# New show: Forever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2014, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864 "2014-09-29T14:34:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/181 "2015-02-26T22:52:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > On the 70’s flashback with his wife? Why didnt he just dye his hair grey? Or at least add graying temples? It looked like he had to me? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/182 "2015-02-27T00:33:33Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Are we still watching? Yes. Although the stupid station interrupted it to gush about the Chicago mayor election non-results so I’ll have to watch the repeat on [ABC.com](http://ABC.com) when it comes around. > [@](#): > > I was kinda sad to see that Henry still isn’t ready for a semi-normal relationship. But after seeing what happened with Abigail, I can understand why. That kind of slow loss had to be awful for both of them. And after his first wife threw him in an asylum (not that I blame her) I can’t blame him for being gun-shy. I’m not sure Henry will _ever_ be “ready” for a semi-normal relationship again - he doesn’t age, but everyone around him does, and the age differentials are just getting worse and worse. I still think that if they have the time for Jo to find out Henry’s secret there’s the potential she’ll see him as a “safe” man for relationship because, unlike her late husband, he’ll never stay dead. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I find it odd that the writers are pairing him with the Dominatrix. It’s an odd choice for TV to take what would generally be a character thrown in for salaciousness and make them a major character. … except this episode they threw in that the Dom has a “damsel in distress” fantasy of her own. You know, “Dom” is her _profession_, it’s not necessarily something that would dominate (sorry) an actual intimate relationship outside of work. Such a contrast in a TV character would be highly unusual and a bit tricky, but if done well would be extremely interesting. On the other hand, this is only the second time Iona/Molly has appeared on the series. She may or may not ever show up again. > [@Shoeless](#): > > Good save when he was talking about the 70’s turntable – “We had one of these… at Abe’s shop.” > [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Yea, as weird as it probably was for Martinez, it was probably twice as weird for someone that had lived through it. Yeah. I was thinking “Damn, I used to own a 19 **60’s** turntable!” Of course, Henry is supposed to be something like 35-40, right? that means born 1975-1980… well, for someone in that age range the family probably did have a turntable, but maybe he wouldn’t remember it before it was supplanted by something else. > [@DrDeth](#): > > On the 70’s flashback with his wife? Why didnt he just dye his hair grey? Or at least add graying temples? He, apparently, was trying to grey out his temples but honestly, the guy could have used a better technique. The effect was way too subtle. Although it says volumes about Henry’s character that he apparently continued to love Abigail even as she aged enough to look like his mother rather than his wife. This business of filling in Henry’s timeline can be quite intriguing. They’ve hinted heavily that Abigail left him rather than died, so I’m wondering what caused the rift. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/183 "2015-02-27T01:43:32Z")
You’re right that Henry is perfect for Jo in that he can’t die on her again (well, not and stay dead, as you point out), but Jo has the same problem for Henry that Abigail does - she will grow old. I wonder if Abigail left Henry (or even committed suicide) because she felt like she was dragging him down or unable to keep up with her. Or the looks she got when they went out were too much. But Henry was so perfect towards her - that was true love throughout the years. I wonder if Molly is many of the things Henry wishes he could be - comfortable with herself, confident, very little fear. Henry has to be so cautious about his secret, while Molly gets to be extremely open about her sex life, which is normally very secret. Although, I was a bit surprised she folded so easily with the killer - I expected more back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/184 "2015-02-27T12:30:08Z")
So Molly is a professional dominatrix, and also a college professor? I assume the office they showed was her office at school. If so, that looked like a huge office. Most of my college professors had small cramped offices barely big enough for a desk and a couple of chairs. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/185 "2015-02-27T13:12:49Z")
I think that was her therapy office. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/186 "2015-02-27T13:35:36Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > So Molly is a professional dominatrix, and also a college professor? I assume the office they showed was her office at school. If so, that looked like a huge office. Most of my college professors had small cramped offices barely big enough for a desk and a couple of chairs. I assumed it was a TV-reality office - it’s huge because she’s a named character, even if in the real world a Dean wouldn’t get an office that large. Maybe we can fanwank that she’s wealthy from her dominatrix job, and she donates enough to the school that a building is named after her, and therefore she got an enormous office out of the deal when she teaches her one class a year. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/187 "2015-02-27T13:39:47Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I think that was her therapy office. I thought that at first, but then why would she be meeting with a student there? That’s what made me think it was her prof’s office. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/188 "2015-02-27T21:45:52Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Are we still watching? > > I was kinda sad to see that Henry still isn’t ready for a semi-normal relationship. But after seeing what happened with Abigail, I can understand why. That kind of slow loss had to be awful for both of them. And after his first wife threw him in an asylum (not that I blame her) I can’t blame him for being gun-shy. What? Either I missed some episodes or I’m not remembering. Henry’s first wife threw him in an asylum? Can someone share the details? I saw one where he was in a dank prison in the 1700s (I assume) but I don’t remember why he was there. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/189 "2015-02-27T21:58:31Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > What? Either I missed some episodes or I’m not remembering. Henry’s first wife threw him in an asylum? Can someone share the details? I saw one where he was in a dank prison in the 1700s (I assume) but I don’t remember why he was there. You must have missed some episodes, because it wasn’t subtle. Henry told his wife he was immortal, she thought he was crazy, and somehow her unsupported word was enough to get her wealthy, respectable husband carted off to an insane asylum in 1800’s England. Not very plausible, but it was a major part of at least two episodes. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/190 "2015-02-27T22:07:13Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > You must have missed some episodes, because it wasn’t subtle. Henry told his wife he was immortal, she thought he was crazy, and somehow her unsupported word was enough to get her wealthy, respectable husband carted off to an insane asylum in 1800’s England. Not very plausible, but it was a major part of at least two episodes. Not completely unsupported. As I recall, he tried to stab himself to prove his story. I don’t remember how she stopped him, or if there were witnesses, but I think that was the clincher that got him committed. EDIT: It was in episode 8, “The Ecstasy of Agony,” which also introduced Iona. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/191 "2015-02-28T00:08:26Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Good save when he was talking about the 70’s turntable – “We had one of these… at Abe’s shop.” My brother had one, and I have an Akai. My Dad still uses an old family wind up Edison that plays 78s. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/192 "2015-02-28T02:06:57Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Not completely unsupported. As I recall, he tried to stab himself to prove his story. I don’t remember how she stopped him, or if there were witnesses, but I think that was the clincher that got him committed. > > EDIT: It was in episode 8, “The Ecstasy of Agony,” which also introduced Iona. True, but unless there was a maid offscreen, the only person that saw the attempt to stab was his wife. My presumption is that the asylum warden wanted in Nora’s pants (or at least in Henry’s bank account), and was happy to have an excuse to throw his rival in the clink. Notice how Henry doesn’t stay in the Asylum which is costing the warden money. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/193 "2015-02-28T02:34:29Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > True, but unless there was a maid offscreen, the only person that saw the attempt to stab was his wife. > > My presumption is that the asylum warden wanted in Nora’s pants (or at least in Henry’s bank account), and was happy to have an excuse to throw his rival in the clink. Notice how Henry doesn’t stay in the Asylum which is costing the warden money. I’m not an expert on the period, but it stands to reason that there were a lot wives who hated their rich husbands (other episodes have shown that Henry was the heir of a rich merchant), but could not divorce them under the laws of the time. They certainly would have been more than willing to pay an unscrupulous doctor or warden to get rid of their husbands, if it were that easy. I’ve never read that anything like that actually happened. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/194 "2015-02-28T02:37:53Z")
Keep in mind that Henry would have been reported as lost at sea, turned up again _somewhere_, somehow made it home again, and may have been acting strangely between being shot, dead, resurrected, and however long it took to get home and whatever traumas suffered in the meanwhile. We don’t know what else he might have been babbling about or doing. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/195 "2015-03-05T02:43:22Z")
Well, with Tuesday’s episode, now we know what became of Nora. I do wonder how Henry had concealed his records before, but I guess that loose end has been tied up for him. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/196 "2015-03-05T03:22:43Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Well, with Tuesday’s episode, now we know what became of Nora. > > I do wonder how Henry had concealed his records before, but I guess that loose end has been tied up for him. Seems like if you want to establish a new identity, you might think about changing your name. He evidently not only didn’t do that, but in the flashback, he was practicing his old profession in the same general area. The other thing that bothers me about the show is how he so often seems ignorant about modern technology, like computer stuff this week, yet he’s an expert on earlier technology, like the 70’s turntable last week, and indeed, an expert on everything. So why is he so clueless about modern stuff? He didn’t just wake up after sleeping for 200 years, he lived through them. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/197 "2015-03-05T04:11:12Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > The other thing that bothers me about the show is how he so often seems ignorant about modern technology His operating theatre is utterly covered with [computer monitors](http://allmovies.ge/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/1200.2x1.jpg) spitting out incomprehensibly complicated looking cg displays, and yet he hates computers. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/198 "2015-03-05T04:17:06Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Seems like if you want to establish a new identity, you might think about changing your name. He evidently not only didn’t do that, but in the flashback, he was practicing his old profession in the same general area. > > The other thing that bothers me about the show is how he so often seems ignorant about modern technology, like computer stuff this week, yet he’s an expert on earlier technology, like the 70’s turntable last week, and indeed, an expert on everything. So why is he so clueless about modern stuff? He didn’t just wake up after sleeping for 200 years, he lived through them. He is not tech savvy, but certainly, I don’t think the show depicts him as clueless. He has been shown being able to use technology when he needs to. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/199 "2015-03-05T11:56:07Z")
I have a sister who is nowhere near 200 but coincidentally is also a doctor (hospice director, not medical examiner). She is somewhat like that, too - very capable of using tech, but not tech savvy in general. I think it has to do with the focus of the person. Henry utilizes medical tech and certain types of entertainment tech (like a turntable), but doesn’t do recreational tech like, say, computer gaming or Facebook. If the tech is relevant to his specialties he quickly becomes expert but otherwise he tends to ignore it - and why not? In 10 or 20 years it will just be replaced by something new, so why bother to learn it unless there’s a compelling reason beyond “it’s cool”? ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864/200 "2015-03-05T13:17:55Z")
Heck, I work in software, and the number of my non-programmer colleagues that need weekly help with outlook or getting a web browser to work is non-zero. Henry made it through the first 200 years without computers and cell phones. He’s going to use the best tools for his job, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to adopt every bit of bleeding edge tech in his life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-show-forever/699864.md?page=11)