of seven women under his floorboards.   Brass comments Ray's "met the Brides of Haskell."  Ray believes the jury has succumbed to him and he'll use his gene defence to get out.   Had the feeling Haskell already knew about this defence and maybe also that Ray had it, which sounds a bit wrong I know, but why else would he have mentioned it.

Kip jumps down and almost loses his footing and stumbles back onto the laser.   They make a make-shift shelter behind some plywood for Vartann and Catherine, that also gave the game away as to what was about to come.  The bomb boasts a mercury switch, with an anti-tamper device meaning cutting the power lead will trigger the bomb.   Kip manages to disarm the bomb in time but no one thought to get out, standing there celebrating when there'd be time for that later and knowing how devious their opponents are.  Kip comments Nick's not dying today.   The timer rearms again and the countdown speeds up.   Kip throws himself over the bomb bearing the brunt of the blast and saving their lives.  Nick and Catherine are okay but Vartann's in hospital.   Greg lets Ray know how they are.

Prosecutor Melvoy (Larry Poindexter) asks Ray for his opinion on Dr Cory's theory.   He thinks it's nonsense.   Haskell takes pleasure in committing sadistic crimes which are against the law.   Ray's field is research pathology and he has his own personal experience to fall back on, indicating he too was abused by an alcoholic father as a child and he has the MOMA gene. "DNA isn't destiny" and Ray takes satisfaction in bringing suspects to justice, not in killing them.  Now we know why Ray had Wendy (Liz Vassey) conduct a test on his DNA last season.

Vartann will make it and Catherine says they'll get them.   She wouldn't be anywhere else.   Nick asks Catherine how she's doing and she should get checked out.   Nick: "You're always taking care of me, how about I take care of you for a change."  As she won't be around for much longer.   The COD appears to be a single GS wound to the head, execution style, but Huxbee suffered a blunt force trauma which was the main COD.   Sara gets an IBIS hit on the gun, used in a break-in at an armoury.   The serial number on the camera in the building shows it was purchased two years ago from an army PX.  Jason used the credit card for the bomb-making equipment.   But he didn't make the bomb alone.   In the surveillance camera photo from the store, there's another man next to him.   Greg: "let's see if he was dumb enough to wear a jacket with his own name in it."  Of course he would.

Haskell is found guilty, as he would be, but as said he's got another plan.   It took Ray a while to figure out he was up to something when Haskell was playing with his bracelet, he was communicating with Vivien with the looks they gave each other in court.

Sara identifies the man as Timothy Johnson (Falk Hentschel) and he was in explosive ordnance disposal.   He owns the maroon van.   Nick finally realizes he was being played and Kip paid for it.  Nick: "kids and their phones, that dumbass called me;" and then let them trace his signal for a location.

Ray speaks with Haskell and says his revelation was unexpected, (but it didn't seem that way.)  He asks how long Haskell's known he was a MOMA gene carrier and he must have known before his first kill.   Studies were first done in the 1970's.   Ray tells him DNA can't be changed, you either have the gene or you don't.   And he has dreams of freedom.   No, not dreams.

Jason tells Johnson this has always been personal for him and he's not afraid to die.  At the roadblock, he will only speak with Nick.   There's a shootout and Jason's shot just like his brother.   About time too.  

Ray sees the 'brides' outside and recalls Haskell's bracelet - too late!  He's been transferred onto the minimum security van, after exchanging his bracelet with another prisoner.   The van is raided and he escapes with Vivien.   Yeah, she'll be around for long!

So an episode in which Nick and Ray face their demons, only for Ray's to be given a new lease of life.   Didn't like the way the two stories interspersed, the courtroom theatrics detracting from the intensity of the bomb scenes.   Anyone could've tripped that wire at Nick's house.   Good to see Nicky losing his temper, normally he's very reserved, so he got angry for a change: throwing down his backpack, schoolboy style, that was so cute!  

Of course Nick wouldn't leave Kip alone to diffuse the bomb, just why didn't he also get out too, oh so fatalistic.   Hate when that happens, he could have been a good CSI character.   Seems the writers were messing with us, taking our adrenalin levels to a high, with heart-in-mouth moments, though it was apparent none of the regulars would be killed off, but someone had to die today and the courtroom scenes kind of detracted from the excitement.   Catherine not giving up on Vartann, wonder have their past differences been settled and are they still seeing one another. 

Ray has Wendy test his DNA in season 10 Working Stiffs episode.    It did appear Haskell knew about Ray's pre-existing gene, but as said before, how would he when Ray didn't know, when Ray only had a theory and he did seem to be playing Ray.   Now Ray's got his own obsession to deal with all over again with Haskell escaping and his anticipated killing spree.   The nightmare is never ending for poor Ray.  Whereas Nick has put his to rest.   Ray in trouble and being attacked by Haskell and Nick mentioning he's used up 8 out of 9 lives.   At least he's used up about five.   Ray's comment in the beginning about Nick wanting to leave a good-looking corpse for Doc Robbins, do you recall in Grave Danger Part 2, there was a scene where Doc and David are autopsing Nick, when he's meant to be dead, but Nick can see and hear everything they're doing! 

Good use of the title and a repeat scene from the Shock Waves episode, this time the soda can already in front of Jason.   Nick wanting to take care of Catherine, oh dear does this mean Nick will be promoted to supervisor when she leaves.   But then we'll see him in an even lesser role since we didn't get to see Catherine much as supervisor.   Let's hope if he is promoted they don't tuck him away in the office!  Nick's too hands-on and field orientated to be shut away like that behind  a desk and as Catherine used to say to Gil (William Petersen) is Nick as politic as she is.   He doesn't have much of a rapport with Ecklie (Marc Vann).   He is respected by the others and as leader, who knows.   I recall the animosity when Nick was promoted in the past before Sara, but maybe that's all behind them now.   Also we'll lose the Ray/Nick dynamic, they gel so well together.   Thought I'd mention this since Catherine will be gone soon; sadly and I was discussing this with friends.

Megan Gallagher's second appearance in a CSI episode, she was previously in Cats in the Cradle.

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Hands (My Without A Trace)


So writing yet another episode treatment/plot for a show, this time Without a Trace and time to share it with fans...

A British student Troy (complete with British accent!) claims to have psychic abilities: use this to stop a kidnapper, possible killer.  At the same time Troy walks into the FBI office, Martin’s car is forced off the road.  2 college students, 1 FBI agent, Martin kidnapped.  Troy claims he can help to find them.  In fact he says he saw the vision of Martin being run off the road; and lights, another car was behind him.

Martin’s father - conveniently absent…can rile Jack up via the phone.   Martin’s disappearance should be given preferential treatment so Jack should get more agents on the case because he’s one of their own and his son. They’re doing everything they can and Jack defends his team and Danny: he’s just as good as anyone else in getting to the bottom of this.

Although it is the twenty-first century and there’s the psychic channel, Sam asks Danny when and if he’s ever consulted a fortuneteller, glorified or otherwise.  Danny’s passing comment is that it’s like believing in star signs – horoscopes -  how many people believe these; though it’s hard to believe all the people around the world who are the same signs, could be experiencing the same event in their lives; also different astrologers make different predictions anyway.  Viv reads Danny’s star sign for the day: You usually like to think of  yourself as a good team player but at the moment your patience is really likely to be tested to the limits.  The Moon/Mars aspect around you will generate an over-abundance of fiery energy.  Try and channel this in constructive directions.

Whether Danny believes or not he’s got a job to do which involves finding the missing students and Martin.  Troy’s able to give them clear indications what happened.  He saw them clearly but they were masked.  Can he reconcile psychic abilities with religion/faith?   Danny says believe in God that’s intangible.  That’s the strange thing about faith – you don’t have to believe in your fellow man or woman, our future has either been mapped out for us or we decide it, so can we change it?
The skeptics, including Jack who’s a realist.  Sam, Viv think there could be something in what he says.  Skeptics are made, cynics are born.

Background checks at college reveals students all know each other.  Scene of accident.  Skid marks at the scene showing his car was forced off the road.  Forensics find blood which is Martin’s but why would the students go missing or be taken from the same place at the same time.  Who knew where Martin was going and why since he wasn’t on a case?  Questions why kidnapped, no ransom demand or phone calls, Sam worked on his past case files and didn’t find anyone who was released etc, anyone he put away, why were the other two abducted, did Martin stumble across something?

Troy seems to bond with Danny, knowing, claiming to know what he’s been through.  As soon as he saw him he knew he was different.  Danny tells him he’s already been let down before most of his life anyway, so it won’t take much for him to do the same and warns him about wasting their time and Federal offences involved.  Troy replies Danny’s carried a lot of weight on his shoulders, guilt, for a very long time. He’s confronted his past but maybe it wasn’t enough and he needs to put it behind him; as he does with some of his cases.  He’s seen a lot through his work and most of the time, these cases bear a resemblance to his own life, or certain aspects of his own childhood.  Danny didn’t have much of one, just like him.  Does Danny have an affinity towards him because he perhaps feels sorry for him, his situation?  The usual angst-y stuff.

Danny wonders why he would come forward if he weren’t genuine? Possible reasons: attention, make a name for himself, money, 15 minutes of fame.  He has had his abilities since he was little.  Father was sceptic, mother was indifferent.  Always seen as a freak, an outsider, never had friends or was accepted by anyone.  He wants to have/live a normal life. He kept his abilities to himself at college and thought it would be a clean start.  But told someone he liked, a girl, possibly Valentina, now missing and thought he could trust her.  He was a loner his early life and didn’t have a proper childhood, he’s not about to let people attach a label to him now.  He doesn’t see his ability as a gift from God.  Just as the literal meaning of Troy is ‘child of the gods’ but his name means ‘gifted’ or ‘spirited’.


There are all sorts of events that can’t be explained, some are termed miracles, others paranormal.  Work of psychics is documented – who’s to say there are people out there who don’t have real abilities; even FBI uses them, other law enforcement agencies, on occasions. The difference is they’ve proven themselves.
Danny: “Whether I believe him or not, it boils down to doing this job – as always.”
Jack: “I’m open to anything – once – as long as it gets results.”  He should stick with it.

Do you have to open yourself up to certain beliefs and possible strange occurrences?  Strange things happen short of miracles in which case, why close yourself off to a belief or feeling because it can’t be explained.  There are mystical elements in all religions and these could be explained as mystical anyway, even voodoo and cults are a form of religion, don’t even have to be about religion or faith?

Danny can’t decide if he believes him or not even after he tells him things about himself: Danny’s loyal to Jack, he thinks he’s a good leader.
Maybe Danny opens up to believing when he tells him about some event in his life, e.g., special nickname his mother called him; his real name?  How he handled sadness and loneliness, eg, episode 4 Season 1; when he’d name the stars after someone he missed.  Who were Daniela, Erica and Andrea?   Troy would have liked to have him as an older brother.

Danny, Jack and Viv argue over whether to take Troy to the crime scene and eventually take Troy to the crime scene where he tells them about a dark vehicle, possibly a Camry or Camry leaving the scene.  The number plates were dirty.  He senses lights, fear and foreboding.  Lies are running away with us like a crazed kidnapper.
Warns Danny of what’ll happen to him, he sees brightly coloured lights illuminating the night sky and loud noises.  Danny follows up on some leads on the car and one a black Camry is registered to one of the students, Sean but he’s missing too.  Whilst there, Danny is shot at during a Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown., but the bullet misses.  Hence the bright lights, i.e. fireworks and firecrackers near an empty building.  The noise of the bullets wasn’t heard; could have been mistaken for firecrackers but analysis of the scene shows a window where the bullet went through.  The bullet turns out to be a blank.  Here they find Valentina  but Martin and Sean remain missing.

Danny confronts him again saying he was right about the lights in the night sky and the shot but that the bullet was a blank.  He should stop playing games with them.  Danny tells about his brother and how they didn’t get on, that he was a lot like their father.  Troy says he’s lucky he wasn’t an only child; he was loved even if not in a perfect family.   Though there were extremes of emotions unless been through it yourself it’s hard to understand the sense of not belonging.

He tells Danny, “Great souls gain strength of character and comfort from literature.” His favourite is A Tale of  Two Cities by Charles Dickens.  As well as quoting from this.  Such as “I am like one who dies young.  All my life might have been.”  Troy thinks he should’ve been better than he is, just like Danny.

Someone from the book Troy looks up to and aspires to is Sydney Carton.  He was resigned to this fate only after he had given up on himself, his life, the world and the love of his life, Lucie.  This wasn’t a romantic hero or death.

Could Danny relate to Sydney too: drinking to forget – just to get by.  Did everyone just pass him and Troy by; aren’t we all looking for that special someone, still.  He can’t live through the eyes of a character in a book.  The book was essentially about the choices we have, of changing society or changing ourselves.  How do you accomplish this since we only have the power to change ourselves for the better or the worse.  It was about prison doors opening and then closing shut.  That’s how the novel begins and concludes.  Maybe that’s how Troy saw his own future life mapped out in this way too.  If he did, why let it happen in this way?

He has a vision and sees Danny being attacked from behind with a knife and sees Danny falling to the ground.  This makes him change his mind again and …in exchange for a promise: - if things go wrong, he won’t be blamed or held criminally responsible.  Danny asks what he means?  He replies,” If I told you the truth, I’d have to lie to you…”
Danny surmises he’s been lying all along, making this up.  Kidnapping not only is a Federal offence but kidnapping an FBI agent is more serious, does he have something to get off his chest or his conscience?  Now would be a good time to confess.  The fact they were willing to go through something like this shows how dangerous they really are and he doesn’t have an excuse: their compulsion to kidnap Martin, running him off the road where the consequences could’ve been deadlier shows they were willing to resort to anything, even murder.

Sydney Carton is fiction not reality.  He was flawed but redeemed himself and paid the ultimate sacrifice in an imperfect world.  This however is real life not a novel.  Troy is fundamentally flawed because he can’t make friends.  No one showed him what to do with his gift, or how to harness it.  Being psychic does not mean having to make mistakes, to commit crimes for recognition.

Sydney died not to save his rival but for the woman he would never have; where’s the heroism in that?  Sydney did not even work for himself, he was gifted but squandered his gift working for someone else, even pimping himself in a way just as Troy’s done for them. Still Sydney’s remains a hero in the literary sense – only if you analyze the novel you find he’s not.

“I would embrace any sacrifice for you…” Was planning this crime worthy of such a quote?  Was Sydney Carton commendable or not?  He didn’t use people – but he wasn’t a hero either – not in the sense of a true hero.  Sydney sacrifices himself after he has given up on the world, not a hero’s death but one of a coward.  Troy has a hero complex.

Before Troy tells the truth, he wants something from Danny: firstly for him to tell him something he’s never told anyone.  Why? And does Danny take the bait?  Time appears to be running out; he then changes his mind and tells Danny where to find Sean.  Does Danny promise?  Not within his power.  The big question: why would he ask this and why now?  And when the two have been found?   Afraid for himself, that they’d gang up on him and save themselves, confessing all.  The bigger question: did he foresee this happening and so wants to come clean now?  He wants to tell him everything now because of what he saw happening to Danny.
Perhaps an extra scene here where Jack finds out about or interviews a policeman who almost suffered the same fate almost as identical as Martin.  A sort of dry run showing that this was tried before.  Sean and Valentina just wanted to kidnap anyone, didn't have to be an agent, hence showing this was premeditated and not spur of the moment.  They’re oblivious to who Martin is and he was just an easy target.

Troy tells Danny where he’ll find Sean and Martin.
He had doubts about coming forward but they’re fellow students, he knows them, even if no one likes him, including the ones behind it. He directs Danny to the college boathouse and tells him to “take a dive to rescue yourself and remember to look down.”

At the college boathouse, Danny searches along with Sam and Jack just as the clock rings out.  He hears a noise and chases a dark figure, as in Troy’s vision, but just as he sneaks up behind him, Danny loses his footing on a step he doesn’t see, stumbles, forcing the student to miss him with the knife.  Thus his warning of falling, the dive; and looking down.  Martin is found here bound and gagged suffering from head trauma.  Any reaction from Sam?

It was a game but no one was meant to get hurt, hence the blank being fired, but they took it too far and especially when he attacked Danny with the knife, that changed everything.  Troy likes Danny and liked talking with him so couldn’t let this go on.  He tells him he saw him on TV in the news when that blind girl went missing  (season 3 episode 1 In the Dark) and knew he could reach out to him, that’s why he specifically came to see him now.

Danny tells Troy about how he went off the rails; had a fatalistic attitude to life – didn’t care what he did, who he hurt, was self-destructive, perhaps wanting to get caught deep down.  In the end Danny didn’t hurt anyone, thankfully, only himself and that’s no way for anyone to live: only have one life.  He’s just ruined his.

All a set up from the outset: phone records show there was extensive communication between the two phones, one belonging to the girl and another one found in the abandoned car.  One number belonging to  Valentina and one to Sean’s phone and text messages too. Giving details of what to do on Valentina’s PDA: “Meeting at shop.  Plan’s a go.”
“Go tonight.”

Was Troy a part of it or did they use him?  They did it for fame, bored rich kids with time on their hands and used it for menacing purposes.  But once the press gets hold of this story, he’ll be famous in more ways than one.  Perhaps he had an ulterior motive in all this anyway.  Then he’ll have to deal with the fall out/invasion of his privacy – the calls of help from everyone around him, including the crank calls, nuts; so it’s a vicious circle – what he wanted to escape, what he needed: the chance of normality, now won’t leave him and will always follow him.

They chose the wrong agent to kidnap or was it because they knew he was Deputy Director Fitzgerald’s son and this would give them the publicity they desired so badly.  They made silly mistakes in their eagerness to commit a so-called perfect crime.  Didn’t think about getting caught, or even about forensics, technology, or that Troy could turn them in, but he didn’t save himself.  Couldn’t have been more wrong in their choice because Fitzgerald will make sure they get the full might of the law and he’s a stickler for procedure and the law.

Troy fell into the wrong crowd just to belong and they only feigned liking him.  Troy calls it a start to getting out of the mire of loneliness, maybe it’s his own fault but no one can tell him how to live his own life.  Danny tells him that’s exactly what Valentina and Sean did.

Jack doesn’t agree to immunity for the simple reason, he doesn’t believe he was complacent in his part.
Danny wants them to go easy on him, he’s confused, he regresses into books because he can’t cope with real life, he saved Danny’s life in the end, but only after he put everyone in jeopardy to begin with.  Troy transfers his hero worship from Sydney to Danny, now, he’s not a work of fiction.

At the end, he tells  Danny he knows the real reason why he became an FBI agent.  (Expand on his character, more insights into his personal life here…) As he’s taken away he whispers to Danny that his grandmother taught him well.  What happened to his grandmother anyway?

So the final question would be, whom does Danny turn to in times of need, to talk to?  His friends, his priest?  What about Father Orlando from St Benedict’s (re season 2 episode 2 Revelations. ) If so have him in church in a scene?


Song:  Hands. By Jewel.  From the album Spirit.  Especially the lines:If I could tell the world just one thing it would be, ‘we’re all okay’
Not to worry cos worry is wasteful and useless at times like these
I won’t be made useless, I won’t be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
for light does the darkness most fear

Heartache came to visit me but I knew it wasn’t ever after…for someone must stand up for what’s right
Where there’s the man who has no voice...
My hands are small I know…I am never broken
In the end, only kindness matters… I will get down on my knees and I will pray….


The story line explained: that's if you want to know...
Troy is a contradiction, hopefully leaving the viewers wondering if he was involved or an unwitting accomplice (like so many of the missing’s relatives etc in an episode of the show.)

With some funny asides, like Viv reading Danny’s horoscope.  (This I actually took from a real horoscope reading for Enrique’s star sign Cancer for 10th October 2005.  Strangely enough it turned out to be perfect for this storyline!)  Sam’s comment about the fortuneteller, I hadn’t actually seen season 3 episode 19 about the missing fortuneteller.  That won’t be screened here until before Christmas 2005, at least.  So that was a bit of a premonition on my part!  Spooky

Troy turning up at the FBI as Martin is taken hostage looks like an elaborate set-up by Troy and the kidnappers to lure the FBI in.  At once, Troy assuages himself with Danny claiming they’re just like each other.  Perhaps Troy seems too undulate, especially the part about wanting an older brother.
The mental chess game seemingly played out between Danny and Troy, with each trying to guess their motives and Danny being clever enough to know beguiling Troy is playing games with them/him.

The part where he plans to confess all to Danny hopefully shows a duality to his character: wanting to control the situation and at the same time wanting to let it develop.

Having the kidnappers as bored rich kids is a good sop to the show, as Jack and Danny would be annoyed at them wasting their time/resources not to mention putting an agent in danger.

Valentina and Sean telling Troy they’d used him (or allowing himself to be used) is a way to puncture what there was of Troy’s ego as he enjoys leading the investigation with Danny.

As for A Tale of Two Cities that’s one of my fave books and movies and so with Troy being British it was a nice addition to his  flawed character, in my opinion.


Written October 2005