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It's curtains for 'The Ghost Whisperer'
Jim, still working towards applying to medical school, is a story-mover this week, as we lucky Ghostie fans get yet another new episode.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... the spoilers are ahead!
A massive explosion rocks Grandview, and Jim, on the frontlines, is unable to save a man trapped in the rubble of the burned out, unstable building. He has to choose between the trapped man, and another, and unfortunately, only saves one. In the ER, he wrestles with his choice, and confides in the nurse, Jennifer Quinlan, that he's not able to come to grips with the decision. While there, Melinda sees the spirit of a man wearing a bathrobe - the same outfit Jim says the trapped man was wearing.
The next day at the burned out building, Melinda runs into an old friend, Joe Grimaldi, who tells her that it was his brother, Vince, who was killed. He says they weren't close, but Melinda, hoping that he can help get the ghost off of Jim's back, tells him that she can see spirits. He doesn't believe her. Jim, taking another route, goes back to the hospital to try and find out the dead man's family. He talks to Nurse Quinlan who was there when they brought the trapped man in, and while she's telling him to let it go, the bathrobe ghost grabs her arm, and attempts to hurt Jim... or so you'd think!
Jim then tries the direct route, and speaks out to the spirit himself. Melinda, realizing this is a big moment for Jim, doesn't let on that she hears him. She instead goes back to Joe, who tells her that he hadn't been the best brother, and Vince died without accepting his apology. Melinda, getting a little frantic to help Jim, tells Joe that she believes Vince is trying to hurt Jim and uncharacteristically, rushes to make contact with the bathrobe ghost. They go to the hospital to try and make contact. After a long heartfelt apology from Joe, the spirit informs Melinda that he doesn't have a brother, and that he didn't die in the building collapse. He is, actually, named Peter Harrison, and is after Nurse Quinlan for killing him.
Melinda then explains the situation to Jim, who is rightfully angry he was kept in the dark, but he goes back to the hospital to approach Nurse Quinlan about Peter Harrison. With an evil undertone, she explains that she moved to Grandview to start over, and that she wasn't always good at keeping her professional life separate from her personal life. She cared for Peter a little too much before he passed away. Meanwhile, Melinda, on the computer searching for information on Peter, has a vision of him in a hospital bed, and he tells her that his doctor, Dr. Sutherland, killed him.
Breaking out the spywear beret, Melinda follows Nurse Quinlan from the hospital to the Senior Citizens Center. She makes out a scratched out bumper sticker on her car, reading Sisters of Angels Hospital, San Diego. This hospital most recently had a Dr. Nora Sutherland on staff, and wow if she doesn't look just like our evil Nurse Quinlan. Jim approaches her, using her real name, and the next day, she skips town.
Melinda heads home, and makes contact with Peter, looking for the details. He tells her that he was in love with the doctor, and that she injected his IV with something. Melinda finds Dr. Sutherland, and tells her what Peter explained, and she confesses. However, she says that Peter, not the young man he appears to be in spirit, but an old sick man, asked her to do it. Dr. Sutherland explains that she was very close to him. As he became sicker, he begged her to end his suffering, and so she did. Peter's spirit appears, and apologizes for his confusion. They make peace, and he heads on into the light. Melinda, helping Jim make peace with his own conscience, connects Jim with Joe, who tells him Vince's last poignant words. Go Jim.
Random thoughts:
- I heart Jim. I was hoping for more Jim in this episode, but that's okay. But I've been a fan of David Conrad since Relativity. If the strike lasts much longer, I want them to re-run that brief but wonderful show.
- It was a good episode. Not so convoluted as last week, and not so entirely dependent on the Miracle of the Internet. Yes, the Internet was indeed a supporting character again.
- In what I think is an interesting turn for her character, Melinda is a bit secretive with Jim about the ghost, and I applaud her for letting Jim try and solve his issue on his own, and in his own way. It's also nice to see her thrown off guard, rushing to judgment, letting her feelings for Jim overtake her better sense of the spirits around her.
- I also like the fact that Peter appeared as a young man, rejuvenated by his feelings and connection to Dr. Sutherland. It made for a nice bait and switch at the end. But the writers should have gone the extra mile, and made Peter and Nora/Jennifer more than just good friends. That would have been unconventionally fabulous.
I'm ready for more in the What Lies Beneath storyline, but since I believe this is the last new episode for a while, we're all going to have to wait. Sigh.
What did you think of tonight's episode? More Jim and Delia? Less Internet? Want to know more about what is going on in the tunnels under Grandview?
For those wonder who Joe was, he was the guy in the "Pilot" whose wife stayed behind waiting for someone [Melinda] to tell him that the safety deposit key was in her favorite jacket. If you are curious why he was sort of dunce to the ghost subject was because in the "Pilot" Mel never did tell him he could communicate to the dead but hinted that if she was to leave something of importance, it would be in her favorite jacket. Reason why she didn't was more so the time constraint and that Mel had other priorities, Wentworth Miller's character. Just thought it was great to see an old face from the very first episode.
Anyways, I wouldn't say the interest has been to much of a biggy. The twist in the episode, was fresh. More twist then usual and I enjoyed it.
If nobody has heard, CBS has just posted the first Webisode to Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side II - The Ghosts in the Machine. Which explores the Underworld after Zach was sucked down in the season finale of Season 2's "The Gathering."
Jeffrey | Jan 18, 2008 9:20:06 PM | #I wonder how may fans of this show freaked out when they saw your headline ...
Alex | Jan 19, 2008 9:45:30 AM | #I love this show, but it does get perdictable sometimes. On the clothing fornt I knew they couldn't go two week coveringup the "girls", but it was a nightgown so I will give them a pass. Ladies got a treat with a shirtless David Conrad. I love his character he is grounded and descent and a loving and supporting husbsand.
Don | Jan 19, 2008 10:41:48 AM | #FINALLY some descent screentime for David Conrad. I loved the part that he played this week. The scene he did where he tried to talk to the man he lost during the rubble was so powerful He even got to be the psychic medium in a way in the end with the brother.
Jennifer and Cameryn did a good job too. Is it wrong to say that I didn't miss Jay Mohr at all?
Wasn't the woman who played Nurse Quinlan on "Yes, Dear" a few seasons ago?
Penny | Jan 19, 2008 1:23:46 PM | #I think this show was really fun and a good mystery. I was on the edge of my seat during the opening rescue sequence. It had a good scare too in the hospital bed in the living room sequence. I really jumped. Thanks for yet another great episode. I love Jay Mohr but it's ok if he takes a break and let's the other male lead...lead!
Marilyn | Jan 19, 2008 4:40:20 PM | #I love this show..
Jennifer | Jan 21, 2008 6:44:04 AM | #Was the week before the first appearance of the new Ned? Why did they recast the role? I hate when they do that with kids... like the audience can't tell.
Lisa | Jan 21, 2008 9:30:00 AM | #Anytime there is more screen time for David Conrad is great for me. He is a very convincing actor. Yes, Penny it is just fine to say that you did not miss Jay Mohr I did not miss him either.
I agree with you Lisa I do not appreciate it when they recast one of the kids, especially when it seems like they have aged them.
When is GW going to get real about all the text messaging and picture viewing Melinda does while driving at high speed or in town?
Come on lets see her clip a few pedestrians or kill someone -- rather than advertising that any competent person can drive without looking at the road.
dudelookslikeachimp | Jan 22, 2008 8:27:45 AM | #And Yes you should expect this to be the end of GW between the writer's strike and JLH getting pregnant.
The writers strike has most networks already writing off the rest of this season - though we may see more new summer series. By the time next season gets started filming JLH will be quite advanced in pregnancy meaning big continuity problems plus interruption for maternity.
Finally I am pretty sure JLH will elect early motherhood over any time consuming career projects.
So unless JLH elects to substitute another person in the main role of Ghost Whisperer -- this series is dead.
dudelookslikeachimp | Jan 22, 2008 8:34:02 AM | #Hmmm...Melinda angers the mob and has to get plastic surgery? Bring the body doubles!
Of course if they have Melinda go on the run from the mob; then someone else shows up.... JLH has the option of reclaiming the role.
Or her body dies but comes back in another body? No body double required. Yeah this sounds more like a GW plot line. Of course it does mean JLH could never reclaim her role.
dudelookslikeachimp | Jan 22, 2008 8:46:13 AM | #
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