Numb3rs 5.04
Oct. 28th, 2008 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owlI was actually really pleased to see Liz this week. I always liked her when she was Agent Warner instead of The Girlfriend. I hadn't been keen, but once she was actually there, the way she fitted into the team with no hassle, I was so pleased. And how cute was her little fist-punch greeting with Don? She's so much better as Don's BFF and occasional voice of much-needed reason than she ever was as his girlfriend.
Are they writing her a little softer this season, or is it because she's now in contrast to Nikki instead Megan? Don might tease her about adrenaline issues, but Liz was never as brash and gung-ho as Nikki is right now. I loved her moment of win with the camera. And her snarkiness to Colby.
Larry also brought the amusement value. "Charles, my little ambulatory reference book, Chaitin's omega constant?" I bet Don used to do that too when they were in high school, although not in those terms. And Charlie trying to sneak a look at the FBI folder. I liked the scene in the bus, too. The dummy being too heavy for Larry, and Charlie being a terrible assistant, and Amita getting great amusement value out of both of them. And Charlie's not-pouting.
I liked the scene at the FBI with everyone clapping and hugging Charlie. Even Don sort-of hugged him. And Charlie tossing his visitor's badge randomly into the cubicles was hilarious.
I liked the way they wrapped up the McGowan storyline, tying in to the whole Donnie Darko thing that's been happening for two years now. There were two lines I thought were very telling: "Well, Carl, if the line would stop moving, maybe I could tell you," and "I feel...lost." They confirm what I've always suspected: that Don doesn't feel happy without clearly defined external boundaries. Whereas Charlie, in contrast, will always primarily follow his own lights. I think Don pushes at the boundaries to check where they are. Like if Alan said to teenager Don to be in by ten, Don would maybe go to quarter past. And then the next time half past, if he wasn't pulled up on it. Whereas Charlie would have lots of "Why can't I...?" up front, causing his parent to do some rationalisation, and the occasional OF COURSE WE NEVER SAID YOU COULDN'T BLOW UP THE LAWNMOWER, IT NEVER CROSSED OUR MINDS TO THINK YOU WOULD! DO YOU SEE YOUR BROTHER BLOWING UP GARDEN EQUIPMENT, CHARLES EDWARD?!
I can't see pre-therapy Don saying that he felt lost, even to Alan. He really has changed. Give me morally conflicted!vulnerable!Don over Donnie Darko any day. It looks like the issue of Charlie's clearance and the investigation has given Don the pull-up he needed. I think what McGowan was hinting was that Don was now the ADIC's hatchet-man, the guy who would get his hands dirty to solve the case at any cost. And Don doesn't want to be that. I can see now where the crisis of faith next week is coming from.
Lots of good sarkiness, both from David and Colby and from Liz. I liked the manager flirting with Colby, and his by-the-book butter wouldn't melt reply. And David's subsequent snort. Not to mention Colby on the beach in bare feet, looking for his widdle lost puppy.
The plot was very reminiscent of Catch Me If You Can. Kevin even looked a little like a young Leonardo DiCaprio. I liked the twist that he was just looking for his mother all along, and that Don gave him time with her. Compassionate!Don for the win. We're getting s1/ s2 Don back again, and I like it. I liked Alan's storyline as well. It was really Margaret's park, and that was why he was so sorry to lose it. And the geek squad coming up with their cunning plot to try to make it better, bless them.
I'm kind of looking forward to next week when it'll all be back to normal in Numb3rs-land. And Don's laugh from the preview is adorable :)
Are they writing her a little softer this season, or is it because she's now in contrast to Nikki instead Megan? Don might tease her about adrenaline issues, but Liz was never as brash and gung-ho as Nikki is right now. I loved her moment of win with the camera. And her snarkiness to Colby.
Larry also brought the amusement value. "Charles, my little ambulatory reference book, Chaitin's omega constant?" I bet Don used to do that too when they were in high school, although not in those terms. And Charlie trying to sneak a look at the FBI folder. I liked the scene in the bus, too. The dummy being too heavy for Larry, and Charlie being a terrible assistant, and Amita getting great amusement value out of both of them. And Charlie's not-pouting.
I liked the scene at the FBI with everyone clapping and hugging Charlie. Even Don sort-of hugged him. And Charlie tossing his visitor's badge randomly into the cubicles was hilarious.
I liked the way they wrapped up the McGowan storyline, tying in to the whole Donnie Darko thing that's been happening for two years now. There were two lines I thought were very telling: "Well, Carl, if the line would stop moving, maybe I could tell you," and "I feel...lost." They confirm what I've always suspected: that Don doesn't feel happy without clearly defined external boundaries. Whereas Charlie, in contrast, will always primarily follow his own lights. I think Don pushes at the boundaries to check where they are. Like if Alan said to teenager Don to be in by ten, Don would maybe go to quarter past. And then the next time half past, if he wasn't pulled up on it. Whereas Charlie would have lots of "Why can't I...?" up front, causing his parent to do some rationalisation, and the occasional OF COURSE WE NEVER SAID YOU COULDN'T BLOW UP THE LAWNMOWER, IT NEVER CROSSED OUR MINDS TO THINK YOU WOULD! DO YOU SEE YOUR BROTHER BLOWING UP GARDEN EQUIPMENT, CHARLES EDWARD?!
I can't see pre-therapy Don saying that he felt lost, even to Alan. He really has changed. Give me morally conflicted!vulnerable!Don over Donnie Darko any day. It looks like the issue of Charlie's clearance and the investigation has given Don the pull-up he needed. I think what McGowan was hinting was that Don was now the ADIC's hatchet-man, the guy who would get his hands dirty to solve the case at any cost. And Don doesn't want to be that. I can see now where the crisis of faith next week is coming from.
Lots of good sarkiness, both from David and Colby and from Liz. I liked the manager flirting with Colby, and his by-the-book butter wouldn't melt reply. And David's subsequent snort. Not to mention Colby on the beach in bare feet, looking for his widdle lost puppy.
The plot was very reminiscent of Catch Me If You Can. Kevin even looked a little like a young Leonardo DiCaprio. I liked the twist that he was just looking for his mother all along, and that Don gave him time with her. Compassionate!Don for the win. We're getting s1/ s2 Don back again, and I like it. I liked Alan's storyline as well. It was really Margaret's park, and that was why he was so sorry to lose it. And the geek squad coming up with their cunning plot to try to make it better, bless them.
I'm kind of looking forward to next week when it'll all be back to normal in Numb3rs-land. And Don's laugh from the preview is adorable :)
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-28 11:37 pm (UTC)Bwahaha! Oh, I could so see that happening. *g*
I never came around to post my thoughts, but I pretty much agree with yours. I was a bit disappointed though that they didn't reveal any backstory between Don and McGowan after all the hints they left. I'm still sure there is something.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 12:48 am (UTC)Yeah, I think there's more backstory going on that we didn't see with McGowan.