The folks down at Medium HQ hopped in the wayback machine to prepare this week’s episode, in more ways than one. Not only did they raid the Sandoval family photo albums to give us some authentic Manuel/Arianna photos, they also answered a question that has been lingering since season two. That being the circumstances around Arianna’s suicide. I don’t know that there could ever be an answer to that mystery that wasn’t crushing, but I never imagined it could be as dreadful as it was. Along the way, we also revisited Bridgette’s still growing, and always odd, powers.
Starting with Arianna and Manny… good grief, how sad was that story? Granted, it was always going to be sad, but did you ever think it could be that bad? The writer’s really outdid themselves with that one, but in the good way. There were an awful lot of coincidences (possibly stretches) that played into it all working out the way it did, but I still liked it.
And one of the reasons was that they were again willing to make their characters far less than perfect. Devalos selling his client down the river is a pretty big black mark on the character of someone we would have never expected that from. Much like Allison covering up the murder of Gerwin (Will McCormack), Although, that was admittedly less unexpected. The real brilliance of it though was that despite both of them making those questionable choices, we’re left agreeing with their decisions.
It all added up to a great showcase for Miguel Sandoval and Devalos. It’s one of the great things about television, and why I’ll always prefer TV to movies. Having a show run for six seasons affords the time to really develop a character like Devalos. In Medium, the movie, we’d barely get to know him. Thanks to the luxuries of television, we really know him, and that’s what really makes stories like this work. Casting Sandoval’s daughter, Olivia Sandoval, to play Arianna was also a very nice touch.
Meanwhile, back at the library, Bridgette’s power continues to be so very odd. Odd as it may be though, it does have a knack for steering things in the right direction. It was a clever use of the Nigerian 419 scam, and it had me fooled. I thought the prince (Rick Worthy, Maximum Bob!)was going to be an actual prince, not involved in any sort of scam. I didn’t catch that Bridgette was the only one seeing the costume until the librarian (Beth Grant, Wonderfalls!) appeared and they revealed it.
What else can you say? It was a tough episode, in many respects, but a good one. I really appreciate that they revisited Arianna’s story, for the fans that have been watching for all these years. And I’m always in favor of shining a bit more of the spotlight on Scanlon or Devalos. One final note: It looks like next week’s episode has been pushed back for the Hope For Haiti telethon.
Clacked by Brett Love
on Jan 16, 2010 @ 09:33 EST5EDT
I wondered if that was his read daughter. Loved that they were able to establish such a great history with actual photos. Devalos centered episodes have been some of my favorites, and this one no exception. The characters are so multidimensional that I really feel as if I know them.
No doubt in my mind I would have reacted the same as both given the same circumstances. It reminded me of the ep Alison let the dead guys wife keep the money he and his luvah had stolen from a lab.
The only character that is missing many facets is Scanlon. I hope they give him a weighty episode soon. We essentially know nothing at all about him, including why in the world he would be in love with that lump of a wife of his.
That was dumb. Devalos was required to turn it over to the DA. It would have been illegal and he would have lost if license if he DIDN’T do what he did.