S02.E03: Missing While Lonely

[AnimeMania]

An elderly widower engaged to a murderer disappears on her wedding day; Trent reveals new findings surrounding the death of Sir's mother; Gabi baits Sir with a game of cat and mouse and navigates the fallout within her Mosely & Associates family.

Premiere Date: October 17, 2024      NBC     10pm   

Michael Cassidy as Christian Evans
Rena Maliszewski as Paula Chapman
Elizabeth Becka as Betty Conley
Jonathan Baron as Eric Conley
Pat Dortch as Mark Craig
Tess Malis Kincaid as Caroline Craig
Karina Willis as Aunt Denise
Kaden Taylor as Kevin

[Rodney]

Had a feeling that it was either the son or the lawyer behind the kidnapping for the case of the week.  As soon as they made the comparison to Romeo and Juliet and the Montagues and Capulets, I narrowed it down to the lawyer.  Didn't think that his wife would be part of it, too, though.

So Margaret's "power" is back, but only when not around Gabi?  Sheesh.  Get over it, Margaret.

It looks like Trent thawed toward Gabi, at least a little bit, once she explained her mindset to him.

I guess that Gabi is as intelligent as Sir says that she is, given that she figured everything out on her own.

So Lacey's flashbacks are, I guess, leading up to her finally being able to talk again.  For being held for only a day, I'm kind of confused at how she can go for such a long without speaking.

Thank God that Lacey was finally saved, like I figured that she'd be.  She'll probably survive, as she's shown being released in the preview for next week.

So now it looks like the rest of the season will be about tracking down and finding Sir.  I'm actually interested in seeing how events unfold as we near the (hopefully) final showdown with him.

This week was a good episode.  I hope that it continues on next week.

Edited October 18 by Rodney

[babyrambo]

I’m guessing they kept up the team tension in order to have Lacey be the one to bring the everyone upon her return, but I wish the others would’ve just come around on their own. What Gabi did wasn’t for her enjoyment and it’s not like she harmed Sir. The weirdo was all too happy to be there, it was basically a rent free studio. And with a meal and reading plan. I didn’t mind the sniping when I thought it would lead to an actual conversation but Zeke and Margaret seem to have forgotten that Sir abducted and ruined Gabi’s life and neither of them want to genuinely know why Gabi did what she did, they just throw barbs at her. I wouldn’t mind an episode without a case where they all actually talk and unravel the backstories of the other members of M&A. They need to reconnect and the fractured team dynamics can only hold for so long.  

Also if Sir was stalking baby Lacey why didn’t he catch on that teen!Gabi was visiting her regularly and just follow her then? And I still don’t really trust the brother. 

[possibilities]

I previously felt that the cases of the week were a better show and the overarching plot of on-going Sir drama was a mistake. But now I'm thinking it's actually an important story, not just a case of TV wallowing.

For stalking victims, or people otherwise terrorized, it doesn't end when they get "rescued" or otherwise "freed" from captivity, or the particular traumatic event looks like it's over. Them showing the way it never really ends for people, especially when the perpetrator is still out there and they either know or suspect that person is not really over their obsession or feelings of entitlement toward you, is worth doing. In a way, just having case of the week would paper over the issue and make it look like these people who have suffered such trauma were unaffected by it, which would be utter bullshit.

I know this is true for people who escape domestic violence, but of course it's equally true for people who escape the dynamic of someone from outside the family causing harm. The imprint in your mind and body stays. And the world doesn't feel safe... and actually might not be safe in reality... and that colors everything.

I think Bella was afraid to speak because she wasn't sure what would happen if she told people that Sir was hiding in her closet, and watching her. She may have not been sure if she was imagining it, or if anyoine would believe her if she said something. But even if not, there is a very strong "freeze" response that liteally stops people from speaking, even when they want to, sometimes.

A book "The Body Keeps the Score" does a good job of describing how trauma can literally rewire the brain and change the biology of a person-- even if it's only a car accident. And something like what happened to the two girls in this story is way more complicated than that. It's not as simple as using your common sense to speak or otherwise do things that would rationally help protect yourself. It's like if you're having a seizure-- you know better but your body is doing its thing.

I kind of wish Lacey had killed Sir. Stabbing him in the back would make a self-defense claim a little weaker but she'd probably still be let go. And I don't think it's the same as what Gabi did by holding him captive. I think Lacey may finally be stronger than Gabi, and regaining her voice, strength, and agency while Gabi loses her own.

In theory, Sir could have been taken into custody and kept from hurting anyone anymore, and theoretically attempts could have been made to address his psychological disorders.... but of course now he's on the loose again. 

 

[possibilities]

Do we know where Dhan's husband is? He has been totally absent from the season so far, and it seems like he'd be a potential target to be worried about, given the current state of things. Did they tell us he's out of town at a conference or something, and I just don't remember?

[Trini]

Sorry, have to nitpick: how exactly does one set a phone booth on fire? Was that thing made of oily rags?? LOL

But anyway, really glad Lacey is back. I assume her experience going to cause more trauma, but I hope not; because Young!Lacey flashbacks are sad enough.

I get that Sir is obsessed with Gabi, so he's going to keep trying to get her; and while he isn't supposed to be completely rational, he is supposed to be smart, so one would think he backs off for a while since he a publicly known wanted criminal -- but the show is probably going to keep doing the cat-and-mouse thing, which I think is going to get tiring after a while.

But maybe the show will surprise me. It might be interesting if Sir develops a new obsession.

As for Gabi's tension with the team and Trent: eh-- I mean, she's probably never going to do time for kidnapping Sir, so I think she (we) can handle some snappiness and icy comments.

 

20 hours ago, possibilities said:

Do we know where Dhan's husband is? He has been totally absent from the season so far, and it seems like he'd be a potential target to be worried about, given the current state of things. Did they tell us he's out of town at a conference or something, and I just don't remember?

I don't think anything has been mentioned about him so far.

Edited October 20 by Trini

[possibilities]

I figure he threw gasoline in the phone booth and lit a match. The structure itself probably didn't melt, but a fire inside the booth could still do damage. And either way it would send the message to Gabi that he was "burning it all down".

[bros402]

On 10/18/2024 at 8:49 PM, possibilities said:

I kind of wish Lacey had killed Sir. Stabbing him in the back would make a self-defense claim a little weaker but she'd probably still be let go. And I don't think it's the same as what Gabi did by holding him captive. I think Lacey may finally be stronger than Gabi, and regaining her voice, strength, and agency while Gabi loses her own.

It's easy to get her off - she had been held captive and beaten by her captor when a knife fell in front of her. She regained consciousness, saw the knife, and stabbed him to try to incapacitate him.

Also, it looked like she stabbed him in the spine. He sure wasn't bleeding a lot for a wound that deep, either.

On 10/20/2024 at 3:32 AM, Trini said:

Sorry, have to nitpick: how exactly does one set a phone booth on fire? Was that thing made of oily rags?? LOL

Very, very carefully.

I was also wondering that - since getting gas on top of that thing would be hard!

[AheadofStraight]

I really enjoyed the first season but at this point I am SO sick of Sir and his ramblings about "Gabrielle". I really hoped this arc was coming to an end but no, of course he gets stabbed in the spine and can still get away. I'm still watching but it is starting to turn into hate-watching for me.