Numb3rs 2x05 - Assassin
Oct. 25th, 2005 01:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castalieI had a ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
greedy_dancer moment last night as I watched a ballet. The performance had little to do with traditional ballets though, which might be why I got engrossed in it. Not that I dislike ballet - I'm always amazed at the level of perfection those dancers achieve - but it's not exactly my cup of tea either. But that performance? Was damn different - it was by Les Ballets Trockadéro de Monte-Carlo aka the Trocks. It's a "drag comedy ballet that pokes fun at the classics of the ballet with amazingly accurate and skillfull professional technique" and seriously they were. Amazing I mean, because the things they did, wow! And it was fun as well - I laughed with the audience several times. That was great.
But that's not the point of my entry. The point of my entry is that before the funny ballet, I watched "Assassin" [Numb3rs 2x05] and started watching "Calculated Risk" - I say "started" because I realised that my mind was associating the episode with last week's event so it wasn't a happy place - no episode for me and no review for now... Well, no review for 2x04 because I did watch 2x05 and I loved it beyond the telling of it so there is going to be rambling.
Numb3rs 2x05 - Assassin, aka There's No Words for How Much I Love My Geeky Show. Really, no words. Except I can still try, of course *cough*
That episode? Rocked like a rocking thing. Talk about wonderful work and family balance! There were so many great Eppes moments that I don't know where to start.
But let's start with the tension between Don and Charlie. I have to admit I didn't see that one coming! So far, Don was supposedly considered as the guy who put family first and who was always there when it counted - he's the one who left his life behind to come back home when he heard about his mother's illness and he's the one who stayed, though technically one might argue that if he "came back" it's because he left in the first place. Except that suddenly we were seeing the situation in a different light and yes, I was surprised - pleasantly surprised, mind, because I liked what it said about Charlie. This time, the "resentment" - I'm thinking "resentment" might be too strong a word, but I can't find another one - came from Charlie - that was new. He wasn't the one who needed to justify himself, this time he was the one who put Don on the spot and Don was the one who felt as if he needed to find justifications for his actions. Nice role reversal here.
It also made me feel bad for Charlie - which in turn made me love him even more. Yes, it's possible for me to love Charlie more. The Alan-Charlie scene at the beginning when Alan asks him to come with him to Aunt Irene's party made me feel for Charlie, in particular the whole "Why don't you ask Don?" "Don's too busy" "I'm busy too" exchange. Alan did apologise with the "I didn't mean it that way" but still I felt bad for my guy - I mean, I know it was not a Big Drama moment or anything but considering Charlie's conversation with Don afterwards about responsibilities and all, well it gained in intensity somehow.
Speaking of the Don-Charlie conversation - it was awesome, wasn't it? And it amused me as well in a way because I guess Don isn't used to being accountable to his little brother. Which shows in the way he tries to have the last word and show that Charlie is the one being unreasonable. I guess at this moment even though they're talking to each other they're not exactly communicating. Charlie is trying to say something important here, which Don doesn't hear. I do see Don's point, btw, doesn't mean I like it - or that Charlie wasn't right to say what he said.
It also makes me wonder about the pressure Charlie might put on himself regarding their father. Or the sacrifices he might have done as well, even? I don't know. What I know though is that it was pretty touching that he would pretend not to have gotten the tickets so that a) Alan wouldn't go alone in the end and b) Don wouldn't feel guilty or anything. At least, that's how I saw it.
It's like he's ready to stop pressuring Don - the ticket scene was after Charlie's "epiphany" regarding Don's work... or was it? - and accept to back down to make everyone happy. I mean, that's so sweet! What is even sweeter is how Don accepts to go to the party, of course.
Speaking of the epiphany - what an awesome scene as well. Alan telling Charlie how hard it is to let your children go, how as a parent you need to let them be themselves and not try to make them what you want them to be... beautiful scene! Also love Charlie's reaction to everything his father said.
I was filled with full blown Alan love throughout the episode - which granted is my usual state when I'm watching Numb3rs but whatever. I love how even though by losing his wife he could have considered his ties with her family broken, he still wants to go to Irene's party - even though she hates him, or say, never approved of him as a spouse choice. When he basically told Charlie that just because mommy!eppes wasn't there didn't mean aunt Irene stopped being family it really made me melt. I mean, it was such a show of love and respect, not only for his late wife but for her family and his own children as well. Alan... is too incredible for words.
Dude, reading the review, you wouldn't guess they were working on a very serious assassination case, would you? lol So yes, let's try to talk about the case for a little bit. Actually I loved that particular case because it showed us yet a new facet of Charlie's. And not one we would usually associate with him - though we did know he did consultant work for the NSA and stuff. So this time, Charlie was the one with the deep knowledge of assassination business - could have been disturbing even, but I just thought it was awesome ;-) And it did feel odd seeing Charlie leading the other on that topic. I mean, sure technically it was still him doing math and all but at the same time, it felt different. We were talking about assassination, you know?
It also makes me wonder - again - about the things Charlie might know. The guy knows all the best ways for a human being to kill another human being... that's not exactly light subject, is it?
Oh and I loved his scene with Gabriel - the first scene. When he lists all the ways for Gabriel to be killed. His "problematic" line cracked me up. At the same time, I enjoyed Gabriel's behaviour during that scene, how intense he is - well, of course he is, we're talking about his potential assassination here - and how he keeps trying to keep eye contact with Charlie. Which isn't easy since Charlie has a habit of always ducking his head...
Anyway, that was nice *g*
Okay I talked about the case, now back to the Eppes family. The last scene? THE LAST SCENE, guys! With the three of them in suits and lining up to check their ties in front of the mirror, that was just - yeah *happy sigh*
Some other random thoughts now:
Charlie's face when he's explaining to Larry how his students turned his [Larry's] last name into an adjective? Pure bliss! The man has the cutest and bestest facial expressions ever *melts*
Don's trust in Charlie's abilities is a joy to see, too - I'm thinking of the moment when he's given the little notebook with the cipher. He doesn't doubt for a moment that his brother will be able to, well, decipher it *loves*
Love Megan. Still.
Love the Larry-Charlie banter. Apparently I'm back to loving Larry and I enjoy his scenes with Charlie to the fullest once more.
Not that I want the Amita/Charlie thing to develop but I thought it sucked that Amita had scheduled something else without even telling him. I mean, I'm all for her doing something else and not stupidly pining after him [after their dinner, I totally understand her reluctance] so that's not my problem here. My problem is that she knew Charlie was going to get the tickets for them both so why didn't she tell him then? Cause if Charlie had decided to let Don and Alan go on their own, he still would have found himself alone and just - that's not fair. When you don't want to do something with someone, tell them before they go out of their ways to find concert tickets and such. Unless she lied, of course. But since it's professional, I don't suppose she did. Oh well, all the better for us, anyway *shrug*
So anyway, my love for Numb3rs? Does grow exponentially. And I do mean my love is exponential - I'm not talking about more here [/lame-o private Numb3rs joke]
greedy_dancer moment last night as I watched a ballet. The performance had little to do with traditional ballets though, which might be why I got engrossed in it. Not that I dislike ballet - I'm always amazed at the level of perfection those dancers achieve - but it's not exactly my cup of tea either. But that performance? Was damn different - it was by Les Ballets Trockadéro de Monte-Carlo aka the Trocks. It's a "drag comedy ballet that pokes fun at the classics of the ballet with amazingly accurate and skillfull professional technique" and seriously they were. Amazing I mean, because the things they did, wow! And it was fun as well - I laughed with the audience several times. That was great.But that's not the point of my entry. The point of my entry is that before the funny ballet, I watched "Assassin" [Numb3rs 2x05] and started watching "Calculated Risk" - I say "started" because I realised that my mind was associating the episode with last week's event so it wasn't a happy place - no episode for me and no review for now... Well, no review for 2x04 because I did watch 2x05 and I loved it beyond the telling of it so there is going to be rambling.
Numb3rs 2x05 - Assassin, aka There's No Words for How Much I Love My Geeky Show. Really, no words. Except I can still try, of course *cough*
That episode? Rocked like a rocking thing. Talk about wonderful work and family balance! There were so many great Eppes moments that I don't know where to start.
But let's start with the tension between Don and Charlie. I have to admit I didn't see that one coming! So far, Don was supposedly considered as the guy who put family first and who was always there when it counted - he's the one who left his life behind to come back home when he heard about his mother's illness and he's the one who stayed, though technically one might argue that if he "came back" it's because he left in the first place. Except that suddenly we were seeing the situation in a different light and yes, I was surprised - pleasantly surprised, mind, because I liked what it said about Charlie. This time, the "resentment" - I'm thinking "resentment" might be too strong a word, but I can't find another one - came from Charlie - that was new. He wasn't the one who needed to justify himself, this time he was the one who put Don on the spot and Don was the one who felt as if he needed to find justifications for his actions. Nice role reversal here.
It also made me feel bad for Charlie - which in turn made me love him even more. Yes, it's possible for me to love Charlie more. The Alan-Charlie scene at the beginning when Alan asks him to come with him to Aunt Irene's party made me feel for Charlie, in particular the whole "Why don't you ask Don?" "Don's too busy" "I'm busy too" exchange. Alan did apologise with the "I didn't mean it that way" but still I felt bad for my guy - I mean, I know it was not a Big Drama moment or anything but considering Charlie's conversation with Don afterwards about responsibilities and all, well it gained in intensity somehow.
Speaking of the Don-Charlie conversation - it was awesome, wasn't it? And it amused me as well in a way because I guess Don isn't used to being accountable to his little brother. Which shows in the way he tries to have the last word and show that Charlie is the one being unreasonable. I guess at this moment even though they're talking to each other they're not exactly communicating. Charlie is trying to say something important here, which Don doesn't hear. I do see Don's point, btw, doesn't mean I like it - or that Charlie wasn't right to say what he said.
It also makes me wonder about the pressure Charlie might put on himself regarding their father. Or the sacrifices he might have done as well, even? I don't know. What I know though is that it was pretty touching that he would pretend not to have gotten the tickets so that a) Alan wouldn't go alone in the end and b) Don wouldn't feel guilty or anything. At least, that's how I saw it.
It's like he's ready to stop pressuring Don - the ticket scene was after Charlie's "epiphany" regarding Don's work... or was it? - and accept to back down to make everyone happy. I mean, that's so sweet! What is even sweeter is how Don accepts to go to the party, of course.
Speaking of the epiphany - what an awesome scene as well. Alan telling Charlie how hard it is to let your children go, how as a parent you need to let them be themselves and not try to make them what you want them to be... beautiful scene! Also love Charlie's reaction to everything his father said.
I was filled with full blown Alan love throughout the episode - which granted is my usual state when I'm watching Numb3rs but whatever. I love how even though by losing his wife he could have considered his ties with her family broken, he still wants to go to Irene's party - even though she hates him, or say, never approved of him as a spouse choice. When he basically told Charlie that just because mommy!eppes wasn't there didn't mean aunt Irene stopped being family it really made me melt. I mean, it was such a show of love and respect, not only for his late wife but for her family and his own children as well. Alan... is too incredible for words.
Dude, reading the review, you wouldn't guess they were working on a very serious assassination case, would you? lol So yes, let's try to talk about the case for a little bit. Actually I loved that particular case because it showed us yet a new facet of Charlie's. And not one we would usually associate with him - though we did know he did consultant work for the NSA and stuff. So this time, Charlie was the one with the deep knowledge of assassination business - could have been disturbing even, but I just thought it was awesome ;-) And it did feel odd seeing Charlie leading the other on that topic. I mean, sure technically it was still him doing math and all but at the same time, it felt different. We were talking about assassination, you know?
It also makes me wonder - again - about the things Charlie might know. The guy knows all the best ways for a human being to kill another human being... that's not exactly light subject, is it?
Oh and I loved his scene with Gabriel - the first scene. When he lists all the ways for Gabriel to be killed. His "problematic" line cracked me up. At the same time, I enjoyed Gabriel's behaviour during that scene, how intense he is - well, of course he is, we're talking about his potential assassination here - and how he keeps trying to keep eye contact with Charlie. Which isn't easy since Charlie has a habit of always ducking his head...
Anyway, that was nice *g*
Okay I talked about the case, now back to the Eppes family. The last scene? THE LAST SCENE, guys! With the three of them in suits and lining up to check their ties in front of the mirror, that was just - yeah *happy sigh*
Some other random thoughts now:
So anyway, my love for Numb3rs? Does grow exponentially. And I do mean my love is exponential - I'm not talking about more here [/lame-o private Numb3rs joke]
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no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 11:43 am (UTC):-) Yesterday Pro7 aired Counterfeit Reality in Germany...and I also did my personal sqeeing (and ranting) session at my LJ...in an extralong version because there was so much to talk about in this ep. Everytime I think that I cannot love them more, they just have to prove me wrong! :p
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Date: 2005-10-25 06:41 pm (UTC)I know the feeling lol Ever since the first episode aired, I've been feeling the love, and feeling it was always going up *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 06:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 06:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 07:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 12:59 pm (UTC)Gabriel and Charlie's scenes were so intense! Might be all that slash I been reading got to me head, but I was half-expecting them to hug, at the very least, when Gabriel told him he's leaving O_o Charlie's discourse of killing methods was a thing of awesome geekiness, in its vaguely disturbing way :D
This episode truly stood out for me, I was getting a bit jaded in the past weeks. I don't see why they changed it from being the season premiere. (But I can see they edited it to make it fit in the continuity, what with the mention of Charlie and Amita's dinner.)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 06:45 pm (UTC)I think that's hardly fair of Amita, because if Charlie hadn't had that family commitment, he would have gone with her. And Amita? Was busy making other plan - she could have at least hinted something like that. I just - I don't like the fact that she let him think it was okay for them both when in fact, she was thinking of something else. I'm glad she's not pining away and all, but still...
I wonder how the episode would have turned out if they'd kept it as the season opener - maybe we would have lost some of its greatness as they would have had to make Colby and Megan more present. Or else, no one would have understood what the hell they were doing here...
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Date: 2005-10-25 06:54 pm (UTC)Ah, forgot about Colby and Megan. They seemed integral part of this episode, so I guess any more of them, under the guise of exposition, would have spoiled the balance.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 01:54 pm (UTC)Love Megan. Still.
Seriously, that chick rocks! I love her more and more and more every time I see her. It's funny but, during the season premiere all I wanted was too get Terry back and now, I wouldn't change Megan no matter what.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 07:16 pm (UTC)And now I totally feel like I'm burying you in all of my emotional psycho crap, sorry 'bout that. Uhh, something completely shallow and fangirlish, quick...Don is hot! Charlie is cute! Alan is the best dad ever! Numb3rs rock! Yeah, much better.
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 08:59 pm (UTC)The first part really doesn't sound good, I'm sorry to hear that *hugs* But the second part is more hopeful, so here's to hoping you'll feel better soon. Or at least in time for fall break. Btw? I wish I had a break too *pout*
And now I totally feel like I'm burying you in all of my emotional psycho crap, sorry 'bout that.
Don't apologise. If I didn't care I wouldn't ask, it's as simple at that *g*
Don is hot! Charlie is cute! Alan is the best dad ever! Numb3rs rock! Yeah, much better.
*seconds that*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 11:50 am (UTC)That's me, forever a pessimistic optimist. Contradictory to the bone.
Btw? I wish I had a break too *pout*
Well if it makes you feel better, it's only a week and it's totally going to be packed with schoolwork. :)
Don't apologise. If I didn't care I wouldn't ask, it's as simple at that *g*
Well, I really appreciate it. I'm not really used to share my feelings with people that aren't getting payed for listening to me, so I tend to get the feeling I'm totally imposing. It's good to hear that's not the case. Also, in case I never said it before, let me just say you totally rock!
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Date: 2005-10-26 12:00 pm (UTC)At least, there's no dull moment with you lol
Well if it makes you feel better, it's only a week and it's totally going to be packed with schoolwork. :)
Dunno if it makes me feel better, will have to think it over carefully ;-) It's just that Christmas break seems so far away *sigh*
so I tend to get the feeling I'm totally imposing. It's good to hear that's not the case
And don't you forget it!
Also, in case I never said it before, let me just say you totally rock!
You, dear Kaja, are a wonderful ego booster, thanks *hugs*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 07:51 pm (UTC)There is that, yes. *g*
It's just that Christmas break seems so far away *sigh*
Ah, but it'll be so much better when it finally gets here!
And don't you forget it!
Yes ma'am.
You, dear Kaja, are a wonderful ego booster, thanks *hugs
I aim to please...though with great people like yourself, the job is really easy. :)
no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 03:13 pm (UTC)Alan was wonderful! Charlie's facial expression, lol, in the office with Larry! Megan! Likening a grown man still living with his mother to two brothers still mooching meals off their dad, omg, I might have actually giggled out loud at that one. The family moments and the boys in suit! *dies*
So anyway, my love for Numb3rs? Does grow exponentially. And I do mean my love is exponential - I'm not talking about more here [/lame-o private Numb3rs joke]
Whee! I get the joke, lol. And I'm so right there with you!
(Also, I might have written a tag to this ep. *g*)
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Date: 2005-10-25 06:50 pm (UTC)The family moments were just - good beyond the telling of it.
Whee! I get the joke, lol. And I'm so right there with you
*high fives*
And you might have written a tag for the ep? WHERE? Gimme! Please? lol
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Date: 2005-10-25 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 08:46 pm (UTC)Am off to read the fic now *rushes to your journal*
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Date: 2005-10-25 07:08 pm (UTC)Oh yeah, I already read the tag to Assassin and loved it!
And mooching off meals from dad...I just watched Counterfeit Reality and Don's delight over Alan buying rib-eye was so funny.
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Date: 2005-10-25 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 09:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-25 11:22 pm (UTC)I feel like I'm going to love that show - sacrifices for the family and all? *bats lashes at Eppes family*
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 09:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 09:20 pm (UTC)and don't worry - you know I have no problem with watching episodes in a different order lol
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 07:01 am (UTC)Plus Gabriel trying to connect with Charlie on the brother thing, asking if Charlie worries *dies more*. And you know Charlie had to be putting himself in Gabriel's position, thinking how he'd feel losing his brother and his father. So, so good.
I love our show! hee!
no subject
Date: 2005-10-26 09:24 am (UTC)The episode was wonderful - I mean, we got come wonderful character scenes previously, it's not as if it was new but somehow it felt like there something more in this week's episode. We also discovered new aspects in the family dynamics and just - YES!
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Date: 2005-11-15 08:51 pm (UTC)and the fact that Charlie knew so much about assassination... wow.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-16 12:02 pm (UTC)the fact that Charlie knew so much about assassination
Nice twist, that one *nods*