|
|
|
 jamiebambernews
 zegeekgirl | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 "Denial," written by Catherine Tregenna Hi folks - sorry this is late in the day but I've been running myself ragged this w/e (including getting to bed at nearly 4 a.m. last night - yeesh), so I've only just had time to sit down and recap. It'll be briefer than my usual ramblings, so that's something. ;) Along with "Community Service," this is probably one of my favorite Catherine Tregenna eps. As much for the involving script as for the way in which it breaks free of the dock, so to speak, by not actually featuring a proper trial at all; it's nice, for a change, to see the CPS end of things handled in different surroundings under special circumstances. (Well, nice in as much as it's a change of scenery for us - it's not a "nice" situation, at all. When is it ever in L&O land, but this one.... :( Immensely infuriating and compelling at the same time.) Juliet Stevenson is an actress I've always really loved, but she surpassed even my high expectations here. Such a difficult role to really make soar when you're bedridden for the entire episode and she's just a force of nature. Loved both her face-off with James in questioning, where he tries so hard to get her to respond as a victim and not as a judge and she just stonewalls him at every turn, and of course that completely heartbreaking scene with George. (I know it's totally NOT implicit in the script, but did anyone else get the idea that maybe they were an item once? Or at least, highly fond of one another. Oh, Jules, you married the wrong bloke... ) One other casting note, another surprise (since we don't have full episode descrips from ITV yet) - Diana Quick, who played the judge actually handling the case. If you're old enough (like me) you might remember her as the original Julia Flyte in Brideshead Revisited. ;) (Among many other things.) One aspect of this ep which we have seen before, though not much of this series, was the strict division between Law & Order; once the coppers are done, they're done here. Though as with all recent eps, it crackles - loved seeing Angie back in fine form. (Aww, that grin when Ronnie laid the line on her about "or the first Mrs. Devlin." Hee.) Jamie was also fantastic in the scene with the posh git who bought the Mercedes - loved a bit of Matt's scarcely veiled working-class contempt coming out. Ronnie was quite heavy on the snark this week, but it made for some great Jamie reaction shots. Matt, come on now, don't be so shy sunshine... push back a little. XD Of course, the extremely fleeting Action!Matt moment was a total keeper... see new icon. I might (oh, who are we kidding - probably will) be back w/ more later, but go ahead and get the discussion rolling from here! ETA: Oh, and dramaturgca coined a new term that I'm deeply enamoured of. So much so that I made an icon to commemorate it. ;) -  Tags: tv: law and order: uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
While I enjoyed the episode, particularly Juliet's performance, the episode suffered a bit for me because it adhered so closely to the original L&O story. I didn't realize until now how much I appreciated the writers deviating from the original scripts (or me not having seen the L&O episodes ;). Even James's questioning, which bordered on testifying and I was shocked the defense attorney did not object more, is one of the worst instances of L&O forgoing realism and something the UK version has done pretty good job of avoiding thus far.
Loved Angie's reaction to the idea of being the first Mrs. Devlin. :)
Though my favorite moment was Natalie's comment about nobody forgetting a lousy co-worker, Ronnie responding that they might, and Matt's reaction. Jamie is SO GOOD at the deadpan humor and I really hope someday he gets to use it on a more regular basis.
I know it's totally NOT implicit in the script, but did anyone else get the idea that maybe they were an item once? Or at least, highly fond of one another.
I did. If they weren't romantically involved at some point, it seemed as if George had those feelings. Because it was made clear Rachel's career always came first, maybe she was oblivious to how he felt? She certainly failed to see what she had done to her husband and daughter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I liked this episode very much. I liked it even though the drought of copper time continues. I hope they're saving up some massive copper drama in the back half of this series to make up for it.
I was puzzling a bit over the copper camaraderie, but checked the dates, and the copper parts definitely predate the "Anonymous" ruckus, so Ronnie hasn't betrayed Mattie yet. ("Denial" dates are before "ID" dates, so we have episodes shown out of order again. I haven't gone back to check if the slight copper coolness in "ID" makes sense versus "Anonymous" timelines.)
Naturally, like everyone else, I loved the copper banter, and Ang-- "How much do you love me?" oh completely, Ang, completely, don't give up hope. Some great lines, great reactions. I hadn't picked up on the class-divide implications of Matt's interrogation of the banker, but now that you've pointed it out, that's another good undertone to the scene.
Of course, James shines in this, and finally with a really really good day-player to fight it out with. The hospital cross-examination might end up being my favorite James interrogation ever. Rachel so completely holds her own smacking down his every attempt ("Spare me your shock tactics."), until he's so frustrated he goes all the way to sexy casual James mode, with the sprawling and the "fine what would you do" and then back again into sympathetic, and then to fierce. He doesn't 'win' but he obviously gets to her. Such a great love-him-but-he's-a-stubborn-bastard scene.
I have some strong personal feelings about the right of people to decide the time and manner of their own death. So the line that really sunk in for me was: "It is not irrational to want to die when you've been ultimately betrayed by the person you love." I understand the view of the daughter, seeing Rachel's choice as selfish, but I see Rachel's view too, that life had in a moment, become too painful to be borne. So sad. George obviously understood.
Really interesting, intense, different L&O episode, and I'd love to see more like it, that bend the formula a little bit. (But with more copper action next time!)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previously on...
