S02.E13: Invasive Species

[CooperTV]

The death of Henry's father leads the family to uncover some rather shocking secrets that open old wounds for them, leading to a confrontation between Henry and his grieving sister Maureen, who feels her brother should have been home more. Elsewhere, Russell keeps important information from Elizabeth's team at the State Department.

 

[roomtorome]

Too much Henry lately; too much Henry....Maybe we can get a break from him for awhile.

[pennben]

Agreed. I don't really like this season of Mr. Madam Secretary.

[candall]

Oops, I very much enjoyed taking a break from spies and assassinations for a week and getting some good old fashioned family drama--that wasn't centered around Stevie.  Kate Burton knows how to reach in and rip out a beating heart.  She must have perfected that technique when she was Meredith Grey's mother.

 

I didn't pay attention to the office segments.  It seemed like "Hi, we're the State Department and we're still here!" filler.  I'll go back and watch if someone tells me it was good stuff.

 

Elizabeth's speech about her family versus Henry's was interesting.  I grew up in a quiet two-person household and I've always felt discombobulated in a big raucous family madhouse setting.  Ha, I thought she was going to say how much she enjoyed the peace of being snowed in by herself in her usually busy dorm.

Edited February 1, 2016 by candall

[Guest]

Is Kate Burton EVER going to play a character I don't want to slap?

It was ok. Not great. Not even good. Just meh.

[missbonnie]

Is Kate Burton EVER going to play a character I don't want to slap?

Seriously! I kept thinking, what a bitch! I actually enjoyed the episode because it kind of reminds me of the relationships between my siblings and I at times. I mean I have to be honest and say that there are times when one or the other isn't speaking to each other and this episode felt genuine in that way. I also loved Nadine not backing down to Russell. That was awesome, "I don't work for you."

[l star]

I also loved Nadine not backing down to Russell. That was awesome, "I don't work for you."

This and Blake were the only things I cared about from the State story line. Though I was surprised that Russell didn't push things since he so easily (and justifiably considering their positions on the food chain) could have, I liked seeing her guard the secretary's gate as fiercely as he does the president's. I don't know what Blake's actual job title is but since his job is apparently 'take care of Elizabeth', he does it very well and I love him for it. Her life at home and her life at work are so separate (or should be Henry) that he pairs nicely with her as a bridge character helping her between both worlds.

 

It is probably my admiration for Kate Burton talking (and my lack of investment in Tim Daly's Henry here) but I felt for Maureen. Erin and nameless other brother were the ones I disliked. Bullshit Erin never called Bess 'Queen Elizabeth'. Bullshit they weren't perfectly happy with Maureen doing all the hard work taking care of their parents on her own. Plus they get to sit back with their mouths shut when it all gets nasty. If they disagreed with Maureen, why weren't they talking things out with Henry or making Elizabeth feel welcome? Or volunteering to take on any of the tasks Maureen said needed done? Instead Henry and Elizabeth took on what they could and Maureen did the rest. Maureen was very realistic to me. She was not likable in the least and very bitter but she was the one dedicated to taking care of their parents. And now they are both gone. I think she is one of those people who feels like her siblings dump it all on her then never give her the recognition and praise she deserves. Which is probably true but what she does get, she uses to prop up her martyr complex which cancels out a lot of sympathy.

 

As a religious professor I was shocked that Henry showed so little regard for Maureen's feelings about their father's suicide as a sin. From the service, I have to assume that their father was at least somewhat religious. Their mother was and the kids were apparently raised that way. Would their father have wanted people to know? I know Henry said that they had to tell people so that they could grieve but Henry wasn't going to grieve in Pittsburgh with the rest of them. That wasn't all his call IMO.

 

I'm curious if we will ever hear more about the finances of this ep. The easiest thing would be for Elizabeth to just pay the credit card bill and let it all go from the D.C. end, but that would also just reinforce the bigger issues. Finding out that Henry was ashamed of his father when he got to UVA then he brought home Elizabeth from there does explain a bit. Not in any way that tilts it to okay but it gives some context for their obvious discomfort with everything Elizabeth is and represents. I'm guessing they have said many times 'why shouldn't she do it? It's not like it would be hard for her'.

 

Stevie's hair for the funeral was gorgeous. And less shallow, I appreciated her hurt anger on her mom's behalf. That hint of yearning to be different around the siblings really was very unlike Bess. The way she said 'Queen Elizabeth' was just sad and spelled it out long before the shot of her watching the siblings laugh or her conversation with Stevie. Stevie can't really understand because she has that raucous family who will love her even if she yells and shuts them down. Elizabeth doesn't, and doesn't feel like she belongs there, so she has to be protective of any place they give her. I loved the quick quiet yeah from Stevie after Elizabeth said she just wanted to be a part of it. Calling Will for Elizabeth was the perfect follow up.

 

Seeing the lively, opinionated household Elizabeth and Henry encourage, little Elizabeth alone in her dorm room on Christmas was too easy to see. I wonder if lively and raucous was anything like what Elizabeth's family was like before her parents' died? 

[Beezella]

I thought the family interactions after the unexpected death of a family member seemed very realistic. The milling about, so many people you don't even really know who are. Painful episode. I wondered though about the death being so quickly declared a suicide.

 

I felt it extremely unfair to hold Henry to blame for the suicide because of an incident that happened when Henry was 17 years old!

 

I was disappointed the scammer turned out to be one of the father's friends, and a sympathetic (otherwise) character to boot.

 

On a shallow note, where can I get a striped sweater with the blue sleeves like Bess was wearing at the family house?

[buckboard]

I understand that this isn't a documentary, but when Elizabeth is away, her staff takes charge of the Department? There is no Deputy Secretary of State and under secretaries who carry on business in her absence?

[secnarf]

I thought the family interactions after the unexpected death of a family member seemed very realistic. The milling about, so many people you don't even really know who are. Painful episode. I wondered though about the death being so quickly declared a suicide.

 

I felt it extremely unfair to hold Henry to blame for the suicide because of an incident that happened when Henry was 17 years old!

I also wondered about how quickly he death was declared a suicide, since their evidence was a tox screen showing fatal levels of barbiturates in his system and no barbiturates (or empty barbiturate bottles) anywhere around - only an empty bottle of opioid painkillers. That doesn't add up at all and should warrant further investigation - but it would seem that the writers just don't know that barbiturates and opioids are two different classes of medication.

 

I was also a bit confused about Henry's story. That story would have to have occurred many years ago, but Maureen said her father had mentioned whatever he had said about Henry a couple of years ago, and I got the impression something had happened at that point. Maybe it was just the father remembering the incident from when Henry started university, but I wondered if there was more to it than that.

[SparklesBitch]

I loved this episode! I'm always a sucker for family dynamics, and this show is no exception.

 

Kate Burton knows how to reach in and rip out a beating heart.  She must have perfected that technique when she was Meredith Grey's mother.

 

She's so amazing....whenever she pops up in something, I know I'm in for a great ride.

 

Stevie's hair for the funeral was gorgeous. And less shallow, I appreciated her hurt anger on her mom's behalf. That hint of yearning to be different around the siblings really was very unlike Bess. The way she said 'Queen Elizabeth' was just sad and spelled it out long before the shot of her watching the siblings laugh or her conversation with Stevie. Stevie can't really understand because she has that raucous family who will love her even if she yells and shuts them down. Elizabeth doesn't, and doesn't feel like she belongs there, so she has to be protective of any place they give her. I loved the quick quiet yeah from Stevie after Elizabeth said she just wanted to be a part of it. Calling Will for Elizabeth was the perfect follow up.

 

Seeing the lively, opinionated household Elizabeth and Henry encourage, little Elizabeth alone in her dorm room on Christmas was too easy to see. I wonder if lively and raucous was anything like what Elizabeth's family was like before her parents' died? 

 

l star, I totally agree with your entire post, but especially this. Stevie's hurt anger rang so true to me, because I can definitely see myself jumping in and defending my own mom in such a situation.

 

Elizabeth watching Henry with his siblings and her conversation with Stevie gave us a wealth of information without being heavy handed about it and I thought it was brilliant. Her finishing Maureen's sentence about how they call her, "Queen Elizabeth," just socked me in the heart for her. It was a combination of the expression on her face and the way she said it....and how she tried to help by putting the casket on her credit card just to be shut down all over again. Just...ow

Edited February 2, 2016 by SparklesBitch

[candall]

I also wondered about how quickly he death was declared a suicide, since their evidence was a tox screen showing fatal levels of barbiturates in his system and no barbiturates (or empty barbiturate bottles) anywhere around - only an empty bottle of opioid painkillers. That doesn't add up at all and should warrant further investigation - but it would seem that the writers just don't know that barbiturates and opioids are two different classes of medication.

 

I was also a bit confused about Henry's story. That story would have to have occurred many years ago, but Maureen said her father had mentioned whatever he had said about Henry a couple of years ago, and I got the impression something had happened at that point. Maybe it was just the father remembering the incident from when Henry started university, but I wondered if there was more to it than that.

I think Maureen was operating under the impression Henry had hurt their father's feelings very recently--some thing that happened which she wasn't totally sure about--maybe something to do with not coming to visit or some other recent incident when the dad felt disrespected.  I don't know what you did, but he killed himself because YOU broke his heart.

 

But then it turned out Henry knew exactly what incident daddy was mumbling about when he was drunk--the thing that happened way back when Henry was in college.

 

And Henry, being Henry, takes the hit and doesn't say "Give me a break, you're talking about something from 30 years ago when I was a stupid kid."

[SparedTurkey]

Maybe I don't know anything about having a sibling - but if one of my parents had just died (leaving aside any notion of suicide) and my sibling told me I was the reason for it...well, I would have nothing more to do with that person ever. I don't care how sad they are.

 

That said, this is the kind of story they should have for Henry. Not a distract-Elizabeth-from-her-job. But something grounded and more relatable than being Captain Arm-Candy-Most-Feelingist-Best Spy-Ever etc.

 

Although not loving that Henry knew about the 'Queen Elizabeth' nonsense and never said anything to anyone about it. In saying that, Stevie redeemed herself for me for not only being on Bess' side during that, but talking to her afterwards and then calling Uncle Whats-his-face?

 

I also love Blake. And Nadine. Which can stay. The rest, if they sing, maybe.

[Beden]

 

Maybe I don't know anything about having a sibling - but if one of my parents had just died (leaving aside any notion of suicide) and my sibling told me I was the reason for it...well, I would have nothing more to do with that person ever. I don't care how sad they are.

Thank you and may my heinous brother who could have written that scene rot--but enough about that.

 

Yes, there were a few holes in the plot but the family dynamic was relatable to almost anyone with a family, dealing with a sudden loss and having all kinds of unresolved arguments and bad feelings still simmering. I especially thought that the sibling's jealousy of Bess and Henry's relative financial and professional standings was well done, as well as the resentment regarding Bess's well intentioned offer of her credit card when they were at a financial impasse for Dad's funeral.

 

Sadly, none of us are really members of the Walton's. We're simply human.

Edited February 2, 2016 by Beden

[needschocolate]

Random thoughts ----

 

After watching this episode, I had an urge to call my sister-in-law and tell her how wonderful she is (I didn't do it, as it was much too late and she probably would have wondered about my mental state).  It would be crappy to have Maureen in the family.  

 

I suppose it has no bearing on the story, but I wondered if Henry's dad thought that Henry was ashamed of him being a working class guy, when, in reality, Henry was worried that his dad would lecture the other fathers. In a more open family there would have been a "Dad, there is a father-son dinner, but please don't try to explain to the other dad's why they should unionize.  It is not the time or place for it.  I know you are passionate about your work, but if you start arguing with anyone, I am leaving." Of course, Henry's son will be more blunt, if the he is in that situation - "Dad, there is a father-son dinner and we are not going"

 

Now Henry can blame himself for his dad's suicide and blame himself that the Russian student turned spy was killed (I think there were a few other deaths that Henry was remotely connected with).  Of course, Henry won't need to see a therapist.  Elizabeth will just find him watching The Lion King in the middle of the night and he will be all better. 

 

Henry's eulogy was moving and had the desired effect on his family, but I couldn't help thinking that it probably felt quite odd to the people who weren't close family.  

 

I was a little worried when the police said that Henry's dad died of a drug overdose not a heart attack.  I thought we were going to get another big conspiracy for them to uncover.  But then no one even stops to think that maybe Maureen added the pills to the meatloaf she fed him the night before or something. And they didn't even drag out the finding the person who took all of Dad's money.  Side note - He's in dire straights, so he scams a friend - and scams him for everything he has? That's low, really low.

 

I don't understand the point to the department stuff. Russell gives them the report telling them to focus on the the effects on the environment and the fishing industry. After they have had the report long enough to read it, The CIA redacts a paragraph because it may lead someone to realize that a buddy of the president received money from a US subsidiary of a bad Chinese company.  Was this just bad timing on Russell's part - "Oops! I didn't know that was in there, it is gone now, forget you ever saw it."  I got the feeling that Russell wanted them to find the info and to let Elizabeth know about it, but I don't get why.  I am afraid that this story will become relevant in future episodes and I don't think I paid enough attention to it.  

[Netfoot]

In a more open family there would have been a "Dad, there is a father-son dinner, but please don't try to explain to the other dad's why they should unionize.  It is not the time or place for it.  I know you are passionate about your work, but if you start arguing with anyone, I am leaving."  

 

But maybe Dad is such an ass he wouldn't be able to miss the opportunity to spout his working-class socialistic bullshit at the people who he hates because he is jealous of them.  And maybe his son knew him well enough to know that.

[needschocolate]

But maybe Dad is such an ass he wouldn't be able to miss the opportunity to spout his working-class socialistic bullshit at the people who he hates because he is jealous of them.  And maybe his son knew him well enough to know that.

 

Judging by what we saw in that one episode with Henry's dad and this episode with Henry's siblings, I am pretty sure that Henry didn't belong to a family that was open enough to have the conversation I suggested.  Though he may have regretted afterwards (perhaps only because his father accidentally found out about the dinner), Henry likely did the right thing not taking his dad.

[Netfoot]

Henry likely did the right thing not taking his dad.

 

I agree.  The brief exposure we had to Henry's dad left me certain that no matter how much he new it would crush his son to do so, he would simply not be able to contain himself, given such a wonderful opportunity to mouth off.  And I guess Henry knew that too.

 

Henry may feel guilty for being embarrassed by his father, and his sister only wants to reinforce that feeling.  But sometimes we have relatives that simply don't know how to behave.  It is perfectly normal to be embarrassed by them, and not wrong to avoid such embarrassment.  

[secnarf]

I don't understand the point to the department stuff. Russell gives them the report telling them to focus on the the effects on the environment and the fishing industry. After they have had the report long enough to read it, The CIA redacts a paragraph because it may lead someone to realize that a buddy of the president received money from a US subsidiary of a bad Chinese company.  Was this just bad timing on Russell's part - "Oops! I didn't know that was in there, it is gone now, forget you ever saw it."  I got the feeling that Russell wanted them to find the info and to let Elizabeth know about it, but I don't get why.  I am afraid that this story will become relevant in future episodes and I don't think I paid enough attention to it.  

I think the part that was redacted was from a different report, and he had just given them the environment/invasive species report as a distraction from the report that he wanted to censor.

[needschocolate]

I think the part that was redacted was from a different report, and he had just given them the environment/invasive species report as a distraction from the report that he wanted to censor.

 

Well, now I am positive I didn't pay enough attention to this story line.

[whatsatool]

I felt it extremely unfair to hold Henry to blame for the suicide because of an incident that happened when Henry was 17 years old!

That did seem a little harsh.

[kwnyc]

 

Of course, Henry won't need to see a therapist.  Elizabeth will just find him watching The Lion King in the middle of the night and he will be all better.

 

What do you bet he takes a PhD in psychology and heals himself? ;-)

[Driad]

 

What do you bet he takes a PhD in psychology and heals himself? ;-)

 

Surely Henry already has one, he just hasn't mentioned it yet.

 

[izabella]

But maybe Dad is such an ass he wouldn't be able to miss the opportunity to spout his working-class socialistic bullshit at the people who he hates because he is jealous of them.  And maybe his son knew him well enough to know that.

 

Yes, Henry knew.  He said Maureen was just like their dad, so can you imagine telling Maureen to keep her trap shut about anything, ever, in any context?  Henry knew.

 

I think the part that was redacted was from a different report, and he had just given them the environment/invasive species report as a distraction from the report that he wanted to censor.

 

That's how I understood it, too.  The team had just spent months preparing the East Africa report and that paragraph was embedded within the East Africa report.  Once it got to Russell's desk for approval, after having gone through all the other departments that had to approve it before it was released, Russell saw the paragraph and realized he had to get that out of there.  In the meantime, as a distraction, he assigned them to focus on the invasive maritime species report until he could get the CIA to do his bidding to classify that paragraph so they'd have to redact it from the East Africa report.

Edited February 3, 2016 by izabella

[shapeshifter]

Henry's eulogy was moving and had the desired effect on his family, but I couldn't help thinking that it probably felt quite odd to the people who weren't close family.

I attended a service for someone of the age of Henry's dad, and one of the son's made some similar remarks, so I don't think it's too unusual. I think the immediate family gets a free pass to say stuff that might make other attendees squirm a little, especially if the remarks come from a place of affection for the deceased.

[needschocolate]

I attended a service for someone of the age of Henry's dad, and one of the son's made some similar remarks, so I don't think it's too unusual. I think the immediate family gets a free pass to say stuff that might make other attendees squirm a little, especially if the remarks come from a place of affection for the deceased.

 

Plus, in real life, a guy like Henry, who was the captain who lead his college debate team to the national championships and who is currently the president if the Washington DC Toastmasters Club, would have had more to say.  But it is a TV show with only so much time available, so he needed to keep his remarks brief and to the point.

 

His eulogy reminded me of a wedding I went to years ago.  The priest spent a fair amount of time telling the guests that if either of the couple comes to you complaining about the other one, don't encourage them to get divorced.  I didn't know the couple very well (childhood friend of the bride, but we hadn't stayed that close), but I got  the definite impression that the couple had gotten a lot "You shouldn't get married.  It won't last" comments from their families (I still get Christmas cards from the married couple - it has been over 30 years).

[betsyboo]

I loved this ep. The entire sibling drama rang very true for me. It was interesting to see in-charge Secretary Elizabeth McCord act as smoother-overer (i like to make up words) Bess and quietly sit aside. It was killing her she couldn't do more and fix it for Henry. 

 

Screw you Maureen with all the shots about the motorcade and parking. If Bess stayed away (not that she would) so her presence wouldn't distract, Maureen would have spent the whole time talking about how Bess was too good for them to come. 

 

I wanted to see more interaction between the cousins. They looked close in age. 

 

The father was Tom Skerrit, yes? No pictures of him around the house or at the funeral.

 

Kate Burton is a superb actress. Raises the level of everyone in the room.

[shapeshifter]

...If Bess stayed away (not that she would) so her presence wouldn't distract, Maureen would have spent the whole time talking about how Bess was too good for them to come....

Kate Burton is a superb actress. Raises the level of everyone in the room.

Exactly (on both points quoted).

I wonder how the fictional Bess would rank her own McCord family diplomatic negotiations as compared with others we've seen with Russia, China, etc.

Edited February 7, 2016 by shapeshifter

[Netfoot]

The father was Tom Skerrit, yes? No pictures of him around the house or at the funeral.

 

If they use his image, then he has to be paid royalties for the episode.

[betsyboo]

If they use his image, then he has to be paid royalties for the episode.

thank you!

[CooperTV]

I'd say this episode was better than a lot of stuff this season. But it wasn't exactly an episode of the show called Madam Secretary, that's the thing. It was very well done, the McCord siblings interactions were realistic (and terrible), the McCord children was also great, and I liked interactions between Henry and Jason and Elizabeth and Stevie respectively. But Elizabeth the main character was barely there at all. And I frankly hated how Elizabeth is totally into overbearing creepy McCord family dysfunctional relationship because she was a lonely teenager.

 

Nadine vs. Russell was mildly interesting. But I was confused about why Nadine thought she had any right to request anything from Russell at all. I thought the "need to know" concept is obvious to the State Department, since it works with CIA and NSA very closely.