Julie's Review of Mighter

Garret gives up writing his letter of resignation in favor of writing a gumshoe detective novelette with characters "played" by Crossing Jordan characters past and present.  Missing diamonds, murder, and a cast of suspects come together in this film noir-inspired dramatic production.

Strengths

Storyline: This meticulously crafted work balanced an in-color reality and a black-and-white novelette fiction, centered on Garret and his writing. Though the work is nearly composed entirely of the fiction world, inventiveness and attention to period-specific elements make this episode one of the strongest Virtual Season 7 episodes.  

Dialogue: Dialogue in this episode was excellent, with the novelette's characters retaining the wit and humor of their original Crossing Jordan personae. Language in the script was also reflective of the typical gumshoe novels, particularly in the dramatic statement: "More than a lead…we have the murderer. Right here. In this room".

Artwork: The artwork for this episode, from the novelette cover to the last picture was thus far unparalleled, both in number and in quality, including such details as era-appropriate costumes and hair. Additionally, the positioning of the pictures, with the text wrapping around them, enhanced readability, allowing readers to view the picture while reading analogous text.  

Music: Music selections, well timed and copious, added to the period feel of this distinctive episode. 

Relationship/character dimensions: This episode was complex, with several notable facets tying the fiction world to the morgue world. Kate's Camille alter ego had the same sharp-tongued rhetoric as Kate, but it was amusing to see that Garret created a universe in which she was married to Nick, whose role was played by Nigel. Janice, Jordan's character was headstrong, like Jordan, neither of whom likes to be told what to do. And Wilson, Woody's character, had a thing for Jordan's.

Continuity: There were subtle, adroitly included references to the Crossing Jordan series entwined in the fabric of the virtual episode. From the death of Janice's mother when Janice was 10 to the door marked 311, to Wilson's and Janice's night at the inn, to the fact that Garret writes on a typewriter, these details added polish to this already high quality episode. Other: The reappearance of past characters such as Dr. Stiles, Peter, Emy, Roz, Slokum, and Eddie added even more depth to the episode.  Additionally, the inclusion of period-centric items such as an Electrolux vacuum and an adding machine enhanced credibility of the script.

Areas for Improvement

There was very little in this episode that could be classified as an area for improvement. Editing: There were a few items in the script that could have been improved by editing. Yogi's last name is Berra; one of Nigel's remarks was missing the word "that"; the word sooth should have been written as soothe. The relative lack of areas for improvement is a clear indicator of the quality of the episode.

This Virtual Season 7 episode, Mightier/Margin for Murder brought to us by writer jmkw and artist Harbor Runner, was a dazzling total package. Vivid imagery, plentiful artwork, and a spectacular musical selection, created an episode that could easily be "viewed" in the minds of the VS7 fans. I'll give this engaging, distinctive work of drama 4 scalpels out of 4.