kristen999 | H50 3.08

H50 3.08

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!

Threaded | Flat

Y'know, this was originally 3.09, wasn't it? If that's the case...maybe something happened in the ep that was filmed before it that would explain jumping so quickly?

Though I think if you push the right buttons on Steve, he can jump pretty quickly. (Now my mind's gone off to a McDanno place...*g*). And everyone was a) overruling him and b) not believing his gut, which are things he doesn't deal well with. He also really doesn't deal well with people getting away with crimes. So she was pushing all his buttons at once...and we've seen how well that goes. At least time it didn't end with the governor dead and Steve in jail?

I did like Danny trying to manage him, though...

Cath is awesome. :)

I agree with everything! (as usual)

Which was the subplot and which was the main though? I assume the Cath part was the sub?

Well, I really enjoyed it :)

Yes, there were flaws, but I seem to be getting back to my S1 state of mind where I can just ignore those and enjoy the characters and the pretty. I'm just glad that I didn't read any episode reactions before I watched it, so I didn't go into it looking for flaws.

There were flaws I agree, but I was just so sucked into the dynamic and chemistry that the speed in which is happened seemed part of the sizzling chemistry. I really enjoyed this episode for a number of reasons.

Doris is brutal and ruthless and it makes perfect sense in H50's history of parallels to make her and Wo Fat so similar.

I was all a squee! :)

Yeah, the a plot didn't get enough space. I had that feeling at the end of the plot rather than at the beginning, but I agree with you.

I loved Doris, and I love the ambiguity of Cath not telling him, but I do hope they'll follow up on that.

Cath was awesome and I rather like Tony-from-24. They worked quite well together. I kinda think she should keep him as a partner.

I'm not too sure about her new little alliance with Doris. Although, I like Doris the conundrum.

I agree about the Steve stuff. It was like he flew off the handle for almost no reason at first. Either we missed something or maybe he should have been called Blood Hound instead of Smooth Dog. ;)

Danny was priceless watching him though.

I don't think Catherine is going to tell Steve, which I really hate because, like you said, another betrayal. I think Steve and Catherine are headed for a break-up somewhere down the road, and I have a feeling this is going to be the cause. Not looking forward to this...

I'm guessing they cut some of the flat tire scene, because weren't there some promo pics with Steve and Danny arguing while Steve fixed the flat?

okay, I've read your comment, but I haven't read the other comments in the post. I'm kind of guessing people's mileage with this one might vary. But there was a lot in it. Technically, there was some pacing weirdness and 0_o moments.

But characterwise there was some meaty bones coming to the surface of the soup of people's emotions. Ah, Steve your issues have issues. But at least you've Danny to help -- Danny who def. has had some experience with therapists, his dialogue ('control the narrative')-his insights?

Doris -- Wow, she (a female actor) was torturing a man, after evidently beating him in a fight, either at the house, or in the torture den (was it his or hers?). Catherine and Doris having one-on-one discussion. Catherine making a poor decision, when normally she is so sensible, despite being far too amenable to Stevie’s batting of the eyelashes, even as she calls him on it.

Doris is manipulative, with a capital M.

Which takes us to Olivia – now that was manipulative, and calculating. From the outset, she set hackles rising. Thinking back, Steve jumped to massive conclusions, which were right, but was interesting that he was right when Olivia was so manipulative (cos I was thinking red herring). I think that I would have liked Kono to have been on Steve’s side, because she had seen Olivia being so calm and snide, and avoiding Steve’s questions, with her own at the start.

I actually found it hard to stay in the story because I had to analyse what was happening.

Tldr!

I don't think Steve jumps to conclusions too fast - my feeling while watching was that he just had this hunch, this absolute certitude that she was guilty - like he said, it's a gut thing, you can't explain it. And then, she began to play him, and his friends didn't follow him, and only then, he began to get a bit mad and obsessed! (which I totally understand, being a little stubborn myself...) Otherwise, I totally agree with everything you said in your review. Catherine is fabulous. I liked the witsec guy. And Doris is scary (poor Steve - I hope he never has to see what she's able to do). And I, too, hope that Cath tells him at least part of what happened. Or, how is she going to be able to look at him eye to eye? Thanks for the review and the occasion to share the love!

I did really enjoy this ep, but you're right, they didn't weave the two plots together very well. There were some very awkward transitions. But I loved seeing someone get the better of Steve, even briefly, and loved Danny's reaction to the situation. I also loved watch Cath being all badassed and tough, and I totally dig Doris and all her ambiguity. But I was surprised at the end when Cath agreed not to tell Steve what happened. Should be interesting, in terms of their relationship, should Steve find out about it. Which I am assuming will happen at some point. I agree that it will make for good drama.

I, unfortunately, feel like this is the beginning of the end of Catherine. I've enjoyed her presence on the show and her interactions with Steve because she holds her own with him. She's not a simpering lovesick stereotype in the least. But, not only is betraying Steve, but she's putting herself in a very dangerous situation.

And who was that guy that was running around with her? Have we seen him before? Because he was pretty cute! I wouldn't mind seeing more of that guy. : )

As for Doris, I wish that Steve's mom had been just a sweet lady whom Joe had pulled off to Japan against her will, kicking and screaming the whole way. Not some crazy woman who tortures people. I'm not digging her at all.

See, I *got* Steve's reaction. Something rubbed him the wrong way and he knows how to judge character. He was Naval intelligence too. He can spot a lie and he HATES being played... And Cath knows that. Will she tell him? No, because she gets why Doris asked her not to say anything. Will she lie to him? No. IF Steve asks, she'll tell him what she knows.

I also loved the fact that Cath was equally on the fence about putting a label on what Steve is to her... Peas in a pod, those two...

I felt Steve was out of character in this ep. Still a good ep.

I really liked this one. I liked seeing Steve with his knickers in a knot and Danny trying to smooth him out.

I LOVED Doris' true nature showing through. That was a real shock, and shouldn't have been. See my reply to T_Verano on my musings about Doris and Wo Fat.I really like that idea now I've thought of it.

Cath, liking her more than I thought I would, what ever she's supposed to be. Love that she can break into rooms and safes and escape out of balconies. Lying to Steve, - not keen on that.

Steve... awwww, he's so pretty, and hurt underneath and that sneaky woman could see and poke where he hurt. No wonder he got wound up about her.

Loved that she was a madam rather than a therapist. Thought that was a glorious twist. Cause she pulled off the therapist so well. She was a great character. Nasty way for that poor bloke to die though. Shot, doused in petrol, on fire and then hit by a car. Bloody hell, that's horrible.

teal dear
I liked it.

Threaded | Flat

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject