Lara's Review - Dreamland

I really enjoyed this episode, and I think it was one of the best of the season for a number of reasons, but predominately because it involved all the characters working together on one case, these always seem to rank up there among my favourites. The cases that involve all the characters working together provide unique interaction between all the characters, as well as providing us with some of the most intriguing storylines.

I liked that this episode was not a Jordan centred episode, although she played a vital role, Garret had the lead this week. The episode was a culmination of his demons and hopefully a chance to get back onto the ‘right track’, although it would be interesting, story-wise, if he did have a relapse.

I enjoyed the interaction between Garret, Maggie and Abby. The story highlighted that their relationships with each other will always be difficult, but they all care and love each other deeply, as was best illustrated in their last scene together. I feel that Garret will always have a difficult relationship with his daughter; it is part of his own childhood history (see For Harry With Love…), he tries to be a good father, but his own demons prevent him from doing so.

The interaction between Jordan and Garret in this episode was important. The two characters have a unique relationship, it is more than friendship, and they obviously love and care for each other. Jordan took on the role Garret usually plays when she is going through difficult times. She was brutally honest with him, she threatened him, she cared for him, something that I think only she could do, and any other character would have been unconvincing and weak.

With Jordan and Woody – And the Dance Commences Again! – ok, maybe a little harsh, the two characters have moved forward, their relationship has changed, I think for the better, but separately both characters are showing a new maturity individually which is effecting their relationship. Their scene together was short, but you could feel their respect for each other and their need to find individual peace before perusing their relationship. Jill Hennessy and Jerry O’Connell played the scene particularly well.

I have said it before, but I will re-iterate it here. I love Jordan this season, we are seeing a new more mature Jordan, she still has her demons, some I hope (according to rumours) will be addressed this season, but her reaction to the Garret storyline proved this maturity. And I don’t want to cause uproar in saying this, but I think she looks older as well, this is not a bad thing, far from it, there is a look in Jill Hennessy’s eyes, a more ‘knowing’ or ‘understanding’ look, like someone who has been through a lot and come through it, I have really begun to notice it this season and I like it.

I liked the interplay of the opening and closing scenes in this episode, they were a great mirror of each other and they centred on Nigel and his yogurt. I love a character like Nigel, the writers can throw any kind of ridiculous, funky and wonderful situation and Nigel can pull it off. This comes from not only great acting on Steve Valentine’s part, but also the set up of the character that began five years ago.

The ‘case’ storyline in this episode was great, there were so many intricacies, and my favourite part was the contrasting reactions of the two mothers, there was realism in their reactions that you could empathise with. As Dr. Wasserman’s cold reaction to a son that had let her down differed so completely to that of Mrs. Salazar’s in the end she found peace with her son and within herself.

I like scenes where more is said in 30 seconds of silence than in 40 minuets of dialogue, the final scene was one of these for me, the symbolism of Garret taking the advice he told his daughter and carrying it into his own life was important, it required no words, it spoke plenty on its own. The scene was perhaps one of the best I have seen all season.

I loved the gritty realism of this episode, it felt dirty and uncomfortable throughout the whole episode, but it worked within the context of the storyline. The often harsh editing combined with the music made it a fantastic episode. I am not a big fan of hip hop music and thanks to this episode I have a new appreciation of it, I couldn’t imagine any other type of style working with this episode, the type of storyline called for the production team to use a unique style of music, and in my opinion they pulled it off. I especially like the contrast of the hip hop with the Spanish Ballard, there was a symbolism that came from this diversion, a sense of peace. I recall in Allan’s ‘What I like about’ this week he was concerned about how well the day for night scenes and how well they would work, well, for me they pulled it off, I was convinced, the lighting team did a great job in creating the moonlit alley with dark and dank shadows.

All in all I really liked this episode, it was a diversion from some of the more recent episodes and I really enjoyed the combination of the interpersonal and case storylines, they are what make Crossing Jordan a great television show. I am most definitely looking forward to the remainder of the season.