Eli Stone: Heartbeat
By fred | April 4, 2008
(S01E10) The journey of Eli Stone and his mysterious visions continues as we go through another episode of this great new show. Last week I had said that we might have an earthquake coming, and it didn’t happen. But as we talked about after last week’s episode, I’m still thinking one will eventually come, just not for now. Eli’s vision wasn’t wrong, it was just way ahead of time. After time, his father knew Chen would help Eli (really) long before they even met.
I’m still thinking the earthquake has to happen, and that during the season finale will be a good time. In the mean time we had another episode with another kind of disaster, one I knew was coming (back) even though I was hoping differently against all odds : Maggie.
I realize it might end up sounding like an obsession, but I really cannot stand her, and I really think she’s dragging the show down. At least for me, she ruins the episode. Seriously, how could she not see that Taylor only picked her up because she wanted to avoid working with Matt ? I’m sure everyone in the room knew what was going on. Everyone but Maggie, of course, because she’s got no brain.
Why on Earth would Taylor ever actually want to work with Maggie, what reason could she possibly have for that ? Did Maggie really thought Taylor would be interested in someone who didn’t know anything about law, who’s not even able to ask a question, someone who has no shame walking into a meeting and sitting by her client’s side, ready to go over the case with said client talk to her husband, filling for divorce, and his lawyer without having any clue what the whole case is actually about ??
I mean, she clearly had plenty of time to open the damned file and read about it, something anyone would have done, but while she could show up with lots of big files in her arms, so much that she could barely hold them together, she couldn’t read the first page ? How could she not know that they were filling for divorce because they cheated on each other, with each other ? That’s again right there a giant proof of incompetence.
The fact that she feels no shame over it and just ask about it like a moron also proves that she doesn’t even care realize how unprofessional it is and how much of a moron she looks like at that time, which has me to ask again : who the fuck hired her, and why ?
But I have to be honest : I really like this show, and I wanted to like this episode as well, but I couldn’t. Oh no, it wasn’t all bad, in fact I still appreciate how the show keeps trying to bring in new things in, like how this time Eli got to “re-live” a flashback (how Desmond of him), only it wasn’t one of his own life, but of his brother’s!
They do keep things fresh, and don’t settle for just the usual visions of the week in the same way episode after episode, and that is really great. And yes, that last scene between Eli and his father, when he finally got to say goodbye to him, was a really good and strong one. The problem is that you could easily miss all that, because it was put in the middle of an episode otherwise much annoying I have to say.
I think that this episode wasn’t as good as it could have been, but I think some really good stuff came out of it. I couldn’t stand how Nate was being such an ass to Eli throughout the whole trial, but the fact that he’s starting to believe Eli is having these visions makes up for it. And I liked that Eli used the woman who got the heart in trial. I think it got the point across. But I was waiting for the objection as well, and it was stupid that they didn’t object. And I’m glad to see Jordan and Eli back on some kind of speaking terms. And there is no way that Matt is going to take over the firm. Especially not since Matt kind of (in a chicken shit sort of way) asked Jordan if he could go out with Taylor. And it was played up too much. Nobody cares. They should’ve played up what was really important. Eli’s saying goodbye. It almost became a minor thing. And the fact that he’s finally repairing some relationships (his brother, Chen). And it was a first that they involved his Mom. So there are possibilities there as well. But I swear to God, if they really get into it between Maggie and Eli I’ll puke. I cannot stand it. And I have absolutely no idea where they’re going with Taylor. Is she going to get back with Eli? Is she going to actually date Matt (ew)? But it’s not in any kind of intriguing manner, it’s almost annoying. As a matter of fact, it is annoying, because it’s just an interruption and not so much a side story. And there was no earthquake. And Maggie isn’t dead (yet). Oh, and one more thing; they were playing George Michael’s Father Figure when Eli (as Nate) gets off the elevator in one of the flashbacks. I just thought that was cool.
I agree that generally Eli Stone has been getting better and better, episode after episode. I too wasn’t sure I wanted to continue watching, but I did keep watching. I think it is imaginative, mostly well-written and most of all, comes to a conclusive end that fits with Eli’s new life, filled with integrity. I like the character’s clear-eyed honesty and that the other characters are evolving also. I will continue watching with hopes that the writers do not lose their clear-eyed objectives for their characters and do not let them get stale. This one has pleasantly surprised me every episode.
Yes, this show is really good and I’m sure the second season would be at least as good, and probably better.
All we need now is for ABC to renew it for a second season, which still hasn’t been done yet. It’s likely to be announced at their coming upfronts, hopefully Eli Stone will be on their schedule…