Lara's Review - Someone to Watch Over Me

This was a good episode, the A plot has introduced a story that, I think, will be a major driving force for the rest of the season, leading to the finale. The interpersonal dynamics that have been at the forefront this season, once again play a vital role in this episode.

After playing in the background in last week’s episode, Jordan played a pivotal role in this episode. The storyline that began to develop between Jordan and Kayla further revealed Jordan’s present psyche. The maturity of Jordan, which began in season 4, but has been a real driver this season, is really coming to the forefront. But, in saying this, and using various ‘hints’ Allan has revealed on Coffeerooms, subtle elements of season 1 Jordan psyche can be seen. Consider Jordan’s revelation to Kayla that there is ‘not a day gone by’ where she doesn’t think about her mother, this may seem obvious, however, it has been a over a season since Jordan really last articulated thoughts about her mother.

Jordan’s desire for unconditional love, which was articulated in ‘Death Toll’, can be seen in ‘Someone to Count On’ as she becomes protective of Kayla, as Woody states ‘you’re her and she is you’, Jordan recognises herself in Kayla wants to provide her with the security she never had. I feel that this storyline will be further explored in the next episode. The final shot of Jordan looking at Kayla, revealed an incredible amount of how much she sees herself in Kayla, and her own questioning of ability to potentially care for Kayla, the layers of Jordan is all to do with Jill Hennessy’s amazingly expressive face.

I feel that the questions that are beginning to be raised are questions in this episode, and indeed the season in general, that have previously been asked in other seasons, by Jordan allowing herself to be vulnerable, by offering love to another, she is risking herself, what happens when it doesn’t work out? Can she decide that ‘whatever they throw at her, she can handle it’?

I like the relationship between Woody and Lu, they have a chemistry that works, and while I don’t think it is as powerful as the chemistry between Jordan and Woody, it is obviously there. I like the undercurrent of growing jealously Lu has towards Jordan, as she realises the extent of Woody’s relationship with her. Woody’s avoided answering Lu’s question about the finality of his relationship with Jordan, leaves not only the door open on a potential Jordan and Woody romance, but also places a cloud over the emerging relationship between Woody and Lu. But, melodrama is never easy, and many bumps in the road lie ahead for these three characters.

The B storyline involving Macy, Lily and Nigel, was good, it had an interesting twist to it, which I didn’t pick up. I like that there is a continuity of ‘dark’ Garret, his gesture of throwing a bottle of Scotch down the sink at the end of ‘Dreamland’ did not signal the return of ‘normal’ Garret, he still has ‘issues’, and his reactions to Lily, as she wanted to break the rules highlighted this. I like the undercurrent theme of ‘dark’ Garret, it appeared to have come to ahead in ‘Dreamland’ but it is still there, it has just returned to an under the surface problem, slowly bubbling away.

Watching this episode made me realise how much I love the nuances in Crossing Jordan, in this one it was the set decoration. I loved Jordan’s apartment was messy, as if she had been pulling double shifts all week and not had time to clean, I liked when she went to get he gun at the beginning of the episode there was a water mark on the bedside table where she had placed a coffee mug down (or maybe JD did it!). These small nuances reveal an insight into the characters and the ‘reality’ of their lives, they are not perfect, and their homes will never be ‘magazine clean’.

I loved the music in this episode, the use of Lizz Wright at the end was incredibly haunting, there is a subtleness in her voice that suggests an incredible amount of layers.

All in all, I felt that it was a good episode, there were a number of questions beginning to formulate which I feel will provide further drivers for the rest of the season. As I have stated previously the arc format has proved important this season, as the characterisations are explored further, which I think will lead to an incredible season finale an 100^th episode.