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Life
Apr 18, 2009 20:59:02 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 20:59:02 GMT -5
"People like to do favors for me. Always have. I don't know why." "Maybe it's because you'll kill their families if you don't." "Yes. Maybe. And now I am very confused/intrigued by the ongoing "documentary" and who the hell is actually making it. Or if it is real at all or just some kind of very surrealistic meta thing. Because why/how the hell is Roman part of it, killing the filmmaker?!? OMG, Dani!! So, the filming is real, 'cuz he's gonna send this to Charlie to make him nutty, isn't he? Dude. Roman? You are sooooooooooooooo screwed, buddy. You don't know the extent of what you're up against. You think you do, but you don't.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 21:22:35 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 21:22:35 GMT -5
I think if Roman thinks Mickey Rayborn is alive enough to be turned over to him? He just might be. Captain is totally gonna be fine with Charlie going nuts on the FBI guys. Yay! Also? Are you totally sure they aren't tracing both of your phones? I mean, it might be a great idea, but I'd feel even safer if you took someone's who was even more unrelated to all this. Love the elevator dodge. And then everyone helping him, yay! Oh, so happy! Return of the zen tape as he drives off to get violent!! Shades of last season's ender! Yay!! 1 + 1 equals 1. "He'll find you, but he won't give you what you want." Connected. Connected to his FBI people. Holy fuck!! Just shot them?! In the FBI office?!?! Damn!! Heeee! And he's all confuzzled by the phone. ;D Damn. Damn damn damn. And they got his FBI guy too. Love this. Bobby helping too. "Get rid of my phone." "Get rid of your car!" [Pauses to note: this really does have a similar vibe to last season, when he knew the killer and was heading out to get him. Only then, he was alone and hiding what he was doing from everyone he knew, this season all his close friends are helping him . . . ] OMG OMG OMG, Charlie!!! Yay!!! [And this is the parallel to last season's car crash, only it's him in the active role instead of being hit. I LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH!] Heeee! And then the adorably dorky "you could have killed me" conversation. ;D Hee! Running gag of "but Rayborn's dead" "Roman wants him anyway", eh? Minivan. Too. Cute. "People live through a lot of things you never thought they could." He'd know, eh? Yes! Look for Rayburn! His wife was his partner at the FBI. Charlie gets a look that I think means we're supposed to think about him and Dani, but I'm getting a different, and possibly bad, feeling about this. Ted! "My Olivia?" Awwww. "Who are you, at the moment?" And of course Rayborn wasn't sick. Ha!!
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 21:41:28 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 21:41:28 GMT -5
"Guess I really didn't know him." Interesting how everyone still keeps assuming that Charlie was part of it all. That he must be guilty of at least something related to the whole mess. Whoa. Big gun. Why does Roman want him? Because he's actually succeeded against Roman, at least partially. And Roman? Can't. Stand. That. Dani is doing a nice mental mind fuck on Roman. But I hope it doesn't push him over the edge into really hurting her before Charlie can get to her. Or until she can rescue herself. Hmmm. Just 'cuz he says he killed your dad, doesn't necessarily mean he did, Dani. Good to see that the Tidwell and the cops are working on it! Means Charlie is right to be looking for Roman. Ha!! "Sure hope you kids got just cause for pullin' us over. Because this man here is a Federal agent, and me? I'm just in a real bad mood." "They catch you with me, you're back in uniform. If you're lucky." "They catch me with you, I'll say I'm bringing you in. I get promoted, and luck has nothing to do with it." Ha! Love. Her. "He's big. Bigger than you. Even bigger than I ever was, and we all know how big that was." Oh, Ted. Also, you are so not "done", just 'cuz you're a grandfather, Ted. Oooooh! Revisiting the Seebold file! "I did know him." Yes, yes, yes! Rayborn the janitor. Score! "I always knew you were a good cop." See, he really is. This is something that Roman should realize.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 22:03:44 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 22:03:44 GMT -5
"He would need to see it. Even with all that blood, he would need to see the body." Well, yes. I can understand that attitude. And off they go, to try to find Dani. Tidwell . . . too late. "And then Roman will hear what Charlie Crews wants to tell him." Heh! Well, of course Jane read the file and has it memorized. Are you surprised? "I knew my friend. What if he wasn't laundering money? . . . If my friend was clean. If Tom was clean. Then maybe they went to lean on him to try and get him dirty." Oh, I love that we're getting a different slant on even last season's supposed resolution! "You've always known I was a good cop. What do you mean by always? How long have you known me?" OMG. Rayborn thought . . . thought Crews would be the guy to replace him. A new leader for his corrupt empire. All 'cuz he "had that look". The look of a guy who would be able to survive as a cop in prison for 12 years . . . "I looked at every cadet. And I chose you. . . . Just look at you. I chose you. And I was right." Well. That's just icky and special, isn't it? And Rayborn just gave him what he needs to beat Roman, didn't he? Ha! "I didn't bring him. Did you bring Reese?" Easy. Whenever Charlie says something is easy? Watch out. Heh! Workin' Roman's last nerve, he is. Just tell me why you want him. No? Then you can't have him. The bullet! It's my gift to you. There can't be nothing.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 22:19:43 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 22:19:43 GMT -5
Ha! "I am not attached to that gun." Security woman told the cops where to find him. Rayborn told them that Jane got him, so she get a promotion and owes him. And now what does Crews do? But, I don't believe that Crews was ever just gonna trade Rayborn for Dani. I'm still thinking Roman is just too (wrongly) confident. Adding things up . . . what are you adding up, Charlie? Sure you do, he's right here. . . . . What you said to me. . . Why not him . . . whatever you want from Rayborn, you can get from me now . . . (Oh, you are soooo right, Charlie - Roman is hurt and mad that he wasn't picked to take over!) Me for her. (Heh! Very high shot on her, still covering that pregnancy. ;D ) "Just breathe." And the fingers, just barely brushing . . . "His plan was getting you out of that SUV."
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 22:30:11 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 22:30:11 GMT -5
"Rayborn. He calls you an animal. But it's not so bad, because I've seen him with his dog and he loves, he loves that animal. It's not so bad." You want what he gives his dog . . . . the oranges . . . 1 + 1 = 1 . . . You want to know how I got through 12 years of prison. Yeah. Like that, Roman. OMG!!!! And there, there it is. When you build your entire empire on crushing everyone under you? And then you are just . . . gone? They're not gonna be all that sorry. "We can start over right now." That was just beautiful. Wrong and twisted and swift and beautiful. OMG, his men are Just So Happy to be torching his body. The wicked witch is gone. ;D Ted's off to Spain and Dani is alive and Charlie is . . . more than alive. Nicely done. Works if this is all we ever get. But we've also got 3 remaining question marks on the wall, so . . . . Loved the ep! Loved the season! Yay!!
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 22:56:30 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 22:56:30 GMT -5
More initiative 38. "Looks like Seever took almost gettin' blown up personally." Heh! I love how they're both all "I'd vote for her". 'Cuz yeah, she's hella good, isn't she? ;D She requisitioned them. Heeee! The little one is the sister - way the hell out there. Park ranger? But they're not bears, Jackie! Voice on the radio. So, is she crazy or is she being set up by someone? Or being warned by someone? Heee! Of course she likes writing up reports. Yes!! Track down Dani!!! "What are you? The badass agent who doesn't talk?" "No." "No, because you said something?" "Yeah." Whoa!! Tidwell. Damn!! "Boys. Just because you have guns, doesn't mean you have to show them." Ok, heeeeeeeeee! I mean, excellent tension, exciting scene, yes, but killer funny line? Best. Thing! Out there for a while . . . so, we're still at the "crazy, or something else" place. What did she do? What caused the rift between the sisters? Ah. Do you want a lawyer time indeed. Ah again, because "Lisa used to do that for me". Oh, hire the security woman to find Dani. And go looking for who would want to have set up "little one" to mess with Lisa. Back to P&K we go, then! "There is going to be sexual tension. Between us." " . . . " "Between all male, female partners. It's in the documentation. The manual. It suggests fantasy. As a way of dealing with it." "I'm sorry. What did you say? I was thinking about something else." OMG (The posters behind each of them? Excellent touch for this scene!)Why are we here? Why did those things happen? Oh, it was him! This was a campaign . . . the whole thing. Killed her as a springboard for his own political uses. Oh, wow. He is damn good, isn't he? Oh!! Destroying these guns!! Like the ones that killed her!! Two guns and one shooter. Oh, this was a good ep, an excellent twisty case! He totally suckered me! Back to Ted. Looking for Dani. For his daughter. For . . . Olivia, of course. "I know everything." "What's that like?" "Almost always disappointing." Oh, and the manager woman helped him. Howard used her, used her, well, shall we say "ethically challenged" nature. "I think Ella was born to do this." OMG!! She turns it around. OMG, she orchestrated all this, didn't she?! Except . . . oh oh oh!! They knew about her! And they were setting up both of them!!! Fun!! **bounces** And it was the sister. Whoa! Damn, damn, damn, damn. Her gun and phone. "Now we need to call Charlie." "Yeah. Now we need to call him." OMG OMG OMG! "I am Roman Nevikov." "No you're not." ( Killer visual, with Ted standing behind Charlie like that. Classically gorgeous and both threatening and protective, too.) I want a peaceful soul. I need a bigger gun. Hot damn! Just as amazing in the last eps this season as last season!! Whew! **falls over from the wowness of the ep** I missed that. What was the poster behind them in this scene? They're sitting in chairs opposite each other at the gun company. Over Jane's shoulder, we (and Charlie - who is rather distracted by it ) can see a woman in what amounts to a bikini and holster, pointing two guns right at us. And over Charlie's shoulder, we (and Jane) can see a woman in a suit in front of a big office building - her back to us and we can see she is holding a gun behind her back.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 22:57:07 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 22:57:07 GMT -5
Whew! I was so afraid it was going to end on a cliff-hanger with Crewes in Roman's clutches. Excellent semi-tie-up of current storylines in case it isn't renewed. **nods**
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:03:27 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:03:27 GMT -5
It's a good thing you posted that, because otherwise I'd be hiding in the bathroom right now. "What was his point getting in that SUV?" Julia, Eeek to the eek eek!!! I suppose some people are going to say it was tied up too quickly or conveniently. Not at all. One of the things I love about Life (and now Dollhouse, too) is the way they take storylines that any other show would stretch out for years and then just - bang - reveal them. But, they also do that in a way that let's you have more story to discover beyond that. I think he was just . . . in the moment. I don't think that every loose thread was snipped. We've still got 3 question marks on the wall, but even more, we have the fall-out from everything that just happened.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:10:14 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:10:14 GMT -5
I asserted myself. I told The Husband I wanted to watch Life in real time, I couldn't wait, and if he preferred AI, that was his loss and we'd watch together later anyway. Another couldn't-get-to-sleep night filled with thinky thoughts. That was magnificent. Brilliant. Best Show Ever. **nods nods nods** I totally agree. All his life, the zen and the violence, came together in one moment. With oranges. All that scheming by Rayborn, and what did it lead to? The exact opposite of what he wanted, the end of his empire rather than its continuation. All because Charlie was a very good cop, figuring it all out. (I'll even call his killing Roman as being a "good cop", because his life was in danger and they are allowed to kill a criminal to defend their life or someone else's life.) Well said.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:17:30 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:17:30 GMT -5
I woke up this morning with thoughts about love and the misuse of love going around in my head. Crewes offered his life for his partner's, because he loved her. I don't think it was a sexual love (and what about last week, and Seavers talking about "sexual tension between partners"?), more of a comrades in arms love. Also, the look on Dani's face when she realised what he was doing, and her expression at the end, and for that matter, Charlie's face at the end, as if he'd been freed, finally, for real - he found his Zen, and he never needed that "bigger gun" after all. Roman misused love and destroyed love; he controlled people by threatening their loved ones. And everybody got what they deserved, and justice was served, and even, something bad (Charlie's time in jail) led to something that could be considered good (Charlie being able to kill Roman before anyone could stop him), and that was one hell of a ride, wasn't it. .... "What do you want? I want a peaceful soul. What do you need? I need a bigger gun. " Charlie got his bigger gun, and didn't need it. Looks like he got his peaceful soul, too. Anne-- Great thoughts. Life and Love and peaceful souls. It's definitely a show of big ideas. Yeah. Crewes had love and loyalty issues of his own: his dad, his lawyer, his wife, even the girl he rescued. I often thought that the show introduced characters/storylines that they never followed up on but it's possible that it appeared that way to me because of the bits and pieces (and occasional chunks) that I missed. I mean, I looked down at a math problem I was working and missed the moment of Roman's death -- it happened so fast. So I sometimes wonder where characters went (like the lawyer, the wife, the dad, the girl) and why. But taken in a broader context that may be symbolic of Crewes' life: people are there and then they go away; they can't be depended on; people are like clues which lead you down a false alley until you come to a deadend and you have to start over with a different lead. And yet in the end, it was his connections to people that this case was solved. So, maybe it's less that people can't be depended on but that, in Life, just like in life, there is an ebb and flow, not all things are resolved because life just keeps going? Like we are just viewing this slice of it, but it was there before we were watching and keeps going after we aren't there to watch it anymore? **nods nods nods** Nicely put. I think Rayborn correctly saw the spark in Charlie of what he could become. But he saw it through his own skewed view and just assume it could be turned the way he wanted. I think Rayborn wasn't capable of seeing what Charlie really could be. Yes!! **bounces**
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:19:51 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:19:51 GMT -5
I suppose some people are going to say it was tied up too quickly or conveniently. My problem is that somehow 8 pm on Wed was the single most interrupted hour of my week for the past several months. I should probably have taped it, but the NBC station just doesn't come in all that clearly for us (we live only a few miles from the transmitter tower and the explanation has been that the "real, through the air" signal interferes with the cable signal because it is so strong and creates interference/feedback. It's totally unwatchable unless viewed through the VCR, but oddly doesn't tape well. Anyway, I miss chunk sized pieces of it weeks in a row. So mainly I didn't know who the "know it all woman" was who was working with Ted. I know she pretended to take his class but was really working for the bad cop guy but she seemed a little deus ex machina (?) in the way she knew everything all the time. So I may need others to clarify exactly what and how things were wrapped up. But I did get that both good guys were saved and the bad guy died and, in general, that's enough to keep me happy. Charlie sure did take a huge risk in just killing Roman and assuming he'd come out of it alive -- although maybe he didn't necessarily assume that. And, I liked the "going to Spain" note. So, were ALL the loose ends tied up? If it does get renewed one wonders "what now?" I think it showed a good understanding of why people worked for Roman- he killed his own people with impunity, and only fear held them. Julia, and when the source of the fear is gone, there was no loyalty or common purpose. Yep. Fear does not create true loyalty, only expedience and sycophants. Love, on the other hand . . .
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:22:32 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:22:32 GMT -5
Anne-- Great thoughts. Life and Love and peaceful souls. It's definitely a show of big ideas. Yeah. Crewes had love and loyalty issues of his own: his dad, his lawyer, his wife, even the girl he rescued. I often thought that the show introduced characters/storylines that they never followed up on but it's possible that it appeared that way to me because of the bits and pieces (and occasional chunks) that I missed. I mean, I looked down at a math problem I was working and missed the moment of Roman's death -- it happened so fast. So I sometimes wonder where characters went (like the lawyer, the wife, the dad, the girl) and why. But taken in a broader context that may be symbolic of Crewes' life: people are there and then they go away; they can't be depended on; people are like clues which lead you down a false alley until you come to a deadend and you have to start over with a different lead. But all of Charlie's partners have come through: the guy, the new (straight arrow, by the book, I've got a plan for my career) girl and especially Dani. Charlie seems to have some quality about him that inspires great trust and loyalty in his partners. And Ted. Family and lovers have failed Charlie but not his friends and partners. So (dare I say, like Buffy) his partners became his family. So I agree with Anne that there was not even a suggestion that what Crewes felt toward Dani was romantic love (the ep was clear that that was Tidwell's domain) but something in some ways far stronger. Romantic love may come and go (see Ted as well as Charlie) but Charlie would give up his life for Dani. That quote about the peaceful soul and the gun really is a perfect piece of writing. And Charlie got both. He got the "bigger gun" of his love for Dani and his absolute belief that he was doing the right thing AND he got his peaceful soul. We were given a bit of foreshadowing when Roman asked about the black detective's family, but Charlie still couldn't be certain that the thugs wouldn't just kill him. But I don't think he was worried about that. He was doing what he had to do and the consequences would just have to fall out as they would. What did you think of the underlying explanation/motivation of how all this started? That the guy picked Charlie out as his "successor" and was trying to get to him by dirtying his partner? Maybe pre-prison Charlie would has followed the destiny chosen for him. Anyway, all in all a satisfying resolution so kudos to the show runners and I still hope they get to come back. I keep getting bits of Buffy dialogue in my head about this episode - I just looked it up, and it's from "Intervention": BUFFY: I know you, you're the first slayer.
Guide: This is a form. I am the guide.
BUFFY: I have a few questions. About being the slayer. What about love. Not just boyfriend love.
Guide: You think you're losing your ability to love.
BUFFY: I didn't say that. Yeah.
Guide: You're afraid that being the slayer means losing your humanity.
BUFFY: Does it?
Guide: You are full of love. You love with all your soul. It's brighter than the fire, blinding. That's why you pull away from it.
BUFFY: I'm full of love? I'm not losing it?
Guide: Only if you reject it. Love is pain and the slayer forges strength from pain. Love. Give. Forgive. Risk the pain. It is your nature. For it will bring you to your gift.
BUFFY: What?
(...)
BUFFY: I'm sorry, I'm just a little confused. I'm full of love, which is nice. And love will lead me to my gift?
Guide: Yes.
BUFFY: I'm getting a gift? or do you mean that I have gift to give to someone else?
Guide: Death is your gift.
BUFFY: Death...
Guide:...*is* your gift.
Charlie is full of love, and death (and justice) are his gifts. Joss gets pretty Zen himself. No wonder I love both shows. You're absolutely right, Sue, Charlie's partners are his family, and so is Ted. Although Ted is also reconnecting with his daughter, so more family. And I have to admit - all that "peaceful soul" stuff had me very worried that Charlie would give his life to save Dani, like Buffy jumping off the tower, or Spike taking out the Hellmouth. Why, yes, I am a BtVS fan, why do you ask? Oh, excellent choice of quotes! And I think he would have been OK with giving his life to save Dani, if it was required, but was really really gonna try to have it not be needed. ;D
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:29:29 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:29:29 GMT -5
Ooh! Roman's being interviewed for the documentary. Wait, how does that work? I love the intercutting of the documentary, but I'm getting really confused as to when in the timeline this documentary is being produced and who is producing it. Brainshare! ;D They did a very nice job of compare and contrast! If all we end up having is these two seasons, they are wonderfully paired. My vote is coersion all the way. It was Roman's main (one might say only) way of working, after all. Ha! Oh, that was just excellent! ;D No, I think you are right. Just on a scale appropriate to his and Roman's delusions of grandueur. Very very neat. I like that, finally free.
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Life
Apr 18, 2009 23:32:02 GMT -5
Post by Lola m on Apr 18, 2009 23:32:02 GMT -5
I find it neat how Crews has now actually committed murder... which is what he was sentenced with in the first place. It reminds me of that quote from Shawshank Redemption (which is also a Count of Monte Cristo story) "The funny thing is, on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook." Nice comparison. **nods** It has been years and years since I read it, so details are not really in my mind . . . but I could see this comparison.
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