This week’s Rookie Blue was all about the expectation game; what we think is going on isn’t always the case. From Epstein and his girlfriend’s efforts to out-impress each other to the sad revelation into Shaw’s personal life, what we see isn’t always what we get. The sooner the ex-rookie’s learn that particular lesson, they better off they will all be.
To the delight of many fans, Epstein is still with bomb-squad girl. But he’s worried that the badass chick that he’s dating wouldn’t want to be with the type of guy that gets his squad car stolen – though, you’ve got to admit, that was an incredibly stupid move. But Dov has always tried to carry a level of swagger that he hadn’t really earned. Hopefully the pipe dream of being on the SWAT team goes the way of he and Sue’s suicide drills.
Andy and Swarek don’t know what to expect from each other, something that seemingly scares her much more so than it does him. Swarek can make all of his jokes about going to yoga, but his pointed comment about Andy being engaged just a short six months ago was telling. Without the context of her relationship history, I wouldn’t necessarily think she was pushing things too fast. But Swarek hasn’t forgotten Luke even if Andy wants to. I still have faith in their relationship lasting the forty years he jested about, but only if these two are able to find a way to communicate better.
Frank and Noel seem to be communicating quite well, don’t they. Thank you to Kate K in the comments of last week’s review, who clarified the “relationship status,” or lack thereof, between the two. Despite liking their dynamic – and I truly do — their eventual relationship just seems unfair to me considering all of the hell that Swarek and Andy caught (though that seems to be centered more on their bungling the undercover operation). I’m not necessarily against workplace romances – just see any post I wrote when I was covering Grey’s Anatomy – but I’m not necessarily a fan when one person directly manages another.
I might have spoken too soon regarding Peck and Nick Collins. The … erm … no-nonsense cop has been a favorite of mine since Rookie Blue’s first season. I particularly enjoyed the character development she experienced last season, between her relationships with both Epstein and Diaz. Plus, we got to meet dear old mom. I was originally worried that Nick might cause her to backslide a little, returning to her more closed off ways. But now we’re learning that when they knew each other previously, she was a lot more “fun.” At this point, a little dose of Nick might be exactly what Peck needs. A more fun, but still … erm … no-nonsense version of Peck might be good for 15 Division.
The last bit of misdirected expectation sadly came from the glimpse of Oliver Shaw’s home life. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think we’ve seen anything beyond his work before. He’s always been one to parse out the sage advice, evidenced by his conversation with Epstein tonight. To see that he’s separated from his wife, with only limited access to his children is another reminder that perception isn’t always reality.
Notes & Quotes
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Jun 01, 2012 @ 09:02 EST5EDT
