S01.E08: The Path to War Part One: The Gathering Political Storm

[formerlyfreedom]

Rochelle and Gustav capture and question a man they suspect is infected by the bugs. Also, Luke and Red face off in a Senate Intelligence meeting about a potential war.

[tomh]

Hoping this great show is not drifting toward shark jumping... How did we suddenly get to point where a random playback of a recorded bug sound creates a specific response in the infected ones that conveniently serves the protagonist's agenda?  I am glad it does; finally the good guys are winning.  But hoping for a smarter manipulation by the talented King family than this as a way out of the corner they might have written themselves into.   What does the fan base think about this direction?    

[tessaray]

I hope that the audio playback manipulation was a one time thing. They do need to get smarter about it from here on out or it really could be a jump the shark situation.  I guess this episode will show one way or the other. 

[Free]

On 8/8/2016 at 2:58 PM, tomh said:

Hoping this great show is not drifting toward shark jumping... How did we suddenly get to point where a random playback of a recorded bug sound creates a specific response in the infected ones that conveniently serves the protagonist's agenda?  I am glad it does; finally the good guys are winning.  But hoping for a smarter manipulation by the talented King family than this as a way out of the corner they might have written themselves into.   What does the fan base think about this direction?    

It's probably to keep the show more balanced, otherwise, as you said, it was getting too 1 sided on the bugs side.

[tiredofwork]

I love this show.  It is smart and witty, however, I am frankly bored with Laurel and her love life.  Absolutely think that the dynamic of Gustav and Dr. Daudier along with Red Wheatus make the show.

Moreover, I hate that Gustav and Dr. D seem to be sexless, neutered adults, seems everybody gets some sex action EXCEPT them. I'm beginning to be offended by how that is happening.

[shapeshifter]

Best/funniest episode of the series for me. I laughed at several bits of dialog—hopefully someone else noted them*—but I really LOLed when Tony Shaloub pulled up and straightened the area of his pants around his zipper after his character's bug had sex with the other character's bug. 

So. Does every infected person have a queen? And, if so, are they always gender specific? And, if so to that too, will we see a gay person with a gay queen bug? (Un-PC pun unavoidable.)

The satire on war was clearly based on the decision to invade Iraq based on false testimony about WMD even though it was updated to Syria.

*When they went from a panda with enlarged sad eyes  to baby seals, I did laugh, because of course that's humans' go-to animal for defenseless creature that needs protecting  

If anyone here is also watching the Sharknado-like Zoo, note that the first animal whose head they claimed to have exploded was a zebra. 

[formerlyfreedom]

8 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

So. Does every infected person have a queen? And, if so, are they always gender specific? And, if so to that too, will we see a gay person with a gay queen bug? (Un-PC pun unavoidable.)

I actually thought that Pollock's was a 'king' - I definitely got an 'after sex' vibe from how Pollock and Red ended that conversation, and then he started sharpening a pencil....

hee. Guess driving a train into a tunnel is TOO obvious.

[tessaray]

2 hours ago, tiredofwork said:

I love this show.  It is smart and witty, however, I am frankly bored with Laurel and her love life.  Absolutely think that the dynamic of Gustav and Dr. Daudier along with Red Wheatus make the show.

Moreover, I hate that Gustav and Dr. D seem to be sexless, neutered adults, seems everybody gets some sex action EXCEPT them. I'm beginning to be offended by how that is happening.

But Gustav and Rochelle just met under the weirdest of circumstances not too long ago - they are both smart and uninfected and freaked out. She also just lost her dad.  If they were having sex I would roll my eyes at that.  Plus (while I haven't seen tonight's episode yet) Rochelle is a bit of a snob, at least in regards to Gustav's lack of proper credentials.  

I do love them, though.  Hope when the bugs have been vanquished (or whatever) they get together.  

[sjohnson]

Gustav or Gareth? Laurel should be asking herself, because to me it seems pretty obvious Gustav is a more interesting conversationalist, nicer and just as good looking. 

[Zahdii]

But Gustav didn't step up when Laurel needed sex.  Maybe he just needed more time to think about it, but he didn't interfere when Rochelle practically threw Gareth into Laurel's bedroom.

[holly4755]

I love this show as well and will miss it since I fear there is an ending coming soon with this being show 8. It does so well personifying the current election season and explains the unexplainable of it's politics. I mean there has to be a reason, doesn't there?  

I wondered for a while about the supposed AA guy with his changing stories was a bug or not, but the us did it for me as well. heh.  Don't we all have frozen turkey legs in our freezer? I don't think I could do much damage with the frozen bags of peas, et al in mine, but I don't have to fight the good bug fight.

 

I have to admit I thought the bug sex scene was done great with absolutely no subtlely. 

Edited August 15, 2016 by holly4755

[sjohnson]

5 hours ago, Zahdii said:

But Gustav didn't step up when Laurel needed sex.  Maybe he just needed more time to think about it, but he didn't interfere when Rochelle practically threw Gareth into Laurel's bedroom.

If your point is that Gustav should be picking Rochelle over Laurel...good point.

[cardigirl]

Another great episode!  I hate having to wait another week for the next one.  Tony Shaloub is doing such a great job.  All of the actors are!

I'm going to be so sad when this is done.  Please let someone at CBS programming love this show as much as we do.

[thuganomics85]

Enjoyed seeing Santino Fontana as Kevin, after what happened to poor Saperstein on Shades of Blue.  At least he still has My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Not surprised they ended up letting him go, because no way where they going to kill him in cold blood (well, Laurel and Rochelle, at least.  Gustav seemed to be considering it....), but it looks like Rochelle followed him and found some kind of secret room.  Can't wait to see what that is all about!

Dean Healy is not only truly bugged, but he knows Laurel knows, and it's all out in the open!  Really loved all of his scenes with Laurel, and how Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Zach Grenier played off one another.  Can't wait to see them face-off again.  Already like how Luke is unwittingly becoming a pawn in their battle.

The congressional stuff continues to crack me up, with all the coaching and fake witnesses, and Red blatantly using pictures of cute animals to tug on people's heartstrings.  Again, a lot of it is exaggeration, but it follows a lot of the "Ignore the truth! Just follow your feelings!" way, that feels like has been happening a lot lately; especially in this current election cycle.

Gareth flat-out has gone behind Red's back twice this episode, so I have to think it is only a matter of time before he's on the other side (or bugged!)  At least he and Laurel finally got have sex that wasn't because she needed to get bugs out her head.

Speaking of which, we not only get bug sex, but I guess that was their version of hate sex, too?  This show is so insane.  And I love it for it!

[atomationage]

It's too bad it's not the Gustav and Rochelle show.  They just keep getting better and better.   The accent that Tony Shaloub is doing is just great.   I thought the cute animals thing with the witness at the hearing was hilarious.   I don't care about Laurel's family that much. 

[Gimmick Genius]

Nobody has mentioned Brooke Adams from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake!!! Do they have time to get Jeff Goldblum, Donald Sutherland or Veronica Cartwright for a cameo?

[bref]

THAT'S who that was! Thank you Genius, that was driving me nuts!

I loved the opening song/commercial for bugs in your head. This show is genius. It's so off kilter and fun but also deeply creepy (torture and brain bugs and exploding heads). I can't take my eyes off Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She's my new favorite actor. Please CBS gods, let it play out til the end!

[NutmegsDad]

5 hours ago, Gimmick Genius said:

Nobody has mentioned Brooke Adams from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake!!! Do they have time to get Jeff Goldblum, Donald Sutherland or Veronica Cartwright for a cameo?

I'm still hoping for Susan Gallagher, the actress from the video in "You Might Think".

[kirinan]

5 hours ago, Gimmick Genius said:

Nobody has mentioned Brooke Adams from the Invasion of the Body Snatchers remake!!! Do they have time to get Jeff Goldblum, Donald Sutherland or Veronica Cartwright for a cameo?

And fun fact for those who don't know, Brooke Adams is married to Tony Shalhoub. 

[ShannaB]

FYI...if you need this FYI...Brooke Adams is married to Tony Shaloub.  It was nice to see her again.

[meep.meep]

This episode's laugh out loud moment was the mention of baby seals as the next animal to test. 

Why aren't they all sleeping with the solo cup ear muffs?  Or telling their loved ones (Laurel's mother) about it?

[lucindabelle]

I had to watch the cialis parody 3 times. Crying tears of laughter especially with the fast muttered side effects.

I am a bit confused about when it's too late- the Stacy bug said "she's gone." I thought once brain fell out there was no going back so why does laurel think she can rescue dad?

 

but sex hilarious with the strange lines, "you smell like a bitch'" holding elbow up. Seemed like there were 4 bugs, what were the other two?

 

also I find myself thinking how does this work in the long run... Don't humans have to have sex and have babies for bug dynasty to continue? Or will they just go on to other species?

[cardigirl]

Posting this here because I loved the information about the recap singer guy.  And he LOVED the one about the cat too.

http://www.vulture.com/2016/08/braindead-musical-recap-previously-on.html

[SillyOldClothCat]

On 8/15/2016 at 9:49 PM, atomationage said:

It's too bad it's not the Gustav and Rochelle show.  They just keep getting better and better.   The accent that Tony Shaloub is doing is just great.   I thought the cute animals thing with the witness at the hearing was hilarious.   I don't care about Laurel's family that much. 

I also love the accent Tony Shaloub is doing - I actually assumed he was Canadian, and using the chance to exploit his own accent.  But, nope - I checked - he's American, and a really great actor!

[Canada]

I don't know what accent Tony Shaloub is trying out, but that is not like any Canadian accent that I've ever heard.

[shapeshifter]

Just now, Canada said:

I don't know what accent Tony Shaloub is trying out, but that is not like any Canadian accent that I've ever heard.

Seriously. Sometimes it is pure Bill Clinton, but most of the time it seems to be various U.S. southern.

[Browncoat]

It is unlike any real Southern accent I've ever heard (and I live in the South!).

[kirinan]

I really do think it's a Baltimore/Maryland accent, which is apparently kind borrows from other accents depending on where you are in the state.

[Bruinsfan]

On 8/19/2016 at 7:05 PM, Browncoat said:

It is unlike any real Southern accent I've ever heard (and I live in the South!).

Yeah, it bothers me because there are some familiar elements of Southern accents, but it sounds really fake. Maybe if it's that same Baltimore accent Kathy Bates was using in AHS: Freakshow it's accurate, though?

[TheGourmez]

Ah, this forum exists! Caught up from 1 to here in the past day! I had no idea this show was on the air, but I am loving it and making converts. The bug sex....AHHH! And the cast is fantastic. Glad to see more of the dude from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. How on earth did this end up on CBS? Oh yeah, the pedigree. How did the Kings end up making this show?!? It's like a present just for me.