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Finalewatch: 'Eli Stone': A Doctor, a Rabbi and a Lawyer...
I'd like to start by saying to everyone involved with Eli Stone: Well played. And to programming decision-makers: people deserve well-written scripted shows, even if sometimes they risk wandering a little far into the Earnest Forest. This show is proof positive that they're so worth it.
OK, getting off the soapbox. I confess I'm not a Lost viewer, so while I've learned over the course of this show to suspend disbelief when wacky stuff happens, I'm not as adept at the flashback/flashforward time travel thing. So I found following this episode a little confusing at times.
Spoilers ahead...
My rule of thumb is that they can't kill off the title character -- but it was still interesting to see how events unfolded and how the unorthodox structure of this episode worked. We begin with Eli in surgery -- they're about to deal with the aneurysm when he starts to crash. We next see him waking up in bed at home, at the start of the week in which he'll have brain surgery. At the office, people are unusually friendly. "If anyone deserves to... not die or be brain damaged, it's you," Matt Dowd mumbles to Eli in the elevator. "But if you do wind up a vegetable, two words: Sponge bath."
Our guy knows something's amiss when even Patti's sweet to him. "Where's the mayor of Sasstown when I need her?" he asks, asking her to be meaner to him than usual this week. He has a new client, David Green (Richard Schiff), a cancer patient who wants to fight his wife's efforts to declare him incompetent to make his own medical decisions because he wants to refuse chemotherapy for the latest recurrence of his illness. God told him to be at peace with what's going to happen, he tells Eli.
Meanwhile, Eli goes to see Nate to ask him to be his health care proxy and make sure that his wishes are followed. Nate panics, lacking faith in himself to follow through after his experience with their father and his transplant patient. "I believe you'll do the right thing," Eli reassures him. "I want you to let me go."
Maggie volunteers to be second chair on the case, which he agrees to after a conversation about how he feels about undergoing life-threatening surgery. But it's the way he looks at her when she's not looking -- I dare you to not be moved by it.
In pre-trial conference with Mr. Greene and his wife, Rebecca (Jayne Brook) -- who's a rabbi -- we get to the crux of the case. Rebecca doesn't believe that God spoke to David, particularly when what David thinks God told him to do amounts to abandoning his children. He makes an eloquent argument for dying with dignity; she argues equally eloquently that his children need him. It's a beautifully acted scene -- the affection and sadness between them is palpable, and their passion for their own points of view is sincere, tearful and moving.
Back to Eli's life. Jordan, who survived the partnership vote, tells Eli that his first impression of him was that he was an ass -- but he turned out to be so much more. They walk into the conference room, where the entire firm is waiting to congratulate Eli, who's being made junior partner in charge of pro bono initiatives. "I made you partner because your compassion changed me," Jordan says. Flash -- Jordan standing at an unconscious Eli's bedside.
On the stand in court, Rebecca says she's convinced that David's wish is a symptom of his depression, and that she doesn't believe he could possibly have found new faith and hope because he's not fighting to live. Later, talking with Eli, David describes the moment of clarity and peace that he knows was God speaking to him. Eli, a little daunted, confesses that he's never felt something like that.
Next up: Taylor. She offers to give Eli his office back, now that he's made partner. It's another touching conversation in an episode filled with touching conversations, and she tells him he's the most important person in her life, because he taught her about love. "Listen to me -- you're not dead, right?" she says. Flash -- Taylor, talking to an unconscious Eli at his bedside.
But for now we stay in this moment. Nate comes in and explains to Taylor what happened. Eli was on the operating table, and they thought he was out of the woods when he had two hemorrhages and a heart attack that cut off blood flow to his brain. Nate's anguished about the idea of having to remove Eli from life support, and Taylor argues that he doesn't have to.
Flash -- Eli in Dr. Chen's office, explaining what's going on with David Greene's case, and perplexed by the idea that in his relationship with God, he's never felt the kind of weight being lifted that Greene does. There follows another wonderful piece of acting between Jonny Lee Miller and James Saito, talking through Eli's frustration with his "spiritual punishment." Chen says that he's studied religions because he's never been able to feel close to God -- but through Eli, God found him, and lifted his burdens. "Why is everyone talking to me like I'm going to die?" Eli asks. Then Chen wakes up in his own bed -- and goes over to Nate's house.
So if you're keeping track, the surgery was real, and we're seeing flashes of conversations that incorporate what people are saying to Eli in the hospital room, or even thinking. Chen has his dream the night before Nate is scheduled to take Eli off life support. He tells Nate he knows part of Eli is still alive, and he's trying to get a message out. Don't give up on him yet -- he doesn't yet know that the surgery has happened, but he's close. Chen believes he's supposed to convince Nate not to take away the life support, and Nate believes that if he doesn't honor Eli's very specific wishes, he's betraying him. Chen shows Nate the photo of himself with Mr. Stone, saying that their father foresaw him helping Eli, and this is his chance to do it. Nate agrees to wait 48 hours.
After David, on the witness stand, reasserts his belief that he got a divine message, Rebecca goes to see Eli. She tries to convince him to urge David to keep fighting. She knows all about Eli's story -- his illness, his cases, the earthquake -- and she believes that David chose him for a reason. She believes Eli can show him that fighting to live is worth it, and that difficulties can be overcome. Eli tells David that he thinks Rebecca is right -- he should want to live, for the kids, for her, and for himself. "I believe that God spoke to you," Eli says. "I just think you heard him wrong."
But they don't get it. David is fighting for his life, he says -- the life he has now, which doesn't revolve around work and actually involves his wife and kids. His life has meaning and purpose now, he says -- he was sleepwalking before. And Eli, better than anyone else could, certainly understands. Schiff's is a wonderful performance, and in the hands of a less skilled actor that speech could have come off as saccharine. Here it was, like all the performances tonight, affecting and excellent. Eli's close is great -- he tells his own story, and asserts that David should be able to make his own decisions about his treatment. And he wins.
Flash -- Jordan walks into Taylor's office to find her crying. They need to get going, he says. But before they do, they talk about what it's been like for her at the firm, how the office is changing, and how he needs her help.
Flash to the hospital -- David Greene has died. One by one, Nate, Patti, Taylor, Jordan, Matt Dowd, Maggie, Keith, and Dr. Chen all come into Eli's room and gather around his bed. Another flash -- Eli's in Chen's office, and he's starting to put two and two together. He had the surgery, didn't he? and it didn't go well. Their conversation is almost magical, and the upshot is that Eli can choose whether to let go or whether to live. It's up to him. Everyone who loves him will survive, albeit sadly, if he dies. But, they both realize, he has more to do. And Chen uses one of his acupuncture needles to get Eli started on his journey back.
But not before a song-and-dance number along the way, complete with a fantastic appearance by George Michael, singing by Victor Garber and Loretta Devine, and a kind of too tarted-up looking Maggie. As the song goes on, Eli regains his composure and his confidence.
Flash. In his hospital room, Eli opens his eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales. And I dare you not to cry, just a little bit.
So what did you think? Did you feel, like I did, that they left the door open enough for a second season, even while tying up enough loose ends to make it satisfying? Did it live up to your expectations?
First of all, i thought this was a good episode. Maybe not quite as emotional as the previous few, but I still thought it was a satisfying end (I HOPE it comes back for another season, but if it doesn't, I thought it ended well).
Though, I'm pretty sure that a lot of what we saw weren't actual flashbacks. It's certain that Eli was never really offered the junior partnership based on Jordan and Taylor's conversation, and seeing David die in the next bed makes me think that "case" wasn't really real (plus what he said to imaginary Chen). Just saying, because I kind of got the feeling from this recap that you thought it actually happened. Though, maybe I'm wrong. It WAS a slightly confusing narrative. lol, I do watch a lot of Lost and I still thought it was confusing. ;)
bertie | Apr 17, 2008 11:31:56 PM | #This show Must be given another season - when you give quality Television like this a chance it always pays off - this was so entertaining & so well written - we want to see MORE!!!
Michael | Apr 18, 2008 1:03:15 AM | #This show Must be given another season - when you give quality Television like this a chance it always pays off - this was so entertaining & so well written - we want to see MORE!!!
Michael | Apr 18, 2008 1:03:21 AM | #Mid-way through the episode, I was really actually thinking that Eli was going to die. Since we haven't heard anything about its renewal yet, I really thought it would just end with his death...so...phew.
Great show as always! Can't wait to see what happens next for Eli Stone. This show deserves to be back next season, it was my favorite by far! So beautifully done by everyone involved.
Good show. It was almost mirroring its own fate - with Stone telling the ABC honchos "I've got more to do!" and the honchos hovering above wondering whether to pull the plug. Hope it comes back.
John F. | Apr 18, 2008 4:52:29 AM | #It certainly wasn't clear what "plug" his brother would pull to take Eli off life support.
He was on oxygen and in the background an IV pump, but that was all.
No ventilator, no feeding tube ???
Jamie C. | Apr 18, 2008 5:20:02 AM | #Jamie C, I was wondering the same thing, but something about this show makes me forgive things like that. LOVED this episode. . .the acting is wonderful and subtle. The emotions got me last night!
Amanda | Apr 18, 2008 5:30:15 AM | #Great show, one of the best, ABC bring it back for a second season!!!!1
kristie | Apr 18, 2008 6:10:58 AM | #What is name of the song used by George Michael and Loretta Devine in the last episode?
Art Bundrick | Apr 18, 2008 6:50:44 AM | #With all of the reality tv and the shows not worth watching or even mentioning, it is great to see a show like this, with no nudity, very minimal bad language, great story lines and a week to week hook that keeps you interested. The actors are great, the stories are great. Bring it back next year.
Keith | Apr 18, 2008 7:10:15 AM | #Art - The song was Nina Simone's "Feelin' Good."
Rick | Apr 18, 2008 7:51:59 AM | #Hi Bertie,
You're right -- and I should've put in there something about the flash to Jordan's comment about wanting to make Eli partner and create a pro bono practice. It was clear from the outpouring of affection (and the extreme close-ups) during the conference room party scene that the partnership wasn't real. Maybe a "dream state" would be the best way to describe what was going on there.
Lisa | Apr 18, 2008 8:03:33 AM | #My family really likes this show. It's funny and uplifting and the actors are very good. The characters are not one dimensional good or bad but are multi-faceted people. I hope it continues.
Marilyn | Apr 18, 2008 8:39:12 AM | #Before Nina Simone, "Feeling Good" is a Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley song from "The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd" (1965). Every few years, somebody rediscovers it. I'm not familiar with a George Michael recording, but the arrangement sounded a lot like Michael Bublé's version.
Jon88 | Apr 18, 2008 8:41:36 AM | #I was leary to try this show
with ABC's record of cancelling good show and keeping one that should go away. I hope this show gets a second season. It is way better than that Daisy show about the baker guy.
That was very intriguing storytelling. My take of it is that we started in real time, and then Eli started having flashes, but that the flashes were visions and of the future, thus encompassing the different sorts of flashes he's had.
That is, the case was a vision. Something to metaphorically represent that the search he's gone through. The pro bono thing felt like a flash forward, seeing the future.
What made it complex was the fact that there were flashes where other people were speaking to him, or hearing him. That said, in many ways, that was for Eli as well, as signs that, despite the hemorrhaging, that Eli was still alive.
I think the episode was good. Not as good as patience, in terms of storytelling, but very good in terms of acting.
It does leave me a question of what they do next season in regards to the plot device. Now that the aneurysm is gone ... does he still have flashes? Although, they have a lot of ways to go about it.
For the most part, they played it safe and wrote an ending that could be a very nice capper if they don't get picked up. I hope they do, though. It was great storytelling, giving us a wonderful arc. They left us with some piece of mind, and yet, they did it in a way that made the finale intriguing, while expected (that Eli would live ... after all, they hadn't been told they would be cancelled or picked up, so there's no way they would risk their own chances). They gave us a peek into the future which offers some satisfaction if they don't get picked up.
All in all, one of the better shows this year, and I was pleasantly surprised, as my expectations weren't high entering it. It developed as the season progressed. The pilot was, eh. Intriguing, but campy. They managed to do song and dance numbers without making it seem overly ridiculous. Nice job Berlanti.
Tony | Apr 18, 2008 9:40:41 AM | #Note to self: do not watch television shows about fathers dying of cancer while my own father has cancer without expecting to cry. Of course I cried - like a baby but it was all good. I just didn't see the waterworks coming...
I love this show - all of the main characters are wonderful (I so enjoy the dynamic between Eli and Pattie) and they've also gotten great guest stars. I really hope it comes back next season.
Ginni | Apr 18, 2008 11:19:12 AM | #I liked the episode, I felt the flashes were creating in his mind by what he was hearing around him and when we learned that David was sharing his room I figured the case was all in his mind.
As for the song, the George Michale version is on his newest album 25, which came out this year.
Kendra | Apr 18, 2008 11:35:22 AM | #What wonderful writing!! For once I could stop saying, "Stephen Cannell, where are you when we need you?" There is a list of shows at the bottom of this page and not one of them would I miss if it didn't come back. I pray that "Eli Stone" can return in the Fall.
nann1204 | Apr 18, 2008 12:11:45 PM | #I think this show is pretty great, though I must say that this episode felt a bit clumsy to me and that scene when they surrounded his bed? Oh my god...how cheese filled. That said I thought most of the previous episodes and the ending of this one were brilliant and if they end here that would be fine, though I would like to see where they go with the "Live Brave" subplot. Quite intriguing.
Andrew | Apr 18, 2008 12:33:13 PM | #I think this show is pretty great, though I must say that this episode felt a bit clumsy to me and that scene when they surrounded his bed? Oh my god...how cheese filled. That said I thought most of the previous episodes and the ending of this one were brilliant and if they end here that would be fine, though I would like to see where they go with the "Live Brave" subplot. Quite intriguing.
Andrew | Apr 18, 2008 12:33:19 PM | #Where was Eli's Mother? Couldn't they afford to pay the actress? If anything she should have been by his bedside more than all the others. That gripe aside - I can't decide between wanting Victor Garber for my dad or sleeping with him. He can portray so much emotion with one arched eyebrow and Jordan has raised a strong woman without the usual bad daddy issues. I still want Taylor and Eli back together as I think she's changing too and I want to see more of Maggie's hot fiance!
This episode was so well played even though I twigged early on that Eli's promotion must have been a dream all the people around him revealed such depths of real emotion. George was brilliant - the song was perfect. I'm not sure if I enjoy Richard Schiff so much so thin - he really looked like a cancer patient and it was great to have him back on TV. I think if he'd told his wife about the reawakening of his life she probably wouldn't have taken him to court - that can't have been good for his health! I didn't cry at all during the episode but it did move me greatly. I love this show and really want it to come back although if every show I love comes back my social life is dead!!
To me this was an episode that looked like it was meant to be a series finale ep. The ironic thing is (at least to me) that ABC looks like they will pick the show up now. I have mentioned in previous posts that I didn't think that this show would be back (and I still feel that way), but other speculators - who have actual contacts within the networks - feel that there is about a 70% chance that the show will be back.
Rishi | Apr 18, 2008 12:43:39 PM | #I initially watched this show because of Victor Garber. I sat thru the wretched last 3 seasons of Alias and his 1970s drug-induced hallucination, Monkeys in the Attic, so I thought I could stomach another lawyer show. Much to my surprise, everyone in my family has come to love this show. Even my teen daughter tapes this show to rewatch again later. It has grown and improved over time, the writing is generally excellent and the acting is just wonderful. Although I hope they make Patti a little less annoying and Maggie a little less starry-eyed, overall this show is one of my favorites and I truly hope it returns.
Kalaryn | Apr 18, 2008 1:07:20 PM | #
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