[Season 9 Discussion]

Eight seasons and I can't ever recall Murray attending a conference out of town, but now he's gone to two in a row. 

Were they planting the seeds for an Adam/Dave Kim whacky college hijinks spinoff?  

[S06.E08: The Big Ugly]

The terrible photo shopping of Chuck into the montage was . . . a choice. 

[S01.E02: She’s a Helper]

Apart from Zellweger (whom I'm loving), the acting in this is pretty bad. 

The real life police department and DA can't be too happy with how they are being portrayed.  

[S01.E08: Tucked Up in Newport]

9 minutes ago, Jordan Baker said:

Did we learn in this episode that Agnes had lost a child (or children)?

Yes.  I assume she meant stillbirth or miscarriage, which I would assume was even more common back then.  Or maybe the child died after birth.  Walk thru any really old cemetery and you'll find a large number of child graves from this era. 

 

2 hours ago, izabella said:

fluffing her hat feathers,

And don't forget picking out the feathers from your hat that came from the butchered chicken you encountered when having to escape from a home to which you hadn't been invited. 

 

58 minutes ago, Melina22 said:

Someone else on this thread bemoaned Marian's awful outfits.

I sometimes wonder if the wardrobe people who dress Marian are the same ones who used to dress Scarlett on Nashville.  That wardrobe department had an ongoing vendetta against that poor girl which was unabated during the run of the show.   Would not surprise me if it were the same people.   

[S01.E08: Tucked Up in Newport]

4 hours ago, KarenX said:

So… did McAllister set up Bertha? Did he prank her? Is this a test?

I considered that it might have been a set up as well.  I could see it as a way for the old money to put her in her place after she thought she was making inroads into their realm.  But, he seemed genuinely worried at the prospect of Mrs. Astor finding Bertha in the house.  So, I don't really know.  I could see it going either way. 

The more I think about the Agnes/Peggy/Armstrong situation, the more I'm kind of side-eyeing Agnes' excuse for not getting rid of Armstrong.  Just based on their ages, Jack and Bridget could not have worked for Agnes for very long.  So, clearly Agnes is not completely adverse to hiring new servants.  I realize their roles aren't quite as personal as that of a ladies' maid, but still she could train new help if she wanted.  I wonder if Armstrong doesn't have some kind of dirt on Agnes.   

[S01.E08: Tucked Up in Newport]

I assume that the newspapers would have covered George's hearing.  I can't imagine Bertha being too pleased if a story is published stating that they actually did -- gasp! -- look for ways to cut costs when building their house. 

[S01.E04: #1 With a Bullet]

I still like this show, but the whole "let me tell you a story" schtick really needs to end.  

[S01.E08: Tucked Up in Newport]

Mrs. Fish might be my favorite character. 

Peggy's baby is definitely alive.  My guess is her father arranged for him to be taken away. 

I really think Agnes would have dismissed Armstrong if Peggy had just said that was what she wanted. 

Marian:  Everybody is warning me against Mr. Raikes, so the only solution is to go ahead and marry him.  I haven't been as hard on her as some commenters, but she really is just plain stupid.  

Loved the ending with Bertha among the feathers and fish scales flying. 

Didn't see the Adams heir making a play for Gladys.  Well done, show. 

[S03.E09: The Bird]

Was the old lady from the pet store the church secretary from Young Sheldon? 

[S04.E15: Hit List]

I wonder how much Tylenol and Icy Hot paid for their commercial within the show. 

Were we suppose to know the paralegal who gave the names of the witnesses?  I felt like I must have missed something.  They found the burnt piece of paper in the fireplace with his name conveniently still legible, then we cut to Lopez confronting him in the interrogation room.  It was presented as if we should have known who he was. 

Don't those reality shows have to get releases from people who appear on them.  Seems like Nyla would have had to sign off on appearing on the show.  And likely anybody else that was stopped during filming.  She could have easily shut it down by refusing to sign a release.  (I could be totally off here.  Just seems like I remember they used to have to do that on Cops, and the producers said that they were always surprised how willing people were to agree to have their arrest shown on air.). 

I thought Gray was cut on the face during the fight.  Didn't see any bandages later. 

 

[S05.E15: In For a Penny]

1 hour ago, statsgirl said:

Cade calls, and then she looks in his bad to see what drugs he had. Shouldn't someone have looked in the beginning when they were trying to figure out how to save him.

This.  Wouldn't they need to know medications to see if anything would interact with the medicines they were giving him?  And I know if someone comes in unresponsive, you can't ask them about medications; but if they are carrying a bag, I can't imagine them not at least checking. 

I like Bell, but oh boy did he come off as hypocritical during the medicine board meetings.  Note to writers:  Some of us actually watched the first season. 

 

[S06.E07: Taboo]

3 minutes ago, chocolatine said:

We haven't seen Kate in the flash-forward either. Rebecca obviously didn't think it was possible that Kate wouldn't be around to make decisions for her care either, but maybe that's what ends up happening?

I wondered about this to.  Clearly this is a case of where the backup plan needed a backup plan.  

Rebecca picking Kate had to at least partially be based on how Kevin & Randall acted when they were trying to decide the best course of treatment for Rebecca a while back. 

[S01.01: She's a Good Friend]

I kind of loved this.  Zellweger is clearly having a ball.  She is heads and shoulders above everybody else in this show.  Pam actually kind of makes me think of what a middle aged Roxie Hart might have been like. 

The fat suit didn't bother me at all.  Based on pictures of the real Pam, let's just say . . . she ain't skinny. 

Love the comments above on Keith Morrison's narration.  As someone else pointed out, I was expecting "you're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" any moment. 

The Russ character has to be somewhat exaggerated.  Nobody could be that stupid.  Who would not have immediately jumped to murder instead of suicide based on that scene.  And yes, a lawyer would have been advisable. 

Betsy's dog barking while Pam was making the phone call has to come in to play later, right?  (Speculation on my part.  I know nothing of the real case.) 

Betsy's girls didn't seem at all enamored with Pam. 

I hope we some more of Pam's daughter from her first marriage, whose face she managed to obscure in the family portrait. 

The DA and detective were having an affair, correct? 

Pam and Betty Broderick should become cell mates.  I could see those two hitting it off just fine. 

[S01.E07: Irresistible Change]

I think this episode marks the first time someone took Pumpkin for a walk and successfully got him back home. 

But the real surprise of the episode is the fact that there is a Mrs. McCallister. 

[S01.E06: Heads Have Rolled for Less]

17 minutes ago, blackwing said:

she always reminds me of Little Bo Peep.

Thank you!  I've been trying to put my finger on it, but couldn't come up with the right wording.  You hit the nail on the head.  No wonder every time I see Gladys I wonder why she's not carrying a shepherd's staff.  

[S11.E10: New Haunts]

Was Pamela's father Wolf Blitzer? 

[S03.E08: In The Unlikely Event Of An Emergency]

The flashbacks were the most I've ever liked Gwyn. 

And now she's dead. 

[S01.E02: Fairytale Wedding]

One thing that might avoid some Blacklist comparisons is if Agent Doak and Agent Ressler didn't look like they use the same barber and buy their suits at the same store. 

[S01.E06: Heads Have Rolled for Less]

I think a lot of the criticism about the characters being obsessed with things like place settings and flowers and gloves, etc are because we are watching the show with 2022 eyes.  In that era, those things were a Very. Big. Deal., especially among the upper crust. 

We place similar importance on things today that are ultimately very silly.  I've seen people throw fits over receiving an email in ALL CAPS.   

[S01.E06: Heads Have Rolled for Less]

I loved how Bannister's lie about going to see a lawyer set off a game of telephone in the Van Rhijn (sp?) household.  

I know Church is the obvious choice for sending the message to Agnes, but I wouldn't put it past Bertha herself to have sent it.  It would accomplish two things: 1) it would finally get Agnes inside the house so she could see it in all of its glory, and 2) it would let Agnes know that Bertha was having lunch, er luncheon, with McAllister.    It would be a risk because Agnes could have easily made a scene.  But I bet Bertha was banking on Agnes not wanting to embarrass herself in front of McAllister.  

Glad to see the writers haven't completely forgotten about Larry and Marion as a potential couple. 

I wonder if Bertha has realized yet that Gladys, whom she keeps under lock and key, has accomplished something that Bertha has never done despite her best efforts.  Gladys actually got an Astor to step foot in the Russell household. 

Noticed Peggy referred to Marion as her friend.  I guess the boot incident is now forgotten. 

Loved Agnes for stepping up for Peggy in front of Armstrong.  Actually, everyone in the Van Rhijn household seems to like Peggy except for Armstrong. 

Waiting for Oscar to actually twirl his mustache. 

I would think that George and Bertha posing for a photo in front of the wreckage would not have been a good look.  

[S01.E02: Fairytale Wedding]

I'm actually kind of enjoying this, as ridiculous and over the top as it is. 

[S01.E06: Heads Have Rolled for Less]

1 hour ago, SailorGirl said:

I may be at a table for one, but I'm really enjoying this show.

 

42 minutes ago, Shermie said:

Table for two; I’m enjoying it too.

 

Make that a table for three.  Now, why doesn't that butler take off the white gloves and pour us some wine!

[S02.E09: I Will Tell of All Your Deeds]

Mrs, Lisson calling BJ "Little Debbie" was the highlight for me.  

[S04.E14: Long Shot]

What are the odds that Lucy's sudden search for her bio father leads to the discovery of some new half bio siblings? No doubt one of those siblings will be having fertility issues and in need of Lucy's freshly frozen eggs? 

[S06.E06: Our Little Island Girl: Part 2]

I don't really fault Kevin for playing the Rebecca card over the twins.  He's right.  This could very well be her last "good" Thanksgiving with them.  I do fault him for doing it in a moment of anger.  If he had just said from the start: "You know Thanksgiving is a big deal for my family.  My mom's condition is deteriorating.  It would really mean a lot if you and the twins could come for the holiday."  I think Madison would have been more receptive.  Even if she didn't want to go still, as someone above said, Kevin could have taken them himself.  He even has the resources to hire someone to help with them if necessary. 

I think Elijah is creepy.  Not getting the "good guy" vibe at all. 

I do, however, think Matt is a good guy.  A good guy who will likely be chased off after Thanksgiving dinner. 

I know absolutely zero about ballet, but even I recognized that Beth's star student wasn't "built" to be a star ballerina.  Beth shouldn't have stayed on stage after she confirmed the girl wasn't hurt.  If the girl didn't have the fortitude to get up and continue the number on her own, its just more proof she didn't have what it takes.  I absolutely do not find it believable that she achieved a career as a ballerina.  And didn't they say that the student's father was a lawyer?  Why was she getting a scholarship that was supposedly for disadvantaged students.  I know not all lawyers are super wealthy, but I think most can afford to get their kids dance lessons.

Beth's call to her old instructor was probably the first time I've actually not liked the character.  He did his job.  Nursing a grudge over it all these years is not a good look, Beth.   

13 minutes ago, Good Queen Jane said:

Note to self: if I ever knew a Pearson when they were a teen and they show up/call unexpectedly, do not engage.

Caller ID is your friend.  Characters on this show should use it more often.