S02.E07: Ascent

[Florinaldo]

17 minutes ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

Can you remind me of how AC pronounced Therese Raquin? Thank you.

The way I heard it, remembering that phonetic transcription cannot be exact, the vowels were slightly off and the Rs were rolled a little excessively (something  like "Tarrayzz" for example). According to articles about AC, he spoke 7 languages, but I do not know which ones nor how fluent he was in each of them .

 

24 minutes ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

When it’s obvious (if it were in fact DC’s story) that he broke the promise to the girl. Wouldn’t most people think, This guy breaks promises very easily. How trustworthy is this guy?

Since the story allegedly refers to an event in AC's childhood, i.e. before he realised he was gay, someone like Norman (who was still affected by his lover's death according to Gallo) might take it as an indication of his innate generosity and not of unreliability. It's certainly an image that stuck with AC according to the script; in the previous episode he uses a related imagery when talking about his feelings for DM ("He's a house, he's a home").

[Tara Ariano]

In case you missed it, here's Previously.TV's EPIC OLD-SCHOOL RECAP of the episode!

American Crime Story Must Be Talked About, Or It Is Nothing

Andrew Cunanan and Donatella Versace both begin to come into their own -- but only one of them feels entitled, and only one of them is correct -- in this Epic Old-School Recap of S02.E07, 'Ascent.'

[DangerousMinds]

On 3/8/2018 at 10:11 AM, Florinaldo said:

In my circle of gay men, if any of them would ever hire a hustler I don't think they would expect full truth in advertising as long as the fantasy is persuasive. How could a client detect AC's real ethnicity; the name would not be a clue since hustlers must use false names, as porn stars do (and can also convincingly lie about their specifics like age and ancestry). As one the articles linked to above indicates, AC did find employment with an escort agency, perhaps one less principled than the one in the episode. I do understand that the scene has a useful dramatic purpose and was a narrative shortcut to steer his story towards him freelancing.

The shot of AC tenderly cuddling to DM in bed was a chilling prefiguration to a similar image after the latter's murder, as AC lies on the grass besides his victim. Two quiet moments in their relationship, so different in tone and context.

And AC was half Asian, half European (Italian). He could identify with either one or both.

[helenamonster]

Is there anything more pathetic than a grown-ass man who lives with his mother yelling at her about what kind of ice cream to get?

I didn't know anything about Lincoln so was shocked when he ended up murdered.

When Andrew was watching David as he told the story about Leah in the hotel room, I actually started to buy that Andrew's feelings for David were genuine...David was the kind of guy that I think a lot of people could see themselves falling in love with. But then when he turned around and reappropriated the Leah story for Norman, any realness in his feelings completely evaporated for me. That was a real story that meant something to David, and it felt like he was telling it as a way to get closer to Andrew. But for Andrew, that same story was just a way to manipulate Norman into doing what he wanted.

I thought this episode did a good job of showing what Donatella is and was to the Versace brand. She's not a designer, she's not creative, but she had/has a great business sense. Selling a more accessible version of a design that made headlines? That's actually a really good idea. How many of us see designs on a runway and wonder who is even supposed to wear that, but might at least like the color and want to buy something simpler that has it?

And I really felt for Gianni with his illness. I didn't even know ear cancer was something that existed until seeing it on this show. How terrifying to suddenly lose your hearing and not know why. I can't blame him for getting so agitated.

On 3/8/2018 at 8:51 AM, CofCinci said:

Penelope Cruz is terrible. Does she have fake teeth in her mouth?  All I hear is a terrible lisp.  It really detracts from the scenes. 

 

On 3/8/2018 at 9:22 AM, LennieBriscoe said:

It's been established that Donatella has a lisp.

Penelope is also Spanish, and many dialects of Peninsular Spanish have "distinction," or what is commonly referred to as the Castilian lisp to differentiate letters that sound like "s"--z's and soft c's--to prevent homophones. It's not really a lisp, as it is a deliberate pronunciation and not a speech impediment, but given that Spanish is very regimented in how every letter is pronounced (in a way that other languages like English are not) I can see how that would be a hard thing to shake.

I did not know that Donatella had a lisp (I don't think I've ever heard her speak) but if Penelope already has that natural pronunciation anyway, I guess why not use it?

[truthaboutluv]

5 hours ago, helenamonster said:

I thought this episode did a good job of showing what Donatella is and was to the Versace brand. She's not a designer, she's not creative, but she had/has a great business sense. Selling a more accessible version of a design that made headlines? That's actually a really good idea. How many of us see designs on a runway and wonder who is even supposed to wear that, but might at least like the color and want to buy something simpler that has it?

And you know what's funny, that's pretty much the norm in fashion today. Very few designers/fashion houses only make designs for the runaway. Most create their avant garde, haute couture looks, which are often not practical for normal every day, for the runway and red carpets and then create more affordable and wearable versions for everyday. They're still high end mind you and still cater to a certain very rich market but they're more normal looking. So it is interesting that Donatella was pushing the idea in 1992 and Gianni was so against it. 

5 hours ago, helenamonster said:

And I really felt for Gianni with his illness. I didn't even know ear cancer was something that existed until seeing it on this show. How terrifying to suddenly lose your hearing and not know why. I can't blame him for getting so agitated.

Someone made a comment at another board that when their uncle had full blown AIDS, he developed ear and throat cancer. Someone else noted a friend losing their sight. Again, not saying Gianni had AIDS, since I know the controversy over that because Donatella and the family always denied it. But I do think it was interesting when I read those comments, in light of Maureen Orth's claim in her book that he did in fact have HIV. 

5 hours ago, helenamonster said:

I didn't know anything about Lincoln so was shocked when he ended up murdered.

Apparently Jeff Trail's family wanted the police to look into his murder again after Cuananan's crime spree became public and in light of how Jeff was murdered, which was very similar to Lincoln. The police did look into the case but at the end said they were satisfied that the evidence did support the guy who confessed, being the one who murdered Lincoln. My thought watching the episode was that if things did happen in some way as portrayed, as in Andrew did somehow witness Lincoln's murder, I wondered if that's how he got the idea to murder Jeff the way he did. It would explain why the murders were so similar, despite Andrew's not being the one who killed Lincoln. 

Entitled, arrogant and lazy tool that Andrew was, I can't lie, I did laugh when his boss at the pharmacist told him how he could have all of this, gesturing to his office and success, if Andrew just applied himself and worked hard, only for Andrew's expression to clearly say, "all of what - this dump?" The way he glanced around the office and started incredulously back at the man just made me burst out laughing. 

I agreed with others that while I understand how the backwards timeline is frustrating for some, this episode did show how in some ways it worked because seeing those juxtapositions of Andrew's friendship with Jeff and that first meeting with David, with the scenes from those earlier episodes, made it far more emotionally jarring. I think it would have been different if we'd seen that meeting with David first, despite knowing the story and how things ultimately ended. 

Edited March 11, 2018 by truthaboutluv

[Eulipian 5k]

On 3/8/2018 at 12:04 AM, Shadow Wave said:

The viewer is curious about Cunanan's weird backstory, and the innocent people who were sucked into his vortex, but Gianni's and Donatella's creative journey is tangential and not too compelling, honestly. 

I'd like to think the writers are showing that a great deal of AC's myriad of "back stories" wouldn't exist without this real story. Versace is the larger than life soul that drives this saga, not that murderous, self-entitled, twerp.

[Ailianna]

5 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

Apparently Jeff Trail's family wanted the police to look into his murder again after Cuananan's crime spree became public and in light of how Jeff was murdered, which was very similar to Lincoln. The police did look into the case but at the end said they were satisfied that the evidence did support the guy who confessed, being the one who murdered Lincoln. My thought watching the episode was that if things did happen in some way as portrayed, as in Andrew did somehow witness Lincoln's murder, I wondered if that's how he got the idea to murder Jeff the way he did. It would explain why the murders were so similar, despite Andrew's not being the one who killed Lincoln. 

I can certainly understand their concern, but unfortunately bludgeoning someone to death with repeated blows to the head and face with sharp/heavy objects isn't that unique of a method.  It's one used more by men than women, but they are unfortunately far from the only victims who were killed in that fashion.

[truthaboutluv]

2 minutes ago, Ailianna said:

I can certainly understand their concern, but unfortunately bludgeoning someone to death with repeated blows to the head and face with sharp/heavy objects isn't that unique of a method.  It's one used more by men than women, but they are unfortunately far from the only victims who were killed in that fashion.

I think it was the combination of Andrew having been involved with Lincoln and friends with Jeff and the similarity of the murders that made them suspicious. 

[hoodooznoodooz]

I wonder why the madame continued to interview AC and why she bothered to verify that he was well-endowed, since she believed his ethnicity was the deal-breaker. Although I am very happy that it gave that actress more screen time. She is always so amazing. She can transform the smallest scene into something memorable and riveting.

[Spike]

After Gloria and Self Control, they have to work in Solitaire for the Laura Branigan trifecta.

[Florinaldo]

21 hours ago, helenamonster said:

But for Andrew, that same story was just a way to manipulate Norman into doing what he wanted.

Which is why I think that he fell in love with the story more than with DM who was telling it. I can understand why, because his home and family life seems to have been very crappy; his mother is portrayed as lost in her own world, constantly rambling about her perfect son but not really listening to him at times, while all that  we have heard about his father points to him being an asshole. Even the store owner does not appear to have a high opinion of the elder Cunanan.

So it's a logical choice for the script to have him returning time and again to his aspiration for a stable and pleasant house and home, like in his speech to Elizabeth in the previous episode, when he screams at Norman that he "made" this home for them, or when after returning from shopping he strides out on the terrace with such confidence that you would think he owns the house and then contentedly surveys his domain.

 

20 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

Someone made a comment at another board that when their uncle had full blown AIDS, he developed ear and throat cancer.

There is also AIDS-related dementia. If you buy into Orth's contention that GV had the disease it could explain why he gets so unreasonable when discussing the dress and starts cutting at it with scissors.

In this episode GV says that Donatella would be his legacy and it was a nicel sentiment, but in real life he left his business to her kids, not directly to her.

 

20 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

The way he glanced around the office and started incredulously back at the man just made me burst out laughing. 

Yes that was a funny moment and one can certainly understand AC's point of view; but it also highlights that ambitions and goals vary from people to people. The store owner had obvioulsy achieved his and thus was satisfied with his lot. AC had unreasonable expectations, which could probably never have been satisfied as we saw in previous episodes.

 

14 hours ago, hoodooznoodooz said:

I wonder why the madame continued to interview AC and why she bothered to verify that he was well-endowed, since she believed his ethnicity was the deal-breaker.

To humiliate him. It may be one of her tactics to assert her authority over her stable of studs.

Which served the purpose of convincing him to strike out on his own.

Edited March 11, 2018 by Florinaldo

[dubbel zout]

2 hours ago, Florinaldo said:

19 hours ago, truthaboutluv said:

The way he glanced around the office and started incredulously back at the man just made me burst out laughing. 

Yes that was a funny moment and one can certainly understand AC's point of view; but it also highlights that ambitions and goals vary from people to people. The store owner had obvioulsy achieved his and thus was satisfied with his lot. AC had unreasonable expectations, which could probably never had been satisfied as we saw in previous episodes.

That scene kind of made me angry, for reasons @Florinaldo cites. Who is Andrew to dump on someone else's idea of success? Ugh, he was such a delusional piece of garbage.

[sashayshante]

16 hours ago, Eulipian 5k said:

I'd like to think the writers are showing that a great deal of AC's myriad of "back stories" wouldn't exist without this real story. Versace is the larger than life soul that drives this saga, not that murderous, self-entitled, twerp.

The real story is that 3 gay men were brutally murdered and nobody cared. Because of that indifference egregious mistakes were made and as a result a famous fashion designer was killed. Versace in no way drives this story. That's what we've been led to believe and is the over-arching "crime" on which this season is based.

[Linderhill]

it was interesting to realize while watching Supernatural on Thursday night that the "Most Holy Man" was Designer #2 on The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.  

I've been fascinated by this series.  Not in the same way as I was with the OJ story but in a different way.  I remember talking at work about Versace's killing and hearing about the manhunt.  I believe that 20/20 or 48 hours did a show on Cunanan that told the viewers much of the story.  I'd had no idea about the poor guy in NJ being murdered. Its good to learn more about those poor men that were his victims.

Edited March 11, 2018 by Linderhill
spelling out is good

[Eulipian 5k]

1 hour ago, sashayshante said:

The real story is that 3 gay men were brutally murdered and nobody cared.

None of the victims shown were runaway teenage naifs that are the usual victims in this world of sex workers, their clients, and police indifference. Two of the victims were powerful, entitled white men, one whose wife called up the Police Commish. I've been amused by the fact that all AC had to be was passably white and he could stroll into these exclusive places and bedrooms wearing cheap clothes bought from a tourist trap.

[meep.meep]

3 hours ago, sashayshante said:

The real story is that 3 gay men were brutally murdered and nobody cared. Because of that indifference egregious mistakes were made and as a result a famous fashion designer was killed. Versace in no way drives this story. That's what we've been led to believe and is the over-arching "crime" on which this season is based.

It is called "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" - that's the over-arching crime on which the season is based.  And 3 gay men were murdered, but so was the guy whose pickup truck AC stole.  Did anybody care about him?

Some of us think the Versace parts are very interesting and important.  I lean in for those.  

[sashayshante]

The Versace parts are interesting, but his murder is not the over-arching crime of this season, just the like murder of Nicole and Ron wasn't the over-arching crime of last season. The "crime" of this season is homophobia, just like last year's "crime" was racism. That's why the series is called American Crime Story. The crime committed that serves as the springboard for the season is symptomatic of a deeper issue.

Of course Reese's murder matters, but his murder was incidental in that he was killed for his car. He had no relationship with AC.  He got lumped in with the other three and ignored because this was considered a "gay" crime.

[Florinaldo]

4 hours ago, Eulipian 5k said:

Two of the victims were powerful, entitled white men, one whose wife called up the Police Commish.

In my naïveté, I thought that murder is murder, no matter the victims. Even if they are white, powerful or "entitled" (whatever connotation that all-purpose dismissive epiteth is supposed to carry this week).

 

22 minutes ago, sashayshante said:

Of course Reese's murder matters, but his murder was incidental in that he was killed for his car. He had no relationship with AC.  He got lumped in with the other three and ignored because this was considered a "gay" crime.

And at least the show took the time to write his death scene in a way that gave some background as to who he was. But his interaction with AC was indeed very short and peripheral as compared to the other pre-Versace victims.

[LennieBriscoe]

Just wanted to say: I had no idea when I posted earlier that the next episode is actually titled, "Creator/Destroyer."

[LennieBriscoe]

14 hours ago, sashayshante said:

The Versace parts are interesting, but his murder is not the over-arching crime of this season, just the like murder of Nicole and Ron wasn't the over-arching crime of last season. The "crime" of this season is homophobia, just like last year's "crime" was racism. That's why the series is called American Crime Story. The crime committed that serves as the springboard for the season is symptomatic of a deeper issue.

At first I read this analysis and was like, "Wha'...?!" And then upon reflection, I thought, maybe the larger issues ARE Murphy's main subjects, using famous celebrity-associated murders to grab our attention, to see as micro-illustrations of societal macro-problems. Is that giving Ryan M. too much credit for depth? IDK.

[WearyTraveler]

1 hour ago, LennieBriscoe said:

At first I read this analysis and was like, "Wha'...?!" And then upon reflection, I thought, maybe the larger issues ARE Murphy's main subjects, using famous celebrity-associated murders to grab our attention, to see as micro-illustrations of societal macro-problems. Is that giving Ryan M. too much credit for depth? IDK.

He can be shallow and over the top, and sometimes too on the nose and gratuitous with gore and sex, but he did do an awesome, subtle job with The Normal Heart, so he can go deep.

[sashayshante]

4 hours ago, LennieBriscoe said:

At first I read this analysis and was like, "Wha'...?!" And then upon reflection, I thought, maybe the larger issues ARE Murphy's main subjects, using famous celebrity-associated murders to grab our attention, to see as micro-illustrations of societal macro-problems. Is that giving Ryan M. too much credit for depth? IDK.

Not at all, That's actually Murphy's explanation of the series. It's not about the actual crime. The crime is a symptom of something deeper and that's what the series explores.

[Florinaldo]

1 hour ago, sashayshante said:

Not at all, That's actually Murphy's explanation of the series. It's not about the actual crime. The crime is a symptom of something deeper and that's what the series explores.

Exactly. Although I wonder if in this specific case the socio-political message of the series might be a little too diluted. It's been touched upon, for example in the off-hand way the police went about the inquiry, although I feel they could have made it more explicit (perhaps they'll do so in the series wrap-up); in the furtive way  closeted well-to-do men had to go about their sexuality and the potential fatal consequences for some of them; in the dialogue between AC and Norman last episode about "it's always our fault"); in the apalling treatment of gays in the military and what JT had to go through, despite the well-intended "don't ask don't tell" policy; in the absence of legal same-sex marriage; in the concerns that GV's coming out might hurt the business; , etc.

It's all there, but only in short notations, perhaps overshadowed by an overall story, the arc of a murderous sociopath and the lives he destroyed, that is very compelling and more sustained. I know that presenting the message in a preachy and repetitive way may be seen as hitting the viewer over the head with it, so it is a difficult balance taht the show has to achieve.

Edited March 12, 2018 by Florinaldo

[LennieBriscoe]

I can only hope that Murphy doesn't box himself in, because once one has "done" a Larger Social Commentary Theme, then a different crime with a similar social cause/impact might be looked at as "BT, DT." I'm thinking of, e.g., the Matthew Shepard murder, or a series called "The Assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr."

Edited March 12, 2018 by LennieBriscoe

[wovenloaf]

1 hour ago, Florinaldo said:

Exactly. Although I wonder if in this specific case the socio-political message of the series might be a little too diluted. It's been touched upon, for example in the off-hand way the police went about the inquiry, although I feel they could have made it more explicit (perhaps they'll do so in the series wrap-up); in the furtive way  closeted well-to-do men had to go about their sexuality and the potential fatal consequences for some of them; in the dialogue between AC and Norman last episode about "it's always our fault"); in the apalling treatment of gays in the military and what JT had to go through, despite the well-intended "don't ask don't tell" policy; in the absence of legal same-sex marriage; in the concerns that GV's coming out might hurt the business; , etc.

It's all there, but only in short notations, perhaps overshadowed by an overall story, the arc of a murderous sociopath and the lives he destroyed, that is very compelling and more sustained. I know that presenting the message in a preachy and repetitive way may be seen as hitting the viewer over the head with it, so it is a difficult balance taht the show has to achieve.

 

I don't think it's been subtle or lost in the overarching story at all.  For some of those references you mentioned above, I'm not even sure how they could have been more explicit... short of having someone run on screen and yell "this is unfair!!!"  Jeff's struggles relating to the military spanned across several episodes (I think?  Or at least were the focus of an entire episode), for example.    I think if they made it more heavy-handed, it would not only be irritating, but it would also lose the character's stories and just turn them into pawns for preaching at the viewers.   Which would be a disservice not only to the show, but also to the victims whose lives the show is based on. 

Edited March 12, 2018 by wovenloaf

[sashayshante]

I feel like every episode has contained something that shined a light on the fact that - even approaching the millenium - gay people were still unsure of whether or not they could come out completely. The episodes with David and Jeff were really the ones to expand on  societal and internalized homophobia. In other episodes there were passing moments that addressed it but nothing that jumped out at me. Then again, I identify as straight.  I'm not going to have the visceral reaction that someone who identifies as gay might have, so the scenes will come off more subtle to me.  I do feel like they dropped the ball as far as pointing out how homophobia interfered with the case. I mean, to this day, Lee Miglan's family still refuses to admit he was gay. Did they ever prove AC and LM knew each other?

[dubbel zout]

4 hours ago, sashayshante said:

I do feel like they dropped the ball as far as pointing out how homophobia interfered with the case. I mean, to this day, Lee Miglan's family still refuses to admit he was gay.

We haven't seen much of the investigation, period. Which sort of makes the point that homophobia interfered with the case.

I don't agree with how the Miglin family handled things, but it's their prerogative.

[Florinaldo]

Excellent points made by other posters regarding my argument whether the socio-political message intended by RM and his colleagues was handled explicitely enough. I may indeed have underestimated the ability of viewers to pick up on the various instances where it is addressed.

Perhaps the finale (next week, already!) will tie things up more neatly without getting preachy.

[methodwriter85]

On 3/8/2018 at 5:40 AM, vixenbynight said:

Andrew never really wanted David as the "poor, normal midwesterner" that he was. He wanted the "most successful architect, who would build them the most perfect house". When David started fantasizing, Andrew went on that magic carpet ride with him.

I also thought that, going on the race angle, Andrew really liked David being blond, blue-eyed, white and beautiful. He had the LOOK that Andrew wanted; all that was needed was for David to be molded into a cosmopolitan man.

[Ailianna]

5 hours ago, methodwriter85 said:

I also thought that, going on the race angle, Andrew really liked David being blond, blue-eyed, white and beautiful. He had the LOOK that Andrew wanted; all that was needed was for David to be molded into a cosmopolitan man.

Which was so important to AC that I think he couldn't imagine it wasn't the important thing to David also.  I don't think AC could imagine someone being happy with a life that was about friends and family and hard work--he needed glitz and glam and admiration--not really a substantive life.  And I think David was the kind of person who understood the important to living his life and having people to love in his life more than material wealth or adulation.

[smiley13]

On 3/12/2018 at 5:55 PM, sashayshante said:

 I do feel like they dropped the ball as far as pointing out how homophobia interfered with the case. I mean, to this day, Lee Miglan's family still refuses to admit he was gay. Did they ever prove AC and LM knew each other?

Wasn't he bi-sexual, not gay? 

[CeeBeeGee]

7 hours ago, smiley13 said:

Wasn't he bi-sexual, not gay? 

Nobody officially knows--the family insists he was straight and that his murder was random. I can understand why they're saying that but the intensity and personal nature of his murder and what was done to him strongly hints otherwise. Random murderers don't tape people's face and tie them up and cut their throats and break their ribs by dropping cement on them and get in the car to run them over.

Poor Lee. You were a good person. A good husband, a good provider, a good father. You didn't deserve this. You were a good person.

The genius of this show is that it reminds us of the humanity and sweetness of the victims, and the tragedy of their murders. I thought the People v. OJ Simpson was a great show as well but I would've liked to have seen more of Nicole and Ron.

[aradia22]

The whole escort agency thing was too sympathetic to Andrew for my taste. It was the equivalent of him going to a modeling agency. I don't know if any of that was true or even likely and having those societal standards doesn't absolve him of responsibility for his own actions and it distracts from his trading on charms and sex instead of working towards his goals. I think I'm also a little confused because I thought Andrew came from a relatively privileged background but now the show is making it seem like he didn't have a lot of options... working at the equivalent of CVS and such. How was he supposed to finish his college degree?

I really liked revisiting Gianni and Donatella as well. Though her lack of confidence is undercut when she's played by the gorgeous Penelope Cruz instead of someone who looks more like Donatella. I liked that we saw Gianna being sweet and vulnerable but this episode gave him depth. He could also behave badly and leave his sister to deal with his mood swings. It deepens the scenes we saw in earlier episodes. I feel like this show would benefit from a rewatch but I don't feel much of an impulse to go back.

I feel like I'm losing all sense of the timeline/order of events.

I don't love that Andrew saw this random guy kill Lincoln. It feels like an inciting event. Like they want to argue PTSD or something.

[CeeBeeGee]

On 8/14/2018 at 6:58 PM, aradia22 said:

The whole escort agency thing was too sympathetic to Andrew for my taste. It was the equivalent of him going to a modeling agency. I don't know if any of that was true or even likely and having those societal standards doesn't absolve him of responsibility for his own actions and it distracts from his trading on charms and sex instead of working towards his goals. I think I'm also a little confused because I thought Andrew came from a relatively privileged background but now the show is making it seem like he didn't have a lot of options... working at the equivalent of CVS and such. How was he supposed to finish his college degree?

Not at all. The Cunanans were poor and striving to rise above that, which is what motivated his father to get an MBA and become a stockbroker. It might've worked had the parents spent sensibly but Modesto blew his money like a sailor on shore leave (appropriately, since he was former Navy). They had to scrimp quite a bit to send Andrew to Bishop. And then when Modesto fled the country after selling the house out from underneath the family, they were destitute. He really was a shithead.

Once Modesto took off, Andrew had to drop out of college. (Not that he was that motivated anyway--Norman offered to bankroll his degree but Andrew just wanted cash and a Mercedes.)

[Kel Varnsen]

On 8/14/2018 at 6:58 PM, aradia22 said:

I feel like I'm losing all sense of the timeline/order of events.

That was my only real issue with this one. I like the reverse timeline because I know right away to care about the victims. But in the Don't Ask Don't Tell episode I had thought that Jeff met Andrew as he was being pushed out of the navy, so I figured he left shortly after they met. But in this episode they have an established friendship but Jeff is still in the navy.