When you think California, the first thing that comes to mind is generally not underground militias. Hell, probably not even the last thing. Wine, Kobe, smog, Hollywood, IOUs … but not militias. Oh how wrong we were.
On last night’s episode of Dark Blue, Dean went undercover with a … in a … at a … well, I’m not sure where Dean was under in the beginning, but there were Sheriffs outside the house and someone mentioned some extremists in the next scene.
Be that as it may, the episode’s story really started with Carter playing a con being transported by an undercover Ty, who was playing a prison guard. Just like I was looking for a few weeks ago — Carter going under somewhere other than at the top of a food chain.
Blake Shields did an awesome job as Neal Erikson. We know Shields from Showtime’s Sleeper Cell, where he played an extremely different character, quiet Tommy Emerson, who granted was a member of an extremist cell looking to reign terror on US soil.
I loved seeing Patrick Fischler, here as tummy aching Ray Blake, a con accidentally in the same transport as Carter and Neal. Fischler played Phil on Lost, that crazy annoying member of the Dharma Initiative who ultimately screwed things up for Jin, Sawyer, and the rest. He was much the same here, but it came across a lot different in the setting. I found it smooth (and creative) the way that Carter got rid of Ray by having him re-arrested while trying to sell the guns.
Eric Ladin (store owner and Kyle Erikson contact Glenn Fischer) is an up-and-coming actor who can play harmless as well as he does super creepy — he was Dr. Roquet Walker, JJ’s son, on Big Love, and on Dark Blue he came across totally different. Nice transformation; he’s someone to watch.
I realize I’m light on the characters we know so far, but the truth is that I’m praising the job Dark Blue did last night of evolving some good one-and-done characters. It’s a cycle — the better job the show does with these guests, the higher the caliber actor they land, the better job the guests do, the better the actors, etc. All of which spells good things for the show’s future.
Anyway, Ty’s personal story’s confusing me. Last week he was hooked on gambling, this week he has a woman on the side. Jaimie was right to call him out, but considering his experience versus her relative rookie-ness, he would have punched her if she was a man. I don’t care what he does (with his personal life) … I just want it to make sense.
I loved the gas station scene where the cops stopped Carter. I’m not happy with the role the FBI and Rice are playing this season, so it was nice to see a scene that spelled out everything we know to be true about our ragtag undercover unit — they’re so rogue that their fellow cops don’t even know they exist. Not that the two patrol officers would know all undercover cops, but that was the feel in that scene: our boys (and girl) are still dark.
Nice move by Kyle (John Pyper-Ferguson) shooting his brother at the end. I don’t know why it stopped Carter from hitting him squarely, but okay. Kyle’s cold.
I’m still enjoying the “lighter” side of Dark, but I’m concerned that the flavor of the show, of the LAPD, will get lost if there’s too much FBI influence. I’m still waiting for Rice’s temporary stay to be over.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 26, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
I SO agree with the wonderful guest actors! I Loved the first scene with Dean in close, loud quarters with the freak.
Ray, the interrupter, was funny and enjoyable. I love how the team ‘rearranges, takes out, takes on’ people and situations to get results.
Yes, Jamie instructing Ty???please! However the scene at the courthouse was great!
The scenes between Cater and Rice are too cute for me..the ‘reports’?? oh well.
I loved the gas station scene as well. And then got annoyed when Rice even questioned it. I knew that Kyle had to shoot Neal to be in ‘character’ and was relieved when they stayed true to the evil brother’s nature.
I loved Dean’s face when he was struggling to watch Carter and Rice ‘play’ reunited lovers (escaped convict and girlfriend) in front of the other two convicts. I find that I am watching the show for (1) Dean and (2)Carter with his team.
I liked the episode..let’s see how the numbers come up. I so enjoy your comments.
*POST AUTHOR*
Agreed on Dean’s face — he looked like he was going to vomit watching Rice and Carter. ;)