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Episode Recap: "Black Swan"
An excellent return from hiatus, "Black Swan" did most of what Numb3rs does best.
The opening montage, contrasting the FBI agents taking down a meth lab (probably not but possibly a slight nod to the most Numb3rs-like of the new series to begin since the strike, Breaking Bad) with the introductory lecture by the academics to a new class of teaching assistants, was typically clever and mutually reinforcing, even down the usual color-coding (blues for the FBI, sepias for academe).
When Don sees a possibly innocent bystander to the meth-lab bust as just a little to conveniently nearby, and has the agents take him into custody as well, the agents discover that he's part of a neo-Nazi group responsible for at least one IRS-building bombing. But, of course, being a determined enemy of the state, the would-be domestic terrorist isn't going to open up and tell what's being planned, nor who or where his confederates are. Happily for our team, searching his van turns up a cheap navigation device; unhappily, it features only his last several destinations. Through staking out one of those, the team finds the safe house where the fellow radical rightists are holed up; the academics, in this case Charlie, Amita and Larry, work on a program and model that will, they hope, tell them about the intended target of the group from the few locations the device gave them. Meanwhile, Don, feeling frustrated at usually only being able to arrest criminals after the fact, worries Megan and the other agents, and Charlie, with his willingness to bend the rules regarding their suspect's Constitutional protections...not least because to some extent doing so actually strengthen's the terrorist's case, and his resolve. The title of the episode, referring to a process in which a certain worldview is taken for granted until new data forces revision--such as the discovery in Australia by Europeans that black swans exist along with the exclusivley white ones the Europeans were familiar with--comes into play particularly as the team realizes that the black swan in this case wasn't so much the appearance of neo-Nazis at a meth lab, but the arrest of the meth makers before the radicals could obtain bomb-making materials from them. The team determines that the probable target is a bank that partially foiled the radicals' activities in the past, and in the course of catching the last member of the group who'd escaped a raid on their safehouse, manage to convince that lone bomber that his ultimate goal of "propaganda by the deed" would be utterly overshadowed by the damage to innocents if he killed them, or utterly dismissed as just a lone nut's sacrifice if he merely allowed himself to die.
Counterpointed to this in the episode is Amita's disappointment at her Indian government-official parents' continuing delay of a second visit to her at the CalTech analog where the academics teach; Charlie eventually suggests that they try a visit to Delhi, instead, an offer she declines, but gratefully...like her parents, both she and Charlie are too wrapped up in their work to leave. Megan, troubled by several aspects of her work at the FBI, moots the possibility of finding other work with Larry, at his gentle suggestion. And Colby, still easing his way back into friendship with Sinclair, is also starting to pick up one some of the approaches to problem-solving the academics use.
Again, a fine episode to ease viewers back into the series, if not one of extraordinary distinction, so much as a good representative example of the series' strengths. Now, let's see if we can get by the threat of the actors' unions going on strike, as well...and if the uncharitable placement of the fine and intelligent NBC police drama Life also on Fridays at 10p ET/PT next season will do more than force the use of recorders or other delayed views of both series.
For more on Numb3rs, please see our Online Video Guide.
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Apr 5, 2008 6:59 PM
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And don't forget they keep opening the door a little further in each episode to Diane Farr leaving the show...
Do we know yet if they have a replacement for her or if they'll keep the cast as is?
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Apr 5, 2008 11:53 PM
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They do have someone lined up for her part but I don't remember who.
I thought it was a really good episode.
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Apr 6, 2008 8:20 PM
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indy500 will you let us know if you remember who is replacing Dianne Farr? Last I knew they wanted to cast someone as an "adrenaline junkie" but they hadn't cast the actress at that point.
I'm disapointed that Life is going to be on Fridays at 10 as well. I enjoyed that show and I'm afraid being on a Friday, and especially against Numb3rs, its ratings are going to sink. Now I watch Numb3rs on on-demand basically everytime so now that just means I'm going to have to tape Life if I'm not home.
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Apr 7, 2008 10:18 AM
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Nice to see the team back. This was Colby's episode. Every funny line was written for him and he tossed them out beautifully. Loved that touch...nice contrast with the drama of the case and the personal struggles.
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Apr 7, 2008 10:45 AM
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OK did everyone else see the waffle dinner coming at the end of the episode? It was a nice way to end it but a little too predictable. But at the same time I would have been very disappointed if they didn't end the show that way (most episodes seem to end at the house).
As for the writeup they didn't find the safe house on the GPS, they found the bar. They then left the van with the GPS in it so the other bad guys would search track down the van via GPS and see where the captured guy was. Once they found the van they went to the safe house and Colby and Sinclair followed them back.
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Apr 7, 2008 12:03 PM
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Loved the episode, so glad the show is back. I really can't understand how this show gets bashed by so many people. I have enjoyed this show since the beginning.
On a side note: I was watching the old "American Gladiators" tonight on ESPN Classic and guess who was a contestant? Dylan Bruno (Colby). It was so definitely him. 10-15 years ago, don't know the exact time frame of when the show was on. He looked the same except quite younger AND he had long hair, about shoulder length and curly!  Cute!
In this episode, he won and advanced to the semi-finals. I looked it up on IMDB and they had no mention of him being on the show in the actor/show/self (main page) listings (but it was mentioned in the Trivia section).
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Apr 8, 2008 8:27 PM
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Another good episode... as expected and usual, as it's consistently good. It was nice to see a little LESS reliance on math, and Don doing his investigating the old-fashioned way: by relying on his gut instinct and detective work.
My college-aged son watches this show w/ me, and I haven't shared with him about Megan leaving... he doesn't like to know that stuff ahead of time.
Personally I didn't quite see the waffle-dinner coming (altho in retrospect, I should have). Actually, I had another ending in mind, another way I thought they were going to go. Of course at the moment I can't remember what that was!  In the meantime, i can't believe nobody (either on the show or in these comments) said anything about the fact that Alan Eppes apparently lost his razor. The guy looked like a bum! Not sure what he was going for, but I don't think it quite worked. Alan's one of those people (as many in his generation are) who take pride in looking his best anytime he leaves the house or has guests. I'm surprised a comment wasn't written into the show about his new look.
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Apr 9, 2008 5:51 PM
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Amarty33, you are correct, and I will be fixing that in the recap shortly.
Jena, I must admit that given the tendency for various characters to shag up a bit on the series, the relative stubbling of Judd Hirsch's character went right past me.
I'll see if I can shake some trees about who will be following in Farr's (and Lloyd's--clearly double consonants are a must) footsteps, but I suspect that as soon as the deal's signed, it will be trumpeted.
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Apr 11, 2008 12:23 AM
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