No Clemency for Old Men
I actually liked the latest episode. Although I liked the others this season, they were, admittedly, slightly depressing, so I enjoyed this less dark version. Ironically, the return of Brandi helped reduce the tone.
First off, yay to the return of Peter! However, can he afford such kindness to the Shannon sisters? Car sales can’t provide that much cash influx nowadays. Regarding Brandi’s situation, I’d like to feel sorry for her. Although she’s probably with her dad, can’t tell her sister, and is entitled to her privacy, on the other hand, her relationship with a drug dealer almost catalyzed her sister’s death and assault. So, considering she borrowed 20k from her boyfriend, dropped out of college, disappeared for a couple months, and doesn’t return anyone’s call for a week, of course, her law enforcement sister would want to track her down to make certain she’s OK. Side note: I think keeping her to cameos definitely works.
Second, I liked seeing the separate cases again. Regarding Mary’s witness of the week, I totally agree with him. I do think our society has slipped into savagery. Although we have become more open regarding social rules and technological capabilities, somehow we also lost a sense of responsibility along the way. On Marshall’s witness, I think it’s the first time we see a witness choosing Marshall over Mary. Although I don’t think she was an “emotional terrorist,” I wouldn’t mind having Marshall as my Marshal. I love watching Weller act and I enjoyed his expanded role this ep. His facial and physical emotions are amazing. Just looking at his eyes while he tries to find a new position for the witness, his body position as he held her (can I say yum), and the flexing of his neck muscles when she finally decides to leave, just made me want a Marshall of my own. Both he and Mary clearly care about their witnesses and will do whatever it takes to protect/assist them.
Finally, random thoughts: I loved the teamwork when it came to the bank robber takedown, the post-takedown nod between Marshal and Mary as Mary walked out, the quick bar brawl, the nice sky shot, more insight into Marshal’s management of Mary, and the slight return of thoughtless Mary. Regarding the forgotten birthday cookies, would they have kept after 3 weeks in Mary’s trunk, particularly considering the weather?
Quotes of the Week:
Clacked by Guest Clacker
on May 11, 2010 @ 17:00 EST5EDT
I’m missing the dramedy quite a bit. Although the show is definitely artsier than it was before; I especially noted that bare feet shot you mentioned.
My impression was that Mary reminded Dom of the abusive uncle/mob boss that had basically raised him. With that influence gone, Dom looked to Mary both for guidance and approval, and the more she withheld it, the more he craved it.
I thought they fired all those other actors to be able to afford Allison Janney. When she’s busy, they’ll of course need a carbon-copy stand-in to fill her role.
I was really emotionally invested in the Fred Ward episode, though, from start to finish. It’s rare that I find one witness that likable, let alone both. I wouldn’t really call that show less dark, though. Marshal, Stan, and the witness herself all knew that she was as good as dead once she left Witsec.
Peter was portrayed as a big mover-and-shaker in New Mexico circles; I believe he owned multiple car dealerships, and wouldn’t be surprised if he had other investments or family money in addition. His point to Brandi was that with car sales down, he didn’t have as much liquidity in his business, and most of his wealth was tied up, so that giving her the $20,000 actually took a little work. I don’t think the money itself was that much of a problem for him.
Besides, he knows Mary would never accept him giving (or practically giving) her the car, and that she will be responsible in making the payments on it.
I agree that Weller’s acting, especially the non-verbal components, was particularly strong this week.
I was wondering why Mary was on the bank takedown detail, as the robbers had seen her at the prison. I was gratified that she was just there to identify them, and quickly left with her cover intact.
Note that when the wrapping paper was removed, the cookie box didn’t even have a cover on it. Since the witness couldn’t bring herself to taste her mother’s cookies, I think their freshness, or lack thereof, would be more a testament to Mary’s hunger and lack of gentility than anything else.
Gotta love Peter dissing the Probe. The classic Mustang is nice, but I’m going to miss that ugly purple clunker.
Regarding my budget comment, that actually applied to the WitSec AlbQ staff. Allegedly, WitSec brought in the AJ-character to oversee the budget. But, then WitSec brought in another person to oversee AlBQ in AJ’s place. #1, if WitSec wants to reduce the AlBQ budget, why increase it with the new mgmt staff? #2, isn’t AlBQ’s lead staff comprised of a two-man team of sr agents (even if it absorbed jr agents from another location)? Does AlBQ, the smallest, most out of the way WitSec locale really require 3 people to oversee 2 people?
And, yes, Mary leaving with her cover intact, was nice.
I didn’t notice the missing cookie top, good catch, but didn’t Mary describe how good the cookies of the baker mom were? Ah well, I only watch it, I don’t scribe it –
Even so, when I think of how Peter gave Mary’s boyfriend a job, then bought a car from Mary’ boyfriend, then gives his girlfriend cash and also gives his girlfriend’s sister a discounted classic car, he seems like the best boyfriend ever -
I don’t recall the specifics of the conversation, but my impression was that Pearson was too important to be assigned solely to Albuquerque, and that that office was merely one of many under her new authority. She wouldn’t fall under the ABQ budget, although the new auditor would. I also would expect that there are multiple senior agents that came along with Stan’s new gopher from Phoenix, but we will never, ever see them.
Yes, Mary gushed over the cookies, but I figured she was jonesing on the chocolate and sugar, and, quite frankly, suspected she didn’t have quite the most refined palate in the first place. I was gagging a bit over imagining how those cookies must really taste.
Didn’t Peter also give Brandi that convertible? I don’t remember whether or not she accepted it, but he at least tried. So, yes, bestest boyfriend ever, but what else can one expect from Joshua Malina? And as much as Mary liked the Mustang, I still wondered if she truly realized just how valuable it was, and how great a gift it was from Peter?
This is my first and most favorite episode “Fish or cut betta”. Dom was definitely a volatile and unstable character. However, Mary SERIOUSLY chose the wrong approach when she broke the bad news to him (his date rejected him). She was quite abrasive. You don’t do that to a man prone to blowing up his enemies.
Ok, he probably would’ve had she been gentle. But c’mon, her actual approach didn’t help anything.