In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Numbers
Episode Recap: "Tabu"
Another energetic episode that managed to give nearly everyone something to do, even if the writing for the showcasing of Diane Farr's Megan could've been sharpened.
We begin with young, apparently affluent adults clubbing, with the focus hanging on Ella Pierce (Ari Graynor), who at first suggests a Paris Hilton-style tabloid magnet...the Patty Hearst and Symbionese Liberation Army resonances come later. She is apparently abducted by a small group which includes a woman she'd been dancing with (Stephanie Bast), who leave with much gunfire into the air and other theatrics, but no injury to the witnesses. Our FBI unit is called in, even if Don (Rob Morrow) doesn't choose to waken Liz (Aya Sumika), sleeping in bed next to him. Charlie (David Krumholtz) joins them at the scene, immediately suggesting models he could use to track the kidnappers flight, as does private kidnapping consultant Jeff Upchurch (Sean Patrick Flanery), temporarily an employee of Pierce's father, textiles and clothing multimillionaire Warren Pierce (William Atherton). The FBI agents, save a somewhat skeptical Megan, accept Upchurch's advice more readily than Warren does, as he seemingly tries to play cagy with the kidnappers' ransom demands, then refuses to pay anything after Ella is apparently forced to perform a bank robbery with the kidnappers, who comprise a somewhat vaguely liberationist group particularly incensed by Pierce's corporate treatment of workers in Third World countries. The kidnappers communicate via satellite telephone and a website (whose web-host never seems to come into the investigation), while Megan particularly finds Warren Pierce unhelpful and annoying in the attempt to recover his daughter...she is unprofessionally short with him, in a way that we see is meant to suggest issues she has with her own father, as she discusses them with Larry (Peter MacNicol), in the course of the two of them getting more comfortable with each other again. Amita (Navi Rawat) suggests that she has a means of tracking the embedded signals in the kidnappers' video, and builds a improvised electronic decoder for the purpose, much to Charlie's delight. Meanwhile, when they can both spare a moment during the case, Liz asks Don to take some time to discuss their relation; Don consistently half-heartedly agrees. The kidnappers and Ella rob the family estate of one of her friends (Vanessa Britting), and Ella demonstrates that she is working with her apparent captors by being the first to open fire, though Megan still wonders if she's suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, simply identifying with those controlling her. The friend, however, spills the beans: the liberationist cell is led by one their high school classmates (David Rogers), one whom Ella had recently grown close to. Increasingly, it becomes clear to all that Ella has orchestrated all of this, to get back at her father and perhaps even to have him killed to inherit his wealth (and gain control of the money left her by her late mother). Between Amita's code-cracking and a tip from the cell-leader's alienated brother (John Forest), the agents learn of the cell's headquarters, an abandoned house in which they've been squatting, and where they've taken Warren after kidnapping him. As they settle in around the perimeter for the negotiation or assault on the squat, Upchurch and Sinclair (Alimi Ballard) continue their slightly on-edge conversation about the later lives of Special Forces veterans like themselves, even as they wait to see if their sniper rifles will be needed. Eventually Don orders tear gas to be thrown into the house; all the cell members surrender, with the cell-leader freeing Warren, only to be shot dead by Ella, his girlfriend. Warren still seems to think he can buy their way out of the mess they're in, warning his daughter not to say anything till he has her lawyers in place; the foiled patricide responds sardonically, "I love you, too, Daddy." The case closed, Liz and Don finally have a chance to talk, and they end their affair.
Really, quite a good episode, with the usual number of loose ends for Numb3rs (the great episodes tie those off), and, again, the biggest problem with the episode being Megan's unlikely inability to control her temper any better than she does toward the middle of the hour. But her interplay with Larry, as he contructs a small fountain and aftward, and briefly with Liz (about the men in their lives), are much better-conceived. The contrast between Megan and Larry's reigniting relation, Amita and Charlie's flourishing one, and Liz and Don's dying affair is presented well, particularly as all look calm and not unreasonably passionate when compared to our villainess's all-consuming selfishness and hatred. Though perhaps a focus on the fountains gurgling and spurting as Megan and Larry become more intimate was a little too easy a joke.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 3:40 AM
|
I've become a big fan of this show over time, and genuinely look forward to it on Fridays. But I must confess that I find myself watching it mostly for Diane Farr. Not only do I find her to be seriously drop-dead gorgeous, but she has a remarkably natural acting style. I can't quite pinpoint it, but it's her small gestures, body language, inflections in her voice, etc., that are just so fluid and genuine--it's easy to forget that she's actually acting (which, to me, is the sign of an excellent actor/actress). She's come a long way since "Loveline".
Oh, yeah--and the rest of the cast is good, too!
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 8:25 AM
|
I too noticed the interplay of the three relationships, each in a different stage. In fact, I felt as if the kidnapping plot was simply a secondary backdrop to all the relationship activity.
Loved seeing Sean Patrick Flannery in a "good guy" role. He plays a shady politician (VP actually) in The Dead Zone. Also, it's interesting that when one of the regular Numb3rs cast is off (in this case, Colby) they bring in a consultant or another law enforcement official to sort of fill in. (Even tho there are times when that fill-in ends up being the culprit.)
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 8:52 AM
|
|
I wasn't as thrilled with the show as usual. It just seemed like the same old same old story that's been done before and I don't think Numbers actually added to it. The thing I did like as others commented on was the relationship factor. Was so happy Larry and Meagan seem to be taking off for New York, but disappointed that Don's relationship is ending (as his usually do). Perfect contrast. Was surprised not to see Colby and missed the very beginning while watching what I'd taped of Moonlight while picking up my nephew from the Boy Scouts, so did they ever explain WHY he wasn't there??
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 11:07 AM
|
While I feel bad for Don in the relationship department, I'm glad he and Liz are over. For some reason, I've never grown to like Liz. She seems kind of naggy(is that a word?) and she and Don just don't seem to fit right.
On the other hand, loved Charlie's happiness with what Amita was doing with the decoder, etc. He just seemed so pleased and excited. I just love when he smiles/laughs, he's really cute when he does that.
Speaking of Charlie, he seemed to have gotten a trim and a small shave. He looked so much better than even last week. He still has the beard and I'm not totally crazy about that, but he looked a lot better than before.
I missed Colby, but I've noticed in the last few episodes, save Megan, one of the guys, Colby or David, has been missing from the episode. I don't know if Numbers is just trying to mix things up or what and it's not that I mind it a lot, it's just kind of odd to keep making up execuses about why this week that person isn't there and then next week this person isn't there.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 12:42 PM
|
|
Compared to how young Sean Patrick Flannery looked on "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" from the early '90s(which I've been watching on one of the cable networks on Sunday mornings), I couldn't believe how weathered and tired he's looking these days! It took me a while to believe I was watching the same guy on this "Numbers" episode.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 1:24 PM
|
I thought Sean Patrick Flannery's character was an FBI specialist brought in through the old man's influence, not a private consultant. If he was private, he wouldn't have been up on a rooftop with a sniper rifle.
Beyond that, I think the series is growing in many ways. The relationship stuff was nicely handled (Don really is damaged goods, isn't he) including Megan's lack of objectivity on this particular case. Don putting her on a 'timeout' was great. Whoever writes Larry's dialogue is absolutely brilliant!
The only thing that bothered me was Amita's gadget using pixilation(?) to determine the source of the sat-phone signal - that just rang hollow to me.
Even though Charlie's little visual parables were helpful (to us) it was a nice change of pace that old-fashioned police-work and interrogation actually provided the ultimate solution.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 1:47 PM
|
|
I just love this show. Why hasn't David Krumholtz ever been nominated for a best supporting actor emmy or SAG award. He's brilliant, in my estimation.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 2:42 PM
|
Tonight's episode seemed scattered to me - like it was lost with little focus. I think that was primarily from following the plot line of the bad guys.
I don't think Liz is the problem in the relationship with Don - Don is the problem in any relationship he is in because he cannot resolve his own inner demons so he just pushes everybody away.
Very happy to see Larry and Megan renew their relationship.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 8:01 PM
|
Hi all, I enjoyed the episode. Was Alan absent as well? I think so.
Not too much to comment on this week, I hope Liz isn't off the show because they broke up.
My main annoyance, still, and until I get an answer: "WHERE IS MILLIE"?
I can't take it much longer, she is Charlie's intrusive quirky boss and Alan's love interest. To not resolve why she isn't on the show is insulting to the fans.
|
|
Nov 17, 2007 9:55 PM
|
|
Note to blogger...paragraphs please.
|
|
Nov 18, 2007 12:33 AM
|
|
I think Megan's short-ish temper has to do with her special assignment from the end of last season. I have no idea where I got this feeling from - I don't have copies of the earlier episodes to see when (or it) it was mentioned, but the feeling I've had is that when she was called to DC, she was reassigned to help interrogators "break" detainees in Gitmo, and she is angry about the kind of work she was ordered to do and a lot of that anger is still unresolved, and coming out in weird places. That's the best I can figure for it, unless it's just bad writing....
|
|
Nov 19, 2007 8:57 AM
|
That was Sean Patrick Flanery?! I didn't recognize him at all.
I'm not sad about Don's breakup with Liz. He still has issues that need to be taken care of. I'd like to see him in some more therapy sessions. He was really opening up last time.
|
|
Nov 19, 2007 9:19 AM
|
|
|
