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Episode Recap: Burn Baby Burn
The folks over at Medium have done it again with the knock-out opening. It was a cheery choice of music playing as Ariel watched her classmate, Owen, wave good-bye to his mother. The mother is none other than Journeyman’s, Gretchen Egolf. It’s good to see she’s working even if her show is not slated to come back next fall. (Sadness.) But it was hard to watch her pour gasoline all over herself and then light the match.
And then Ariel woke up. I would be torn apart if I knew my daughter, my 15-year old daughter, no less, was having these kinds of dreams. It would be heartbreaking to know what she was going through, and knowing there was nothing you could do about it.
On a happier note, this episode had a little bit of everything and so many storylines, I’m not sure I caught everything. It was great to see Bruce Gray return as Joe’s dad, and as usual he was trying to warn Allison about something. First she dreamed of him at the driving range with Joe discussing poverty vs. vacations. And then she saw him hanging in the hallway and actually had a coherent conversation with him. I wish she had more dead people to talk to. It adds for a very funny bit. But then we don’t want her to go all ghost-whispery on us, do we?
Kathy Baker starred as Joe’s mom, (she doesn't look nearly old enough to be his mother), who came bearing a loan for the semi-unemployed family of five. (Honestly, how do they make ends meet? Although I could swear Joe said Allison was getting a check for $10,000 from Cynthia.) Marjorie came also bearing some rather upsetting news, that she was sick. The saddest part was when she was asking Allison if she could sense the outcome and whether she’d make it through. You knew Allison wanted to tell her she “knew” it would be all right, but since her powers don’t work that way, she couldn’t. You could feel the air sort of drain out of the room for Marjorie. She’d put some expectations into Allison’s answer and when there were none, it was a huge letdown.
Anyone have a clue as to what that piece of paper was that fell out of Owen’s file when Ariel was gathering it for the principal?
Do I sense trouble in paradise between Scanlon and Lynn? One could only hope. Alas, their little tiff in the beginning was short-lived. They seemed quite content and comfortable with each other. It was nice that Scanlon had the cahones to go to work during the police strike; that’s a hard decision. But he’s caught between wanting a decent life for himself and wanting to do the right thing.
I wondered about the tension between Lee and Devalos. I know they were on opposite sides of the table with the Stacey case, but they generally didn’t quarrel like that when they were working together. By the end, and then only to Lynn, Scanlon admitted he didn’t think Graham was guilty. (Luckily, we have an entire other episode left to find out the truth about that one.) But it was fantastic to see both of them calling on Allison to help them out!!! Finally, she gets her due.
That Cynthia Keener was a real nasty Nancy during this show. When Allison showed up at her house at 6 AM, (well, OK, that’s pretty early and anyone would be peeved), I thought she might tear her head off with that look she gave her at the door. She was great when she said she thought she’d heard everything by now, And here was Allison telling her about a guy with a “dentist fetish”. (That pour girl’s mouth is gonna hurt pretty darned badly when she wakes up, if she wakes up). I loved that Cynthia said that she only pays for the dreams that actually have a clue she could use. As if handing Allison a check would change the dreams she’s having. That was a hoot.
Funnier still was the conversation between Scanlon and Allison on their way to meet Devalos:
Scanlon:
“You haven’t had any arson dreams lately, have you?”
Allison:
“No, you wouldn’t happen to be looking for a horny dentist, would you?”
I loved Scanlon’s line: “You don’t light yourself on fire unless you’re a monk with a war to protest.”
Finally, how sweet was Joe when he was comforting Al about Ariel’s dream. “Maybe you were overbooked,” he cooed. And then he wondered, “If a dream needs to be dreamed and you’re not there…” What does happen when the tree falls in the forest with no one there to listen to it? Who dreams these dreams when the psychic is not available? Unfortunately, for Al, both Ariel and Bridgette are afflicted, or gifted, (depending on how you look at it), with this ability. I hope she really takes the time to teach them how to deal with the rather mature content sooner rather than later.
Thank the good Lord this is a two-parter, which not only means there’s more to this story than meets the eye, but we get another week of Medium when most shows are off the air. What a refreshing thought.
While we wait, check out all the other clues Allison has dreamed up to help solve case by watching our Online Video Guide. Do it, you might just feel a “twinge.”
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Mar 11, 2008 12:14 AM
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Paula, it was a postcard from Barcelona from Owen's mom. I'm guessing, with as prominently as it was shown, that it will play a part in solving the mystery.
How creepy was Grant Shaud as the dentist? As if I don't have enough issues when I go to the dentist.
I thought that it was really unfair of Joe's mom to tell Alison about her illness, then forbid her to tell Joe. He's not going to be too happy when he finds out.
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Mar 11, 2008 12:34 AM
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Paula, the $10,000 was how much they were getting from Joe's mom, I believe. It's never a good idea to loan money to a family member!
I think in the beginning Devalos and Scanlon did argue quite a bit. Remember when Scanlon first met Allison? They couldn't stand each other and Devalos had to scold them a few times.
OK, so I have a few ideas. The only way to identify the burned victim would be through dental records, correct? I think this dentist, and possibly his "appointment" with that lady, has something to do with that. She looked a lot like Mary Stacey. Did the postcard mean that Mary was actually safe and out of the country and maybe her death was faked? However, that doesn't match the preview for next week. I'm anxious to see what happens!
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Mar 11, 2008 12:50 AM
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The only thing I could think about the dentist is that he wanted to change her teeth so she'd either A) be unidentifiable or B) identified as someone else (so he could then kill her).
But then wouldn't everyone, especially the coroner, notice that her gums were all raw and other recent dental surgery issues? I guess even if they notice that it would already be too late to know who she really was (assuming her prints weren't on file, etc.)
That woman would have to live for a while in order for her mouth to heal and look normal so...? Perhaps not that.
I thought I remembered hearing that the $10,000 was coming from Joe's mom, not Cynthia?
Seems slightly strange to have another "to be continued" so soon. That's 2 in just a few episodes. No biggie but I was a bit disappointed when I realized there was no time left for resolution this week. And ...I'm over it.
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Mar 11, 2008 12:54 AM
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I love having Lee and Davalos around. I miss those guys! Also loved the look on Allison's face as the boys bickered over her.
I agree with ILoveMy4Kids: the "mystery" seems pretty straight-forward: Sally was dentally altered so her remains would match Mary's when "her" burnt remains were found. Mary's off to Spain. The only real mystery seems to be as to who the dentist is (the first husband, perhaps?) and why she'd do this to Owen. I only have a horrible feeling that Dentist/Husband No. 1 is Owen's father, and the kid has to know what's going on. And that is truly disturbing.
And I agree that Grant Shaud was incredibly creepy as the dentist. Who'd a thunk it? I've always seen him in funny or good-guy rolls. I never would have imagined he could make my skin crawl like that.
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Mar 11, 2008 1:03 AM
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Wow, excellent theory that the missing girl was given dental work so her records would match the "dead" woman's. However, since her parents hadn't seen her for 9 months, the dental work could have taken place months ago, and was just coming to light via Alison's dreams now. Where she'd been in the interim, I don't know.
Yes, the $10K was from Joe's mom. Cynthia Keener is paying Alison for help with cases, but it's coming from Cynthia's pocket, and she doesn't seem generous enough to give Alison that much.
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Mar 11, 2008 1:37 AM
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This was another great episode. I also thought the same thing about the dentist and the dead girl. I have a feeling that Ariel and Allison's dreams are about to collide.
I loved that scene when Scanlon and Devalos were arguing over Allison. The expressions on her face were priceless.:D And it was so great seeing Bruce Gray and Kathy Baker back as Joe's parents. I like when Allison actually sees the ghosts, although Paula has a point. We don't it to become too much like that other ghost show. (This one is way better, haha)
I felt so bad for Allison when her mother-in-law asked her about her health, and she couldn't tell her anything. You could tell she desperately wanted to be able to. Hopefully things will turn out well for her. Can't wait till next week to see the rest of this one. Another fantastic episode by the Medium gang.
On another note, wasn't Patricia Arquette looking stunning in this ep? I LOVE her new hairdo. It's gorgeous and so flattering to her. And Joe was looking pretty buff out on the driving range too, lol!
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Mar 11, 2008 1:48 AM
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This show was always better than Ghost Whisperer, though I like GW also. And from the very first show, there were ghosts. It's only recently that there haven't been, so I don't think we're in any trouble of becoming copy-cats here.
This is the first episode in a long time I've actually enjoyed. It was fun. And I've missed seeing Joe's ghost-dad. He's always a hoot. This one interests me, though it is obvious what the ending will be, at least it'll be fun getting there.
And wasn't Scanlon just yum yum sexy in that elevator scene?
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Mar 11, 2008 2:47 AM
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Scanlon didnt believe in Allison's visions. They learned to get along after she had a vision about him.
The check came from Joe's mother for the family. Cynthia was going to pay Allison for the work she did.
Dentist scare me as well.
I think we will find out that maybe the woman isnt the boys real mother. Perhaps that was what the postcard was alluding to.
The show is great and getting even better because they are switching up a bit. You never know what the ending is going to be.
I love this show and I love GW. I have grown up around this my whole life and it still freaks me out a little.
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Mar 11, 2008 9:52 AM
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I'm so mad - I wanted to watch this episode and saw the first part with Ariel dreaming, but then I fell asleep...curse "springing ahead" with our clocks over the weekend!
Is Medium available online so I can watch it on my computer?
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Mar 11, 2008 10:04 AM
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You are right karenkay about Scanlon not believing in Alison's visions in the beginning. When Devallos sent her with him to investigate those "newly wed' murders he scoffed at her. When it was revealed that one of the couples was his sister and brother-in-law he still scoffed. Allison told him 3 people had been killed in that house and he said he knew she was a fake because there were only 2. Near the end of the show he came to her and told her she had been right when she said 3 beccause he found out his sister had been pregnant. I think that is when he became a believer even though he still gives her some grief about some of her visions.
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Mar 11, 2008 10:24 AM
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My prediction is the dentist and the mom were having an affair and decided to run off together. But because of the husband, they decided to "kill" her. The dentist switched out the teeth so when they identified the remains, everyone would believe it to be the mom and that the ex-husband did it. Now Mom and the dentist are living in Spain. Just a theory. I'm probably completely wrong, but that's what I love about this show....it keeps you guessing!
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Mar 11, 2008 10:28 AM
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tvforever...you can watch this week's episode at nbc.com.
Love this show! The smile and wink Scanlon gave Lynn in the car...swoon worthy. Plus, we got a sexy Joe on the golf range and in his boxer shorts...yowzer!
Terrific recap, Paula...thanks!
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Mar 11, 2008 10:37 AM
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Don't ponder too much over the dental work. It could be happening or have happened months back. Allison doesn't always dream in the present. Kathy Baker seems so right as Joe's mom, and yes, I can understand why she would take Allison into her confidence about her health problem and not her son. She needs someone to worry with her, but she doesn't want to upset her child. That part makes perfect sense to me. I don't think the burned body is necessarily the kid's mother. Has the coroner absolutely identified the body as her. I actually love it when we have 2 parters because that just gets me psyched up for the next one and gives me time to establish what I think about the events unfolding.
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Mar 11, 2008 11:21 AM
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*** Spoiler ***
Owen's mom having affair with a dentist.
She files for divorce, but there must be a hitch over custody of Owen or monetary settlement or dad contesting it.
Dentist lures hooker to his office, knocks her out with drugs, alters her dental work to match Owen's mom's teeth. Keeps her drugged and brings her to Owen's house.
Mom calls husband and asks him to come over. She waits for him in garage facing the street, throws a container of gasoline at him, yells loudly enough that neighbors can hear, in preview we see the dentist hiding just out of sight during the argument.
When husband leaves, dentist douses hooker with gasoline and sets her on fire. Body is so badly burned, the only way to identify her is dental records and since they expect it to be the wife, a reasonably close match should fool coroner.
Dad has been well framed: was getting divorced, neighbors heard argument, gasoline on his clothes, no alibi possible, dental records match, his lawyer would normally advise a quick plea bargain to avoid death penalty.
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Mar 11, 2008 12:14 PM
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