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February 5, 2007: What If He Walks Away?
The first few minutes of this episode were a great change of pace, although it didn’t take long before I was feeling the same way as Brett did: even when you’re lounging about on a tropical beach, sipping alcoholic beverages and spending time with your bikini-clad, smokin’ hot girlfriend, eventually you’d get bored of doing the exact same thing day after day. Okay, maybe you wouldn’t get bored of it, but you might eventually be depressed to realize that you’re trapped. Your life is on permanent hold, nothing you do matters in the long run, and you only have twenty-four hours of freedom to enjoy.
Still, I’m glad that Brett finally decides to use this time-repeating to his advantage by taking outlandish vacations (and for those of you wondering why he’s able to flee the city without being hunted down like in the second episode of the series, it’s because he’s found the tracking device on his car that Fencik and Buchalter were using to track him). The man deserves a few days of R and R. But by the time the first commercial break rolled around and the biggest plot twist was that the secret ingredient in the Baja Blaster was coconut juice, I was beginning to wonder if this was just a filler episode to kill time before a two-part grand finale.
(And on a totally unrelated side note, Moon Bloodgood is absolutely gorgeous, and she’s engaged to… Milo from 24? Really? Nice job dude – he looks pretty goofy to me to have such a hot girlfriend. Maybe some of the girls on the feedback board can educate me on this one: Eric Balfour, hot or not? Maybe his pointy chin and half-goatee are more handsome than I thought. Or maybe there’s hope for all of us goofy-looking guys out there after all.)
But anyway, back to the massive revelations in this episode, which manage to change the entire game again. It seems that Brett’s ability to affect people from the moment they wake up has both positive (inspiring his sister to trust him, convincing Andrea to take her boyfriend to rehab) and negative results. This time, Rita wakes up apparently mad at Brett for no real reason. Or at least, no reason that she hasn’t felt the other several dozen times that she woke up. She decides to call Chad this morning, and in doing so, tips off Spivak’s SWAT team that Hopper is at her place rather than his apartment. Which gives Brett even less time than before to start running.
But Rita gets even less trustworthy as the day progresses: while she’s driving along with Chad, she gets a phone call and exclaims “Someone found the body!” What body? Later, Uncle Nick visits Brett in prison and vaguely alludes to the fact that Rita’s secret concerns the conspiracy that Booth is running as well. If that’s the case, it would make sense that Chad’s secret that he’s being blackmailed for and Rita’s secret are one and the same: if Rita’s secret somehow is connected to the men running this conspiracy that would explain how they know about it to control Chad. And this secret also concerns a guy named Billy, whom Chad describes as a perpetual screw-up.
Unfortunately, Rita isn’t the only one who’s lost Brett’s trust. Uncle Nick is also a part of the conspiracy, albeit as an enforcer that, like Chad, has been threatened into working for them but still doesn’t want to see any harm come to Hopper. Apparently the dirty money Brett’s father accumulated was a result of burying any investigation into the murder of Isabella Contrares, but while Uncle Nick could live with the guilt, Hopper Senior couldn’t. Hey, at least the man is nice enough to send “Hippo” (what a terrible nickname to get stuck with…) to act as Brett’s guardian angel with a sniper rifle. He’s not evil, he’s just scared out of his mind at the amount of power the conspiracy has, and he advises Brett to plead guilty to the murder and serve his time in jail rather than rock the boat.
And then the episode closes with another two plot twists. For starters, Uncle Nick is the one who tipped off Damien and saved him from the massacre at the safe house. Curiously though, he uses Damien’s trust from this tip to convince him that Brett should no longer be considered an ally. And then the final piece of information: much as I predicted, there’s someone above Booth in the conspiracy. And I’m certain it’s a character we’ve already met. Whoever it is, Uncle Nick knows and has access to this person, because he suggests a meeting to take care of business once and for all.
Whew, that’s quite a lot of surprises for one episode, so many that it felt like Brett spent almost the entire time after the beach vacations being constantly at someone else’s mercy. He goes from almost being killed by Fencik and Buchalter to being lectured by Uncle Nick to getting arrested and accosted in his prison cell. I’m impressed that this show has managed to change everything yet again, but it only makes it harder to wait another week for a single episode, and then one more after that for the finale. Let’s just hope they don’t save all the answers for the final hour, because I’m dying to know what Rita’s secret is.
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Feb 6, 2007 8:57 AM
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I think there was a reference in the past episiode about something Rita was charged with in 2002 and that Chad was supposed to have made go away but the cops questioning her had found. At the time I thought a DUI or hit and run.
Now I'm not sure what is up with this Billy twist. I mean if Billy killed Rita and Chad it has to be related to the conspiracy since Harper's gun turned up at the scene.
I'm confused as to how anyone we have met so far could be the top dog. Besides booth no one we have met appears to be in a position of athourity or have enough wealth to pull this off and keep it covered up. I mean booth is only a city councilman which really isn't a very poiwerful position.
My wild guess out of left field just for the heck of it are The bartender from the Santiago club and the waitress from the bar Hooper frequented in the early episiodes.
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Feb 6, 2007 11:34 AM
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Also we know from this episiode that Hooper spent 12 days in Mexico plus one in Las Vegas before getting back to work. But how many total times has this day repeated?
By the time Hopper arrived in Mexico for the first time his bullet scar was completely healed. Shouldn't there still be a scare even after it healed? Sorry for being nit picky.
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Feb 6, 2007 11:37 AM
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Lawler, in the episode with Jared the crazy dude (What if he's not alone), Brett told Jared at that point he'd repeated the day for about 3 weeks, so by this episode, you can add at least about 2 1/2 to 3 more weeks to that. I noticed the lack of the bullet hole too. I don't think it would be that healed up to be completely gone.
I kept reeling with the revelations in this one. I'm predicting that by the last episode Brett is going to let Rita go to be back with Chad. I think it's fairly obvious Chad still loves her, and I think Rita's feelings for him aren't gone either. Why was Chad the person she called that morning? She couldn't even really explain it to Hopper.
Moon is STUNNING!! When we saw them go to that hotel room in Vegas, my jaw dropped. She's engaged to Eric Balfour?! He's kinda good looking, but his look seems like he's trying too hard to be in a boy band. He's not really my type. But I definitely think he's marrying up.
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Feb 6, 2007 12:30 PM
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As was mentioned in the blog for the previous episode, things do, indeed, get worse for Hopper before they get better. And I feel as though the writers just jerked us around!
We were very close to having answers and what do you know?! They actually made sense in a twisted, follow the maze kind of way ... but now? Nothing makes sense!
A whole new lot of twists were thrown in and I can't help but feel the last 2 episodes may feel forced even knowing the show's season was only 13 episodes ... I don't know. I just feel strangely disappointed by this one.
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Feb 6, 2007 1:10 PM
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First off - Eric Balfour. EW! Definitely NOT attractive. Or maybe it's just how he looks on 24. Makes me shudder. (Wasn't he somebody's boyfriend on Party of Five?)
Anyway...Another great episode ending. I agree, the beginning of this one dragged a bit, but gave us a few more twists. I can't help but wonder who from the police station is involved. Remember, someone planted Hopper's fingerprint on the gun that killed Garza. I'm glad that Rita isn't involved in the whole frame-up. (Maybe Billy is a sibling?) I just can't guess where it will go from here. I can't think of any higher-up that we've met who could be behind it all. Can't wait for next Monday!
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Feb 6, 2007 7:10 PM
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I left the episode feeling strangely depressed. The relationship with Rita seemed like the one real thing, and then now, who knows what's real anymore. The guy has one depressed afternoon, and now he has a whole new scenario to deal with each. Can't wait till Monday for the next one. I still can't believe this is not on TV anymore. That's the depressing part!
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Feb 7, 2007 1:03 AM
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Ok, so I am wondering if the good Doctor Forasz and Jared are going to come back into play. My husband thinks that Jared is in on the whole thing, but I just think Forasz was holding something back from Brett. Also, when are we going to see how Spivak (sp?) is connected? He's obviously a crooked cop since he stole the Dominguez fax from the Garza crime scene and is intent on framing Brett. I want to see him go down!!!
So, my husband and I had a marathon of Day Break last night with all the new internet episodes and we can't get over how awesome this show is! It just kept getting better with each new episode. ABC truly did not do right by this show or give it a chance.
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Feb 7, 2007 8:51 AM
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I don't think we actually saw Spivak take the fax. We saw him look at it, and someone passed by the machine and took it, but I don't believe we clearly saw that. I don't think Spivak is a bad guy. Just overzealous for whatever reason against the Hoppers. Perhaps it's just as simple as he hates dirty cops, although nothing is simple on this show.
I like this 11th hour turnaround. It will make these last 2 eps really interesting. I don't believe that Rita was actively conspiring against Brett, but whatever her secret is was used against Chad to make him cooperate about the murder book on Isabella Contreras. Unfortunately, that conversation with Rita in Mexico has altered her feelings about Brett, and he may not be able to get that relationship back.
Jack, I hope you're trying to convince Matt Roush that he was WRONG about this show! If it does come out on DVD, give it to him for his birthday or something.
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Feb 7, 2007 9:59 AM
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OK, not only is Moon Bloodgood gorgeous, luminous, all of the above, but she is also a really, really cool gal. We really had fun during that Q&A I did with her earlier this season.
To think she doesn't like her butt. Wha?!
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Feb 7, 2007 10:49 AM
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Hey Matt - nice to see you here again. What are you thinking about the episodes thus far?
I still feel like we just got pulled around by a leash and I'm hoping the writers redeem themselves with the last two episodes!
And yes, give Roush the DVD - aside from this one episode, this show just gets better and better!
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Feb 7, 2007 1:42 PM
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I've been thinking its Spivack for a few epis now. In one of the recent ones, the silhouette of someone giving orders in the car, inter-spliced with booth giving his speech just didn't connect to booth to me, but it DID connect to Spivack for me.
He also knows Hippo, and just also has a real connection to the old crime (knowing hop's Dad, and probably others).
Another tho, could be Garza's Wife, but thats a surprise/stretch.
anywho, this epi was ok, I was really enjoying the whole first half, but I'm not feeling that whole change in Rita's vibe, and am not sure if we'll be given enough info to make it "fit" with whats been going on. There's still two epis tho...and I shouldn't be so pessimistic, the writers have been on top of it so far.
BTW, I too thought to myself "WOW" in the vegas hotel. She's stunning all done up.
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Feb 7, 2007 1:43 PM
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True, bxdash. Good point. Maybe it is Spivak, but where did he get all the power? I don't know, just when you think this show goes one way, it goes another.
HeyHeath, don't forget the series' mantra: Decisions....Consequences. Brett made some decisions that are coming back to haunt him. I don't think that the new revelations mess up what we've previously learned, but make him realize there STILL a bigger picture to discover. What if this had been a regular season length show? Can you imagine how slowly they would have had to delve out the information? This way, with 2 eppies left, I think it's gonna be fast and furious.
I'd forgotten about that interview with Moon, Matt. What happened to that Pathfinder movie? I remember seeing previews for it, and now it's disappeared. It also stars Karl Urban, who is one of my current crushes.
But why does that girl not like her butt? That's so crazy. I watched Oprah yesterday, and John Travolta was talking about when he was young he felt like he was fat. They showed a shot of him from his Boy in the Plastic Bubble days, and he looks so sleek and healthy, I'd forgotten he ever looked like that. Youth is so wasted on the young sometimes... and I say that and I'm only 38!
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Feb 7, 2007 2:28 PM
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Man the way this show is going, the only possible explanation for the repeating days is a sci fi angle.. I mean is there anyone put there, that can possibly explain to me about groundhog day with no sci fi element..
I think that because it was cancelled the resolution is going to be weak. The same thing happened with kidnapped, the show was scheduled to run for a full season but once it was cancelled the producers shorttened up the season to completed and not spend alot of money...
What do yuo people think, am i right, that we r not going to get a good resolution, but a SCI FI one..
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Feb 8, 2007 7:45 AM
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So it looks like Hopper has to figure out a few more things before his day will end:
1) Rita/Chad's secret
2) Damien's role in the conspiracy
3) The identity of the mastermind behind the conspiracy
If the "mastermind" is someone we know already, I can't imagine who it would be. Maybe the lawyer from the club? It would be very funny if it turns out to be Jared. (I hope we find out something more about Jared, by the way).
Kingkrims:
I don't think we're going to find out why Hopper's day repeated. The writers originally assumed there would be additional seasons -- with different days repeating -- and may have wanted the "ultimate question" to remain unanswered for now.
If there is an explanation, I would assume it would have to be "sci fi". (Unless, of course, they take the "it was all a dream" route, I suppose.)
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Feb 8, 2007 12:20 PM
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