PipPop

Man. What is it with the Gettys and heroin? That's really too bad about Balthazar. I'm glad he cleaned up his act.

My thoughts, exactly. This episode had the same director as last week's episode and it really showed. I don't know if Dennis the gardener was a real character or not, but so far as the series is concerned, I'm glad that Voldemort Bullimore/Khan had a happy ending. (I note with glee that the character is now listed as Khan/... on IMDB. They are totally playing with his name over there. I was super pleased that Chace went home to meet his son at the end. Smart man. I don't know much about Balthazar Getty. I hope he's managed to escape the family history of drug and emotional abuse and had a reasonably happy life.

The scenes between Chace and Gail were my favorites. These were 'calm' scenes as you say, but both characters revealed their quiet strengths and true character, especially when you compare them to Getty I and Getty II.

Now that's more like it, show. Following last week's snoozefest, This episode was tight from start to finish. I was so impressed by the direction that I looked up the director on IMDB: Susanna White. Well done, Susanna! Nice touch: Paul III getting turned away at the Getty gas station. Also: I'm sad that Bullimore's almost boyfriend left. Come on, Bullimore! You only have one more episode to go find that gardener and have more groovy gin-fizz dates.

This is the first episode that bored me to bits. I have no interest whatsoever in any the kidnappers. Did they really need an entire hour to show us Leonardo wanting to keep his young son out of the business, but -- oh noes! --that wacky kid cut off the Getty kid's ear and now he's covered in blood -- and surprise! -- I guess the the sins of the fathers have passed down to the sons again, etc. etc. The whole episode felt like filler to me.

I pity Getty II up to a point. I also have a lot of contempt for him. He often comes across like an entitled loser who just wants to get his hands on what he sees as his 'due' from the Getty Trust. He doesn't want to work for it at all. All the Getty offspring seem to think that they're entitled to have that money now to spend whenever and however they want. They simply don't care how Getty I built that vast fortune. We know from the overview that Getty I gave to Getty III, that all of the profits from each component of their business is reinvested in other parts of the business to keep it all growing and thriving. If all the heirs started spending a few million here and there whenever they wanted, they could harm the trust. It's like Getty I said. As soon as you get some money, you want ALL of the money. But that said, Getty I didn't love his children and seemed to regard them with contempt because they weren't all carbon copies of himself. I can't imagine being the child of such a person. Edit: meant to add about the interest Getty I wanted to charge: I think that this was Getty I's way of getting Getty II to think about this entire situation as nothing more than a business deal. He wanted Getty II to feel like he'd have to work to pay back the loan, maybe simply to goad him out of his passive whining. Of course Getty II was horrified because trying to rescue his son shouldn't have been viewed as a business dealing, but what did he do? Did he set aside his outrage and agree on the terms? No. He had a tantrum like a spoiled brat and stormed off, leaving his own kid at the mercy of murderous kidnappers. Getty II is every bit as much of a worthless human being as Getty I. It didn't even matter what made him that way. When he threw his own kid to the wolves and flounced out, he proved that he cared more about the money and his own ego than the life of his own kid.

I think I equally dislike Getty I and II and feel sorry for all of them at the same time. Getty I is a mean old jerk. Great businessman but utterly worthless as a human being. Getty II is such a whining, entitled bastard that I have to remind myself that he's an emotional mess because he was raised so badly by Getty I. But still, I've known many people who had horrible upbringings. At a certain point, no matter how damaged they were as children, once they become adults it's up to them to take control of their own life and live on their own terms. Getty II can't get over being unloved by his old man, but I think he is more angry about the fact that he can't have all the money that he wants from the family trust. He knows that there is a billion dollars plus in that trust and he's furious that he can't have his share now to spend however he wants. Well sorry, whiner. I actually agree with Getty I. Being born to wealth doesn't matter squat if you aren't willing to work for your share. You look at Getty I and Getty II, and add in the screwy way that Getty III was raised and it's no wonder that young Paul ended up being a barefoot hippy goofball in Rome. Starting with Getty I, this family just passes all sorts of emotional damage down to their next generation. Little Paul never stood a chance with these people as his family.

I don't think that Getty I is married to any of the women. They're all his mistresses. He favors the eldest one (Penelope) because she has the most class and is the smartest, so he can actually have a conversation with her. From what I understand about the real life situation, this woman actually refused to marry him or be his mistress. She was the only one of the women that Getty didn't sleep with. He kept her around because he enjoyed her personality and mind. The guy she steps out to see is her actual boyfriend. It makes Getty jealous. I was thinking about Getty I's comments to the sculptor and later to the Mafia don that he regards himself to be the reincarnation of the Emperor Hadrian. The real Getty I actually did think this. I find that a really fascinating insight into his mind and his self-image. Hadrian was a good emperor who was rich and built many things (like Getty), but like all emperors he was considered to be a god. That made him separate from all other 'mere' mortals. The scene where Getty I negotiated the ransom deal with the Mafia don was set in the ruins of Hadrian's palace (I believe). There he was, thinking that he's so exalted, but standing in the ruins of his (supposed) prior incarnation. He seemed to miss the point when the Mafia don urged him not to let his business empire fall into ruin by cutting off his own heirs, but Getty I seemed to miss that point, too. He was so pleased with himself for what he saw as a business victory, but it was so hollow.

Bullimore isn’t involved with any of the women in Getty I’s haram. From the way that Dennis has been flirting with him, Dennis has picked up on the fact that Bullimore is gay. Now, whether Bullimore himself is open about it or deeply closeted is another matter. He was clearly freaked out by even the suggestion of a physical relationship with Dennis.

That was splendid. “We used these in Vietnam, too.” LOL. I liked when he hustled the hooker out of his room when Gail showed up to announce that Paul III was still alive. I didn’t catch what the woman said to him, but his reply about recognizing that much in French was quite funny. I really like this character. It’s a great role for Brendan Fraser to display how subtly funny he can be.

I loved this episode. Hilary Swank was terrific as Gail, both when she was grieving her son's death, and then displaying her anger when she found out that Getty III was still alive. Easy to see why this woman won two Oscars. Fabulous performance. I was certainly not expecting to see Donald Sutherland 'putting on the Ritz' but that was a delight. This episode added so much more nuance to Getty I, who turns out to be not the black and white villain he'd seemed until now. I still think Getty I is a cruel old man, but he's still human and still grieved his 'dead' grandson and then gloried in being the smartest man in the situation and flying off to Rome to (supposedly) put an end to all this kidnapping nonsense. And as for my favorite character: Bullimore-Voldemort-Jahangir Khan... at least now we know why Silas Carson's character was listed as "Khan" in IMDb when the show debuted. I note with some intense amusement that now that the character's real name of Khan has been revealed, he is being listed as Bullimore on IMDb. Hahaha! Whoever is tending to the Trust entry on IMDb has a sly sense of humor. Anyway, I was so touched when Getty I complimented Bullimore and gave him the day off. He was having such a good time with his bf Dennis until auntie scared him off with talk of the two guys sharing a mattress. Too soon, auntie! Bullimore needs to be wooed with more gin fizz and groovy dancing dates first.

Dennis (to Bullimore): I hear on the grapevine that you're a bit of a rose man.

So, I made a screencap of the list of flowers that Dennis gave to Bullimore because I figured it had to mean something.

Ah, right! I didn't recall the gardener's name either. Per IMDB, his name is Dennis. They list him in 4 episodes so we'll definitely be seeing more of him. What would you name this delightful spinoff? What would they name their B&B?

I would watch the hell out that show! Rubina would be the boss. Bullimore would be the haughty but good-hearted upper class detective, and Voldemort would be his saucy, down-to-earth sidekick who flirts with Bullimore mercilessly while they are solving crime -- and then tidying up afterwards of course, because nobody likes a mess and a beautiful bouquet of flowers can cheer up even the most gruesome of crime scenes.