Season: 2
Episode: 11
Date I watched this episode: 24/03/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 10 days.
This episode focussed quite heavily on the character of Claire Maddox. This was a mistake from an overall production perspective, as Claire just can't carry an episode. Marcia Gay Harden only has one face in this series and one way of acting, and it just looks wrong in certain situations. In particular, it wasn't convincing that such a capable lawyer couldn't just act normal in front of Walter and Mitch; and it is incredible that the latter didn't pick up on this.
Kendrick on the other hand was amazing in this episode. It's pretty clear that he really is willing to lose everything over the company, and this is the fundamental problem that means Maddox is doomed from the word go. Definitely my favourite quote of the episode:
The other episode storyline was with Phil and the affair, which has been noted in a previous episode, although not much was made of it back then. I still don't quite know why Ellen sent those photos to Patty, and perhaps she doesn't either. But it was genius to turn this entire story into character development, because Patty is more annoyed that Phil "got sloppy" - something she is petrified of doing herself. I wonder what she will think when she realises she has got sloppy with Ellen, not realising Ellen has been working against her...
I still don't know what the point of the story with Michael's girlfriend is. It's not even a red herring for the main plot (like Lila DeMayo last season) but just seems to be a bit of a side-story to fill up some time.
At the end of this episode, Patty says that things are going to get "ugly". Well I would hope so - we have two episodes left and the build-up to the climax has not yet begun. Even the "I Lied, Too" scene is only gradually building up, we get a few seconds extra each time, which is not particularly satisfying and doesn't progress anything.
There are a couple of hints though here leading to some theories I have about the storyline. First of all, I think Patty has ulterior motives for shutting down the Frobisher investigation. She knows that Ellen will hire her own private investigator, and she somehow thinks she can get information that way...maybe the investigator is in her pocket. Secondly, I wonder as to how much involvement Danny and Walter still have. Claire believes that Patty can trust Danny now, but the true story of what happened with Christine has still not been revealed, and until it is, there is no way I can trust him.
As is tradition, the title of this episode was guessed wrongly yet again; it was spoken by Patty to Ellen. It was about Phil though so it's not all bad. Next is "Look what he dug up this time", which could well be Ellen talking to Katie about the private investigator.
I am starting to sound like a broken record about these episodes, but get a move on already!! It is not long now until this season will all be over, and the precious little screentime they have could be better spent than on a fairly boring character trying to take down Walter Kendrick.
No comments:
Post a Comment