“You’re probably way ahead of me on this, but I’m noticing some uncomfortable similarities between this and some of the other incidents we’ve been covering lately.”Yes, Peter. There are similarities: evil doctors, evil corporations, Walter’s obsession with childhood foods.
This week’s science story focused on exploding heads and illegal drug trials, with intimations of a larger conspiracy to build some sort of human army out of microwave women and last week’s electro-man.
It’s an odd way to build a mythology: the Big Secret seems to be that people in positions of power are evil and do evil things, often for money. But if Peter’s right, and all these stand-alones are also detailing a series of steps taken by the Big Bads in preparation for something... well, that’s an exciting idea.
In other news, it’s Olivia’s birthday and she’s working through some serious emotional baggage about her stepfather. Watching her confessional scene with Peter made me feel like a voyeur—too much personal information, too fast. Our relationship with this character hasn’t earned this level of honesty.
Our Theme of the Week was trust, especially misplaced trust in paternalistic authority figures: stepfathers, doctors, the medical community, even Olivia’s boss. But we also got some friendly avuncular types in Policeman Marty, Agent Francis, and Peter.
Holly’s Diner reminded me of something. Maybe from the X-Files? Or the diner shoot-out scene in L.A. Confidential? I’m not sure that’s right.
Walter had some great lines in this episode:
• Peter: “He means the guy’s head was boiled.”
Walter: “Like a Maine lobster.”
• “To understand what happened, we’ll use Mr. Papaya. This is upsetting, because he is the friendliest of fruits.”
• “I have some expendable gerbils in the back.”
That Can’t Be Scientific (as Abaddon would say):
• When I deal with headless radioactive corpses, I prefer far more protection.
• It doesn’t count as treating yourself if a doctor is doing it for you.
• Human/animal hybridization studies? I can’t wait for that episode.
• Walter and the Massive Dynamics lady used to date? I can wait for that episode.
And Olivia’s great-ish speech: “I understand that you think I acted too emotionally. Putting aside the fact that men always say that about the women they work with, I’ll get straight to the point. I am emotional. I do bring it to my work. It’s what motivates me. It helps me get into the heads of the victims, see what they’ve seen, even if I don’t want to. Even if it horrifies me. I think it makes me a better agent. If you have a problem with that, you can fire me. But I hope you don’t.”
Not quite a feminist St. Crispin’s Day speech, but it’s a decent statement of character—albeit one that hasn’t been entirely borne out by her actions thus far.
Two out of four Expendable Gerbils. Or maybe two out of four Friendly Fruits.
Josie Kafka is a full-time cat servant and part-time rogue demon hunter. (What's a rogue demon?)
Exploding heads and eyeballs. Gag. And suddenly Olivia is the feminist avenger. But at least we had Mister Papaya, the friendliest of fruits.
ReplyDeletePapaya-san, I...
ReplyDelete>>"Or the diner shoot-out scene in L.A. Confidential?"
Oh nice. Love that movie, but no it didn't really bring that up for me.
I know this isn't the case but I like the idea that Olivia suddenly overshared like that with Peter out of annoyance at being gently but constantly prompted to open up about her head state.