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'Eli Stone': New Eli vs. Old Eli
This week's Eli Stone raised several questions for me. First, will Eli ever dress appropriately when he finds himself in unexpected locales? That said, "my arm hair just singed off" and "my internal organs are boiling in their own juices" are excellent lines.
Second, is Maggie (Julie Gonzalo) just a little too perky? Is it unreasonable for me, a fan of the perk in general, to kinda want to slug her? Or at the very least, get a little disillusioned?
After starting off in Hawaii, we flash back a few hours to Eli and Patti in the office, where she tells him that an SUV liability case that he won five years ago has been overturned, and he'll have to re-try it. At the staff meeting, partner Martin Posner (Tom Amandes) tells Eli he's second chair on the SUV case, and overrides Eli's counter that "old Eli" was the lawyer on the original case, and he's "new Eli" now.
Meanwhile, two new hires for the firm are introduced: Keith Bennett (Jason George), the discrimination plaintiff from last week, and Taylor Wethersby, the boss' daughter and Eli's ex-fiancee. Did I mention that the title of this week's episode is "One More Try"?
And Matt Dowd (Sam Jaeger) gets a storyline! Although I admit at first it seemed like kind of a gigantic one, given that up until now he's been Eli's ambitious, wise-cracking foil. Dowd's ex-girlfriend shows up, in tears and needing his help, because her ex-girlfriend, who's pregnant with a baby conceived with her egg, has experienced a spiritual conversion, found religion, is now heterosexual, and is seeking sole custody of the baby.
At the settlement conference for the SUV case, Eli and the plaintiff's attorney duke it out and Maggie, who's busy fawning over the other attorney, finds out that one of the reasons Eli won the case five years ago was that he convinced the judge that the jury would be prejudiced by the plaintiff's injuries if he testified in court, so the transcript of his deposition was read instead. Oh and a key witness -- Stanley Lime, an engineer who could discuss the SUV's propensity for rolling over -- disappeared. Following Eli out of the conference, Maggie argues with him about his tactics and declares this a "yucky case" -- prompting a very nice Legally Blonde crack from Eli.
Meanwhile, in conference with his ex's ex-girlfriend and her lawyer, Dowd suggests co-parenting. "You ask us to concede everything we believe and then you call it compromise," says the lawyer (Alana Ubach) -- who, coincidentally, played Serena, one of Elle Woods' sorority sisters, in both Legally Blonde and its sequel. Thought Eli's comment was just clever? Ha! It was foreshadowing. Then Dowd asks Taylor for her help on the case -- because she's an expert in family law, and because he needs a woman on the case because he's literally surrounded by chicks (the judge is a woman too).
In the midst of his opening statement on the SUV case -- here comes an a-ha! moment -- Eli has a vision: a choir singing "One More Try." He tries valiantly to talk through it, but ends up dancing and clapping to the music. And oh, Eli -- jazz hands?
Seeking solace, Eli visits Dr. Chen, who takes note of the song and tells Eli that maybe God wants him to do things differently this time -- not only in court, but with Taylor as well.
On the stand, Adam the SUV plaintiff describes the accident. Eli gets him to admit that he had been drinking at the time of the accident, and was upset because of a fight he'd had with his fiancee. There were mitigating factors, and yes, the car rolled over, Eli says -- but that doesn't make the car defective. Later, he also gets Adam's wife to admit that he had been drinking that night -- and that she'd urgently tried to reach him on his cell phone several times right before the crash.
Back at the office, Eli has a vision of a Hawaiian beach in the men's room -- his second one -- and passes out. Concerned, Taylor goes to call his brother, Nate, and ends up admitting that she joined the firm to be near Eli. Geez, Eli -- give the girl a break. He asks her to have dinner and talk things out.
Maggie does some digging on Stanley Lime, and basically drags the truth out of Eli: Lime disappeared after meeting with Posner. He has a bout of self-loathing while explaining the hardball of what happened and dishes some much-needed disillusionment Maggie's way. "Has it ever occurred to you that you might be a better lawyer if you saw things how they are instead of how you wish they were?" he asks, disgustedly.
Now Patti turns up, rocking a sparkly red dress and singing with the choir in Eli's next vision, prompting him to ask her if she's a member of a gospel choir. "Why, yes I am," she says. "All black people are. Especially black women -- we love to raise our hands and praise Jesus." Seriously, someone give this woman a raise -- and for more reasons than one: she knows where Stanley Lime is (Hawaii), which sends Eli to rustling up Maggie and getting on a plane. More or less in front of Taylor, whom Eli has to blow off to go aloha-ing. For the record, if Eli ends up hooking up with Maggie, I am totally on Team Taylor.
Meanwhile, Taylor, working with Dowd, turns up some information that might be able to counteract the waiver that Dowd's ex signed, giving up all rights to the baby. He videotaped the baby shower, which shows a happy couple eager to raise their baby together and contradicts the ex's ex's claim that she renounced her homosexuality when she saw the first ultrasound. Jaeger's clearly loving his turn in the spotlight, because his scenes with Taylor and with his ex are lovely to watch. He's an admitted pig, but he's like your favorite sexist: pretty much harmless, entertaining, and so thoroughly charming in his delivery that it's easy to really like the bad-boy-who's-not-really-so-bad. And Jaeger doesn't overplay it, so kudos to him.
Ultimately, the judge rules that the waiver is valid, but the spirit of the relationship was clearly violated by the pregnant partner's actions, and orders both joint custody and that the expectant mother must stay in the area. Dowd's ex ends up with full custody, as her ex decides that she'll go home to her family in Ohio after the baby's born and leave the baby in San Francisco.
Eli and Maggie head to Hawaii to talk to Stanley Lime, who says he wrote a study of the SUV's likelihood of rolling over, and was paid $2 million by the car company -- the check delivered by Martin Posner -- to disappear. And he doesn't want to bring his new life crashing down by coming to testify. He won't have to. Eli's taped the conversation, and plays the tape for Posner and the client, and suggests -- with a little fancy lawyerin' and chest poundin' (in a lawyerly way) that the client settle so what he and Posner did doesn't end up coming to light. It's a great scene -- both well-written and well played, showing how "new Eli" is coming into his own by using his old shark techniques for a new outcome. It develops Eli's storyline effectively, and sheds a little of that disjointedness and confusion that's overwhelmed Eli's actions since he started seeing the visions. It's a logical progression, sure, but it's nice to see that next stretch of his arc, and it feels like we're moving forward with him -- the pieces are snapping together.
And so it's a settlement -- for $5 million. Afterward, Posner confronts Patti, saying he knows she was the one who gave up Stanley Lime, and he doesn't understand why she continues to punish him, since she's barely acknowledged his existence in five years -- since they broke up. Ultimately, in an episode all about second chances and new beginnings, Patti refuses to consider giving their relationship one more try. I don't know about you, but I didn't see that one coming. It's another really nice scene. At first I didn't quite buy their chemistry, but by the last part of their exchange, I totally got it.
And now, for the punch line: Eli's summoned to Wetherby and Posner's office, where they inform him that the car company has filed a grievance against him based on his song-and-dance performance in court. A prosecutor has been appointed, and disbarment proceedings have been recommended.
What did you think? Will Eli be able to continue practicing law? Does no good deed go unpunished? And are you finding that the twists and turns of the cases are keeping things interesting, or do they seem unbelieveable?
You'll have to get in line behind me to slug Maggie! It's really annoying how she follows Eli around, but it's cute in a little sister way. And I like that he's as annoyed with her as I am! But now it looks like she's starting to have feelings for Eli and I really hope they don't go there.
Got more Matt and he's funny! He had a lot of great one-liners. I hope they show more of him. I'd rather have a Matt/Taylor hookup than Eli/Maggie. I really don't want Eli and Maggie to hook up!
j | Feb 29, 2008 1:29:08 AM | #I know he's just an actor, and you try to avoid typecasting people, but everytime I saw the plaintiff in Eli's case I kept saying to myself "He's a frakkin' Cylon!"
Sean | Feb 29, 2008 2:32:51 AM | #Not only is Maggie a bit too perky, there is WAY more chemistry between her and Eli. They "fit" better than Eli and Taylor, who seems too big and buxom for him.
gretchen | Feb 29, 2008 5:14:51 AM | #Lisa, I believe it's "Lyme" and not "Lime". Natasha Henstridge is a goddess and Eli is a moron if he gives her up to eventually hook up with Maggie. Having said that, I do like Matt Dowd, so maybe Taylor's better off with him. Also, I know that the car company paid off the witness, but I believe that driving while drunk should trump the fact that under certain specific conditions an SUV is more likely to flip.
AC | Feb 29, 2008 5:49:28 AM | #I really like this show! It suggests the possibility that his visions are divinely inspired without pushing any particular religion onto the viewers. The writing allows the viewers to decide whether they want to believe the divine explanation or the scientific explanation.
I like Maggie. She is just a naive, ideological, young attorney who wants to use her knowledge to change the world for the better. She is exactly what Eli needs. (Who knows, the writers may say that she was 'placed' there to help Eli.) She may change as time goes on, but that could be part of her character development. The writers may show us that she can build a tougher exterior while keeping her gentle spirit on the inside.
ABC should move this show to an earlier time slot. I am concerned that the ratings will remain low, and it will ultimately get cancelled just like "Journeyman" because it is on at 10 PM instead of 8 or 9.
Pete | Feb 29, 2008 7:22:54 AM | #Pete-
Um, I'm sorry, but 8 or 9 on a Thursday? My beloved Supernatural is on at 9 on Thursday and believe me, it's a brutal time slot. 8 isn't much better. Trust me, a new show on at 10 is a great time slot. The only way it could be better is if it had Grey's as it's lead in.
Don't like Maggie; don't like Patti.
I've had problems with Patti from the beginning - I just don't like her character. She makes Eli seem stupid, which he's not, and no matter how much he needs a mother, I wish he'd tell her off once in awhile.
NO Maggie/Eli hookup. I've had problems seeing him with Taylor because she seems too old for him, but Maggie's too young, so maybe Eli's TRUE love is still out there somewhere.
I've wondered, too, if he's ever going to wear anything besides a suit and tie.
Jan | Feb 29, 2008 8:47:12 AM | #1. They flashed back a few DAYS, not a few hours.
2. You forgot to mention Eli's Veronica Mars crack he made in Hawaii. Julie Gonzalo was on that show.
3. Stanley Lyme was also the doctor in last night's episode of Lost.
J. | Feb 29, 2008 9:06:44 AM | #I really like this show and how they go about what they do.
Having said that, the actual cases Eli takes are easily the worst part about this show.
First, we had the autism by vaccination.
Then, we had the whole family so cowardly that the father sent himself to prison so that the mother could get out of her commitment to the army.
Now, we have a car crash with a drinking driver, but the company's at fault because they ran their "tip tests" with full air pressure on the tires.
I love the musical numbers, I love Eli, and most of the supporting cast is very watchable. But man, they need to get some help on these storylines.
If the Almighty sent us Eli to deal with THESE cases, I'm still covinced in the ridiculousness of religion.
P.S. Is it just me or does Tom Amendes look EXACTLY like Mr. Rogers?
Dwight | Feb 29, 2008 11:51:02 AM | #Love this show, love everything about this show. All of the characters are fantastic, the acting and writing is wonderful, especially the quircky one liners. When Eli called Maggie Veronica Mars I laughed out loud cause she was actually on that show as a regular in the last season. Another moment was seeing that the guy who played Lyme was just on Lost as the Freighter Doctor. Too good!
I wouldn't mind a Maggie/Eli hook-up because I just don't see any chemistry between him & Taylor. The musical numbers are wonderful plus, the fact that they all can sing is a bonus. I liked the line of Dr. Chen asking Eli if he was promoting George Michaels comeback tour because of his songs always being in the visions.
I'm also in love with Johnny Lee Miller now, he's absolutely adorable!
Buffybot | Feb 29, 2008 12:34:37 PM | #Was it wrong that I was rooting for the big, bad car company? Not that I'm a car expert (I currently don't even own one!) but I think most cars will tip if you make a sharp enough swerve all of a sudden, while probably doing 80.
I'm not too crazy about Eli's cases. I find the B cases far more interesting. I'm glad we got to see more of Matt and Taylor(in scenes w/o Eli), but where was Eli's brother?
jen | Feb 29, 2008 12:42:46 PM | #I would have liked a real answer to why Maggie works at that firm. She's young an idealistic and she's working for a firm that seems to primarily handle defense work? That makes absolutely no sense to me. And she's getting really, really annoying. Characters who are all sweetness and light with absolutely no depth or shades of grey are as uninteresting as characters who are pure evil who have no depth or shades of grey.
She really does seem to be ignorant of the way things are and I think Eli had a very valid point. She'd be a much better attorney if she could deal with reality rather than pretending things are the way she wants them to be.
You can be earnest and idealistic and intelligent (see The West Wing's Sam Seaborn) but she's coming off as shallow and not that bright and that's a problem. The case is "yucky?" Suck it up and do your job or better yet, move to another firm that does plaintiff work.
And for the love of all things holy don't have a Maggie/Eli arc.
I also thought Taylor's comment about making Eli happy was kind of odd because that's clearly not the problem in their relationship. She does make him happy. So happy that rightly or wrongly (wrongly) he wants to protect her from the consequences of his health problems.
Cynthia | Feb 29, 2008 12:47:35 PM | #I like Eli's character and the actor who portrays him. I also enjoy his interactions with his acupuncturist and his boss. However, unlike others, I am beginning to find the musical interludes annoying. Last episode, I fast-forwarded through them without losing anything of substance. I also grow weary of the constant anti-business stereotype so prevalent in TV and movies, where the vast majority of "evil" doers are in business. Indeed, characterizing Eli's own firm as "evil" and the "dark side" is also extremely one-dimensional. There are lots of people from all walks of life who do wrong things. The baby custody subplot was at least in a better direction. But regardless of how much I enjoy Eli, his humor, and other aspects of the show, if they don't broaden the range of opponents and have more visions that do not include time-consuming musical interludes, I may have to reconsider what I tape after "Lost."
Russ | Feb 29, 2008 2:39:47 PM | #Like Dwight and Jen, I too find the cases to be the worst part of the show. It seems the cases are supposed to be able the underdog winning but the underdogs are kinda sketchy.
Case #2: The wife lied to her husband about giving up her son.
Case #3: A mother and father get their son to commit fraud and perjury and have the father falsey arrested for child abuse
Case #5: A man is paralysed by his SVU rolling but he and his wife basically admitted he was upset and had been drinking all night
I guess the ambiguity helps the show differ itself from the usual big, bad companies vs. the totally wronged innocents found on most law shows but I have found myself routing for the "big, bad companies" more than once.
Kev | Feb 29, 2008 2:39:49 PM | #I have liked all the episodes so far and last night was no exception. However, I had one complaint about Eli's vision. The visions lead him to find out an important witness who helped Eli into blackmailing his senior partner and client into giving the plaintiff $5 million dollars. However, if Eli is indeed a prophet who is here to help good people, wouldn't it have been better to force the witness to testify that the SVUs are unsafe, saving many potential victims? Instead, one person (who may have been intoxicated) is helped but the dangerous SVU is still on the market. Just seemed wierd to me.
Mitch L | Feb 29, 2008 2:45:01 PM | #As a male viewer, I have to say that Maggie is total hotness. She was the reason I watched the show to begin with. I am all for a Maggie/Eli hookup. Maggie is way prettier than Taylor anyways.
Joe | Feb 29, 2008 6:48:48 PM | #I'm with Jen, I was so rooting for the big bad car company. A man who has too much to drink and then takes off in his car shouldn't be allowed to blame someone else for what happens to him. What if he had hit a child and crippled him? I'm sick of people blaming someone else for what they do - they're never at fault for anything. I'm surprised he didn't try suing the poor barman for serving him too much drink - probably not rich enough. I don't want to see Maggie and Eli hook-up, I dislike it intensly whe writers try to beat me over the head with a romance they think we should like. I'd much rather Eli tried to work it out with his fiance and not act as if all relationships are disposable.
Well done for completly flooring me with Eli's secretary's relationship - I really didn't see that one coming at all. I was totally convinced that evil partner was coming in to fire her as another ruse to get Eli to leave. And how great an actor is Tom Amandes that he managed to make me cross my fingers tightly that Patti would go back to him - he looked so wounded.
Love the addition of Jason George if only for the clothes he wears. Un-PC pun coming up, he adds some much needed colour to the show his suits and shirts are awesome especially the lovely turquoise shirt he had on last week during his trial - who says lawyers have to be dull - Patti Fields would be proud of him!
I completely agree with Mitch. I was thinking the same thing, why didn't they do something about the dangerous SUV instead of helping just one guy, who seemed partially at fault for the accident in the first place. Like they did with the immunization episode. They made that company stop making the vaccine with the questionable ingrediant in it to possibly save other kids from getting autism. Still love the show though!
LostFanatic | Mar 4, 2008 10:09:41 AM | #
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