S05.E05: Take My Life ... Please!

[Trini]

The team investigates who is trying to put a hit on a stand-up comedian. Also, McCall grapples with her feelings for Dante, who is still in town deciding how to proceed with Big Ben, and Delilah continues her college search.

Airdate: November 24, 2024

[AnimeMania]

Jason Veasey as Cliff Phillips

Luke Forbes as Craig Harris

Evan Dane Taylor

[AnimeMania]

I really liked this one, they managed to keep all the stories light and upbeat, except for Harry's carpal tunnel storyline.

My favorite scene was when the comedian was driving away with all the broken glass in his hair and no windows.

[Trini]

I'll take it as a positive sign that Fisk's death wasn't mentioned at all, and didn't affect anything.

Points for creativity I guess, but I thought this was one of the more silly cases of the week. The guy really didn't seem important enough for anyone to go through the trouble to murder him.

Um, did we know Dante had a living mother?? That was still married to his dad?? Is this the first time we've seen her? Everything about his family before has been his father, his sons, or his ex-wife. I guess one could assume he had a mom, but I don't think she had been mentioned or seen until this episode; so it was kind of a shock that she was suddenly here and talking about divorce (Ben had a wife??).

Either these writers/showrunners don't want to write to write romance, or just suck at it (or both!), so I wish they would just stop the teasing with Robyn/Dante - even though I'd like to see them together - because they clearly don't have the motivation to have them actually be a couple.

Thought the side plots for Dee and Aunt Vi were good. Obviously glad that they didn't give Aunt Vi cancer. And I recognized the area where they shot the HBCU step team performing; I used to intern/work around that neighborhood!

1 hour ago, AnimeMania said:

... except for Harry's carpal tunnel storyline.

...

Thanks; I must have missed when they mentioned that; I was wondering why Harry had a cast at the end.

Fashion Highlights: "Sparkle" seemed to be the theme for the episode. I liked Mel's metallic outfit; but I think it's hilarious that she's back to wearing clubbing/runway clothes now that she's back on the team! Also liked Aunt Vi's hoodie with the sequin detailing.

[AnimeMania]

Next Episode (New Time): December 1, 2024    CBS     10:00pm
 

[KWalkerInc]

I'm really happy that Aunt Vi doesn't have cancer.  I actually closed my eyes when Robyn looked at the phone because I thought it would be bad news.

I wasn't sure what we knew about Dante's mom, if anything, but I find it hard to believe that she would still be married to Ben after all this.  I thought I remembered that when Dante was hallucinating when those crooked cops had beaten and kidnapped him she appeared and told him to be kind or something, and she is listed in IMDb for that episode and one for season 3 (probably when Ben was released?).  And why did I not recognize Valarie Pettiford?

It seems that most writers who introduce a plot like Robyn/Dante have no idea how to execute it.  It is either dragged out forever or the couple gets together and then breaks up after a year or less because the writers don't want a couple.  In this case, it was kind of both, if their "relationship" that ended before the opening credits concluded in the finale even counts.

Craig's comedy at the beginning was pretty horrible--not in the sense of being too mean like he later concluded, but just not funny.  I'm sure the writers don't have any stand-up experience though and nobody was going to be brought in for two minutes of material.

I'm glad his wife was sincere and wasn't behind the attacks.  Of course, that should have been obvious when she was the one going to Robyn, but I still wasn't sure.

[marceline]

This show is so much better without the CIA stuff.

We've seen Dante's mom before. He talked to her the first time Big Ben reached out to him.

I just don't buy Latifah's version of being in love. She seems so awkward around Dante and not in a scripted way.

I don't care much about Dee's college journey but I liked the promotion of HBCUs.

[andromeda331]

I like the case of the week. The comedian who's friends all want to kill him for terrible things he did in the past. I don't know how it never occurred to him. He was a real jerk to all his friends. But he thought they were cool. Oh, dude. I also love his attempt to say something on stage resulted in him screwing over another person. Of course it did.

I'm glad Aunt Vi doesn't have cancer. I was really worried she would. I also like her taking Delilah to talk those college girls. I don't know why it didn't occur to consider Howard, Fisk, and other colleges.

Back in the first season I though there was chemistry between Robyn and Dante. But now? I don't really see it. Either they wasted it or they don't know how to write romance. I'm not sure which. 

[blackwing]

I liked all of the plots except for everything to do with Dante.  The comedian being targeted for murder because he was mean to everyone in his life was a good storyline, although I thought it was obvious from the beginning that it was going to be that friend that wrote all his jokes and never got any credit.

Great that Vi doesn't have cancer, I hope the show showcases more of her delicious sounding cooking.  I also appreciated Delilah's storyline.  Like many high school seniors, she is thinking about college and I thought this was a very real look at the decisions that one faces.  Mel is firmly back on the team.

I used to root for Robyn and Dante getting together, but now I just don't care.  I couldn't care less about Dante's dad, Dante's issues with his dad, Dante's issues with his mom, Dante and Robyn.  Ship has sailed.  I would be much more interested in seeing her working with Miles.  The team could use someone with medical knowledge.

6 hours ago, marceline said:

I just don't buy Latifah's version of being in love. She seems so awkward around Dante and not in a scripted way.

4 hours ago, andromeda331 said:

Back in the first season I though there was chemistry between Robyn and Dante. But now? I don't really see it. Either they wasted it or they don't know how to write romance. I'm not sure which. 

I don't think it's Latifah, I just think it's poor writing.  These two don't strike me as anything other than friends and colleagues.