Here is what was going to be a quick base-touching to get some observations and extrapolations off my chest.
I may need to study up on what “quick” means.
Also, I love words.
This is longer than I wanted it to be, but today I don’t believe in editing.
1. The Rashomon Story
The first half of the episode was told as a Rashomon story.
Rashomon stories can be fun when they are done well. I would hesitate to categorize last night’s episode as “well done.”
- Clive Doyle’s point of view was mildly amusing, but it really got old quickly. (This is the guy who Nas interrogated, who told the story to make him sound like a bad-ass hero who impressed the hell out of Jane.)
- Lynn Burton’s point of view was bland.
- I suppose we are to assume that Jane’s point of view was the most accurate, yes?
The case story itself may have been the problem. I found it too chaotic when told from the different points of view, and – to be honest – I didn’t care that much about either Clive or Lynn.
As for the heist leader, Emilie? I guess he was supposed to be some kind of Keyser Soze type underworld boss. I do know what was wrong, but it was all...
2. The Characters (Recurring and Main Cast)
- Roman shows up at the end.
o He is still a scary, scary man. Maybe he loves his sister, but that doesn’t stop him from being scary as fuck.
- Matthew Weitz returns to cause problems for the team.
o I am getting really, really sick of outside folks coming in and seeing the team as 100% evil or wrong.
o What would be so terrible to have someone come in who is focused on following the letter of the law, yeah, but who isn’t on some kind of witch hunt.
o Which, by the way, Weitz now is, as of the end of the episode. He has his sights set on Nas and wants to bring her down. And she goaded him about it...because she couldn’t help herself? Because she didn’t see any other choice? I don’t know. I certainly wonder if it was the smartest move she could have made, insulting someone who is already beyond pissed about being manipulated.
o I don’t like Weitz’s character, but I can’t say that I blame him at all for being pissed.
o I don’t know if they brought Weitz in to facilitate the Rashomon story, or if they are trying to set things up for Weller wanting to be overprotective of Nas.
- Tasha and Reade have a beautiful friendship.
o I would be rather surprised if this is the last they hear about the whole murder plot, but I could be wrong. Maybe that story arc is done and they can move on to other things.
o Of course, that means that Reade doesn’t really have any reason to continue to explore what happened during the missing time in his life. That’s kind of a big plot point for his character. If the writers don’t address it now, they may have to in the future.
- Patterson, but no Borden (he was at the party, but did not have a speaking role this time).
o Patterson is a sweetheart.
o I don’t trust that Nas isn’t setting her up for something terrible by giving her access to “all” of Nas’ NSA secrets in her NSA secret lair.
o Or Patterson truly is the mole...but I cannot make it work in my head...not with David dying as he did.
- Nas has feelings, too, you know.
o I guess?
o Maybe?
o I think she was supposed to be playing the role of someone worried about a “loved one” in the field.
o Was she truly worried about Weller, or was she playing that she was worried about Weller because that is what he would expect?
o When she admits to him that she was worried and he pulls her in for a hug - are her feelings genuine, or is she playing him?
o The more I see these two “together,” the more I feel like Jeller is tainted beyond redemption. Why would Jane want him anymore?
o I’m not worried about Weller. Clearly he is willing to cling to anyone. Maybe he can’t open up 100%, but he’s going to invest himself in whatever relationship he finds himself in (until he’s ready for it to be over and then he’ll arrest the woman and ship her off to the CIA for them to torture, like you do).
o He’s investing effort in his relationship with Nas. He worries over her (because he is always worrying, he just needs a focus). He is going to watch her back because of Weitz. I don’t think he can help himself. He tries to save everyone, and Nas is now high on his list of to-be-protected.
- Weller
o The fucks I give about this character are rapidly dwindling.
o The Baby Shower
§ It is revealed early in the episode that the team will be celebrating with Weller and Allie as they reveal the sex of the baby.
§ Jane was not invited.
§ With the exception of Patterson, the rest of the team knew that Jane wasn’t invited.
§ That oversight – not inviting Jane to the party – makes no sense.
· As others have pointed out – she freakin’ saved Allie’s life. She saved the damn baby’s life.
§ That’s a serious point deduction for you, Weller. The fuck is wrong with you?
o The Lie
§ Rather than wasting the time to argue with Jane about who was going to go on the boat to try to save the scientist, Weller lies to her. Convinces her that there is a guard they need to take down before they can continue the discussion. He sneaks off to swim to the boat while she is working to sneak up on the (non-existent) guard.
§ A point in his favor, Jane would probably use the same tactic. I can’t say that she wouldn’t. So that lie wasn’t as terrible as other lies he could have told, I suppose.
· And now that he’s led by example, she can go haring off whenever she wants to in the name of keeping her team safe. After all, if big boss does it, it must be kosher, right?
§ Still, it was a lie. I think if Jane had made that decision, she would have regretted that she didn’t have time to find another way and apologized for taking the choice away from him. She knows how terrible it feels to have choice taken away.
§ I don’t remember Weller apologizing at all for the lie.
§ That probably indicates that Weller isn’t sorry at all for lying.
· If that is his choice, fine.
· But I would argue that not feeling any remorse for lying to Jane is a pretty clear indication that
o He doesn’t care about her feelings.
o He doesn’t feel the need to do any work to rebuild her trust in him and their relationship.
· Even if he would say that he does care about both, I would say that he can’t just say the words, he actually has to back it up with his choices.
§ Fuck you, Weller, you just betrayed Jane again. Perhaps it was a little betrayal, perhaps you had the best of intentions, but you are driving her away and you don’t give a flying fuck. You are going to get what you deserve buddy and I will not feel sorry for you at all.
o The Invitation
§ At the end of the day, Weller stops by Jane’s desk and tells her to come to the party.
§ She doesn’t want to. She doesn’t want to be an object of pity, invited because she found out that there was a party. She doesn’t want to be with people who don’t want her around. Being at work with that attitude is terrible enough. Why put up with it during her down time?
§ In my opinion, he guilts her into accepting the invitation.
§ His words are:
· “I never thought I’d say this again, but if something happened to you, I’d miss you. You’re my friend, Jane. So I want you at that party.”
§ Let’s consider the above and how it came out of his mouth.
· What I would be hearing is “I would be 100% okay with hating you forever. I never thought that would change. But I guess it has because I would notice if you weren’t around. I’m going to call you my friend, even though that’s clearly not even close to what we are. I can’t be bothered to invite you to a gathering where all my other work friends are going to be, but now that you’ve found out about it, I’m going to put on my big boy panties and make it right.
· How I would react would be “Ha ha ha, no. I have to watch paint dry tonight. I really am too busy for your brand of friendship.”
o Long story short – Weller is a toxic individual for Jane. The sooner she can remove herself from his influence, the better off she will be.
- Jane – Team Jane Forever
o What can I say?
o Jane is a bad ass in the field.
o She is protective of her team
§ Did you see her coming to Nas’ aid? No hesitation. No second thoughts. A team member was in trouble, and Jane was there to help.
· That’s the second time she has saved someone in the field who was involved with Kurt.
o Hey, Kurt, have you said thank you lately?
§ And wasn’t she the first one to leap on to the “Let’s go save Weller” wagon after Nas admitted to having a less than legal idea?
o Give her a shitty job – like distracting Weitz – and she will perform admirably.
§ Weitz, you never had a chance against a force of nature like Jane.
o She allows guilt to influence her choices.
§ I understand guilt, and I think I understand why.
§ I still don’t like it.
o Jane, when you are fed up with the crap you’re dealing with, come to my house for a vacation. The most difficult thing you will have to wrestle with is our little kitten who wants to play 75% of the time. I can guarantee you plenty of puns and other awful humor for you to groan at, and I will bake you cookies. Just think about it. I am really having a hard time with how much you are dealing with right now.
