S06.E09: Sock Puppets

[ElectricBoogaloo]

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Carrie catches a break. Keane makes a plan. Max goes undercover.

Promo:

Clip:

[SimoneS]

Another good episode. Damn, Carrie and Saul got real with each other. 

Javadi getting his for trusting Dar. I can't say that I have much sympathy for him. He should have stuck with Saul. At least, he put the phone in a safe place so Saul could find it.

The President-elect was smart enough to believe Saul and Carrie. She knows the truth when she hears it. She slipped up with Dar though. 

Quinn armed for war and is walking better. So the guy tried to kill Peter without Dar's approval.  should have killed Dar. Quinn is on the killer's tail.

So the right winger radio guy is totally in Dar's scheme. Don't get yourself killed, Max! 

Edited March 20, 2017 by SimoneS

[WaltersHair]

Bye by Javadi. No love lost from....anyone it seems.

Every episode someone checks out. It's like the writers are house cleaning. As long as they keep their paws off Quinn and Max, I'm okay.

Carrie and Saul are the heart of this series and they need to get themselves in order.  I think it was good they called each other out. Thoughts like that can be a cancer.

The right wing radio/TV guy is too much of a cartoon. Why aren't there more left wing cartoons?

I'm laughing myself silly to think all those crazed forum sock puppets are corporate sponsored. Things have sure changed since the Usenet days.

[mjc570]

Wow, Mandy Patinkin is an amazing actor - he was so crushed in that talk with Carrie.  I know Clare Danes is the star, but he (and F. Murray) to me are the interesting, best-acted characters.  Speaking of Dar - I believe what he told Quinn, that he loved him (and I hope as a child, not a lover, I never did think Dar had sex with him, but did use his good looks as an asset) and didn't order him killed.  I liked how quick he was to pick up that his relationship with PE Keane had gone south.  Shouldn't his lair have had better security? 

I was surprised to see how gullible the PE is - she really does believe the last person to talk to her.  I was convinced that she was much more canny than that, given how she had extricated herself from that "protective custody," but apparently she did believe Dar (and Saul and Carrie). 

While I enjoyed seeing Quinn on the warpath, I hope they don't him unbelievably invincible.  While he has deeply ingrained killing skills, he also has brain damage, unusable arm etc. 

I can't believe O'Keefe actually fell for Max's M& M year without checking it out.  I guess they really did need him, the sock puppet situation was his  real job interview.

[nara]

I laughed out loud at M&M. So awkward. It's no wonder that guy wanted to move on quickly from that conversation.

I really think they should have had Quinn regain his movement by now to make all this stuff believable. 

I really appreciated the reminder that both Saul and Carrie got played by spies.

Surprised that PEOTUS did not mention her kidnapping to Saul and Carrie. Do they even  know?

I am really glad that Dar did not try to kill Quinn because he was becoming too super-evil, but I cannot believe that he would call on an unsecured phone.  After so many years in the biz, he would do things instinctively,  even when in shock. 

[RedFiat]

The M and M thing was pretty funny, until I remembered about that horrible bombing that killed Max's love interest and muslim CIA Fara back in season 4.  So there was a lot of truth to his not working.  Plus these shit computer geeks who would work for fake news are a bunch of losers, so there's probably a lot of gaps on everyone of their resumes, not just for M and M but for taking a neo-Nazi course, or a full year of Rosetta Stone Russian.

It's completely plausible for Quinn to return to his instincts and go after who we thought was the source of Astrid's death. But I had a feeling it wasn't all about Dar, that black op went rogue on Dar, and answered to another boss.  One with more money.  Amazing how Dar knew almost immediately the posture of Keane and didn't give up the list.  

Once again the episode flew by.  For all the naysayers about this season, I think it's pretty strong. 

[Artsda]

I loved Quinn, getting armed and loaded ready for his one-man war. I didn't understand why he left Dar alive, but then when Dar stupidly made the phone call which is what Quinn wanted from him. You waked into that trap there Dar.

Has Carrie or anyone not realized yet that Quinn isn't in custody? 

So glad the President Elect is listening to Carrie. 

[slowpoked]

Depending on how this season ends, this really has been an underrated season of Homeland. It's very good in a tempered way.

So did the hitman go rogue on Dar? Because my first impression on that phone call was that they were both working for someone else. And the hitman superseded Dar's authority on behalf on their ultimate boss, whoever that is, on killing Quinn.

It gave me some sense of closure that at least Astrid will be identified and buried properly. Rather than just end up rotting in the mud.

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quinn robbed a gun store. Holy crap, our boy is back. But odds are he's on the store's security video, right? The police will likely be after him and he'll be considered armed and extremely dangerous. I don't like where this may be going...

Keane is almost absurdly overconfident. Dar is trained to read people and work them, and he has years of experience doing it. Why would she be so arrogant as to think she could fool him? But at least now he knows she's on to him.

You'd think Dar would have better security at his home. Whatever, it'll make things easier for when he probably gets taken out by one of his own gang, like the mysterious guy who's already left a trail of bodies. If he's smart he'll take Javadi's millions and get out of Dodge.

[WaltersHair]

Quote

but I cannot believe that he would call on an unsecured phone.  After so many years in the biz, he would do things instinctively,  even when in shock. 

But that's probably the point. Dar is done with the hit man and calling him on an open line would lead Quinn right to him. Maybe I'm giving Dar too much credit, but he's been hella cagey this season.  F. Murray is eating the evil up with a spoon.

Oh and, as I post weekly, Dar needs to die.

[scrb]

So Dar wasn't completely evil all this time but there's some other party who's having FBI, CIA, German intelligence killed as well as plant a bomb to go off in NYC?

Still way too 24 ...

[vesperholly]

2 hours ago, RedFiat said:

The M and M thing was pretty funny, until I remembered about that horrible bombing that killed Max's love interest and muslim CIA Fara back in season 4.  

Worse - Fara was stabbed by Haqqani in the US Embassy invasion/hostage situation in Pakistan, not the bombing of the CIA building (S2). She died in Max's arms :( :( :(

[dwmarch]

The Alex Jones wannabe with the dial-a-yield accent is media manager at Evil Contractor Central? I'm not sure I'm in love with that plot twist.

Last week I was complaining how these bad guys could get much more done if they invested just a bit more in the wetwork side of the operation. This week we see why they didn't. They spent it all on the IT staff.

[henripootel]

2 hours ago, scrb said:

Still way too 24 ...

Much the same impression.  I was sure Javadi was being stupid trusting Dar, way too stupid seeing as he's a pro who knows all about Dar.  It was only a matter of time before Javadi had to be disposed of but I figured it'd take longer than this, where Javadi's disappearance might add weight to the notion that his word couldn't be trusted.  Pretty poor op-sec by Dar all around, turning over Javadi to Mossad right away, missing Javadi's phone, calling on an open line after Quinn oddly showed up to whack him and changed his mind ...

How'd Saul and Carrie get back in to see the pres-elect?  I thought after last week their names were mud and she'd never see them again.

I'm surprised the guys at the gun store fell for Peter's diversion - I assume they saw No Country for Old Men too. 

[SimoneS]

It occurs to me that if Dar's fellow conspirators are attempting to tie up loose ends by killing Quinn, Dar will be next on their list now that Saul, Carrie, and the President-elect are on to him. I wonder if Dar has his own personal assassin to save him. 

[nara]

17 minutes ago, SimoneS said:

It occurs to me that if Dar's fellow conspirators are attempting to tie up loose ends by killing Quinn, Dar will be next on their list now that Saul, Carrie, and the President-elect are on to him. I wonder if Dar has his own personal assassin to save him. 

Peter Quinn was his personal assassin, but maybe he has a new one.

[SimoneS]

7 hours ago, mjc570 said:

 Speaking of Dar - I believe what he told Quinn, that he loved him (and I hope as a child, not a lover, I never did think Dar had sex with him, but did use his good looks as an asset) and didn't order him killed. 

Lots of child sexual predators claim to love their victims so I am sure that Dar meant it when he said that he loved Quinn.

[lullaby]

8 hours ago, mjc570 said:

Speaking of Dar - I believe what he told Quinn, that he loved him (and I hope as a child, not a lover, I never did think Dar had sex with him, but did use his good looks as an asset) and didn't order him killed. 

46 minutes ago, SimoneS said:

Lots of child sexual predators claim to love their victims so I am sure that Dar meant it when he said that he loved Quinn.

I also thought Dar just used young Quinn as an asset and Quinn resented him for that. Even though their relationship has always been off the rocks it seemed Dar was concerned about Peter's well being in previous seasons. Remember the convo between Saul and Dar after Quinn returns from Syria:

Quote

Saul: Don't worry about the funding.

Dar: I'm not worried about the funding, I'm worried about Quinn.

Also, watching the saryn gas video brought tears to Dar's eyes. So I presume he was genuine when he said he loves Quinn (even if it is in his dirty old mind kind of way that gives us the creeps).

 

What I fully don't understand is that Quinn seemed moved by his words. He's not a minor anymore and knows fully well Dar is a grade a manipulator. Yet Quinn was shivering when Dar told him he loves him and couldn't pull the trigger. I saw it as Quinn kind of loving him too because Dar is his father figure, the person who raised him.

 

I simply can't understand Quinn's reaction if it's true Dar sexually abused him. There must be another reason that didn't catch our eye (I know I might seem to be in denial, but this plot is creeping the hell out of me). The thought of Dar doing that and Quinn being his puppy twenty years later is gross.

Edited March 20, 2017 by lullaby

[Guest]

10 hours ago, WaltersHair said:

I'm laughing myself silly to think all those crazed forum sock puppets are corporate sponsored. Things have sure changed since the Usenet days.

This amazing article by Adrien Chen in the New York Times details a Russian troll farm -- and when it unfolded that's the type of US operation Max was working for, it sent chills up my spine. I'd encourage everyone to read it (if they haven't already.) That shit is very real. It's funded by the government, not by a corporation - which, I suspect, is where the Alex Jones of Homeland is getting his $$$. 

I think I'm gonna peace out of this show until I can read recaps of the remaining episodes before viewing. The levels of anxiety it induces in real time are too much for me to find the show entertaining. At this point, it's like torture porn watching Quinn struggle to survive - and I've a bad feeling that he's definitely going to die this season -- most likely while protecting Franny. Max doesn't seem to be long for the series either.  

[garyvp]

"So the right winger radio guy is totally in Dar's scheme. Don't get yourself killed, Max!" 

I actually think that Dar is in the right winger radio guy's scheme. All Dar wanted was to be appointed Director by convincing Keane that he was the guy. But as insidious and sneaky as he has been, he gets played again, by Alex Jones. Back to Duh!!!!.

Glad to see the good guys get some points on the board.

Quinn will kill the bad guys and probably die doing it.

Worried about Max.

Where did Alex Jones get the funding for that troll operation? Like from the Koch Brothers

How was Quinn able to tap into Dar's presumably secure phone? 

And he can obviously pick a lock with one hand? - Ha! - Movie magic!

[sunflower]

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At this point, it's like torture porn watching Quinn struggle to survive - and I've a bad feeling that he's definitely going to die this season

I'm worried too because Quinn has become the Road Runner basically.  If you put a guy in so many situations that he should die, then I feel it's more likely he's going to die for real later on.  It would be horrible since Quinn is so popular and this is not Homeland S1 anymore a la the critically acclaimed year.  They need Quinn, so I hope our anxiety is unfounded.  

Edited March 20, 2017 by sunflower

[ElectricBoogaloo]

11 hours ago, mjc570 said:

Speaking of Dar - I believe what he told Quinn, that he loved him (and I hope as a child, not a lover, I never did think Dar had sex with him, but did use his good looks as an asset) and didn't order him killed. 

 

2 hours ago, lullaby said:

I also thought Dar just used young Quinn as an asset and Quinn resented him for that. Even though their relationship has always been off the rocks it seemed Dar was concerned about Peter's well being in previous seasons. Remember the convo between Saul and Dar after Quinn returns from Syria:

Also, watching the saryn gas video brought tears to Dar's eyes. So I presume he was genuine when he said he loves Quinn (even if it is in his dirty old mind kind of way that gives us the creeps).

What I fully don't understand is that Quinn seemed moved by his words. He's not a minor anymore and knows fully well Dar is a grade a manipulator. Yet Quinn was shivering when Dar told him he loves him and couldn't pull the trigger. I saw it as Quinn kind of loving him too because Dar is his father figure, the person who raised him.

I am 100% convinced that Dar had sex with Quinn. That was the only impression I got from their conversation a few weeks ago:

Dar: What the hell is this? Feeling sorry for yourself?
Quinn: Go fuck yourself, Dar.
Dar: Because if you are, that would be a first. You grew up in a hard school, no time for self pity. It's the first thing about you that impressed.
Quinn: Not the first thing.
Dar: Yeah, well, we're all beautiful when we're young, aren't we?
Quinn: Fucking dirty old man.
Dar: Fair enough. For the record, though, I never forced myself on anyone.

As Simone pointed out, some abusers believe that they love their victims. It doesn't make the abuse any less real.

Heh, when Dar got teary eyed over seeing the video of Quinn, he was probably sad that his own personal assassin who happens to be easy on the eyes was no longer around to take out whoever he pointed at.

Quinn didn't pull the trigger because that was part of his plan. He wanted Dar to call his new hit man so he could find out more (and then track him down so he can avenge Astrid's murder).

[Nika]

36 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Dar: What the hell is this? Feeling sorry for yourself?
Quinn: Go fuck yourself, Dar.
Dar: Because if you are, that would be a first. You grew up in a hard school, no time for self pity. It's the first thing about you that impressed.
Quinn: Not the first thing.
Dar: Yeah, well, we're all beautiful when we're young, aren't we?
Quinn: Fucking dirty old man.
Dar: Fair enough. For the record, though, I never forced myself on anyone.

It can be interpreted in 100 different ways. To my ears it doesn't sound like a throwback to presumed sexual relation between the two.

It is creepy nevertheless.

I liked the episode although I can't wait to see the big picture finally,

Keane seems incompetent and easy to deceive by everyone.

Carrie and Saul dishing some hard truths was raw but necessary. Relationships as strong as their survive everything.

I am not as crazy about Quinn as everyone seems to be, but his arc becomes too painful to watch. More painful than interesting.

Disappointed by Dar's missteps. To many of them for a person of his experience. Good for the plot though. He's at odds now but probably this will bring him close to Saul&Carrie again sometime in the future.

 

Still mourning after Astrid. Would have loved to see her with Quinn / Quinn finally appreciating her instead of pining over Carrie. I have never unterstood her charms to which none of the Homeland is immune. Neither her looks nor her personality are that great.

Edited March 20, 2017 by Nika

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Dar claiming that he never forced himself on anyone sounds like he's trying to tell Quinn that it was consensual. I don't know what else he could be claiming he didn't force on Quinn (or anyone else) since they weren't talking about, say, forcing people to buy the drapes he recommended. He specifically said that after Quinn called him a dirty old man.

[henripootel]

55 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Dar claiming that he never forced himself on anyone sounds like he's trying to tell Quinn that it was consensual.

I'm 100% Quinn had sex with Dar, and that Dar somehow feels like he loves Quinn.   Which tells us something about what Dar thinks 'love' is, but still doesn't excuse Dar from suddenly having extremely poor tradecraft.  Was funny that even his contact pointed this out, that he was calling on an insecure phone, saying incriminating things.  It was a bit jarring, that Dar is both ultra-long-game cunning and still makes mistakes out of feelings, and occasionally forgets to check his enemy (who is possessed of info which could get Dar shot after decades of being careful) for a cellphone.  

I was also totally expecting Carrie to realize in the middle of her conversation with Saul and POTUS-elect 'Sonofabitch - I'll bet Dar called somebody at Child Protective Services'.  She mentioned Dar strongly warned her off right in front of her daughter's school but didn't immediately make the connection, a very un-Carrie like thing to miss.  Add to that she seemed to realize last week that it was odd that CPS got involved in her case, like they don't have better things to do with actual abusive situations.  Just seemed odd, and a furious Carrie is an interesting Carrie. 

[ahpny]

Quote

Keane is almost absurdly overconfident. Dar is trained to read people and work them, and he has years of experience doing it. Why would she be so arrogant as to think she could fool him? But at least now he knows she's on to him.

I get that the President Elect was oddly pleasant and friendly, moreso than we've ever seen with Dar before, but what exactly tipped Dar off? The suggestion of day time drinking? If Carrie & Saul hadn't informed her of Dar's duplicity, how different would her demeanor have been in that meaning?

[Lady Iris]

Seeing Saul slumped on the park bench in the cold was a sad sight indeed. Man, he and Carrie were vicious to each other, not untrue but still quite vicious.

Does anybody know how many eps are left in this season?

[ElectricBoogaloo]

The people who know your darkest secrets are the ones who really know how to hurt you in a fight like that. I was actually really surprised that Carrie didn't flat out tell Keane that she couldn't let her use that info about Saul/Berlin. Poor Saul - he was right to think that everything he's done will be forgotten and that's all he'll be known for. But just as terrible was his feeling of betrayal that Carrie had told Keane about it at all.

[Ina123]

2 hours ago, Nika said:

It can be interpreted in 100 different ways. To my ears it doesn't sound like a throwback to presumed sexual relation between the two.

That's the only way I interpret it.

[sunflower]

Re: Quinn/Dar

At minimum, Dar has had inappropriate sexual feelings for Quinn beginning at age 16.  Quinn's been an adult for most of their relationship, but it started in an inappropriate manner.  Gansa and Co doubled down with the confrontation, ILY moment in this episode.  In a way, I'm glad for the story, because I feared that episode 7 was just played for color and wouldn't be revisited and we'd have to guess forever.  Now, it appears integral to the plot, i.e. Dar's downfall and character, i.e. Quinn's psychological issues now and going forward.  

Thought: Did they have to go this far psych wise so Quinn and Carrie could be together if they get together?  Bipolar meet PTSD extremis.  

Edited March 20, 2017 by sunflower

[scrb]

What the hell was the deal with Quinn putting some of Astrid's blood on his lower lip?

[sunflower]

Quinn's time to war is my guess.  

[mrspidey]

Yeah that's war paint.

[henripootel]

10 minutes ago, mrspidey said:

Yeah that's war paint.

Yep.  Somebody's gonna get shot.  'Bout damn time. 

[slowpoked]

I really like the references of past seasons in this season. I just feel a bit of this sentiment that Homeland seems to be saying goodbye. It's good that they're not pretending the past didn't happen like with other shows - bringing Javadi back and recalling the deal that Saul made, that in turn sacrificed Brody. Then referencing Fara getting killed by Haqqani. Then last season with Allison being a double spy and deliberately getting involved with Saul.

I also like the parallels of the important phone calls made in this episode. Javadi, while under duress, still was alert enough to make a phone call to Carrie. Even though it's late to save his life, that would be the little window Carrie and Saul need to take Dar down. Meanwhile, Dar, also while under duress, was not alert enough to think of making a call on an unsecured line, because his judgment was clouded emotionally of what happened to Quinn. I can buy that Dar didn't have his spy instincts when he made that phone call, because the first thing on his mind was Quinn's safety. 

I do echo the sentiments of Carrie still not putting two and two together of her daughter being taken away by Dar's machinations. She was able to figure out how Javadi was whisked away by seeing the towels on the floor, but is still not able to see the bigger picture play. I'd like to think she has it figured out and is just not saying, keeping close to the vest, but that's so unlike Carrie, who has the tendencies to blurt out what she's thinking.

[Nika]

37 minutes ago, slowpoked said:

I can buy that Dar didn't have his spy instincts when he made that phone call, because the first thing on his mind was Quinn's safety. 

Yeap. Good point. He must really "love" him

[SimoneS]

5 hours ago, Nika said:

It can be interpreted in 100 different ways. To my ears it doesn't sound like a throwback to presumed sexual relation between the two.

IMO, that can only be interpreted as sexual assault. The "I never forced myself on anyone" is the defense of just about every sexual predator. 

[shelley1234]

1 minute ago, SimoneS said:

IMO, that can only be interpreted as sexual assault. The "I never forced myself on anyone" is the defense of just about every sexual predator. 

Agree.  Especially given how young Quinn was and him just calling him a dirty old man.   I think it's clear what the show was implying happened between Dar and Quinn back in the day.  

[SimoneS]

3 hours ago, sunflower said:

Re: Quinn/Dar

At minimum, Dar has had inappropriate sexual feelings for Quinn beginning at age 16.  Quinn's been an adult for most of their relationship, but it started in an inappropriate manner.  Gansa and Co doubled down with the confrontation, ILY moment in this episode.  In a way, I'm glad for the story, because I feared that episode 7 was just played for color and wouldn't be revisited and we'd have to guess forever.  Now, it appears integral to the plot, i.e. Dar's downfall and character, i.e. Quinn's psychological issues now and going forward.  

Thought: Did they have to go this far psych wise so Quinn and Carrie could be together if they get together?  Bipolar meet PTSD extremis.  

It also explains Dar's hatred of Carrie and willingness to destroy her in this plot. It is grounded his warped "love" for Quinn and jealousy that Quinn does not return his feelings and is in love with Carrie. 

[clb1016]

49 minutes ago, SimoneS said:

IMO, that can only be interpreted as sexual assault. The "I never forced myself on anyone" is the defense of just about every sexual predator. 

Another pedophile favorite is that the child "seduced" him.

[slowpoked]

2 hours ago, Nika said:

Yeap. Good point. He must really "love" him

At first I thought that when Dar said "I love you..." that he was just screwing with Quinn, knowing he has massive brain injury. But when he made that phone call to the hitman and told him to not touch Quinn specifically, I realized he meant what he said about loving Quinn.

EDIT: I just read EW's recap and they mentioned that Dar did make a deal with Haqqani in the Pakistan season to let him have his freedom after the hostile takeover of the US embassy. I totally forgot about that and it's good to be reminded of all of Dar's shady deals in the show. I wonder if that will ever come up, seeing as they have been visiting a lot of details in the past seasons.

Edited March 20, 2017 by slowpoked

[Nika]

Looks like next week we'll have the mistery resolved. I believe in good in people (even in tv series), still hoping Dar is not a pedophile. Call me dillusional.

Quote

I raised you, Peter. You are my child – more than that. I would never hurt you

C'mon show.

Edited March 20, 2017 by Nika

[ruby24]

This season's been good, but it's kinda nagging at me that all this chaos involves the president-ELECT and not the sitting president, who would be the one to be making decisions and hearing information regarding the nuclear deal, for example. Or at the very least, the actual president would be involved and choosing whether to bring in the pres-elect regarding all this classified information.

[scrb]

Yeah I fail to see a good reason why they did it during the transition, instead of the early months of Keane's presidency.

Plus isn't that part of the year dreary in NY and the NE?

Yet they've had a lot of sun?

[Joimiaroxeu]

Quote

I get that the President Elect was oddly pleasant and friendly, moreso than we've ever seen with Dar before, but what exactly tipped Dar off? The suggestion of day time drinking? If Carrie & Saul hadn't informed her of Dar's duplicity, how different would her demeanor have been in that meaning?

Her behavior, IMO, was very affected like she was putting  on an act. Her voice was different and she seemed overly solicitous. Usually she comes across as all business but during her meeting with Dar she practically curtseyed and batted her eyes at him while she was preparing and serving the tea.

If anyone's taking a vote, I think Dar has seduced young men to bring them into service but I don't think Quinn got that treatment. However, Quinn saw it happen to other boys and Dar knows that Quinn knows. Maybe Dar used it as a subtle threat: do what I want or this will happen to you too.

[shelley1234]

5 minutes ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

 

If anyone's taking a vote, I think Dar has seduced young men to bring them into service but I don't think Quinn got that treatment. However, Quinn saw it happen to other boys and Dar knows that Quinn knows. Maybe Dar used it as a subtle threat: do what I want or this will happen to you too.

 

Why would you assume that from what we have seen?  It was blatantly obvious to me that Dar did sleep with Quinn when he was young and in an abusive foster care system before or while bringing him in.   Quinn sneered at him when he said that his skills weren't the first things he noticed with the insinuation that it was his looks....and then calling him a dirty old man and then Dar saying he never forced himself on anyway....making the insinuation that when Dar and Quinn slept with each other (when he was an abused teenager) that it was consensual.   

Dar took what he wanted and that was Quinn.  Quinn didn't physically fight him off or even stop him, so in Dar's mind that isn't sexual assault....and that story sadly happens a lot with young abused teens and people in power.  And I believe Dar actually believes that he saved Quinn and he raised him, not that he abused him.   

I still hope Quinn puts a bullet in Dar's brain, but I am not sure he can do it.   

[henripootel]

21 minutes ago, shelley1234 said:

And I believe Dar actually believes that he saved Quinn and he raised him, not that he abused him.   

The refrain of the pedo abuser - you can't understand the relationship we have, but it's loving and not abuse. 

5 hours ago, slowpoked said:

I can buy that Dar didn't have his spy instincts when he made that phone call, because the first thing on his mind was Quinn's safety. 

He also just got clonked on the head so I'm willing to let it slide but it's still tradecraft 101, can't believe a pro like Dar would forget this, ever. 

[Milburn Stone]

18 hours ago, dwmarch said:

The Alex Jones wannabe with the dial-a-yield accent is media manager at Evil Contractor Central? I'm not sure I'm in love with that plot twist.

I hear you...and thanks also for introducing me to the term "dial-a-yield," which I looked up, and which I can see endless uses for. :)

[nara]

2 hours ago, scrb said:

Yeah I fail to see a good reason why they did it during the transition, instead of the early months of Keane's presidency.

Plus isn't that part of the year dreary in NY and the NE?

Yet they've had a lot of sun?

Global warming.  ;)

[Joimiaroxeu]

It's the "dirty old man" thing that's giving me pause. To me, if a man seduces a young boy, later the adult victim would call the guy a predator, a rapist, a pedophile, or an abuser. "Dirty old man" sounds like Dar was just engaging in some overly vigorous horseplay or leering at boys' bodies. That's why I don't think Dar had sex with Quinn but probably did do so with other boys. Otherwise, it seems to me Quinn wouldn't have couched it in such a relatively benign way.