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April 6, 2007: Stone Dead
We got a very interesting introduction to the wife and child of Raines’ slain partner Charlie tonight. Charlie’s wife Lisa (The Closer’s Gina Ravera) is dealing with her husband’s death in a healthy way but her son Jack is still reeling. Not only is Jack angry that his father is gone, but he’s in serious want of some revenge. It broke my heart a little when Jack said he wished he could have killed his father’s murderer. Raines was understandably concerned when he heard Jack say that. So concerned, in fact, that he discusses Jack with Dr. Kohl during his session. When Raines asks her, “What kind of selfish father does something that he knows sooner or later’s gonna kill him,” the doctor assumes she’s talking about Charlie. But Raines is referring to Jimmy’s father who overdosed in front of him when he was five. Dr. Kohl encourages Raines to bring Jack in because whether or not the kid wants to talk to her she seems to be able to help people whether or not they want to be there.
Our victim this week, Jimmy, is a reformed pothead who got his act together and was attending art school. His old crew the 420 mafia couldn’t function without him so when he moved away to college they followed him. When the muscle of the group Surfer discovers how much money can be made selling fake collector’s editions of comic books he drags Jimmy back into that life. But when Surfer threatens Wally, who had become like a father figure to Jimmy, Jimmy knows he has to permanently cut ties to the group but his plan backfires on him.
This was my favorite episode so far. Series creator Graham Yost did scripting duty on this episode and it sings with his little touches. As always, I like seeing Raines in action on his cases. He’s always meeting interesting people but this week the cast of characters was particularly colorful and amusing. My favorite was probably the doper old lady. “Old age put her on the bicycle but pot is doing the peddling.” I thought it was sweet when she gave Raines that pair of shoes. I also enjoyed Boyer letting canine officer Sophie (who was blind) do a little damage in Sergei’s smoke shop. Raines questioning the stoner gang was great as well. He always gets his man and it was probably made that much easier by a confused group of potheads. I did have one small problem though. Jimmy set out to kill Surfer. I know Surfer threatened to hurt Wally but I still had a problem with that. Your thoughts?
I know we all enjoy how the information Raines learns about the victim changes his perception of them. I also enjoy how much we learn about Raines through these interactions. This week we learned Raines moved to Los Angeles to be a writer like Raymond Chandler, which certainly explains his way with words. And although this is a show about death – Raines isn’t on the scene unless there’s a murder – there is also a lot of humor here. I think it’s welcome and much needed considering we have a main character who drinks and sees dead people.
As always, there were so many great lines. Here’s a sampling of my favorites:
“You’re freakishly tall.”
“Some people say my dad’s in a better place. How come that best place wasn’t with me and my mom?”
“I’m cursing God less.” “Don’t stop completely. I’m sure it’s a welcome change from all those people sucking up and asking for stuff.”
“That smart ass attitude is exactly why you’ll never get to have a captain’s ulcer.”
“Maybe he fell on the knife you were holding. Twice.”
“You suck at lying.”
“What if I buy you something?” “Can I just have the cash?”
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Apr 7, 2007 7:10 PM
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I really like this show and hope it sticks around. Great humor and characters.
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Apr 7, 2007 8:02 PM
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My whole family loves this show (3 generations!). Jeff Goldblum is absolutely wonderful but he's not up there alone. The entire supporting cast is just top notch. And that was just in THIS ep!
Watching Raines with his partner's son was so sad and touching. He was obviously close to the wife and son before and is trying to stay in their lives. I like that a lot.
All the dopers were hilarious but the old lady definitely took the cake. Or would that be weed-laced brownies?
Funniest scene - Raines asks the old lady to put out her medicine and she puts the ashtray over the top of the bong. Laugh out loud funny.
Second funniest scene - Raines in his car talking to the dead kid. Every time the camera switches to look from the passenger side, you see a homeless man watching. Then he eventually comes over and offers Raines a drink. Raines' response? "Not a drunk, just crazy."
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Apr 7, 2007 11:14 PM
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“Old age put her on the bicycle but pot is doing the peddling.” Or pedaling, even. At least, that's what Raines said, and the granny misinterpreted. (I wouldn't dare suggest that you were as ... influenced as she was.)
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Apr 8, 2007 9:16 AM
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I really liked this episode. I was laughing a lot, and yet the scenes with Jack were very moving. The bong lady was hilarious, and that taxidermied cat.. wow. And she gave him her dead hubby's shoes, which I thought was very sweet.
Jimmy's storyline was very sad. I thought it was cool how he drew his thoughts and emotions into his graphic novel. I think Payback sounds like a cool concept that might actually work if some things were tweaked. Kara, I understand what you are saying about Jimmy going after Surfer, but he was high when he did it. it's safe to say you don't think too clearly when you're high. I think he was just really desperate to be free of the gang and to protect Wally. Desperation doesn't make for clear thinking either. The kid was only 20.
I also liked how Raines' didn't change how Jimmy looked even with all he found out about him. All these perceptions of the victims Raines' has are great clues to what is actually going on in Raines' head. I think that's a really neat peice of character development.
I will definitely be continuing with this show. Jeff Goldblum is awesome. I like seeing him each week.
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Apr 8, 2007 6:39 PM
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I'm pretty sure Raines said in the first episode that he moved to LA to be a mystery writer. Pretty much in the first scene.
Even though Jimmy was high when he went to kill Surfer Guy, that was the reason he got high, to "make himself stronger" like Payback.
I really liked the whole scene when Raines first shows up at Surfer's place
"You look like Dizzy Gillepsie. Don't hold it in on my account."
I really love this show and hope it sticks around.
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Apr 9, 2007 1:05 AM
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I really enjoy this show as well. It all hangs on Jeff Goldblum. Another actor may not make this material work, but he does it so well. Interesting stuff with Charlie's son. Glad Raines is still involved with him and his mother. He still feels guilt over that unfortunate night. I wonder if we are going to see Charlie again. I don't think we have seen him since the pilot.
Raines does seem like he is making some progress with the shrink. He also is treating that one cop better. Raines had him involved with the dog.
The ratings seem fine, but I do think this show probably won't make it. I just haven't heard any buzz about it. I wouldn't mind if they kept it on Fridays.
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Apr 9, 2007 1:50 AM
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Does anyone know how many episodes we will have this mid-season?
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Apr 9, 2007 12:21 PM
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I really like this show but if you aren't a regular viewer then there seems to be some confusion. My sister saw just one episode and she thinks Raines sees dead people. I had to explain that they are just in his imagination. Also why doesn't he just stick one of thise ear phones on so everyone thinks he is on the phone instead of talking to himself? I do talk to myself but here in Florida it seems the norm. But I don't know how many people I have answered when I thought they were talking to me and they were just talking on their "ear" phone.
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Apr 9, 2007 3:24 PM
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I'm really enjoying this show I've always been a fan of Jeff Goldblum this has probably been the best episode so far. I liked his interaction with his late partner's son and how it related to Jimmy and his father. I'm glad the shrink helped Raines to realize he was doing a good job as a "father figure" to his partner's son and that if he wasn't he would be seeing Charlie that Charlie would let him know if he was messing up. nice to se Gina Ravera on something besides the Closer ntot that I don't love her on The Closer and I hope she makes some more appearances I have a bad feeling though that Raines isn't going to last long the ratings haven't been that good and I don't know if it generates enough "buzz" to get renewed in spite of low ratings.
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Apr 10, 2007 12:29 PM
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Well I can't imagine why it can't survive on a Friday nite. How good do the ratings have to be on a Friday? It works well for me.
I'm a huge Goldblum fan and I think this show gets better each week. The scene with the dog in the smoke shop was funny and I absolutely LOVED ganja granny! I think Raines is making progress in therapy.
I also loved that Jimmy's appearance didn't change because he equated him with his partner's son, although I laughed when he saw him with the machine gun when he found out he had been in a gang. 'You got a problem bitch?'
Ratings I agree with you. I said the first episode that he needs a bluetooth.
I just love this show!
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Apr 10, 2007 2:15 PM
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Loved the dog in the smoke shop. This is a good show. Hopfully they don't ruin it with the same old junk in all the other crime dramas. Goldblum is soooo much fun to watch.
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Apr 12, 2007 10:20 PM
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