Episode 109
Seven Feet Under (03-21-07)
I was
completely shocked by how much I liked this episode.
From the previews I wasn’t too excited…other than Seely
returning…it didn’t capture my attention. I was half
out of it when I watch the episode the first time…and
yet it still made an impression on me.
Emotions were pulled every which way in this episode.
We laughed and we were sad. We were angered by actions,
we were amused by actions, and we were misled by
actions. So many emotions…and somehow it worked
together. I think (personally) the overall feel of the
episode was ‘sad’ in it’s entirely. It was the
laughter, tears, anger, joking, and outrage combined
that gave the end result, what made it so sad and so
powerful. (Not sure if that makes sense, but I felt it
was the combination of all the emotions that made it so
powerful.)
I
should have figured out who was guilty. It’s a golden
rule that you’ll see the bad guy before the end. Never
will it be a random person that hasn’t played into the
episode—just basic story telling—it’s the same in books
as it is in TV. I was so out of it the first time I
watched though that I had no clue who was guilty.
Seely!
I love him. For all Garret’s wrath, I think Seely was
right. These parents had no clue about what was going
on in their children’s lives. These parents should have
had a clue. However, there was a time and place for it,
and the first interview when the parents are grieving
wasn’t necessarily the best time. I miss Seely. He
adds a different dynamic to the show—always upsetting
someone. He’s a great internal ‘conflict causer’.
There’s always conflict around him—and conflict is the
most important (and to me) intriguing part of any story.
I’ve
said it from the beginning—I really like Switzer. I’ve
also said there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Brash, rude, rough, unlikable: it’s a façade. Don’t get
me wrong—Kate can be a b*tch. But she’s not a heartless
b*tch. Switzer has a heart. There have been small
moments here and there leading us to believe so. This
episode was full of moments.
Kate
was the enemy before the first strands of Metallica
blasted through the autopsy room. She could have been
the sweetest person on earth and the morgue staff still
would have had a grudge against her. She was invading
their territory. The staff still hasn’t warmed up to
her, because she won’t let them. Raise your hand if you
see traits of Jordan in Kate. There are so many. Kate,
however, isn’t coming into a family that accepts her and
thus is having a harder time with fitting in. I loved
the ending scene—Kate placing the flowers on the
coffin. It said more than words could. I can’t wait to
see more.
Interesting dynamic seeing Bug and Kate rather than
Nigel and Kate work together. I love Nigel and Kate,
but was surprised by how well the Bug-Kate dynamic
worked. Just on a professional level. Bug is most
similar to Kate out of the morgue crew—when it comes to
the science, and interests. I enjoyed them working
together.
Woody
acting like a teenager. Now normally this drives me
crazy. Today though, I found myself laughing. Walking
like a mummy and “Indiana Switzer”…only Woody could pull
that off. Humor aside, I’ve actually liked Woody in the
past three episodes. (Sometimes he can be too much for
me.) He’s got his compassion back. He’s not mad at the
world, out for revenge…he’s no longer thinking about the
murderer, he’s caring about the victim. He’s not out
for revenge, he’s out for justice. A much more human
and caring Woody has been portrayed the past few
episodes (throughout the season actually, but it’s
really shined through in the recent episodes).
Jordan and Woody. Woody and Jordan. Just when the dust
starts to settle and we think things are finally heading
down a smoother path, something else happens. In this
case Jordan gets sick. Kudos to Woody for picking up
that something’s not quite right with Jordan and for
caring, for worrying. However…
Anyone see a reversal of roles? Woody didn’t want pity,
Jordan neither? Woody wouldn’t let Jordan be there for
him in There’s No Place Like Home 2. Completely
shut her out. And now Jordan is doing the same. She’s
keeping Woody in the dark—because she doesn’t want his
pity…though if either of the two opened
their eyes they’d see the other was offering support,
not pity.
Jordan asking “What else do I have.” It was such a sad
and telling moment. What else does Jordan have outside
of the morgue? If we answer honestly: Nothing. She’s
put her life on hold...because of fear? She has plenty
of reasons: Her mother, Max leaving, losing James, JD
dying, losing Kayla (I still think Kayla would have
completely changed Jordan’s life had she become a part
of it). All of these events have hurt Jordan in some
way. About the only place where she hasn’t been hurt is
the morgue.
So it
makes since that everything Jordan has is at the
morgue. Her friends, her adoptive family—people that
love and care for her. Then there’s Woody. She doesn’t
have Woody—which is part of the problem. Yes they’re
friends, yes there’s something special between them, but
they’re not together. She hasn’t learned to let Woody
into her life—to let him care and be there for her. (Pot
calling the kettle…since Woody has acted the same way…There’s
No Place Like Home 2…anyone remember that episode
and the downward spiral from there?)
Jordan’s kept everyone arms length away and she’s
suddenly realizing it. Now it’s up to her to make the
decision to change that and let people in. No one else
can do it for her. She’s scared, but she doesn’t have
to be alone—if only she’d realize that.
Surprisingly pleased.
4 out
of 5 dead bodies.
