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December 5, 2006: Ghost in the Machine
The Bloggah has a cold and needs to go to bed. But for you, my devoted readers, I have fought sneezes and chills to remain awake long enough to watch and blog our favorite show, Medium.
A shooter from an overpass has killed a woman on the highway and has terrified the entire city. Joe’s birthday has arrived, and there are no presents at breakfast because Allison has not gone shopping yet. Luckily, the gift she gets for Joe was really meant for herself. She buys him what she will come to find is a pre-owned video camera and comes with a ginormous discount. The camera beckons to her. Seeing things in the video camera is a nice new twist on Allison’s dream visions and a good way to let her get some uninterrupted sleep.
The non-film in the camera relates the story of two young people — Kathy, a local girl who works at the country club, and Travis, a recently retired sharpshooter from the army — as they plan to kill her husband. The ghost in the machine is Travis making sure someone finds out why he died, and what Kathy is planning to do.
How are these two things related? We soon find out.
Kathleen Robertson (formerly of Beverly Hills, 90210 and XX/XY) stars in this week's show as a young woman on the Dubois’ new video camera with a secret or two lurking in the green light.
When Allison finally decides that enough is enough with the video-camera visions, she locks the camera in the car and swears she’s going to take it back in the morning. She is awakened by the sound of the car alarm that only she can hear. When she tries to turn it off, the alarm keeps sounding until she picks up the box the camera came in — funny stuff.
I thought for a moment that Kathy/Diane was in cahoots with Sean to kill his wife, but no, we find out she’s the mean killer herself. She was having an affair with Sean and then killed his wife so that they could have the inheritance. But the only thing Kathy’s about to inherit is a bright orange jumpsuit.
Scanlon is back to his mean old ways with his ex Lynn. I’m assuming they are going to get back together, because his character could use a little personal depth. And Lynn really doesn’t have that much to do on the show.
It was surprising but well-deserved to see little Marie, Miranda Carrabello, play up her comic side as she screamed from the bathtub, while being filmed by her TV daddy, to “Get out! Get out! Get out!”
However, the first award of the Maria Lark fan club goes to Maria Lark as Bridgette, dancing with the spoon on her nose!!! I laughed out loud and, I think, a little hysterically.
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Dec 7, 2006 2:51 AM
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Whoa, who's Sean? The sentence that mentions "Kathy/Diane" and "Sean" had me shaking my head in fast motion like a Bugs Bunny cartoon. I'm never good at remembering characters' names the morning after watching any episode of any show, but now I'm really confused!
But I agree, the video camera story was an interesting variation of Allison's dream visions. It always impresses me how the writers have been able to come up with so many ways to use the same basic premise, i.e. Allison's clairvoyance/premonitions, etc.
It was great to see Kathleen Robertson again (she was my favorite babe on "90210"). But I must have fallen asleep when Scanlon's ex appeared. Have I been missing that subplot all along, or just not paying attention?
Somebody fill me in, please. I'm feeling like a dope. And I actually stayed awake throughout the episode (I sometimes fall asleep, but due only to exhaustion, not boredom). Good thing I taped it. I'd better give it another look.
Anyway, it was another excellent episode of one of my very favorite shows.
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Dec 7, 2006 8:35 AM
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Another good episode.
I also laughed at the spoon dance, that was pretty cute.
Are "get out, get out, get out" the first words uttered by little Marie? I don't recall her ever speaking before. I also thought it was funny when she picked up the camera box in the car, nice touch.
I figured this one out once I heard the widows name was Mr Caffee or somesuch, I thought it sounded too much like Kathy to be a coincidence.
I figured it was the affair girl from the photos was Kathy, even though I couldn't get a good look at her in the pics.
I thought that her "spirit guide" was naming her Kathy because she doesn't always get direct information...so I guessed it was the method to communicate how the woman was connected to the shooting victim. Well, I was wrong there, but that just goes to show once you think you have the writer's methodology figured out...you find out you're wrong.
And Scanlon needs to chill out...really dude, you're at work, be a professional. I'm glad this is one of the few shows I watch that's still churning out new episodes each week, it's still one of the better shows on tv.
~ÐL
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Dec 7, 2006 8:45 AM
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I am facinated how much the little Marie seems to like/love Mom and Dad. She's not acting. Expecially Joe. She practically runs to him when he spreads his arms. They all make a wonderful family which makes all the stories better.
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Dec 7, 2006 9:12 AM
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I too love that they keep coming up with original ways to use Allison's abilities.
Did anyone notice Ariel's face when Allison said she was taking the video camera back. I think she knew something was up with it.
Scanlon and Lilly met up again during a discussion on how the handle the media regarding the sniper.
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Dec 7, 2006 9:39 AM
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"Did anyone notice Ariel's face when Allison said she was taking the video camera back. I think she knew something was up with it."
Yes, Cathy I did notice that. I think Ariel has gotten to an age and experienced just enough of her own mojo to know when Mom is freaking out over that stuff and when she is freaking out just 'cause she is a Mom and that is part of our job description 
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Dec 7, 2006 10:24 AM
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Hi GarryB-
The subplot with Scanlon and Lynn... they had been secretly dating for a while. The climax was a couple of weeks ago, when he was about to propose a deeper commitment. The previous night, she'd met with some people whom, over dinner, suggested that she would be excellent as a city politician and would recommend her for candidacy. They were asking her point blank about her personal life (ie: "who are you dating? etc etc... just as long as it's not a civil servant" - like Scanlon). As she told Scanlon about the meeting at dinner the next nite, she mentioned the "civil servant" part (which he took great offense to, of course). She basically belittled their relationship. He got up and walked out. A waiter came by and picked up a box that Scanlon had put on the seat next to him, handed it to her and asked if her date would be coming back. She knew then what he had planned and she looked pained. We could infer from a thinly veiled conversation he had with Allison prior to this that he'd been a bachelor for a long time and that this was one of the biggest decisions he'd ever made. So, he's hurting a lot now (on the inside, of course, he's too gruff to let it show). <Thanks to willow3x3 for details that I'd misinterpreted!!>
Last nite, Lynn was talking with the victim's husband, Sean, in front of a group of law enforcement people related to the incident with the sniper attack. She mentioned how hard they would all work to catch this killer... that all of their loved ones (brief glance in Scanlon's direction) travel those highways. Scanlon shot back a look as if to say, "Whatever, you ripped my heart out."
Does that help?
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Dec 7, 2006 12:45 PM
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"The subplot with Scanlon and Lynn... they had been secretly dating for a while. The climax was a couple of weeks ago, when he bought a an engagement ring and was about to propose."
Wait. It was a key, not a ring. He was giving her his house key when she flaked about her political career.
(Loved the spoon dance. Bridgette used to annoy me last season, but they've toned her whining down & now I love her.)
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Dec 7, 2006 1:21 PM
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Wow, willow... I totally misread that! Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't see her open the box, I just automatically assumed "important night + nervous guy = engagement ring".
Doh!
And if I ever have kids... I hope they're all little Bridgettes... I just love her.
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Dec 7, 2006 2:04 PM
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I am so glad to have Medium back this season. What Marie said in the bath was "Go away." As for Maria Lark, if you ever get the chance to see her on a talk show check it out. She appeared once on Leno and was a riot. She really enjoys herself- like a little Dakota Fanning.
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Dec 7, 2006 3:30 PM
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Also last night -- He comes in on a metting with Devolos and Lynn, talks about how Sean is in an interrigation room and asks Devolos to watch the "interview." Lynn says she can't go, or some such, and Scanlon says "That's alright, you weren't invited." Again, showing his anger towards her.
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Dec 7, 2006 3:32 PM
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This is such a great show. What an example it sets to others on family life, and how to keep things fresh. I'm always rivited to what is happening.
I love Alison's speech to Joe in bed about his birthday and how every year she wants it to be different, but she always ends up running around the day of, and ends up making him a cake from the mix. She's afraid he'll think she doesn't love him. What a great moment, that is really true to life.
Bridget was hilarious, and I loved Joe trying to get shots of Alison's butt.
I hope this show is on forever!
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Dec 7, 2006 3:47 PM
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Daesey4:
Thanks so much for the wrap-up, but I must have some kind of mental block about Scanlon's personal life. I only vaguely remember some of the scenes between him and his ex. I guess I just haven't been paying attention. I concentrate only on Allison and tend to mentally tune out the subplots (I'm really not as dim-witted as I seem!).
I agree with the other posters about how realistic the family scenes are, and Allison's talk with Joe about her unfulfilled birthday plans for him really did sound so true-to-life .
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Dec 7, 2006 5:31 PM
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suezak a while ago it was reported that the little actress who plays Marie learned all of the real names of the other actors and they had a time getting her to not say them at the most in-appropiate moments during tapings.
And Yes, I think all of the actors are close. This year Patricia Arquette took the 2 older actors along w/her and her kids to the studios Haunted Halloween. So I am not surprised that the littlest one seems so close to them.
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Dec 13, 2006 9:47 AM
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I love Bridgette! (Maria Lark)
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Dec 13, 2006 2:48 PM
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