Prodigal Son 2x12 Thoughts
May. 14th, 2021 10:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iariaSun and Fun
Excellent episode.
I'm surprised that this wasn't the season finale because ending it with Martin free and triumphantly on the run with Malcolm is such a great place to end and I am really interested in what they think is better. I loved that final scene with Martin escaping with an unconscious Malcolm and laughing in joy.
+ I loved Martin's expression when Malcolm urged his dad to run.
+ I love how much the end of this episode was about showing Martin and Malcolm's love for each other. Malcolm was losing it over worry, turned himself over to (and took drugs from) a woman he was sure was a psychopath and the told his serial killer father to run free so he wouldn't die. Meanwhile despite Malcolm's belief that Martin can't love it's very clear that Martin does love his son. His gentleness in lying Malcolm back down and reassuring him that he was safe now and his expression said it all.
+ What I really want from the next episode is for Ainsley to somehow join them. I'm tired of her being the forgotten child. I want Martin's 'happy ending' to involve having both his children rather than him being happy to abandon Ainsley because he has his favoured child.
+ I loved Vivian Capshaw and Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayal in this episode. She was brilliant. I admit I haven't really been sold on either of them this season. CZJ wasn't really working for me and I was meh about Vivian and confused about her as a character. But in this episode I thought CZJ was excellent, I loved every moment of her acting and I couldn't look away from Vivian. She was a delight to watch. Vivian as someone obsessed with Martin because she thinks he's the only one who can see and understand her makes everything before this suddenly work for me. The way that she absolutely couldn't be reasoned with was kind of terrifying especially in concert with her delusion that what she was doing with Martin was going to end how she wanted.
Her delighted smile when she was trying to get Martin to pick a drug was wonderfully creepy and I loved that entire scene between them - "You’re going to die now, but don’t worry, I’ll bring you back." The scene where Martin was crawling to the phone was tense! I loved that small change in Vivian's expression when Malcolm says Martin can't love her - the tiniest smile while gazing at Martin and then when he looks away to Malcolm it disappearing - such a small thing but really worrying for Malcolm's well-being! I loved her screaming.
+ "You know, I think there may be something very wrong with that woman." - Martin. LOL.
+ I loved Martin's switch from fear for Malcolm and pleading with Vivian to enraged threats when Malcolm flatlines.
+ I appreciated Dani's gentleness with Malcolm at the beginning and that she knew exactly why he was so upset - that he was really afraid that he would never see his father again. Which makes her later telling Malcolm that maybe it was for the best if Martin was gone and that Malcolm would finally be free even more dumb. She knows better! It's not healthy or easily understandable and yes Malcolm would probably be better overall if Martin was gone but you don't say that to him! As she's already acknowledged knowing - Malcolm loves his father. She's seen how desperate he is to save him. Dude.
+ I enjoyed Malcolm and Jessica working together to get information about Vivian out of the doctor.
+ I get why everyone was skeptical, and I really appreciate Gil looking into Vivian anyway because he does trust/believe in Malcolm, but at the same time Malcolm is right so often, you know. Maybe go out on the limb.
+ I was confused both by why Martin would call Jessica instead of Malcolm and why Vivian would bother talking to Jessica instead of hanging up? Neither made much sense to me. We got Jessica agonising over whether to tell or keep it secret so I'm guessing this is a character moment for her [she let her desire for Martin to be gone take precedence and it ended up with Malcolm in trouble) and possibly another roadblock between her and Gil (since she made the 'wrong' choice - though I think he'd completely understand it.) It has to have some significance.
I'd think she'd have something to do with uncovering the truth about Vivian but Ainsley has her on tape so unnecessary. That's too bad because Ainsley and Jessica knowing the truth but having no proof and how they react could be interesting.
+ Why wouldn't Dani (and Ainsley) have taken the phone recording to Gil and gotten more backup?
+ I really hope that we get some Ainsley/Vivian interaction in the next episode cause I think it could be fascinating. I have no idea how things would go but there are so many intriguing options. Ainsley could kill Vivian? Vivian could mentor Ainsley?
+ I'm sad about the lack of Edrisa.
eta: I'm really disappointed that the show was cancelled. It's so much fun. Meh.
Excellent episode.
I'm surprised that this wasn't the season finale because ending it with Martin free and triumphantly on the run with Malcolm is such a great place to end and I am really interested in what they think is better. I loved that final scene with Martin escaping with an unconscious Malcolm and laughing in joy.
+ I loved Martin's expression when Malcolm urged his dad to run.
+ I love how much the end of this episode was about showing Martin and Malcolm's love for each other. Malcolm was losing it over worry, turned himself over to (and took drugs from) a woman he was sure was a psychopath and the told his serial killer father to run free so he wouldn't die. Meanwhile despite Malcolm's belief that Martin can't love it's very clear that Martin does love his son. His gentleness in lying Malcolm back down and reassuring him that he was safe now and his expression said it all.
+ What I really want from the next episode is for Ainsley to somehow join them. I'm tired of her being the forgotten child. I want Martin's 'happy ending' to involve having both his children rather than him being happy to abandon Ainsley because he has his favoured child.
+ I loved Vivian Capshaw and Catherine Zeta-Jones portrayal in this episode. She was brilliant. I admit I haven't really been sold on either of them this season. CZJ wasn't really working for me and I was meh about Vivian and confused about her as a character. But in this episode I thought CZJ was excellent, I loved every moment of her acting and I couldn't look away from Vivian. She was a delight to watch. Vivian as someone obsessed with Martin because she thinks he's the only one who can see and understand her makes everything before this suddenly work for me. The way that she absolutely couldn't be reasoned with was kind of terrifying especially in concert with her delusion that what she was doing with Martin was going to end how she wanted.
Her delighted smile when she was trying to get Martin to pick a drug was wonderfully creepy and I loved that entire scene between them - "You’re going to die now, but don’t worry, I’ll bring you back." The scene where Martin was crawling to the phone was tense! I loved that small change in Vivian's expression when Malcolm says Martin can't love her - the tiniest smile while gazing at Martin and then when he looks away to Malcolm it disappearing - such a small thing but really worrying for Malcolm's well-being! I loved her screaming.
+ "You know, I think there may be something very wrong with that woman." - Martin. LOL.
+ I loved Martin's switch from fear for Malcolm and pleading with Vivian to enraged threats when Malcolm flatlines.
+ I appreciated Dani's gentleness with Malcolm at the beginning and that she knew exactly why he was so upset - that he was really afraid that he would never see his father again. Which makes her later telling Malcolm that maybe it was for the best if Martin was gone and that Malcolm would finally be free even more dumb. She knows better! It's not healthy or easily understandable and yes Malcolm would probably be better overall if Martin was gone but you don't say that to him! As she's already acknowledged knowing - Malcolm loves his father. She's seen how desperate he is to save him. Dude.
+ I enjoyed Malcolm and Jessica working together to get information about Vivian out of the doctor.
+ I get why everyone was skeptical, and I really appreciate Gil looking into Vivian anyway because he does trust/believe in Malcolm, but at the same time Malcolm is right so often, you know. Maybe go out on the limb.
+ I was confused both by why Martin would call Jessica instead of Malcolm and why Vivian would bother talking to Jessica instead of hanging up? Neither made much sense to me. We got Jessica agonising over whether to tell or keep it secret so I'm guessing this is a character moment for her [she let her desire for Martin to be gone take precedence and it ended up with Malcolm in trouble) and possibly another roadblock between her and Gil (since she made the 'wrong' choice - though I think he'd completely understand it.) It has to have some significance.
I'd think she'd have something to do with uncovering the truth about Vivian but Ainsley has her on tape so unnecessary. That's too bad because Ainsley and Jessica knowing the truth but having no proof and how they react could be interesting.
+ Why wouldn't Dani (and Ainsley) have taken the phone recording to Gil and gotten more backup?
+ I really hope that we get some Ainsley/Vivian interaction in the next episode cause I think it could be fascinating. I have no idea how things would go but there are so many intriguing options. Ainsley could kill Vivian? Vivian could mentor Ainsley?
+ I'm sad about the lack of Edrisa.
eta: I'm really disappointed that the show was cancelled. It's so much fun. Meh.
