S02.E02: Missing While Difficult

[Trini]

A Black newborn baby is abducted from the hospital while Gabi and the team continue their frantic search for one of their own. Someone from Sir's past pays Mosely & Associates a surprise visit. Meanwhile, Margaret has a public meltdown.

Airdate: October 10, 2024

[AnimeMania]

Kelly Jenrette as Viola

[Rodney]

Knew it was the sister, Raya, from her first appearance.  Plus, throughout the episode, there were a lot of clues sprinkled in about her.  Good case of the week, though I'm surprised that they already went back to having them while Lacey is Sir's captive.

I appreciate Dhan for taking the best approach about Gabi.  Sir was a monster who held a teenage girl against her will for over a year.  Gabi was a victim who was just turning the tables on said monster.  Zeke and Margaret need to chill out.  I don't know who's acting worse between the two of them where Gabi's concerned.

Margaret had a public meltdown over a decade ago?  It must've been related to Jamie.

I didn't trust Christian Evans at first.  But he ended up being the reason that they almost found Lacey, so by the episode's end, I was on board with him.  I almost hope that he stays on permanently, because this team needs a grief counselor to get through their traumas.

Well, with Lacey as hurt as she was at the end of the episode, I don't think that there's much of a reason not to find her in the next episode.  I hope that they do.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is so good, but I don't see how Sir can believably last past this season.  Really, he shouldn't.  I hope that whatever happens to him this season, he goes out with a bang.  But if this show gets a season three, then they need to move on to a new main villain.  Maybe whoever caused Margaret or Zeke's trauma?

[NeenerNeener]

I'm starting to think Sir has waaay overestimated Gabi's intelligence. She shouldn't have needed him to figure out that the sister was responsible.

I agree that they need to resolve all the Sir sh*t this season. Let's move on to solving Margaret's damage, and maybe Zeke's agoraphobia too, and maybe Gabi can actually demonstrate that superior intelligence Sir keeps saying she has, without him.

[FlowerofCarnage]

Sir : I am not a killer, Gabi

Also Sir: I spent all night digging a grave to put you in.

 

[TiffanyNichelle]

I need them to wrap up Margaret's attitude with Gabi already. I was fine with it in the first episode b/c it was the immediate fallout and I don't even mind Zeke being icy with her but Margaret is annoying me now. The Zeke thing is all wrapped up in Lacey's kidnapping since they were pushing towards a Lacey/Zeke hookup last season (when it should have been Dhan/Zeke but I digress).

Anyway, Margaret's little bitchy comments and quips to Gabi is helping no one. When Margaret snapped that she was broken b/c of Gabi and she couldn't read people anymore I wanted Gabi to point out that the only reason she could read people in the first place was because she was broken. Healthy people don't develop a skill that helps them notice every little detail about situations and people. She only got that way b/c she has the trauma of taking her eye off her son for a moment.

For a second, I thought Sir's brother was working with him and was leading them to the house b/c he knew they would eventually find it but had already warned Sir to get out of there. He has a very flat line reading that creeps me out.

I'm happy Lacey's mother is there and she's the one person (outside of Dhan) who isn't lashing out at Gabi all the time. No one is beating Gabi up more than Gabi. Lacey's mother saw the immediate fallout of the trauma of what happened to Gabi and Lacey and right now Gabi needs a mother figure to lean on. Since the other mother figure in the group hates her.

I also clocked the daughter as being involved from the first scene when she was playing her fingers. It was pretty obvious.

[babyrambo]

It’s early, but so far I’m liking this season so much more than the first. 
Despite Lacey’s literal kidnapping, things somehow feel way less overdone. Even with the usual ‘viral clip’ vibe of the dialogue, it’s like the show has settled into itself. 

Watching the case of the week, I was reminded of the about Tori Bowie, the black Olympian who died last year during childbirth and also Beyoncé and Serena Williams, who, despite their wealth and fame, were still unable to avoid the birth complications that had them almost become a part of the The Black Birth Mortality Rate. I know this episode ended up focusing more on the actual baby, but the US has the highest maternal mortality rate in a first world country and majority of those deaths are black women. It’s a damning and harrowing fact, and while it’s great seen more shows tackling that storyline (Grey’s brought it up last season and The Resident handled it a few years ago as well) real life change is necessary but slow going. Although it’s great that more doctors and patients are becoming aware of this issue and how to prevent it.

Back to the episode, it was obvious the daughter was the culprit from the beginning, but I almost wasn’t sure because she seemed a bit too old to be so jealous? I feel like those feelings should fade by age 12 at the latest, but then again, I’m an older sibling and I’ve never understood the replacement angle. I always liked having someone to share the chores with and boss around bond with, ha. But I liked the way the actress played it, even with the slight melodramatic twist at the end. The lady playing the mom was also good, she was one of the more convincing actresses and really sold her distress. But the press conference was anything but Margaret's finest moment so her claim that Margaret was making things about herself came off as slightly disingenuous, although in line with the show and it’s sometimes heavy handed idea of nuance. 

Tensions were high all around though. “Go to hell” / “I’ll see you there” LOL. lI know the team will eventually come around, but I don’t mind the rift, especially between Trent & Gabi and Gabi & Margaret, because the irritated back and forths are pretty fun to watch. They’ve been using the team’s collective anger to slowly reveal more about their backstory’s and I'm really liking that direction. Hopefully they dig more into them once Lacey is back and stick Sir in the background (his brother had such an ominous vibe when he first popped up & made me instantly suspicious. Not sure what his real deal is, but I felt like M&A trusted him way too quickly—@TiffanyNichelle same, it’s like he’s doing an impression of an alien doing an impression of a regular guy. Good acting but it’s off-putting as hell) because realistically where does his storyline go? 

Also I now get why Lacey’s mom is so forgiving towards Gabi. She played a major part in getting young!Lacey to finally be okay again after Sir so I guess Lacey’s mother is just always going to be grateful and have a soft spot for Gabi. I do wonder if that will change once Lacey returns and tells them what she’s been through. 

Edited October 11 by babyrambo

[possibilities]

2 hours ago, babyrambo said:

it’s like he’s doing an impression of an alien doing an impression of a regular guy.

He does actually play an alien on Resident Alien. He seems more smoothly human in that role! I agree he came off super-creepy here and I'm still not convinced he's a good guy.

 

[babyrambo]

10 minutes ago, possibilities said:

He does actually play an alien on Resident Alien. He seems more smoothly human in that role! I agree he came off super-creepy here and I'm still not convinced he's a good guy.

 

After posting this I realized that he also plays an alien in People of Earth, which is the only other show I’ve seen him on so maybe that’s why I made the connection. He’s way more believable as a human in that role, but wow talk about typecasting. It might be the direction, but something about his delivery is off-kilter for sure. 

[Trini]

Hmm -- not sure how I feel about Sir's brother joining the cast (I assume he's recurring?). It's one way to get insights about Sir and his backstory, but will it be too tempting to make him into another villain?

 

On 10/10/2024 at 11:31 PM, Rodney said:

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is so good, but I don't see how Sir can believably last past this season.  Really, he shouldn't.  I hope that whatever happens to him this season, he goes out with a bang.  But if this show gets a season three, then they need to move on to a new main villain.  Maybe whoever caused Margaret or Zeke's trauma?

I don't think they're going to let M-PG go that easily. I'm guessing by the end of the season they catch him, and then Season 3 he consults from prison. They shouldn't do that, though; since I also want the team to solve cases without his help, but that seems to be the premise the show is sticking with.

I'd love if they delve more into the rest of the team's trauma.

[bros402]

On 10/10/2024 at 11:31 PM, Rodney said:

I appreciate Dhan for taking the best approach about Gabi.  Sir was a monster who held a teenage girl against her will for over a year.  Gabi was a victim who was just turning the tables on said monster.  Zeke and Margaret need to chill out.  I don't know who's acting worse between the two of them where Gabi's concerned.

 

I didn't trust Christian Evans at first.  But he ended up being the reason that they almost found Lacey, so by the episode's end, I was on board with him.  I almost hope that he stays on permanently, because this team needs a grief counselor to get through their traumas.

Well, with Lacey as hurt as she was at the end of the episode, I don't think that there's much of a reason not to find her in the next episode.  I hope that they do.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar is so good, but I don't see how Sir can believably last past this season.  Really, he shouldn't.  I hope that whatever happens to him this season, he goes out with a bang.  But if this show gets a season three, then they need to move on to a new main villain.  Maybe whoever caused Margaret or Zeke's trauma?

I think Margaret is acting worse. At least Zeke has some trauma related to her keeping Sir captive - he was poisoned and then he was slightly traumatized by the hospital stay.

Yes, the grief counselor needs to stay on permanently...and he might be one of of the only people who won't crap on Gabi for keeping Sir hostage!

I thought Zeke said last season that his uncle caused his trauma? I would like next season to be Margaret or Dhan.

On 10/11/2024 at 8:41 AM, FlowerofCarnage said:

Sir : I am not a killer, Gabi

Also Sir: I spent all night digging a grave to put you in.

 

I would not put it past Sir to have done that as psychological torture

...and digging it to show he had something ready for her.

[Dowel Jones]

9 hours ago, Trini said:

will it be too tempting to make him into another villain?

At one point he said "You're smarter than that" to Gabi, echoing Sir's constant use of the phrase.

[kickingnames]

Ugh Christian Evans was instantly creepy. Do not like. (The actor is doing a great job.) I’m already convinced there’s something bad up with Christian — like, he’s the reason Sir might actually be telling the truth about not being a killer. Trent’s gonna feel real bad for bringing Christian into contact with Gabi when he turns out to be very bad news.

I’m with those who are kinda over the way Margaret’s blaming Gabi for everything. I get that they have to show the range of reactions across the group, but Margaret’s just wearing on me more than the others.