Yes, I’m a sucker. The reunion scene had me in tears.
Good birthday present, NBC. Thanks.
I knew they were never going to make it to dinner.
As someone who’s been in the Middle East, Gallant’s portrayal of just how unable he was to convey what it felt like to be ‘over there’ rang fairly true to me. Good writing, good acting for a small detail.
I’m still not over being miffed at the writers, don’t mention Gallant for months on end then suddenly they’ve been writing and she’s been crushing all this time? That’s insulting, they could have thrown in a few “How’s Michael?” comments, particularly during Neela’s crushing on Luka and asking Abby “Ever like a co-worker before” episode.
But yeah, I loved the reunion, I loved her walking back and forth in front of him until he caught her arm to stop her, loved the letters and just warm fuzzies all over the place.
The kid, though, is still the same stupid immature brat he was from his first appearance. I say let him run off with his no-good father to die in a hail of police bullets and good riddance.
I cried.
Maybe it hit a little close to home for me, but it def. made me cry.
Missed Cole Hauser as Alex’s dad. Was that Jack McCall from Deadwood this time? Cole Hauser seemed dangerous, not pathetic.
Yep, that was Garret Dillahunt, who is now back on Deadwood in a different role.
Shit, there was a new episode last night? I clean forgot to tape it. (Was too busy cooking my first Indian dinner from scratch for friends, with the added excitement of having our water pump crap out right in the middle. The kitchen is a mess this morning, but the food was great!) Would someone give me a synopsis, pretty please?
That was done well. it’s right, you knew they’d never make it to dinner. When she asked what he was in the mood for, you almost wanted him to say “something Indian”, but that would have been out of line for that scene. Having her walk past him was perfect - you could almost smell whatever scent you KNOW she put on as she walked past him.
The little burned Iraqi girl is stabilized at County, Dubenko and her mother both think Gallant is a hero for getting her there. Gallant spends some time paying a visit to the family of one of his …platoon mates? One of his fellas, whatever the proper term is, heavy emotional stuff for Gallant.
Gallant and Neela got together, much warm fuzziness resulted. We learn Mike has been shot and has had to do his own shooting, it ain’t like Hawkeye-style doctoring. Some more emphasis on the parallel lives thing, comparing County to the battlefield, but now they’re strengthened by their time together and have more resolve to face their individual hurdles.
Sam’s ex is sniffing around, her son casually mentions Dad wrote that he’d be coming. Sam’s normal M.O. is to run, but now she’s living with Luka and he reminds her that it’s not just her burden anymore. Ex shows up at the hospital, him and Luka glare meaningfully with Luka doing the striving to be the bigger man thing, Sam and Ex go for a walk where he asks her first for money, then for a ‘vacation’ with the boy. She says no, but offers to spend the evening all together so he can catch up with his son, he suddenly has no time for the boy after all and presses for money. Like a dumbass, she heads for the ATM, going for the path of least resistance to get rid of him.
Frank pulls his ex-cop schtick and hands Luka a copy of Ex’s current arrest warrant, Sam is shocked to find out Ex is that scuzzy and even more worried about the kid, but refuses to turn her baby daddy in to the fuzz.
Susan makes Sam work over her shift, Luka goes home to be with the kid and finds Ex loading up his laredo with their TV and stereo and stuff. Luka demands Ex put the stuff back, they’re testosteroning all up at each other and start to fight, Luka’s winning when Alex comes out all packed to go with Dad screaming at Luka to stop beating up his dad. Luka tells Alex to go back inside, Alex refuses cuz he’s going with his Daddy. Ex is all “hey, not your kid, dude” and Luka doesn’t even bring up the fact that ScuzDad has no way to get the diabetic kid insulin much less schooling and meals, just stares down ScuzDad and asks if he really wants to get Alex dragged down into the mess that is ScuzDad’s life. He tells ScuzDad he can keep all the stolen stuff, just leave Alex, ScuzDad complies much to Alex’s dismay.
Carter meets with Anspaugh (sp?) and some developer to go over plans for a new medical center, the plans include an atrium and burger joint but no HIV care center, Carter refuses the family foundation’s check until Anspaugh can show him something focusing more on primary care and a HIV clinic. Susan casually asks Carter if he and Wendell would like to socialize with her and 'copter guy, Carter admits Wendell broke up with him and confesses to being kinda lost and off-track.
Nice move on Frank’s part, looking up the warrant on Sam’s ex. It’s good to see some less one-dimensional writing for Frank.
Call me sentimental, call me a sap, but I think the Gallant/Neela relationship is aces. Of course, Neela’s my favorite character on the show, but still.
Thanks, QT. Now I’m really sorry I missed it! Maybe I can catch it in summer reruns.
Ever seen Old Yeller? That whole “tell her not to open it unless something happens to me” bit screams “GALLANT IS GONNA DIE!”
Unfortunately, this is my thought also. le sigh
Hey, I was trying to ignore that! And Pratt, saying, “Nothing’s going to happen to you” is just inviting disaster.
Let me live in blissful self-deception. At least for a few episodes.
We learned about a totally different side of Frank when we met his family after his heart attack. It made him a much more sympathetic character.
I was pleasantly surprised when that didn’t turn out to be Neela crushing on Abby, since she was living with her at the time, if only becuase the “oooh, she’s a lesbian” shouldn’t be used a shocker ever again. I also thought Ray was a candidate for her crush, esp when she moved on to room with him.
I also thought it was great when the tables were turned on Anspaugh (not that he’s evil or anything) and he has to court Carter who has the power.
Now how weird is it going to be if Carter goes off on some tangent, like with the evil kidney-killing drugs a few weeks ago, and Anspaugh is in a position of having to discipline Carter? If anyone else does it, open and shut case, but if Carter’s holding the purse strings to something Anspaugh wants, hmm!
Ya know, I didn’t cry when Neela and Mike got together, but I bawled when the little Iraqi girl got hurt. Not even so much for the injured girl, but her poor mother, I think. As a parent, the only possible thing worse than something happening to your kid(s) is seeing it happen and being unable to prevent it. I hated how real they made that scene, gah.
You’re very welcome, Scarlett. It’s nice when my obsessive viewing of the shows I like can benefit somebody. 
The part that got to me was the “Superhero under his clothes” guy. Made me cry.
I finally watched my tape last night and was so glad that Neela and Gallant finally did it. And the ankle bracelet touch was nice, especially since we saw her wearing it during her almost close encounter with Ray’s friend. Cried about superhero, and Neela/Michael, and the final scene with Luka and Alex in the car.