Hi everyone and welcome to the penultimate episode of Invisible Man, Enemy of My Enemy (the whole saying being ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’). I actually found myself putting this review off, knowing that after this there is only one more. But I could only wait so long... Remember, this contains HUGE HONKIN’ spoilers for EomE, and all ideas are my own. If we said the same things then just chalk it up to great minds thinking alike. :-)
Overall:
Despite the obvious, this episode is not about Darien. The time limit on his sanity and life are coming to an end, and with it we see where the loyalties of those around him truly lay. He’s had two years to work on Claire the Keeper and Charlie the Official, to convince them to see the man beyond the gland and think of him as more then just a receptacle. Several times Darien has asked Claire if it comes down to him verses the gland what side she would be on, and so far as long as it’s ment gland removal she’s sided with Darien. But now she holds the key to true freedom...no more QSM.
The Official has found his line. A moment before basically sentencing Darien to insanity and death Charlie shows compassion for the death of one of his own men. Yet the gland is more valuable then any one man, the key to the success of the Agency and the weapon he feels is necessary to fight evil...and the Official is willing to let Darien die if it means keeping the gland. He won’t take the chance that Darien will take off once cured, and so there is no compassion for Darien Fawkes.
Claire may yet still be swayed. The same woman who left a shoot out because Arnaud announced he’d wounded someone, the same doctor who probably has sworn first to Do No Harm, the same person who has come to see a friend in her Kept...for now has been forced to lie to protect the gland, perhaps in the hope that there is still time left for her to find another counteragent. It’s possible when time runs out, and the choice must be made between letting Darien go insane or curing him that she may change her mind. Watching how much lying is tearing her up inside, let’s hope she does change her mind for both Darien’s sake and her own.
The Good:
-In (once again) the only voice over this week Darien quotes his Mom, and later does his best Elmer Fudd ("Be vewy vewy quwiet!")
-In the double-cross battle of the century, Arnaud wins as he keeps himself alive despite Stark’s desire to let him die on the operating table.
-Only Hobbes would try and turn Golda into the IMan equivalent of KITT meets the A-Team van!
-Gotta love how the dramatic music, camera shots, and close up could make a gift basket look so EVIL! I especially liked how they stuck it in the padded cell!
-"All right, Mr. Do Right." As in Duddly?
-Watch Darien’s amazing reaction when he turns to find Arnauds gland. He’s so stunned and freaked that he’s speechless...he tries but can’t even start to tell Hobbes!
-I loved watching Darien and Arnaud spy on and discuss the cows, but all we can see are their eyes.
-And now, for the Only Arnaud Moment: Arnaud, about milking QS from the cows, "It’s surprisingly efficient...and strangely erotic." Eww!
-The fun of quicksilver is watching all the creative ways Darien can use it. This week, making a gun disappear to later be used. Extra bonus points for duping the same bad guy later with the same trick by simply holding his hands like he’s holding a gun!
-Poor Hobbes...sometimes even his own van won’t listen to him. "Freakin’ STOP!!"
-Of course the next scene makes up for it, as I wanted to stand up and cheer as Hobbes stormed into the Official’s office demanding "guys, guns and a go" and he gets it!
-Great Scene 1: Arnaud sucks up to his Chrysalis jailers, then breaks Darien out of the compound. Outside a QSM Darien uses his thieving talents to turn the tables on Arnaud and forces the Swiss Miss Mother to talk fast. We’re given an entire commercial break to decide if Darien really did kill Arnaud. Not only is this scene wonderfully paced and fun to watch, but it’s some of the best interaction between the two bitter enemies!
-I loved Claire showing up in her battle black, gun in hand, wearing her best bad-ass ‘don’t mess with me’ look!
-...and then Hobbes’ little growl at her, half angry and half aroused. :-)
-There’s something wonderfully ironic about tall, white Darien doing a play on Gary Coleman from Dif’rent Strokes, "What you talkin’ ‘bout, Arnaud?"...and then later Hobbes doing a play on that famous milk commercial when asking about the cows, "Got quicksilver?"
-Finally Eberts gets some wonderful payback as he smacks Arnaud while wheeling him to his cell!
-"Arnaud, if you could think and talk at the same time I’d answer you, but for now shut up and keep working."
-Poor Mike...he seams like a nice guy, a good guard, and has some great attitude, "I’ll give you a painkiller!"...chalk up another kill for Arnaud.
-Only Claire would store her huge honkin’ gun in the same drawer as her hairbrush and makeup!
-I loved how Eberts almost gets knocked off his feet firing Claire's big gun at Arnaud! Although you’d figure the King of Videogames would be good at a shootout!
-...and the look Eberts gives when he looses Arnaud was so depressed and heartbreaking!
-There’s a great shot, after Hobbes takes out the truck with that huge cannon in the back of Golda, where Darien is up on the hill cheering on his partner while Hobbes basks in glory. He’s the MAN!
-Great Scene 2: The Official confronts Claire about what happened with Arnaud, and bullies her into keeping the QSM antidote a secret from Darien. Claire starts out looking guilty and upset when the Official plays Dad and yells at her...while the Official shows true grief as he says she’s broken his trust and caused Mike’s death. Then things turn dark, as grief and guilt turn to anger. It’s a powerful scene between these two people who are used to being in control, and beautifully framed as we focus on just their faces.
-That leads almost directly into Great Scene 3: Claire lies to Darien to protect the Agency. Both shed a few tears; Darien in fear and grief over loosing a chance at freedom and sanity, and Claire in guilt. Watch her almost break down when Darien consoles her by saying it wasn’t her fault, and then when he leaves she finally does cry. For once she doesn’t order Darien to the ‘demented dentist chair’ for counteragent, letting him stay where he is and coming down to be face to face...even taking a moment to steady her hand from shaking before giving the shot. And then to break the needle afterwards shows how much she has truly come to hate what she’s doing. That’s gutwrenching television, and some incredible acting!
The Bad:
-Just one almost minor thing...why are the doctors who operated on Arnaud wearing fanny packs in the first place? That’s not quite standard operating equipment, and it’s not like they could reach into them without having to put on new gloves to keep everything sterile. Plus the packs were FILLED with the explosive...did ALL of the doc’s just put them on without checking to see what was inside?!
The Crap Count:
-"Yes, we know...’oh crap’." Arnaud, on what Darien is about to say.
-"Oh crap." Darien, breaking into Chrysalis and seeing a guard.
-"Aw crap!" Darien, when his gun doesn’t fire.
The Nitpicky:
-Rejected Dialogue: Hobbes, "Say lights." Darien, "Lights." Hobbes, "Now say camera, and then action!"
-Did you notice the room with Arnaud’s gland had a numbered keypad lock next to the door...apparently it’s broken ‘cause Darien just walked right in.
-Did anyone else find their Closed Captioning this eppy was really screwed up?
-Awful Thought of the Eppy: The truck with the cows blows up and all I can think about is how good a hamburger would be.
"OK Mr. Smug, I’m only gonna ask this once ‘cause it sounds stupid: Where are the cows?" -Darien
