S02.E03: It's Not a Rumor

[HalcyonDays]

Episode synopsis: Nathan James returns home to Norfolk on a mission. With his family now safely aboard the James, Chandler sends his crew in search of their friends and loved ones.

 

[ottoDbusdriver]

I highly doubt that the contagious Norwegian doctor was able to get to south Florida in an inflatable boat -- last time he was seen was walking the hallways of the Russian cruiser right before it blew up.  The Russian cruiser was somewhere between Jamaica and Cuba, and the inflatable was from that cruiser.  So how exactly -- did he stop off in Gitmo to refuel and get some lunch ?  And he probably gave anyone that survived those explosions on the Russian cruiser the virus, so I doubt we will see the Russian cruiser again.

 

How did the little enclave of 'The Chosen' have such effective and timely communications to know about the Nathan James showing up in Norfolk with the cure in a world gone to shit ?  How can he have people "everywhere" ?

 

That was just stupid watching Chandler rake leaves off his front yard and dump them in the bins near the street -- who was he expecting was going to empty them ?  Were the Navy SEALs doing garbage runs in their spare time ? 

 

It's good that they have moved to full production of the cure and have managed to get it shipped across the US and parts of Europe, along with instructions to make more.  But its highly coincidental that the lab they've made contact with is also just up the coast from where 'The Chosen' are located in Port St. Lucie.

 

I thought they might have picked up a some new personnel in Norfolk to fill out the dwindling crew, but no such luck.

[TV Anonymous]

From a military POV my nitpick is that CDR Chandler suddenly takes over the military in and around NS Norfolk. NS Norfolk is the biggest US Navy installation. There is nobody among the survivors ranks higher than an O-5? Considering the have quite a number of aviators (exclusively officers), that is a disbelief I have to suspend.

 

Also, for the ground troops, they go SEALs this, SEALS that. Are SEALs not suppose to be more doing things their way with SOCOM? I would think that for a regular Naval activities their ground forces would be Marines, including the ones afloat (their own LT green).

[HalcyonDays]

Have more to say later, no time now, but I CANNOT believe there was a Tim Horton's product shot.Out of everything they could have done...

 

For those not in the know, Tim Horton's is a very successful coffee and doughnut chain mostly in Eastern Canada. We LIVE for our Timmie's coffee but Tim's attempted expansion into the US has not done well.

 

Regardless, I was like "OMG, are those TIMS COFFEE CANISTERS! HOLY CRAP!"

 

More later....But before...Mmmm....military porn...F-18s, Cargo planes, yum....

[Raja]

The first two episodes just finished up last season. All we got this time was setting up this season's arc. Back to "BOOM" next week.

[SonofaBiscuit]

It was totally bizarre how the camera zoomed to Danny's reaction when Foster and Garnett held each other's hands as they were getting ready to go look for their families.  That camera tactic is usually employed when showing a jealous boyfriend (or similar) watching in the background.  Weird.

 

Quincy's wife looked like she was played by a completely different actress, but I could be wrong about that.  I'm not sure what they're going to do with her.  Will she disappear, or will she become Chandler's new love interest?  

 

I also cracked up at Chandler raking leaves and putting them in the garbage cans.  Yes, I'm sure the trash pickup will be by on Monday to take those to the dump.  What's even funnier is that the lawn across the street was littered with loose garbage.  You just know that shit is going to blow into Chandler's yard the next time the wind picks up.

 

Adam Baldwin's character just left the cure for his wife right out in the open like that?  He should have put it in a safe or hidden it and then told his wife in the note "There are doses of the cure in the safe in our bedroom" or "There are doses of the cure in that place we hid X-Mas presents last year" or something!  At least make it a little difficult for looters to find.

 

So now the show brings up a past love interest of the doctor?  Why do I feel like we'll find out that he is alive right around the time that Tex and the doc are getting close?

Edited June 29, 2015 by SonofaBiscuit

[thuganomics85]

Dammit, show!  Why did do you have to do one of my least favorite plots ever?  The whole "lead characters considers hanging it up" plot, never works for me.  I no damn well Chandler isn't going to stay home.  Don't insult my intelligence like that, show.  I couldn't help thought but to crack up when his daughter and his father were basically like "You're a quitter!  This is what quitters do!  QUITTER!!!" Chandler was just all "What?  You guys aren't impressed with my pity party and moping?!" about that little twist.

 

So, from what I can tell, the new baddies this season are going to consist of people who are immune to the virus, so they believe they were "chosen" to rule the world, and believe those who can be infected are weaklings or something?  So, they're probably going to find the cure evil?  Oh, and Patient Zero is of course, still alive and now with them.  Sure, why not.  We already did the "Only the strong and smart should be allowed to survive" crazies.  Now it's time for the religious fanatics to shine!

 

There was no way Tex and Dr. Scott meeting at the gym wasn't going to end up turning into another flirting session.  And now that it is more likely that Scott's boyfriend is a goner (but he'll probably end up alive), I think a hook-up is more and more likely.

 

I didn't notice this last week, but Foster looked way more tanned here.  Did the actress visiting a tanning salon every day during the break?  Dive into a pool full of bronzer?

[Jack Kerouac]

Have more to say later, no time now, but I CANNOT believe there was a Tim Horton's product shot.Out of everything they could have done...

 

For those not in the know, Tim Horton's is a very successful coffee and doughnut chain mostly in Eastern Canada. We LIVE for our Timmie's coffee but Tim's attempted expansion into the US has not done well.

 

Regardless, I was like "OMG, are those TIMS COFFEE CANISTERS! HOLY CRAP!"

I know! I totally had to rewind that scene because I did a double take. "Timmie's?"

[xaxat]

I enjoyed this episode. I think the show is much better when it is a military procedural dealing with the nuts and bolts of life after the apocalypse. Just give me the Nathan James, the crew (it's a nice ensemble they've put together) military hardware porn and some logistical hurdles to overcome while rebuilding the world. 

 

I don't really need a Big Bad.

[Mars477]

 

Also, for the ground troops, they go SEALs this, SEALS that. Are SEALs not suppose to be more doing things their way with SOCOM? I would think that for a regular Naval activities their ground forces would be Marines, including the ones afloat (their own LT green).

Seriously.  With the Navy SEALs so few in number (and SOCOM unable to replenish their ranks), they'd be totally wasted being deployed in limited numbers in a low threat environment, especially when they could be rested or trained.  Instead Marines, Naval MPs, or sailors cross-trained as infantry (which should include all sailors during this time of emergency) would be used instead.

 

But a certain kind of individual, which includes Michael Bay, has always had a predilection for fellating our country's special operations personnel, especially the elite ones like the Navy SEALs.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Mars477

[Frost]

 

Instead Marines, Naval MPs, or sailors cross-trained as infantry (which should include all sailors during this time of emergency) would be used instead.

Not to mention, there ARE other branches of the military.  As an Air Force brat I was chagrined that the Navy, Marines, and Army were mentioned when discussing personnel left in Norfolk, but then Air Force cargo planes were shown taking the cure to the other labs.  Show the aviators a little love Bay!!!  I also thought it a little unlikely that Chandler is apparently the highest ranking military officer left alive.  It will be interesting if they do come across a higher rank that has a different idea of how to approach things and Chandler has to struggle with giving up his ultimate authority.  Making the new "President" evil didn't test this scenario.  I hope they go with an Army or Air Force general who is perfectly sane and just has a different perspective. 

 

And of course, in the end Chandler will be proven right and everyone will respect each other just that much more!!!

 

Patient Zero turned full out sociopath in this episode.  He was a narcissistic megalomaniac before, but he seemed downright pleased to be infecting that little boy on the beach.  And he's certainly happy to set his new immune pals on the path of Rachel and the Nathan James.

 

I loved the interaction with Chandler and the engineering chief when she broke down about finding the names of her family on the death rolls.  Just sitting down next to her and letting her lean against him.  Chandler does seem like he really knows his crew.

Edited June 29, 2015 by Frost

[Raja]

Seriously. With the Navy SEALs so few in number (and SOCOM unable to replenish their ranks), they'd be totally wasted being deployed in limited numbers in a low threat environment, especially when they could be rested or trained. Instead Marines, Naval MPs, or sailors cross-trained as infantry (which should include all sailors during this time of emergency) would be used instead.

But a certain kind of individual, which includes Michael Bay, has always had a predilection for fellating our country's special operations personnel, especially the elite ones like the Navy SEALs.

I have written many times all soldiers are Rangers, all Marines either Scout Snipers or Force Recon and all sailors are fighter pilots or SEALS. USAF PJs were about to get their love with their non lethal rescue focus when 9/11 happened.

[oakville]

I really like this show. I enjoy the post apocalypse genre in general. It's nice to see that the surviving forces at Norfolk respected Chandler's orders & didn't try to take over the ship. I thought it was surprising that no high ranking officers were at the base. The family reunions were emotional.

[Dowel Jones]

"You're a quitter!  This is what quitters do!  QUITTER!!!" Chandler was just all "What? 

 

"I'm, I'm going to resign my commission!"  " Then resign your goddamn commission Hotlips!"

 

So Patient 0 has the ear of the next megalomaniac, who had apparently watched the beginning of The Following before the world went to shit.  What does he hope to do with his little band?  I guess we'll find out.

[Lonesome Rhodes]

I gotsta admit, the recon of the White House was a really great moment.  I would have much enjoyed more scenes inside the place before they moved on.

 

I thought it was a great touch that the chosen made sure Mr. Zero got an infected sleeping bag.  This is precisely the kind of treachery most every surviving group would employ.  Tribalism would be rampant.  OUtsiders, each and every one, would be regarded as a potential enemy and/or a drain on scarce resources.  Those who had assumed power would not cotton to any potential new threat.  A newcomer could show up with new information - and guess what the most precious commodity in the world would be????  Yup.  Info.

 

Sure enough, not a word about circuitry damaged in the firefights on the James.  Ugh.

 

I don't get why a cure would make any difference in the continental USA anymore.   Pretty much everyone still alive is immune.  I can see where certain regions in the world may be doing OK.   Would the moral imperative not be to concentrate efforts on distribution there?  This also brings up a heckuva great issue:  How did the world react?  Did smaller countries start projecting power with no USA to stop them?  How did China come through?  Imagine the massive death squads they would have used to try to prevent the spread of the virus!  You sneeze?  Bang.  You gone.

 

I was wondering why Chandler didn't set-up a proper recycling pickup for his house's garbage.  That's the job for the man of the house, right?  

[TV Anonymous]

For those not in the know, Tim Horton's is a very successful coffee and doughnut chain mostly in Eastern Canada. We LIVE for our Timmie's coffee but Tim's attempted expansion into the US has not done well.

 

If by "mostly in Eastern Canada" you means that there are more Tim stores in the East, because the population there is much bigger than the West, I agree with you. However, the success of Tims in the West is not less than it is in the East. From Manitoba to BC, Tims fuel our morning, every morning.

 

I have written many times all soldiers are Rangers, all Marines either Scout Snipers or Force Recon and all sailors are fighter pilots or SEALS. USAF PJs were about to get their love with their non lethal rescue focus when 9/11 happened.

 

Credit to this how however, it still somewhat anchors in reality of what those Sailors can do. For example, they are winning the on-ship battle as they are fighting local law enforcements. Compare that with the late Last Resort where submariners were also infantrymen who were able to beat an SOF unit in an open battle.

[jzygayle]

Regardless of Tim Hortons' successful (or not) US expansion generally, they have a fairly strong presence in/around the Norfolk, VA area, including one ON Naval Station Norfolk.

The leaf raking thing?  I'm giving Chandler the benefit of the doubt that he was just seeking a mundane activity to approximate normality in his life.  "If I do this like I always did this, then the garbage service will show up like it always showed up."  It's not rational, but it's not surprising that's his fall back.

[BungalowSummer]

I agree that the scenes in the White House were very effective. I thought that when the recon reported that the safe room was locked and there was no response from inside, that the President and his cabinet were in there dead and the place was really a tomb.

Chandler has been so strong, noble and sensitive as a leader that his one moment of breakdown was riveting. The loss of his wife was finally real when he walked into their home, saw the pictures of them together, entered their bedroom - so neat and normal -- and finally focused on the most intimate artifacts of her life. There is nothing so heartbreaking as touching the hairbrush or smelling the perfume of the person you've lost. It was a quietly powerful scene, I thought.

[Raja]

 

 

 

Credit to this how however, it still somewhat anchors in reality of what those Sailors can do. For example, they are winning the on-ship battle as they are fighting local law enforcements. Compare that with the late Last Resort where submariners were also infantrymen who were able to beat an SOF unit in an open battle.

I don't think you got our point entirely. We weren't commenting on the competence of the cross-trained sailors versus the the surviving "State Troopers" in a ship board fight. But  rather the cult of Special Operations. For another example I should add to my list all USMC officers are fighter jet and helicopter pilots along with being Scout/Sniper Force Recon Special Forces. Every speaking character you run into in fiction is or was in the Special Forces, nobody drove a truck for the 4077th Transportation Company. Even a non-speaking character sitting in a guard tower over looking the harbor in this specific case was not just a sailor but a SEAL. About 30 years ago there was a book talking about this phenomenon and predicted the up gunning of normal folks and the increasing militarization of police to the point where Customs, the Park Service etc has their own "elite" teams instead of calling in the FBI

[HalcyonDays]

I really like this show. I enjoy the post apocalypse genre in general. It's nice to see that the surviving forces at Norfolk respected Chandler's orders & didn't try to take over the ship. I thought it was surprising that no high ranking officers were at the base. The family reunions were emotional.

 

I really do too. I mean, it's maybe not the best acted or nuanced in it's writing, maybe displays military situations incorrectly and employs typical tropes, but it's fun and entertaining and I really enjoy it.

 

If by "mostly in Eastern Canada" you means that there are more Tim stores in the East, because the population there is much bigger than the West, I agree with you. However, the success of Tims in the West is not less than it is in the East. From Manitoba to BC, Tims fuel our morning, every morning.

 

Depending on the area. The city I gre up in literally had two separate Timmie's across the street from one another. Both same size, both sit down, not a wide street. Both thrived. They are everywhere around here. But going out to Vancouver, I saw lots of Starbucks, but for the life of me, couldn't find a Tims (downtown Van). Up to Thunderbay, very fews Tims, but they have their own chain that does well (Robin's Donuts). Depends on the area.

 

Regardless of Tim Hortons' successful (or not) US expansion generally, they have a fairly strong presence in/around the Norfolk, VA area, including one ON Naval Station Norfolk.

 

Tim's did okay in some parts of Eastern US, but they announced they were going to close their US head office, but Tim's is having a hard time expanding further into the US.

 

The leaf raking thing?  I'm giving Chandler the benefit of the doubt that he was just seeking a mundane activity to approximate normality in his life.  "If I do this like I always did this, then the garbage service will show up like it always showed up."  It's not rational, but it's not surprising that's his fall back.

 

I was chuckling, because I'm like, Dude, you know there is no more garbage pickup, right? But your point is dead on - it's not rational but a sense of normalcy.

 

I agree that the scenes in the White House were very effective. I thought that when the recon reported that the safe room was locked and there was no response from inside, that the President and his cabinet were in there dead and the place was really a tomb.

Chandler has been so strong, noble and sensitive as a leader that his one moment of breakdown was riveting. The loss of his wife was finally real when he walked into their home, saw the pictures of them together, entered their bedroom - so neat and normal -- and finally focused on the most intimate artifacts of her life. There is nothing so heartbreaking as touching the hairbrush or smelling the perfume of the person you've lost. It was a quietly powerful scene, I thought.

 

Great comment I totally agree. Didn't even catch the thing about the safe room, but damn, you are right. They are probably all dead in there. Creepy.

 

I also liked the contrast of the XO choosing the ship (because he had no family anymore), Chandler first choosing his family but ultimately went back to where he really should be. Hard decision.

[iMonrey]

Eh, I thought it was kind of a boring episode after S02.E01/E02, which was kind of expected since those episodes really serviced the first season more than anything else. This was mostly set-up for the new season and I have to say I'm not encouraged by what they seem to be selling here. A cult of religious fanatics? Snore.

 

Realistically there isn't much more to do with this story. They have the cure, they've managed to distribute it to labs for mass production, and as it's been pointed out, by now most people who weren't immune are dead anyway. I suppose there's law and order to restore but Chandler and his crew can only do so much, they can't police the whole world  Especially from a ship.

 

I recently discovered that this show bears little to no resemblance to the book on which it's supposedly based, and even in this incarnation the story is finite. The longer they try to perpetuate it the sillier it's going to get I'm afraid.

 

Someone remind me, where did they pick up Tex? Wasn't he at Gitmo? What was he doing there? It's been so long since the first season I can't remember a lot of what went on.

 

 

[OSM Mom]

Tex was a guard at Gitmo I think.

[ottoDbusdriver]

Someone remind me, where did they pick up Tex? Wasn't he at Gitmo? What was he doing there? It's been so long since the first season I can't remember a lot of what went on.

 

Tex was a civilian contractor working at Gitmo detention camp guarding the high-profile prisoners.

 

ETA: @OSM Mom beat me to it by minutes.

Edited July 1, 2015 by ottoDbusdriver

[DonnaJo]

Curious to see if Adam Baldwin will reunite with his family. His son died, so that leaves the wife and two daughters? The family photo in the house went by too quickly. Anyone know?

 

 Wasn't he estranged from his wife, or is that wishful thinking on my part?

Edited July 4, 2015 by DonnaJo

[KLovestoShop]

I just love this show and all the characters, especially Eric Dane and Adam Baldwin.  Didn't you all find it sad when everyone was going out looking for their families.  I cried a lot throughout this episode.  

[Raja]

I was thinking how fortunate that Lieutenant Foster's mother was in Norfolk. I understand moving the spouse and kids near to your duty station but mom and dad?

[Roadkill 911]

I am a few episodes beyond this one now but I figured going back to before it started was as good a place as any. Here's my beef. Right now, they have an ensign at the sonar. They even label him as second string. This is prevalent throughout the series that in a position that gets a fair amount of airplay, they insert an officer. Main exception to this is the CS2 (cook). I'm sorry and I dont mean any disrespect to officers out there but they dont know anything about systems. They may know the names and have an idea of what they do but officers are NOT operators. On a Destroyer of this size, they have a contingent of sonar operators. This crew hasnt lost so many people that they dont have any Sonar Techs left on board. In saying officers are operators, they are alienating the ctual enlisted sailors who do these jobs. The job of producers is to get ratings and the fact that there are far more enlisted than officers means they are shooting themselves in the foot on this one. They need to do a bit more homework.

I was thinking how fortunate that Lieutenant Foster's mother was in Norfolk. I understand moving the spouse and kids near to your duty station but mom and dad?

Raja, I actually live in the Norfolk area and what I have seen is that many of the sailors in this area are actually from this area originally so their families are quite close.