H50 3.08

[kristen999]

Thoughts under the cut.







The episode was kind of like they stuck two different ideas together into one script.

Steve's sudden jumping to conclusions with the shrink seemed out of character, but I blame it on pacing or the lack of good pacing at the start.

Don't get me wrong, once Olivia started screwing around with him and getting under his skin, then I enjoyed the cat and mouse. It was cool to have a smart female villain, but there was no real build to justify such heavy suspicion, unless it was her profiling him that really riled him up? Steve really is not normally this so hot-headed unless children or fathers are involved. *scratches head*


Again, if there had been enough of a lead-up than it would have been easier to understand the fact that he hates being played. I get that. It's so Steve. And wow, did she really get him good at the restaurant. The flat tire?

EDIT: I have come around to the idea that this was really about Steve trusting his gut when everyone else didn't. I can see that raising his hackles and making him more determined.

EDIT2: On the re-watch, I found Steve's behavior more reasonable and found it much more in character.

Catherine.

I liked her a lot. She really got to show a ton of skills and I don't want to hear things like 'how does she know how to kick ass?' She was in naval intelligence, we don't know what she did, and we've gotten enough hints that she's done this thing before.

I really, really hope she doesn’t lie to Steve. I hope we learned she told him off-screen and considering that Steve always ready knows Doris is lying about stuff, but please, don't go there. Don't let this be another betrayal. Since we don't know...I'm going to assume she DID tell him, just like I think anyone on his team would tell him and nod to Doris to her face.

EDITED to add: If she did lie to him, as much as it'll hurt Steve, it will be add a lot of layers. I mean what can I say. I hate seeing him hurt but at the same time, Steve angst is a thing of beauty. Conflict is good drama and the idea of Steve and Catherine trying to work through something like this, even if it results with them on the rocks guarantees great acting from both Alex and Michelle. With MB a regular, it gives her
and Steve something meaty to play with and an arc. Calm. Conflict. Resolution.


Doris.

Um. Whoa.

Guess her and Wo Fat have something in common.

And how is Doris going to explain the broken lamp, the blood on the floor, and her bruise?

There was stuff I didn't like, but there was good stuff in between. And a lot left for future eppys!

Comments

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

LATE reply (jealous RL :-)) -- but yeah, I really like your theory -- there has to be some connection between Doris and Wo Fat, in which he didn't know he was Shelburne. If he is her son, I wonder whether he knows/ knew before this that Steve is his half-brother? (I know a lot of people would think of this as soap-opera plot and not be thrilled, but I have to say I'm fine with whatever as long as they handle it well -- Doris is one messed up lady (I love your description of her), and if she doesn't end up hurting Steve more along the way, whether through this or something else, it will be almost too FairyTale Happy Ending for me.)

It's kind of cool to see some seeds of Steve's character in Doris, except that he backs up his pushiness and confidence with integrity and courage and doing whatever he believes is right, and that's not really a path Doris maybe was ever on, or at least she hasn't been on it for a couple of decades.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

My Doris theory has always been she was Wo Fat's handler. When she faked her death she went back to her CIA buddies and became an agent in Asia. Wo Fat did not know she was Shelboune and the best way to 'protect' her family was to be as close to her enemy as possible. I never thought Doris was just 'hiding' she's too much of an hard ass and I can take care of myself to sit on the sidelines.

I bet they were a team for while. *shivers*

People forget. No only did she not shoot him, he did not shoot her.

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

There was definitely mutual not-shooting going on. :-)

So in your theory, Wo Fat is ex-CIA? Or Doris was a double agent with whoever/whatever in Asia, and Wo Fat was an agent there before he veered off into his personal path?

I may not be asking even remotely intelligent questions here -- Doris and her CIA self make my brain all slippery and I can't hold onto things in my head. *rolls eyes*

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

Wo Fat isn't ex-CIA, but remember he did work with them conducting arms deal where we couldn't legally. He's ex Chinese military with his own empire. We know Doris was/is an agent so when she faked her death she still worked for the CIA or at least acted as a spy for them.

That's my theory.

[t-verano.livejournal.com]

I don't even remember the arms deal thing (or maybe it was s1 and I didn't see it). Good to know more about Wo Fat's past, thanks!

If it turns out that Doris was his handler, however/whatever/whenever -- it wouldn't kill Steve as much as Wo Fat being his half brother, but it still is going to mess him up. Aiyyy.

I know there are fans who aren't interested in the Doris arc (or whatever you want to call it), but it's so critical for Steve. I'm...okay, I'm happy about it, when I thought at the end of last season I wouldn't be. Doris is an interesting character in her own right, and TPTB hasn't tried to make everything all "okay" now, now that Steve's (sorta, maybe, maybe not) got his mom back.