Eli Stone: Something To Save
By fred | March 7, 2008
(S01E06) Ahh… Eli. He’s a nice guy and all, but I’m not sure that’s enough. And more than that, there’s quite a few things that always bothered me, some doing a lot more than just bothering me. Yes, I mean Maggie. So last in my review I explained why I had problems with the show and why I was down to a point where I was really wondering whether or not I should keep watching the show.
Of course, I wasn’t gonna just go away like that, so this week I came back. And as hinted so many times before, I was praying that this episode would get better, and by that I mean that Maggie would just die. Since it’s not really any spoilery I can now already tell you this : no, she didn’t die. So that’s not good.
But what is good is that except for the lack of her death, this episode pretty much rocked ! I’m probably a lot more enthusiastic than I should because I didn’t expect this, but I liked this episode, I really did, and I think it was no less than the best episode of the series so far ! First and foremost, and yes it really does play an important role : it was almost completely Maggie-free.
Then, this episode was a major turning point, a lot of changes and revelations took place during this hour, many that will have a long and deep impact on the show. For a few episodes now, it looked like every episode would be Eli having visions, looking stupid by following them and singing along despite being in a meeting or even in court, trying to find out what they meant or go for the case they were hiding/pointing to. And to do that, he had to kept things quiet, not a lot of people knew about his condition, and no one should find out. It was a secret.
This time, he went on television to announce it to the world !
This is a very important change, not just because everybody knows, or because of the consequences this whole thing has/will have, but also for one other thing, one thing that always really annoyed me : the way Eli always just let himself go into his visions, and then wishes he hadn’t once everyone is starring at him. Sure, for stupid little things like that time with the plane, it will still annoy the Hell outta me, so it will while he’s in court.
But at least now when he’s in his office or even in a meeting there, it’ll be alright. Because everybody knows about it, he’s not trying to keep it a secret no more, so go ahead and sing along ! This will obviously affect if not what happens on the show, the way we look at it, rending things much more understandable and enjoyable even.
I have to say I didn’t think Eli would do it, because he always wanted to keep it a secret, and it seemed to be what the show was based on. But he just woke up in court and told everyone, starting with the judge, that he signed his medical report himself, because he had a brain aneurysm, hence his visions. Not an easy thing to do, but probably at this point the right thing to do, for sure.
See, what I thought was that Eli had quit. I know that Jordan had said that he technically couldn’t fire Eli, so I thought he would’ve just quit. Which got me thinking that he might start up his own law firm or something (and, I hate to say, possibly hire Maggie). Maybe I need to go back and rewatch the episode, but that’s how I took it. Which leaves all sorts of possiblities for the show. And room for new characters. And I think his secretary is awesome. She has a right to be bitchy towards Taylor, beacuase Taylor uses her for everything, all the time. And her relationship with Eli (the secretary’s) is a casual one, so I don’t feel that she’s inappropriate at all in what she says to him. Plus she’s nosey (it’s just a part of her character) so she’s going to feel the need to comment on whatever is going on. And Maggie needs to die. I’m so glad she was hardly in this episode, but seriously, no more Maggie. But this was a very good episode, and I think it gives the show some staying power.
Hey Lisa,
Interesting idea, I have to say I never even thought Eli had/would quit, probably because I can’t see the show separating him from most of the other cast members like Jordan and the new employee, starting with Taylor… But in the end he might just do about the same and take his own cases on his own, away from the rest of the firm. One thing for sure is that yes, this was a great move that does open the door for many new possibilities !
About his secretary, Patti, though, I may be wrong but I was under the impression that they shared more than just a casual, work relationship. I mean, when she found out about Eli’s aneurysm she was pissed at him, and she said how they trust each other, how her daughter calls Eli “uncle” and how when her husband left or her father died, Eli was the first person she called.
To me, that means they do share a deeper relationship, just that we only get to see them interact with each other in the workplace. But they’re friends, see one another outside the office (like for Christmas, etc) and as such I feel that the way she treated the one Eli was not only in love with, but also engaged to, was inappropriate. I get that she has this way to be, but how could she expect to still be friend with Eli and see him at Christmas for their annual hug if she keeps insulting his wife all the time ? Okay, the wedding is off now, but don’t you feel that may be a little too much, still ?
I think she can be over the top, but I can see why she was upset (she did over react though). And she should’ve been more supportive about his aneurysm, but I was more offended with Taylor’s reaction. That just disgusted me. But I still think she’s right in her feelings about Taylor (to a point). She could’ve been more supportive about their relationship, but it also doesn’t seem to bother Eli that she feels the way she does. If he was offended by it, then I would feel it was inappropriate.
Yeah, thinking about it some more, I think that you might be right, in that it didn’t really seem to bother Eli - though he was a little annoyed with it. I guess Eli knew she would react that way, so while she over reacted, maybe it was really just who she is, how she is, and Eli and her know each other well enough to allow such things in their relationship.
Anyways, Maggie needs to die.