|
Post by Reetta on Feb 6, 2006 14:11:24 GMT -5
I finally read the review. I loved it all but I especially liked your take on punishment/reward/morality, your take on what people decide to keep in and what they decide to keep out of their lives, and your examples of being in control vs. the loss of control.
I love how the Weevil/PCHers conflict has been brewing under the surface the whole season.
Like all good VM mysteries.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on Feb 6, 2006 21:14:47 GMT -5
I finally read the review. I loved it all but I especially liked your take on punishment/reward/morality, your take on what people decide to keep in and what they decide to keep out of their lives, and your examples of being in control vs. the loss of control. I love how the Weevil/PCHers conflict has been brewing under the surface the whole season. Like all good VM mysteries. Thanks for the feedback, Reeta. Yep - I liked the way the PCHer mutiny was set up also. Poor Weevil, though. He is really alone now, except for Veronica (and Logan, kinda).
|
|
|
Post by raenstorm on Feb 6, 2006 21:45:45 GMT -5
Spring, great review. You caught so many things that it boggles my mind. It's amazing how much stuff is packed into these episodes. Also, I really like what you had to say about how the episode talks about a boy becomes a man and the responsibility that comes with that (or with what kind of man a boy becomes based on his choices). Oh. Oh. I really like that you took the reference to "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum" one step further than I did. It's one of my favorite plays and I can't believe I didn't make the connection between what the play is about and what this episode was about. Hmm, there was something else but I just looked over your review again and I still can't remember what it was... I'm sure it'll come to me eventually. In the meantime, great job! I can't always count on you to see things I remain oblivious to!
|
|
|
Post by Lola m on Feb 7, 2006 8:39:49 GMT -5
Yay! Another analysis that really helped me see themes and ideas I didn't!! Thank you Spring!
"What makes a man a man?" I honestly didn't notice how much this episode focused on the men of the show. And yet, with the main storyline of Wallace and Rashard and a substory of Logan and Weevil, well - it was a natural. All the way to the very end, where we see the arrest of Terence Cook (big money and sports, I shouldn't have been surprised that he was reintroduced in this particular ep - thanks for pointing that out by the way!), we're given examples of our guys making choices - right and wrong - and the consequences of those choices.
I really liked the line of Wallace's that you quoted: "There was right thing to do, and a wrong thing to do, and we picked wrong." I think it's important not just for the idea of choice between right and wrong, but also that word "we". Wallace wants to take his fair share of the blame - as long as it is a fair share.
Really liked how you used the line "who was driving" to illlustrate your theme. "Who was in control" was perfect way to express so much of what was going on in this episode. Frankly, I'd bet that "who's in control" is gonna be a key to the whole season.
How did I miss the mirrored images of hollowed out books being used to conceal? Man! Wonderful example of paired visuals - thank you for pointing them out to me!
I was so glad you brought up the fact that Rashard and Wallace had been friends - that Wallace does try to actually convince Rashard to do the "right thing" first, before they continue the scam to have the truth come out. Help those in need, but not contrary to your own values. Like Wallace; like Veronica in the confessional.
All the examples and lists you provided in this analysis were really helpful to me, Spring. I intend to have it handy the next time I re-watch this ep. Your speculations about this season's mysteries are also very intriguing. Plus - pretty Weevil eyes? Oh my oh my oh my, yes!!!
;D
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on Feb 7, 2006 9:00:57 GMT -5
Spring, great review. You caught so many things that it boggles my mind. It's amazing how much stuff is packed into these episodes. Also, I really like what you had to say about how the episode talks about a boy becomes a man and the responsibility that comes with that (or with what kind of man a boy becomes based on his choices). Oh. Oh. I really like that you took the reference to "A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum" one step further than I did. It's one of my favorite plays and I can't believe I didn't make the connection between what the play is about and what this episode was about. Hmm, there was something else but I just looked over your review again and I still can't remember what it was... I'm sure it'll come to me eventually. In the meantime, great job! I can't always count on you to see things I remain oblivious to! Thanks so much, Rae - for the feedback, and for the pimping I know you do in the LJs. It really is amazing what the writers manage to pull off week after week. I stand in awe of the folks who write/direct/produce quality shows like this one. They manage to weave the message in, in such subtle ways, that it all just smoothly fits together - each ep is its own little work of art . . . and they stand together beautifully as well.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on Feb 7, 2006 9:13:57 GMT -5
Yay! Another analysis that really helped me see themes and ideas I didn't!! Thank you Spring! "What makes a man a man?" I honestly didn't notice how much this episode focused on the men of the show. And yet, with the main storyline of Wallace and Rashard and a substory of Logan and Weevil, well - it was a natural. All the way to the very end, where we see the arrest of Terence Cook (big money and sports, I shouldn't have been surprised that he was reintroduced in this particular ep - thanks for pointing that out by the way!), we're given examples of our guys making choices - right and wrong - and the consequences of those choices. I really liked the line of Wallace's that you quoted: "There was right thing to do, and a wrong thing to do, and we picked wrong." I think it's important not just for the idea of choice between right and wrong, but also that word "we". Wallace wants to take his fair share of the blame - as long as it is a fair share. Really liked how you used the line "who was driving" to illlustrate your theme. "Who was in control" was perfect way to express so much of what was going on in this episode. Frankly, I'd bet that "who's in control" is gonna be a key to the whole season. How did I miss the mirrored images of hollowed out books being used to conceal? Man! Wonderful example of paired visuals - thank you for pointing them out to me! I was so glad you brought up the fact that Rashard and Wallace had been friends - that Wallace does try to actually convince Rashard to do the "right thing" first, before they continue the scam to have the truth come out. Help those in need, but not contrary to your own values. Like Wallace; like Veronica in the confessional. Thanks, Lola, as always, for the wonderful feedback. Yep - Veronica, in her approach to Logan & Weevil, is mirroring Wallace . . . she's saying, in effect, "yes, I care, and yes, I'm your friend, so yes, I'll help - but I won't cross the line into doing something I think is morally wrong." Hearing her own name "clinches it" for her, but I think witnessing Wallace's strong resolve is the important thing (in the background) which also helps Veronica make her own choice, here. Then it's all reinforced by the Bible message from Romans, about not overcoming evil with more evil. (Lots of references to "Romans" - a "toga" party mentioned in the newspaper under the Wallace article, the Forum Suites, the "Funny thing happened on the way to the Forum" . . . I imagine this is all about the slavery imagery, perhaps touching on the decadence/greed eventually leading to a fall thing, also). I'm glad you liked the speculations, but I feel a bit like the guy with the elephant, in the vid that Weevil found, as I look around and try to guess what's up. Weevil - the guy is really very pretty - I think the hair and tattoos and such are meant to keep him looking tough, and tone down the pretty. But sometimes, when the camera is really focusing on him, and especially when he's being kind of hurt and/or sheepish, it shows through anyhow. He especially has gorgeous eyes - color, shape, and lashes most girls would (and do) pay for.
|
|
|
Post by Sue on Feb 8, 2006 17:24:13 GMT -5
Right to the point, as usual.
So, it's about choices:
Spring--
More than once I have noted my admiration for your take on the free will vs "destiny" aspect of living. There are things which will happen to us which are outside of our control, what defines who we are and what we make of our lives are the choices we make in the face of those happenstances regarding the things we can control: our responses to "fate" as it were.
This episode was tailor-made for you! *****
And, it's even more about choices---not just what those choices are by the means you employ to go about making those choices; the yardstick that you use:
And I loved this too:
And this plays into the discussion that was on the main thread about Veronica not needing to be with Logan until he grows up. He is nowhere near the standard set in the paragraph above.
Wonderful summary.
Man, you really saw a LOT in this episode---and a lot that was of deep significance. I'm awed!
|
|
|
Post by Sue on Feb 8, 2006 17:28:55 GMT -5
Poor Weevil. They all betrayed him. That's just so . . . Sad! Interesting parallel in that Weevil's gang *family* betrayed him just as the Fitzpatrick family is betraying their brother, the priest. Great observation, Karen. It is an interesting parallel. *********** Question---do we (or does he) think that Weevil may have killed Curly during the beating?
|
|
|
Post by Karen on Feb 13, 2006 23:01:58 GMT -5
I loved your review, Spring, and like the episode, my head is spinning from all the stuff packed into it.
The most interesting questions to me are 'Do the ends ever justify the means? Can you overcome evil with more evil?'
And your answer - 'Yes, you should help those in need. But NO, you shouldn't act contrary to what your own values, to what your mind and heart are telling you.'
In a way, Wallace did try to "help those in need" - Rashad, by keeping silent about the hit and run. In the end, the only reason he came forward was because he was being blamed for the crime himself. Was it evil what he did - to run away from the problem in the first place? I'm sure he felt it was just an accident - no one was at fault, and keeping silent was ok - it wouldn't help anyone to come forward.
That's the only thing that bothers me about Wallace's initial part in the whole hit and run mess.
Thanks for all the food for thought. I have no guesses as to Weevil's beating of Curley, except to think that it must have been of a personal matter to have upset Weevil so much.
|
|
|
Post by SpringSummers on Feb 14, 2006 8:45:09 GMT -5
I loved your review, Spring, and like the episode, my head is spinning from all the stuff packed into it. The most interesting questions to me are 'Do the ends ever justify the means? Can you overcome evil with more evil?' And your answer - ' Yes, you should help those in need. But NO, you shouldn't act contrary to what your own values, to what your mind and heart are telling you.'In a way, Wallace did try to "help those in need" - Rashad, by keeping silent about the hit and run. In the end, the only reason he came forward was because he was being blamed for the crime himself. Was it evil what he did - to run away from the problem in the first place? I'm sure he felt it was just an accident - no one was at fault, and keeping silent was ok - it wouldn't help anyone to come forward. That's the only thing that bothers me about Wallace's initial part in the whole hit and run mess. Yes, Wallace made the wrong choice at first, but he does come to realize this. I don't think, with Wallace, "only reason he came forward was because he was being blamed." My read was that it was the other way around. He came forward (talked to the Chicago reporter) because he realized he'd done the wrong thing and it was eating at him. After he came forward, Rashad, Uncle & CO found out (from the reporter, no doubt) that Wallace had accused Rashad, so they all ganged up on Wallace and blamed him. So - Wallace didn't come forward because he was being blamed; he got blamed because he came forward. Yes - for Weevil to get that steaming mad . . . Curly must have said something that truly enraged him . . . something directly about Weevil, or loved ones, or maybe personal racially tinged insults . . . when I was much younger, nothing, nothing would make me madder, quicker, than someone making fun of my parents for their accents and such. I was young and small and female, and I knew it was wrong also, so I didn't follow through - but I would feel so angry, murderously angry, like I wanted to kick-their-skulls-in angry. So, when I see that kind of reaction, it's what I think of - but who knows.
|
|