Eli Stone: Happy Birthday Nate
By fred | December 3, 2008
(S02E06) Things changed since the last time we saw Eli. Not on the show itself, as this episode was a continuation of the last one, but outside in our “real” world. We already knew the show was in trouble, not performing too well in ratings, and it wasn’t easy to get another season, or even a full season pick up. Now, while the word might not have been used officially, the fate of the show is pretty much set.
13 episodes were ordered and has been produced, and hopefully ABC will air all of them, but there won’t be any more after that. Which also means that writers didn’t know at the time that things would go down that way, and we might never really get any conclusion. It’s never good, but it’ll be even worse here because Eli had his job, you know being a lawyer and all, but he also has his calling.
But this is also where things get a little complicated, unless it’s just that I missed something and I didn’t get it, which is very possible — especially since I’m sick and got this bad headache. Anyways, last time Eli did something great for the firm, he got a very big client to sign with them which pretty much was enough, with the other clients that came along as a result, to ensure the future of the company.
But at the same time we kept hearing that Eli went against his vision, and did what he was told not to do. And now Jordan wasn’t really willing to let him pursue, but after Cooper was pretty insulting and acting like he owned the place, he sided with Eli and they represented his son in his demand to be emancipated. As Eli noted, he won both cases so it turns out maybe he did not go against his “boss” will after all.
Maybe the fire he saw last week wasn’t a message to be interpreted as Chen thought, but a simple fire, a vision of what was going to happen so Eli could prevent it. Because in the end, that vision only came to fruition because Eli got involved, and it was for the best because otherwise the son would never have found out that his father was lying to him, and everybody else, about his condition. Sure, him knowing meant his dreams of Olympics went away, but I imagine he’ll be better knowing the truth and being treated.
But if this case was all about family, it wasn’t just the Coopers. In a nice twist Eli had a vision where he was… his own father! Another illustration of how the boys, Eli and his brother Nate, suffered during their childhood because their father had problems, but it’s not just that he was a loser or an alcoholic, there was more to it. And now that Eli is in the same position, he understands better what his father went through and how it wasn’t his fault.
But it was also to bring us back to his journals. Because if Eli is acting up on his visions, which are quite immediate, if he’s helping people right away, his father didn’t really do anything, instead he wrote to Eli, to future Eli, giving him clues and other indications on how he could do what he was meant to do. Of course Eli throw it out in the fire, and the journals are gone.
Or so we thought, but Chen actually kept a copy. Which was a nice twist, because not only does it potentially give him a little more to do than just get Eli to have another vision on demand, but it also serves Nate. Because their father knew that Eli was destined to do greatness, but he also knew he couldn’t do none of that without his brother by his side. And Nate might not realize how all his anger towards his father and how he thought his father loved and cared for Eli more was actually due to his visions, but at least he got a very touching letter from his father, and – in some way – a check.
I’m not exactly sure what Nate is going to do now, though. Will he find a new job at another hospital ? Will he become a consultant and work for Eli ? Could be interesting to see the brother work together, somehow.
I’m still not caring about Maggie and the fact that she went to the dark side, though I liked the way Eli treated her, showing how disappointed in her he was. About Taylor and Matt, and the baby on the way, I’m glad they worked this out, but I’m not sure I care much about it. I was agreeing with her, that she only went to him to move away from Eli and be with someone different, but never intended it to last. It was a one night stand that lasted for months, but was it really ever any serious ?
It’s good the the dynamic of the show changed and that things are never the same, but it’s also a little bit of a problem when some characters seem not to have anything really to do. Patti for instance is only waving the butter knife around, and Keith is stuck in a story that I’m not really sure where it is going, I just hope it’s actually going somewhere.
This is already episode 6 but it still feels like the show hasn’t found its new pace yet, after all the events that took place between seasons. The constant evolution on the show is a great thing, but it would be nice if it would start to feel like they’re installed now and can start working cases and finding a new way to work, actually giving people something to do. Hopefully, it will happen next week and Keith will finally remind us that he’s actually a lawyer, and part of the company.
What did you think of this episode ? Do you want Nate to come work with his brother somehow, or go back to another hospital ? Do you think Patti’s daughter is in trouble ?
I thought this was a great episode. It made me laugh and cry. I love it when a program does that. Loved the Jordan / Matt moment. Very funny.
I don’t want Nate to go to work with Eli. I just want him to go to work for another hospital and hang around sometimes.
I think Patty’s daughter is in trouble, I just don’t know how much. I still like the Keith / Angela idea.
Maggie on the dark side is the thing that I find most disturbing.
Oh yeah, the Jordan/Matt moment was awesome!
- That’s a bear, for God’s sake!
- It’s an apology bear.