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Episode Recap: Wicked Games Part II
Medium surprised me tonight. I didn’t see that ending coming. That was a shocker for sure. Before we get to the nitty-gritty details, a quick recap. Last week Allison dreamed about the disappearance of Cynthia’s daughter, Suzanne, a 9-year old unsolved mystery that Al knew nothing about. Bringing up all sorts of horrible memories for Cynthia, tensions were flaring and emotions ran hot. Al was fired and hired back in a matter of a few days and a story began to unravel about Suzie’s disappearance.
It quickly became apparent that the story that was coming to light was not the real story, and new truths had to be revealed. Suzie was kidnapped by a man who pretended to help her with her car, or so it seemed. But behind the man was a far more dangerous sort, a pretty, sweet-faced girl who played the part of victim to lure young girls into her vile and heinous web of seduction.
Joanne, played impeccably by the lovely, Lily Rabe, turned out to be a real nasty conniving gal who got what she had coming to her. She played sweet and innocent with Cynthia and Allison, but you could see in her eyes something far more ugly. Last week when Allison dreamed of Joanne at the door as Suzie opened it and killed her, we knew she was the mastermind. Another dream confirmed that Joanne killed the man who had “kidnapped” her and Melanie Linder, because she knew she was being found out. Eventually she even killed Peter, the guy who helped kidnap Suzie. At that point it was just a question of how Cynthia and Al were going to prove it. Since Scanlon only got about 22 seconds of face time, I figured, something wasn’t going to go as planned.
Although they eventually found Suzie’s bones, (Allison dreamed that Cynthia had gotten the chance to see her daughter by the water's edge which led her to the lake), and Cynthia was finally able to put her daughter to rest, there was unrest in her. Cynthia called Al with sadness in her voice in the finally moments of the show. Allison met her on the front steps of a house she did not recognize and listened as Cynthia confessed what she had done. It was a very sad moment. But you knew in your heart that she had done exactly what any one of us might have done in her situation. All she wanted from Allison was for her to hold her hand and wait until the cops came to take her away. It was tragic that it would be the grieving mother going to jail instead of that awful girl. But finally Cynthia got to show that she wasn’t all steel and sharp edges, but that she was capable of deep grief and sadness.
To lighten up this ep, Joe and Allison were having an argument that lasted at least one night of couch surfing for Joe. “I need you to believe in me,” Joe pleaded. He wore Allison down and she finally acquiesced to letting him have the girl’s college money, so long as he promised to pay it back.
Bridgette was dreaming again and this time it was about the white-haired man at the bank who was going to solve all of her father’s money woes. Joe, disbelieving asked, “That white haired man wouldn’t happen to be Santa, would he?” To which his precocious daughter responded somewhat indignantly, “Dad, come on. I’m 9 – trust me.” Only it took two trips to the bank and a slippery fall to find the white-haired man Bridge had actually dreamed of. And to cover his assets, (ahem), he offered Joe $15K. Problem solved. Girl’s college funds left alone to educate them at some later date.
I’ve got one small concern. Suzie was killed when she was 19 in 1999. So how could she have had a skiing accident in 1988? She would have been 8 years old. I mean, I guess 8 year olds ski. Did I miss something?
Did you notice that Ariel didn’t even make a tiny appearance in this episode? I can’t remember a time when she wasn’t at least sitting at the kitchen table, or brooding in her room with her ipod on. Just Bridgette and little Marie eating cereal. Nor did we get a glimpse of Devalos. Perhaps now that Cynthia will be slinging hash as the local women’s penitentiary, there will be more room for our two other favorite men of the show.
More thrills to come next week when another Arquette sibling graces the celluloid. Patricia’s sister, Roseanna makes a guest appearance.
While we say goodbye to Anjelica Huston, and think up ways that the entire Arquette clan could take over Medium, watch some clips in our Online Video Guide.
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Apr 1, 2008 1:34 AM
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sometimes when there are two parters like this, Medium tends to slacken or lose steam by the second episode...but not this time. What a creepy crime, and great performances by the three women: Patricia, Anjelica, and that pyscho girl.
that was a beautiful scene when Cynthia was sitting by the lake with her daughter. when suzie walked into the lake, i thought that was a cheesey goodbye...but that turned out to be a clue to the location of her body.
and that final scene, my god...one word...EMMYS!
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Apr 1, 2008 2:47 AM
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First, let me applaud you for having a link to IMDB.com. I have found it to be the best overall resource for the average or avid movie and television fan. It is a fantastic resource.
Now on to the show. I am going to admit that I am not a big Angelica Houston fan. She often plays an evil b**** so well, that I just plain dislike her in most things she does. It's probably because she does such a great job. (that compliment at the end there would never have happened before tonights episode.) I have disliked her character all the way through the first part of this season. Even last week when I felt we were suppose to feel sorry for her, I just couldn't muster up much sympathy for her - perhaps it was the phone call her daughter made to her moments before she disappeared. But in the last moments of this episode all I did was cry watching her on those steps. I honestly thought she was going to kill herself right there in front of Allison. Good job to everyone in this episode for giving us good television again tonight.
My final thought - I CAN NOT wait until next week. Rosanna, when she plays a bad gal - gives great performances (I loved her in L & O CI) and I can't wait to see her go head to head with her sister. So far, every time the Arquette siblings have teamed up on Medium I have loved the results (David has directed what? 2 episodes?), this should be no different.
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Apr 1, 2008 4:50 AM
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Interesting that Scanlon who is on the outs w/ acting DA could get together a search of the river in less than a day. Scanlon must have talked to the same people who extradited the woman from Barcelona in less than a day.
And $15,000 for an injured wrist, to head off a law suit that the bank would probably have won? I think I'll be heading for a bank today to fall where there are signs saying "caution" and I'm running. Medium, what happened to you?
The acting was wonderful-but the continuing inconsistencies are glaring. I think the show is getting predictable. But that's just my opinion.
I'm hoping next week will be better.
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Apr 1, 2008 8:45 AM
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Great recap, Paula, thanks! Just FYI...both of my kids started skiing when they were three. By the time they were eight, they were better skiers than my husband and me.
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Apr 1, 2008 9:00 AM
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This was a great episode although I did not find the bank story that interesting.
Somehow I did know that Cynthia would kill Joanna. It just seemed it would be the only thing she could do to get justice in her mind. By the second time she said they had no evidence I was like she is going to kill her. And when she called Allison to meet her I said she killed Joanne.
I loved the interaction between Allison and Joe as well as between Allison and Cynthia last night.
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Apr 1, 2008 9:11 AM
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I love this show, and I will continue to love this show. The acting is wonderful, and I enjoy the family stories as much as the mysteries.
On the other hand, I was disturbed by the ending of this episode for three reasons:
1. Cynthia not only made a martyr out of this horrible "monster," but she (Cynthia) also did to another mother what was done to her. To the outside world (and Joanna's mother) Joanna was kidnapped, raped, tortured, and forced to kill her attacker to escape, only to be murdered days later by a stranger. Without Joanna's true nature proven to the world, this ending was very unsettling.
2. I just ranted about this on another blog a couple of weeks ago—yet another TV "good guy" has killed someone in cold blood. This has become an almost common event in TV these days, and it's wrong, no matter how "right" the story makes us feel about it. Taken in a vacuum, this would have been a powerful and emotional choice for Medium, one that would have "wowwed" me. Taken in context with all the revenge killings happening on today's television programs, it seems to be becoming an accepted practice with (most of the time) no consequence. Scares me more than a little.
3. I had either read or heard a promo announcing, "will Cynthia take matters into her own hands," so as soon as Allison walked up to the strange house, I knew what was coming, which was a shame.
Anyway, my two cents.
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Apr 1, 2008 9:44 AM
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I love the re-caps, but I hate when you rip a show apart. Of course its possible for an 8 yr old to ski? Bunny slopes!
Who cares if Scanlon is in or out, its a TV show. Its TV, its fake. Just sit back and enjoy it, if you are going to rip it apart, dont watch it.
You know, in real life, things happen in peoples life that help them beat the odds.
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Apr 1, 2008 10:28 AM
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Disconcerting episode to say the least.
Very powerful acting performances from Angelica Huston. The scene at the lake with her daughter had me very near tears and wanting to hold my daughter's hand. Her speech at the end about not standing up for her at 3 made me mad at her only to cheer when she said she'd done it now. But then seeing Joanne lying there turned it for me again because I realized that no matter what Cynthia says at trial, Joanne will never be proven a murderer. She'll go down as a martyr as someone else mentioned.
I got ticked off at Alison again. Here is Joe all excited about his settlement check and not having to use the college fund and Alison just can't manage to give the guy 5 minutes of her undivided attention and share his excitement over his invention. Don't get me wrong, those types of scenes just nail home the fact that this show really acts as a microcosm of life, warts and all. My brother is an engineer, his wife is clueless about his work and usually just yammers on about completely inconsequential junk while his eyes slowly glaze over ~ LOL. At least Joe continues to take an interest in whatever interests Alison regardless of his own lack of attention and appreciation. The man is a saint I tell ya!
Rosanna next week, can I hear a Whoop Whoop?!! Love her.
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Apr 1, 2008 10:40 AM
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I also wanted to throw my two cents in about kids skiing--I was on the slopes around 3 or 4, as was my sister (and they weren't the bunny slopes after around age 5). And my parents weren't particularly avid skiers--there is a local place nearby and it's a typical thing for kids to do.
Then at 7 I got a ski pole all the way through my upper thigh (freak accident) and was called "shish-kabob" by my skier friends until I graduated from high school. Good times.
So, young kids ski and get into accidents. I think it's a law everyone must get into an accident while skiing at some point. Not all of them are serious but my friends all have their stories--trees coming out of nowhere. Bad skiers flying down the hill with no way to stop themselves and taking out people while they do it. Twisting ankles after a jump. All sorts of things.
About the episode--I did think Joe getting that money was too easy. It felt forced. There was clearly a sign near the puddle saying "caution! there is a puddle here you moron!" Even if he didn't see the sign the bank can't say they didn't try to warn people--I can't believe they'd offer any amount of money! They weren't negligent. I mean, McDonald's coffee is HOT! It tells you so on the cup and lid but if you burn yourself McDonald's can say that they tried to warn you (though the HOT! warnings all came about because someone sued them because they were too stupid to understand that hot coffee is hot.)
I disliked that part of the episode but liked everything else. Though I am glad they won't have to touch the girls' money...maybe there will be complications getting that $15K.
I didn't know Cynthia had killed the girl until she said something like "and now I have stood up for my daughter." I still hope they can prove that girl was a monster in some way. Was this Angelica Huston's final episode? I didn't know how many they asked of her.
This was probably enough closure for some people but I'd like to see a little more. And that doesn't mean she should be free of jail right away. But if they can prove that girl was shady it might shorten Cynthia's sentence and perhaps help the other families that girl ruined.
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Apr 1, 2008 10:42 AM
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I've always liked Medium, but this season has turned me off. It's become primarly a child-rape & torture-women themed program, which is not what I want to see for entertainment. Not having watched last week (promos made clear it was another "women kidnapped, tortured & raped" event), I did watch last night to see how Al would help catch Cynthia's daughter's killer. It was clear from Cynthia's lines about "no justice" what would occur next. I'll watch next week for Rosanna's appearance (and welcome change of plot).
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Apr 1, 2008 11:52 AM
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The writer's write the antigonist out too quickly.
We have had 2 episodes where the bad guys' just walked away. Cannibal Senator, and murdering daughter . This time bad girl is shot in revenge. Can't the writer's let it hang and turn it into a sequel episode.
That's what I'd do if I got paid thousands to write TV episodes.
I did enjoy the scene where Cynthia said good bye to her daughter. She was a caring person ,rather left bitter from a traumatic experience.
Now that Cynthia is off to jail, Allison can head up the PHX branch of Ameritips.
Yes, Joe got the $ too easy for taking a fall. It would have been better if the guy just believed in his invention and gave him a grant or better yet a job.
Joe could work at McDonald's while he's looking for a job, but he likes being a house hubby.
As far as Allison blabbing on about her case to Joe and not getting too excited, it's typical. We humans are caught up in our own dramas, even if we share a house with someone else.
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Apr 1, 2008 2:05 PM
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Hello! Thanks for all of you fantastic mothers out there who have taken your tiny tots to the slopes. I grew up in upstate NY and skiied exactly once and I think I was already a teen-ager. I'm more of a sunny weather beach kind of gal!
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Apr 1, 2008 2:27 PM
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To jgm60 - I'm sorry you saw that teaser that spoiled the ending for you. Not having any clue how it would be resolved made Cynthia's actions so much more abrupt and sorrowful! My only advice - never watch commercials for shows - they show WAY too much these days!
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Apr 1, 2008 2:28 PM
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As soon as Cynthia said that it was worse not having any justice, I knew that she was going to take matters into her own hands. I didn't want it to end that way but I just knew.
I cried, of course but I do wonder if this is really the end. Joanne was a sociopath and I find it difficult to belive that she waited 9 long years to kidnap again. There are more victims out there and I think that those cases, as well as the first unsolved cases of the shows season will come to light.
Call me optimistic. I love this show!
Best quote: "Dad come on, I'm 9! Trust me!"
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Apr 1, 2008 2:32 PM
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