I had forgotten about this episode's link to ZFT. I thought I didn't remember much about this episode because it was a rather underwhelming standalone episode. This re-watch didn't do much to redeem it. I wouldn't go so far as to call it boring, but it just didn't hold my attention very well.
Specific episode notes, starting with some positive ones, so it's not all doom and gloom:
I appreciate Astrid getting the breakthrough moment in the case.
The divorce lawyer conversation between Olivia and Broyles continues last week's thread of mentioning them paying attention to each other offscreen. It makes the characters feel lived in rather than just people who exist for the one hour we watch them per week.
I'm going to ignore the awkward nature of personal calls at work and just appreciate this Dunham sisters quote: "This is just one of those things where you're gonna look back and say, 'I beat that too.'"
I'd forgotten how much of a polyglot Olivia is. Anna Torv's Chinese was not amazing but understandable, which deserves props.
The opening to this episode was a whole lot of awkward between the skeevy victim and the visitors to the Dunham household. I could almost believe that the Singles Together thing is real because why else would anyone write something so awkward and weird unless they were paid to have it as an in-episode ad.
The science in this episode was unconvincing in every way, shape, and form. They heavily emphasized spinal fluid, but the full name is cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid in the central nervous system doesn't have separate reservoirs for the brain and spinal cord, so there's no scenario in which Dr. Boone becomes paralyzed (also just his legs? somehow the spinal fluid decided to stick around for his arms?) but retains full cognitive function. Also the bacteria-based pseudo-vampirism thing was just no.
