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Episode Recap: "Graphic"
A pleasant, if slight, episode... a tribute to comics geekery and a reminder of the shabby way that far too many artists, outside comics as well as within that community, are treated even as their work remains a cash cow for others (perhaps not a coincidence that this theme should arise in a show presumably put together as the WGA strike loomed).
At a comics convention in Los Angeles (but one looking considerably smaller if as diversely attended as Comi-Con), an arrogant artist-turned-mogul, Miles Sklar (Wil Wheaton), displays with much ceremony his newly purchased "ashcan" issue of a (fictional) important superhero comic from the early 1960s. An "ashcan" issue is one produced solely for trademark and/or copyright reasons, never meant for public distribution, and this one is believed to be the only copy extant. A prominent "alternative" comics creator, Seth Marlowe (Ben Feldman), looks on in disgust, until thugs rush in and force Sklar at gunpoint to turn over the comic. In the course of the robbery, a security guard and a bystander are shot. Our FBI unit is called in, to the delight of Agent Sinclair (Alimi Ballard), a comics fan and mildly serious collector since childhood. Although he is also being pursued by a Vanity Fair reporter (Joe Morton) hoping to speak with his friends and family for a profile, Charlie is also soon pulled into the case as well, with assistance as usual from Amita and Larry.
Marlowe soon becomes both a source of information for our heroes and a prime suspect, as he makes no secret of his resentment of Sklar and of his belief that the valuable comic should be given to its creator, comics legend Ross Moore (Christopher Lloyd), now plagued by health problems and running low on funds. Moore, for his part, would like nothing more than to bequeath the issue, worth up to well over a million dollars at auction, to his wife, so that she might be comfortable for the rest of her life. It becomes clear rather early on that Marlowe is indeed involved in the robbery, and the rest of the episode is devoted mostly to tying him to the thugs who actually stole it, and working out the means to tell a series of forgeries Marlowe is circulating from the actual ashcan issue.
At an auction to benefit Ross that Marlowe has proposed, Charlie finds the real ashcan issue, which doesn't have a telltale mark on the cover Marlowe put in his fakes, and is able to outbid Marlowe and his confederate for it, before the actual arrest... and the revelation that Sklar had been shamed into donating the real copy to Ross. Other threads running throughout the episode involve Don's distraction as he mourns the death of his affair with Liz, and Megan's bet with Granger that she could fix him up with a woman who might be to his liking... a bet she wins by introducing him to a Cirque du Soleil acrobat.
A nice bit of backgrounding on Charlie, as we see Larry and Amita and then father Alan answering the questions of the magazine reporter, giving slightly guarded but honest opinions about Charlie and the reasoning behind his book (we don't see brother Don's interview, but we hear a bit of its to-be-published version read aloud at the end). A little bit of recursion, wherein Don and Charlie joke about the unlikelihood of anyone seeing their lives and work together as a fit subject for entertainment, and Sinclair gets the unlikely stunt of the week, jumping on an assailant who threatens to shoot Don from a height of at least 20 feet (allowing Granger to make a Superman joke).
Biggest improbability of the week would be an elderly persons' assisted-living community with a multi-flight stairwell but no apparent elevator (at least, one would hope it was an improbability). And, of course, not only were comics geeks stroked, but cult television and sf fans were given representatives among the Con-goers, in addition to the participation of Morton, Wheaton and Lloyd... even if none was truly at the heart of the episode.
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Nov 24, 2007 12:10 AM
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I thought tonight's episode had a lighter feel to it--and I enjoyed it very much. I especially enjoyed Judd Hirsch's comment to Christopher Lloyd about being a "hippie", a rather sly wink to their days working on "Taxi". Kudos to all for an outstanding job.
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Nov 24, 2007 2:51 AM
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Oh wow! It's been so long since I even thought of Taxi that I didn't even make the connection between Judd Hirsch and Christopher Lloyd. Thanks for pointing that out - too cool!
Now to show the rest of my ignorance, how is Joe Morton a tip to geeks (along with Lloyd and Wheaton?) From his being in Terminator 2? Or is there something else he was in or a part of that would give him a bit of geek cachet?
It was a pretty lightweight episode, but there've been so many heavy ones this season that it was a nice break. I *loved* the bit at the end with the comic illustrator/writer doing the drawing of Charlie and Don. My TV was fuzzing quite a bit - was Charlie holding a calculator as a counterpart to Don's gun?
Sorry for so many questions - but thanks for a nice recap 
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Nov 24, 2007 7:31 AM
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Joe Morton has quite a bit of geek cred beyond T2, including Smallville, Eureka, and best of all, Brother from Another Planet.
Full IMDB resume here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0608012/
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Nov 24, 2007 7:42 AM
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Charlie was holding a chalk holster! I loved the Larry-as-superhero comic, too. Thanks for pointing out the genius casting. I totally missed the sci-fi ties!
I love that Megan set up a blind date for Colby. You KNOW this is tv because the girl's "resume" is every young man's dream.
The unspoken declaration of Don's newly found singledom was nicely understated, too.
So, did anyone notice all the souvenirs that Larry bought at the convention? I guess he's truly coming back into the real world. Don't forget Peter MacNichol had his own quasi sci-fi connection with Ghostbusters!
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Nov 24, 2007 10:06 AM
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I've only begun watching this show this year, and I do enjoy it.
The only person I find annoying is Charlie's girlfried. She just seems an after thought; and her lines last night could have been delivered by someone else. Maybe she had more depth last season?
I like this ensemble almost as much as I like the ensemble from Criminal Minds.
P.s. You don't need a hyphen here: newly-purchased. Something about the adverb rule and ly-endind words.
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Nov 24, 2007 10:37 AM
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The unspoken declaration of Don's newly found singledom was nicely understated, too. I don't get why he dumped that beautiful girlfriend. I don't get why she walked out without taking her clothes...As for Don - is he supposed to be depressed?
Or, is actor Rob Morrow pissed because his character is so irrelevant. Mostly he sits in front of his TV drinking beer. Once in a while he injects something with a snarl. No smiles, ever. His girlfriend should have dumped HIM. Unbelievable watching his partner jump off the roof to save him! First of all the bad guy had his finger on the trigger and the jolt would have caused him to shoot Don...unfortunately that didn't happen and we'll be forced to watch Morrow pout and drink beer for the rest of the season. BTW the only reason I watch this stupid show is it's on after Moonlight, my favorite show, and there's nothing else on TV.
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Nov 24, 2007 2:49 PM
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i really enjoyed the last episode. i just wish persimmin would shut off the tv and maybe read a book.
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Nov 24, 2007 3:13 PM
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LOL hey bloss, that was good one!
I'm still laughing - you're right! I'm sorry I criticized your show...but seriously, when Don's partner could have simply pulled his weapon and shot the bad guy in the shoulder, thereby disabling him - why didn't he do that? That actor is just way too pudgy and out of shape to pull off that kind of 'heroic' jumping action anyway.
That was the dumbest thing I ever saw - second only to Don's drinking beer, watching TV and acting surly and then frowning and looking pissed...Such range!
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Nov 24, 2007 9:22 PM
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i think persimmin isn't much of a Numb3rs fan; if so, they would know about Don's past and how he came to a point of no return with Liz. It's not like it hasn't been played out in the past few episodes. Don is damaged goods; his moping in this episode was no more than him likely thinking of yet another failed relationship. The guy cannot commit. It will be interesting to see how this is handled in upcoming episodes.
That being said, this was a fun, light episode; previous ones have been heavy and full of detail, almost to a point of me thinking 'man i wish i had tivo' only to replay and watch a scene again.
My favorite part of this episode was David and Colby chasing naked guy:
Colby: Who's going to be the one to tackle him?
David: Whoever gets there last!
And then poor naked guy tried to jack two amazon bodybuilders who then beat the tar out of him behind the strategically placed street sign.
i was on the floor laughing. What a great scene!
The Colby and Megan exchange was cute too. I like the intermingling of personal relationships in the show.
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Nov 25, 2007 11:06 AM
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I haven't posted here before, but have been watching Numb3rs for a while. Did anyone notice that whoever does math checking was out to lunch here? In the classroom, Charley pronouched John von Neumann's last name as "newman", and, on the blackboard behind him, spelled it "von Neuman" (one "n"). These are awful mistakes.
Gene
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Nov 25, 2007 2:22 PM
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First off in previous episodes we have determined that the english language and spelling especially is not Charlie's specialty. So the misspelling is understandable. In all I would have to say Graphic is definitely one of my favorites.
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Nov 26, 2007 9:31 AM
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edelseu:
Those aren't really bad mistakes because most (as in 99.44%) viewers just aren't that into math that it makes any difference. It's about the concepts of math, not the precision. If it was, Charlie would never be able to so accurately do the things he does so quickly. Nor would he be an expert in so many fields.
Ya kinda gotta just "let go" a little bit to enjoy this show (or any other procedural nowadays with their technology from the year 3000).
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Nov 26, 2007 12:01 PM
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I (like most of you) really enjoyed this episode. It was light and welcomed after such a heavy season thus far.
I think Don's demeanor in this episode was totally appropriate after his break up with Liz. I hope we see him back in therapy and addressing some of his issues later in the season so that maybe he will, eventually, be able to commit to someone.
Loved the Megan/Colby bit and the chase of the naked man. That was absolutely hilarious!
One question: Where is Millie? She is missed!!
As far any minor mistakes or unbelievable scenes here and there (as some alluded to in their posts this week), I too have noticed a few over the course of this show's history. However, this is TV and is meant for entertainment. Numb3rs is so incredibly entertaining that I overlook a few minor mistakes or "stretches" from time to time. I say relax and enjoy the show!
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Nov 26, 2007 12:01 PM
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I was waiting for this episode all season!! I love Wil Wheaton!!!!!!!
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Nov 26, 2007 12:38 PM
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