'Eli Stone': Slaying the Dragon

March 13, 09:18 PM

Things for Eli Stone start out a little rough this week. Despite having survived the disbarment attempt, he's relegated to a cubicle doing scut work, and refers to himself as "the world's highest-paid intern." And Maggie the Optimist shuns him in the staff meeting. No matter -- in a minute he dives for the floor because he sees a fire-breathing dragon heading toward the conference room windows.

Eli goes to meet a client, 15-year-old Peter Johnson, and is surprisingly jerky to him until the kid tells Eli that his mother died after being given the wrong anesthesia, and he wants to sue the hospital. Peter pulls out a giant file -- he's been turned down by six other attorneys. The anesthesiologist's name is -- wait for it -- Dr. Agon. Get it? A ha!

An interesting turn of the tables ensues. Our hero must for once enlist Maggie's help for the case, rather than the other way around, even though she's on his case for "trying to suck up to God" because he's afraid of dying. "Go find yourself another peon to pee on," she says. But he convinces her, and as a first year she needs Jordan's permission and Eli has to stay on the case -- but he can't say anything in court. She starts out mighty freaked out, but in a deposition at the hospital where Peter's mother died, she begins to come into her own -- even though it's Eli who gets the bright idea to drop the lawsuit against this hospital and sue St. Vincent's, the one where Dr. Agon had worked before, which had covered up his negligence. And of course, St. Vincent's is where Eli's brother Nate works.

In court, Maggie -- with the help of Eli's odd hand signals (weirder, given the B story of the baseball player accused of murdering his wife's boyfriend who's his third-base coach) -- finds her footing, little by little. Dr. Agon was involved in three cases in two months where patients died, but the head of St. Vincent's characterizes his record as unassailable. By the end of the day, Maggie and Eli are pulling together as a good team, so reminiscent of the William Hurt-Holly Hunter-special-report scene in Broadcast News that later on Maggie makes a "it was like I was inside your head" comment.

On the stand, Dr. Agon talks about how medicine's not an exact science, and how none of the complications suffered by the three patients who died could have been foreseen. It's all in the confidential transcripts of the morbidity and mortality conference (which we've seen plenty of on ER and Grey's Anatomy), which aren't admissible in court.

Meanwhile (I throw this in here because I just can't wait to get to it), Taylor gets tickets to a charity concert and takes Eli. It's George Michael! At first Eli thinks it's a hallucination, but later he's delighted to realize it's real. And again I say, George Michael, whatever you're doing -- even if it's naughty or, well, illegal -- keep on doing it, because you look fantastic. Seriously.

Leaving the concert, Eli has another vision of a dragon -- and a knight on horseback fighting it. Which turns out to be Nate (Matt Letscher). Yeah, it's a little bit like the scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Luke, while training on the Dagoba system, has a vision of a fight with Darth Vader, cuts off his head, and sees his own face staring back at him from the helmet. Except, you know, not really at all.

Speaking of middle acts, the baseball player story continues, and while I like Matt Dowd (Sam Jaeger) and new guy Keith Bennett (Jason George), it's just not all that interesting, in my book. The latest: the DA's office has an anonymous tape of their client perfectly batting to third base, killing their defense that no one could bat accurately enough to aim and kill a guy. They end up getting the tape ruled inadmissable, and advise their client to admit to using steroids and claim insanity. Stay tuned.

Back to the A story. Eli confronts Nate in the middle of the night, explains his vision and insists that Nate knows something that could help him. He was at the M and M conference. And he admits he thought Dr. Agon was incompetent -- and that a nurse referred to him as a lawsuit in scrubs. I really like the fact that Eli's getting more confident about his visions and understanding what they mean -- it's nice to see the progression.

Maggie puts the head of the hospital back on the stand, and fakes him out by pretending to read from a file folder supposedly containing transcripts of the M and M conference -- so well, in fact, that he admits there was significant negligence and that if Dr. Agon hadn't resigned he was going to fire him. The next thing you know, they're talking settlement, and St. Vincent's offers $1.5 million. Peter, bless him, says no -- let's roll the dice on the jury's verdict and see what kind of justice we can get. Good move, kid. They award $28,000 in compensatory damages, and $8 million in punitive damages. It won't bring his mother back, but it was a good day. Now if only Maggie hadn't planted one on Eli in celebration.

At the office, Eli's summoned to see Jordan. He's heard the courthouse gossip that Eli was the chief strategist of the case -- and so has Arvin Selinsky, their newest high-profile client. Taylor had gotten on the case, but now Mr. Selinsky wants Eli on too, and Taylor will co-counsel. And after they promised to give each other a little space at work. Ah well. In the end, Eli ends up stationed in the firm's library (at least it's got walls and a door) rather than a cubicle, and Patti, who really really really didn't get along with Taylor, is back as his assistant. Peter drops by with a thank-you gift: a book of medieval tales and adventures that his mom read him as a little boy -- with a knight on horseback and a dragon on the cover. Aw.

What did you think? Are you resigned to what increasingly looks like an Eli-Maggie pairing? Do you think the writing remains as fresh as it was in the first couple of episodes?

in ABC , Eli Stone

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Terrific episode tonight ... can't wait for next week ... previews look cool ...

Erwin | Mar 13, 2008 9:35:04 PM | #

I still am loving this show. And even though Eli and Taylor had agreed to give each other "space" at work, I don't think that was the suggestion he was going to make to her after the charity event. Seeing Eli and Taylor back together again would be so much better than Eli and Maggie. And that is even though I thought Maggie was a little better in tonight's episode than in the previous ones (once she got off her high horse about why Eli was doing things).

As far as the baseball player story is going, I also think it is weak, weak. And I do think that story is the reason why they are putting that odd disclaimer at the end of the show (this week and last week too). They didn't do a disclaimer after the earlier episodes, so it has to be something relating to the baseball story line.

My biggest complaint still is why does Eli still react to the obviously not real visions. If it looks like a bus is coming at him on the street by all means he should get out of the way. But he reacted to the dragon 3 different times. I think it is pretty safe to assume that a dragon isn't really there.

Melody | Mar 13, 2008 11:09:40 PM | #

Disappointed that there was no acupuncturist in the episode. Also disappointed in the song that George Michael sang during the ep.

I thought that the surprise would be that Taylor was pregnant - glad they didn't go that route. Also glad that they didn't have Maggie talk during the phone conversation b/w Eli and Taylor and have Taylor get jealous/made that Maggie was at Eli's.

Rishi | Mar 14, 2008 3:30:58 AM | #

Everything Melody said. Oh, and I loved Taylor calling out Patti on her shit- her reason for not liking Taylor was weak to begin with, and her complete unprofessionalism was simply unacceptable.

AC | Mar 14, 2008 6:11:08 AM | #

I agree with Melody on the whole reacting to things that aren't real, but on the other hand it gives them a reason to do prat falls and for everyone to give Eli strange looks.

I'm so so about Dr. Agon and dragon. Feels forced, like the only reason they did it was to have a cool looking dragon in the episode. What's next, Dr. Acula?

Loved the final scene where Eli says to tell Solinsky that he's unavailable, tell him that he was hit by a bus and Jordan says "not even if I was driving it myself," yeah he's still miffed about Eli lying to him...

Yossarian | Mar 14, 2008 7:22:55 AM | #

I am still loving this show. It has its low points (the whole baseball story line feels like filler to me) and I cringe every time Eli has a vision because I hate the way everyone just stares at him when he come out of it. But I think that the show has some of the best writing on television and the actors have such great chemistry and not to mention talent. Some of the best things are subtle like the joy in Patti's voice when she got answer the phone "Eli Stone's office" or the combination, hurt, anger and concern that is in Jordan voice every time he speaks to Eli. Even though he is being hard on him, you can still see the love under surface. Like Yossarian I loved the 'not even if I got to drive it my self' exchange when Eli told him to tell the client he got hit by a bus to get out of the case. I had to watch it twice. I also thought it was sweet and I nice tie in when the kid joked about suing the school for removing French fries from the menu a reference to Eli's snooty comment earlier in the episode. This reminds be of another thing I like about the show, the way we see glimpses of the old meaner Eli. He is such an obviously flawed character, which makes him great. Maggie was not as annoying this week but I still hate her for Eli, I think they should reintroduce the girl from the pilot. They had much better chemistry together and pairing seems much mire logical. I hope that they are saving that for a later storyline.

tvgeek | Mar 14, 2008 9:01:38 AM | #

Yup, I agree as someone else posted - still loving this show! I have a long history of being completely susceptible to tear jerkers (books, movies, TV shows), I teared up a little at the end when Peter gave Eli the book with the knight and dragon on the cover - I liked Peter's little speech about how his grandmother said he should give a gift to Eli but the check hadn't cleared yet - and we know that Eli found the book to be so much more meaningful than a big pay day. And what a grown-up little man Peter is - he'll be a real keeper one day!

I, too, liked how happy Patty was at the end to be working for Eli again - hope they can recapture the "fun" of working together that she had been missing!

Next week looks good...

Ginni | Mar 14, 2008 11:14:18 AM | #

I, too, have been somewhat annoyed that Eli's still dodging/diving/trying to escape hallucinations. Then, I thought, he hasn't had all that much time to adjust. While his mind is beginning to accept the visions--yay--his body is acting reflexively. It should take longer to get that under control. Still, I hope that does happen eventually.

Other than that, I think the show is progressing nicely. It's so much better that Eli is no longer trying to hide/explain away the visions. I think this frees him up to practice law in a whole new way, utilizing both skills he developed in the past and his new-found insights from the visions.

The baseball storyline may be dull plotwise, but it is giving Jaegar and George something to do, so that's something in its favor.

meggins | Mar 14, 2008 1:09:34 PM | #

A better B-story would be Keith dating Taylor. The scene where he and Eli have the is-it-cool-if-ask-her-out? conversation (ala Better Off Dead) would be priceless. Plus, it would settle once and for all if he really wants her back. I hope that awkward kiss Maggie gave Eli doesn't go anywhere. A more interesting match-up would be her (the office sweetie) and Matt (the office douche). The influence of their opposing personalities would make them less polarizing characters.

scott | Mar 14, 2008 3:12:22 PM | #

I am digging this show more and more each week. I thought Dr. Agon/Dragon was a stretch, but the whole premise of this show is a stretch... so I accept it and happily suspend my disbelief.

I've also noticed that the writers/powers that be are starting to throw in in-jokes for the keen observer. Last week, it was the McKinley/Brackman - Mackenzie Brackman L.A. Law reference, and this week it was a reference and acknowledgment to Victor Garber's work on Alias. Did anyone catch it? At the beginning of the staff meeting, Weathersby says, "If you pay attention to nothing else this morning, pay attention to this. Arvin Selinsky." (Whole staff room gets quiet and looks at Weathersby with "deer-in-the-headlights" looks.) "Yes there's something about that name that quiets the room."

A.) Arvin Selinsky sounds so familiar to Arvin Sloane.

B.) Victor delivered the line in a very Jack Bristow-like fashion.

I don't think it's a reach to assume that was a wink and a nod at the audience.

All in all, a fun episode. I don't mind the Baseball trial so much, as long as they keep it as the B-story it's fine by me. Maggie is growing on me... I can't stand preachy people, but if she stays off her high-horse I like her more down-to-earth personality.

Think of it like this: Taylor was a perfect fit for "Old Eli." High-powered, driven, focused, polished, beautiful, but rather hard and jaded.

Maggie is a better match for "New Eli." Caring, soft, down-to-earth, idealistic and still a little green to the ways of the world. I'd say she hasn't lost her rose-colored glasses just yet. This makes her perfect for making New Eli see the good that's still left in the world and the positives in the "hopeless" cases he takes on.

The only sour note for me this week was what Rishi had mentioned earlier: No Dr. Chen! I love me some needle action! Hahaha!

Mike | Mar 14, 2008 3:17:13 PM | #

I agree COMPLETELY with Ervin. This was a great episode, I'll be watching it again. I like Maggie and Eli better that ELi and Taylor. I missed the acupuncturist too :)

SansMerci1013 | Mar 14, 2008 6:42:07 PM | #

I love this show and apparently I am the only one who likes Eli and Maggie together. They balance each other because of her glowing optimism and his more pessimistic view of things. I think all the characters are realistic and they bring different dynamics to the show. I especially like the relationship between Eli and his brother.
The writing gets better and better and so realistic in that you can see Eli changing slowly but substantially as when he was given the book with the dragon and the knight on the cover. I loved that he told Peter it was his highest fee yet ( I can't remember his exact words), but he was so touched by this gift.
I also thought it was very telling that when his boss began asking him what it would take for him to work with Taylor as co-chair on a case he asked for an office and to have Patty back.
Eli Stone is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows. I only hope ABC has the wisdom to renew it.
I am profoundly touched when Eli has flashbacks with his father and how traumatized he still is by his childhood. The acupuncturist is superb and acts as a father figure for Eli. I was knocked for a loop when he showed the photo to Eli and shared with him his experience with Eli's father. He really could predict the future just as he had told Eli.
I love this show!!!

Tinman | Mar 14, 2008 7:26:34 PM | #

i think this episode was good. i continue to enjoy Eli Stone. As far as Eli reacting to his visions....i think for eli...they are just too real as we saw with him smelling smoke in the start of the episode...its not just something that he sees...its really affecting hima dn i think the writers are trying to get that to come across. I loved patti in this episode....i loved seeing the softer side (of Sears). Eli and maggie...kissing...eh, go for it...lets at least explore it for a while. i didnt like Eli with Taylor but i let it run its course before wanting to kill myself but then they broke up so maybe there is hope for those of you who hate maggie. The b-story...i think is good. I am honestly at a loss as to whether the baseball player actually did it or not! I am thinking he did! Anyway...thats all i'm sayin!

meiko | Mar 16, 2008 6:05:33 AM | #

meiko,
I agree with you re Eli's visions being so real. I am having a problem with my eyes and see insect-like objects peripherally. I know they are not there but still find myself swatting them away. Hope I don't have an aneuryism.

susanc | Mar 16, 2008 11:50:39 AM | #

I like the idea of Maggie and Eli together, but I'd also be okay with them not pursuing it any further.

Denise | Mar 17, 2008 8:47:59 AM | #

I'm enjoying this show a great deal, but don't have a clue as to how it's been doing in the Nielsens. Anyone? I'm hoping it's doing better than Jericho is against all the other networks' reruns.

Danny | Mar 17, 2008 9:03:05 PM | #

I LOVE the relationship between Eli and Maggie! It's more interesting than the one with Taylor and I like how at first he thought that she was some annoying little girl and now he's noticed her. I think as he's changing, he's gaining new things as well. Like Maggie over Taylor!

Kristen | Mar 21, 2008 5:18:44 PM | #