Julie's Review of For Whom the Bell Tolls

After a seasonal bell ringer takes his last breath, the contents of the kettle is found strewn in and around a tree. Was the woman with a headache so desperate to silence the incessant ringing or is there something more to the murder? Nigel has a plan for some Christmas cheer, but he needs the assistance of his morgue and BPD friends. Will everyone turn Nigel down? And will Jordan face her demons and go for her follow-up appointment with Dr. Sanchez?

Strengths

Storyline: This episode featured a pleasant mix of morgue/BPD mystery solving and holiday spirit. Woody's pain and grief was palpable, and it was difficult for Seely and Jordan to deal with his reaction to the situation.

Dialogue: Nynaeve masterfully handled dialogue, providing the reader with several laugh-out-loud moments. Bug's "We work in a MORGUE. We cut up dead people!" and Garret's "Let me rephrase that:  No," were among them. Lines were all remarkably true to character.

Artwork: Harbor Runner provided viewers with a real treat. The episode banner was arresting, demanding the viewer's attention and appreciation. The falling snow and the detail in the foreground and the background gave viewers a visual treat. Also especially notable were the pictures depicting the characters in their Dickens-era costumes. The thought and the detail that went into these pictures were noteworthy.

Music: The music was copious, but more of note than the music itself was the replacement of the normal jukebox with a Virtual Season 7 soundtrack banner. This banner is yet another step the VS7 staff has provided that adds veracity to the "show." Crossing Jordan Virtual Season 7 is further developing its brand image, and anyone viewing its episodes, either dedicated fan or first-time "viewer" will understand the seriousness and dedication of the staff and the fans.  

Personal development: This episode featured a healthy amount of personal growth. It was especially good to see that Jordan finally did go to her follow-up appointment with Dr. Sanchez. It was also good to see that Woody's opinion of her missing the initial appointment weighed heavily in her decision to finally go. It was also really good to see all the morgue and BPD characters step out of their comfort zone by singing for the residents of the Nursing home.

Continuity: This episode alludes to past episodes, both on-air and virtual, with references to Jordan's tumor and Kate's inability to deal with Nigel calling her 'luv'. Favorite Quote: Like many previous episodes, there were a number of potential candidates but, Kate stole the show with No. That’s not great. That’s a preview of hell. (beat) And don’t call me ‘luv'.

Areas for Improvement

Consistency: Text describing the picture of the bell ringer was inconsistent with the bell ringer's appearance. Text described a man in a Santa hat, while the picture showed a man in a hat like the Maytag repairman's.

Medical fact: There was one medical fact that was off in this episode. The liver temperature was referred to as a basal temperature. Basal temperature is the temperature when a person first awakens. It's often the temperature that's charted for fertility purposes.

This Virtual Season 7 episode, brought to us by writer Nynaeve and episode artist Harbor Runner, was a solid, entertaining work of fanfiction with excellent dialogue and a good mix of mystery and holiday levity. I'll give it 3.5 scalpels out of 4 for an enjoyable effort.