S02.E04: Equilibrium

[timrabbit]

I agree that this episode, and the others this season as well, are pretty bad. The whole gun/truck driver story was awkward and sloppy.  Are we (the viewing audience and/or the US public in the show) supposed to be distraut that a foreign driver who crashed across the border in a loaded 20 ton vehicle was shot? My initial thought was that he was crossing over with explosives on the truck. 

I'll give the show a little credit that it didn't spiral too much into an anti-gun message, but the plot line just didn't make sense.

And the whole vase story was just strange.  I realize it was supposed to be comic relief, but it seemed out of place.

Edited October 25, 2017 by timrabbit

[aemom]

Every week there is some random person who helps Kirkman save the day. This is a person that we've never seen before and the show always acts like we should know who they are. It drives me nuts.

Last week was Tammy the researcher and this week was the car guy. And there have been others. 

[auntiemel]

I think we've seen Car Guy before - I'm pretty sure he's the same guy that tried to headhunt (ie, poach) Seth earlier in the season. I recognize the actor from The Good Wife.

[Mackey]

I'm missing a basic something. The mad bomber who (maybe) got drone-killed left documents pointing people toward President's MIL doing a bad bribe deed. So, he wanted to hurt the Pres. So, who killed the briber and made explosions in rooms with documents ? Wasn't the point to get this info about bribing MIL out there?  These acts appear to be covering up the bribe stuff. Are we supposed to understand this at this point? 

Edited October 25, 2017 by Mackey

[oakville]

9 hours ago, timrabbit said:

I agree that this episode, and the others this season as well, are pretty bad. The whole gun/truck driver story was awkward and sloppy.  Are we (the viewing audience and/or the US public in the show) supposed to be distraut that a foreign driver who crashed across the border in a loaded 20 ton vehicle was shot? My initial thought was that he was crossing over with explosives on the truck. 

I'll give the show a little credit that it didn't spiral too much into an anti-gun message, but the plot line just didn't make sense.

And the whole vase story was just strange.  I realize it was supposed to be comic relief, but it seemed out of place.

I thought the truck driver was a terrorist who would kill civilians at the border.

[oakville]

I fully concur with this!

The show is becoming very boring to watch. Kiefer is becoming a Superman President who can solve difficult issues with a few advisors. Congress doesn't exist, The Courts don't bother him. There may be an occasional Senator who appears for a few minutes to disagree with him, but they go away.

I don't even know who is in charge of the Semnate or Congress?

The biggest issue is why is there no Vice President?

[Danielg342]

So I finally watched it. I'm forging a formal review because I don't think it deserves one- at this stage, it's firmly about President Kiefer Stu and it's just not worth my time anymore. If it wasn't for what is promised at mid-season, I'd tap out here.

Only thing I'll say is that Maggie Q's stories is far more interesting to me, and that Meghan Heffern was absolutely delightful and "adorkable" as Maya Dunning, the OMB lady.

The only real issue I had is that if it was Lyor telling Dunning that she can get out of trouble by going on a date with him the Internet would throw a fit. So Dunning doing that is not cool in my books.

Edited October 25, 2017 by Danielg342

[Moose135]

1 hour ago, oakville said:

The biggest issue is why is there no Vice President?

I figure that in the year we didn't see, they named a VP, but since he isn't involved in a plot to overthrow the government, they have no reason to give him any screen time.  He's probably just sitting around fulfilling his Constitutionally mandated role of waiting for the President to die.

[Driad]

Quote

I figure that in the year we didn't see, they named a VP, but since he isn't involved in a plot to overthrow the government, they have no reason to give him any screen time.  He's probably just sitting around fulfilling his Constitutionally mandated role of waiting for the President to die.

Tom Lehrer, "Whatever Became of Hubert?"

[nutty1]

Is there still not a vice president???

[femmefan1946]

On 10/21/2017 at 9:02 AM, shksabelle said:

Didn't Nadia graduate college about 30 seconds ago?  She’s already gotten a job with TWO minority women senators, and the  second one sends her to the White House for a crucial meeting??  The original premise of this show was intriguing, but now it seems like they are trying, unsuccessfully, to enter Shondaland. 

I've worked in the office of cabinet ministers (Canadian). And DH was assistant to a Minister back in the day.

Those 'special assistants' are young. Babies.

Seriously, if you find one over 28 he's slightly out of touch with the others.

One girl had dropped out of second year university and was handling water issues on northern reserves (IAND). Then she left for Status of Women and was working on the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women file there.

Canadians will know those are two of the most sensitive files around. Strong feelings abound.

She was old enough to vote, because voting age here is 19. BTW wages for the special assistants are in the $70K-80K range.

 

When DH was special assistant, one of his colleagues was not old enough to vote. Admittedly the legal age was 21 then, but the kid was 18. So not much has changed.

The reason is that the experience doesn't necessarily carry over. The (substantial )wages are not high enough for those with more life experience since the job could last only months under a Parliamentary system, where theoretically a government could fall or an election be called at any time. Not worthwhile if you are establishing a legal career and have a family.

We did see party hacks. The one in the office I worked in was found guilty of fraud twice before he was hired and recently was convicted of influence peddling. So the youngsters at least are coming in with clean hands.

[paigow]

Every time I see 2 guys insulting each other in English, then switch to a different language, all I can see is Johnny Ringo & Doc Holliday in Tombstone....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gSj1G4Vf0w

Edited October 28, 2017 by paigow
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[secnarf]

On 10/26/2017 at 1:29 AM, femmefan1946 said:

She was old enough to vote, because voting age here is 19. BTW wages for the special assistants are in the $70K-80K range.

Where in Canada is the voting age 19? I thought it was 18 nationwide.