The best part of Off the Map wasn’t in the original script

When first I read the Pilot script for Off the Map, I wasn’t sure what I thought. I actually tried writing three different reviews of the script, and failed each time. I could never really put together what I really thought about it. There was a lot of good in the original script, but, frankly, it was not all there; not necessarily incomplete, but neither fully formed. When I finally saw the finished Pilot, it was different (read: better), but it wasn’t until we were a couple episodes in when I finally found my reason to watch each week.

Rachelle Leferve was in the first couple of episodes of The Deep End, but apparently wasn’t in the producers long term plans (Not that the producers of that particular show needed long term plans). I’ve never watched a Twilight movie, but I keep my finger on the pulse of “redheads in Hollywood” enough to know that she was jettisoned a couple of movies into the run in favor of Bryce Dallas Howard (an equitable trade, in this humble blogger’s eyes). We won’t even talk about What About Brian; that would just be mean. But, let’s just say, she has had a run of luck you can’t exactly call good.

Things, however, have changed. Leferve’s character, Dr. Ryan Clark, is the best aspect of Off the Map. While you may have thought the three new doctors would be the focus of the show, Clark has been featured more and more prominently as the episodes have drawn on. Tonight, we finally learned the missing piece of her backstory to explain exactly what is going on with her recently.

Clark’s disease has set up an interesting dynamic with Keeton. She loves him deeply … this is obvious. Whether or not that love is reciprocated is a question that will probably never be able to be fully (and honestly) answered while his wife Abby is still on life support. As Clark explained to Otis, though, putting Keeton though another drawn out medical battle isn’t going to be good for him.

So how do you live with your love for a man, when that love could be the worst possible thing for him?

Notes & Quotes

• “It’s broken glass.” … No, really? Are you sure? Is that your medical opinion?
• More proof this show is more an ensemble show, and not Meredith Grey in the jungle: Caroline Dhavernas isn’t first in the credits, it is listed alphabetically.
• I love Jayne Brook … Just saying
• The pincher ant things were both disgusting and fascinating at the same time.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Feb 16, 2011 @ 23:58 EST5EDT