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'Moonlight' and the case of the potential grandson
You know how we tell kids not to be afraid of the dark? Moonlight teaches us that's a really dumb thing to do. Sometimes, the vampires are the least of your worries.
When spoilers come marching home again, hurrah, hurrah.
Everything still discombobulated from recent events -- Mick is adjusting to his re-vampifying body, while Beth is adjusting to unemployment. How will she find crimes and possibly put herself in peril if she's not working for Buzzwire?
Enter Ben Talbot, the ADA. He wants Beth's help on a kidnapping case, where a boy, Joshua, was snatched from his bed under seemingly impossible circumstances. Beth had covered two similar kidnappings previously, so he thinks her insights might help. (Insight, huh? Is that what the kids are calling it these days...) Mick sees Beth at the crime scene on TV, but he has his own reason for being interested in the case: The kidnapping took place at a house he remembers from his pre-vamp days.
Mick used to know Ray and Lila, the former owners of that house. Ray was his best friend, and they served in Italy together during WWII. Ray was wounded badly in an attack, and Mick was badly injured when he tried to help Ray. When Mick woke up in the hospital, he was told he was the only survivor. Ray had asked him to take care of Lila, so Mick did what he could -- which eventually meant providing more than just home-repair services. He loves Lila, but then Ray came home -- he had lost his dog tags and been in a coma, which is why he was reported dead. Mick bowed out to give Ray back his life... but the timing is such that Robert, Joshua's father, could be Mick's son.
So it's personal for Mick, and he earns his keep. Mick figures out the kidnapper came in through the old coal chute, and that he probably worked on the house when it was renovated last year. They narrow the suspects down to one Ken Vertalino, and Mick tracks him down -- after a quick detour to the county planning office, where Vertalino was menacing Beth. Vertalino had decided his mission was to cure boys of their fear of the dark... by kidnapping them and scaring the crap out of them. If they survived, they were cured. They tended not to survive. Did we mention that Vertalino was completely bonkers?
Mick tracks Vertalino to an old basement that is now missing a house. Vertalino shoots Mick several times, but that doesn't slow Mick down. Vertalino finally figures out there really are things to be afraid of in the dark, and kills himself. But Joshua is still missing. Mick's vamp hearing picks up a heartbeat, and he realizes that Vertalino had been spending way too much time reading Poe -- he'd closed Joshua up behind a freshly made brick wall (at least he skipped the pit and pendulum, black cat and raven bits.) Mick busts through the wall and rescues the kid.
Now the only question left is whether Joshua is actually his grandson. A DNA test, using Mick's old razor form his army days and a bit of hair taken from Robert, shows that he's not -- Robert really was Ray's kid. It looks like Mick can't decide whether he's happy or sad about that. It's probably good he decided not to stop by, however, because Joshua found Mick in a picture of Ray and his Army unit. That would take some explaining...
Quotes of the week:
Josef complains about having to fire his decorators, and Mick asks if said decorators would be found in the tar pits. Josef: "Mick, please! I don't have the energy to kill everyone who pisses me off. I have to hire some people."
Mick and Josef discuss Mick's difficulty at readjusting to the vampire lifestyle:
Mick: "Blood, juice; day, night... You know, a few weeks as a human and my body still can't figure out what it wants."
Josef: "Blood-orange juice must be particularly confusing."
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends:
- Apparently, vampires can't have kids. That's probably just as well -- teething would be a nightmare.
- The scene where Joshua was swooped up through the ceiling was deliciously creepy. Well done!
- Josef wasn't around much, but when he was, he made it count. Even when he's just looking for his cell phone ("I spent 400 years without one, and now I can't go a day...") he commands attention.
- Beth realizing that all of Joshua's toys were arranged in a defensive line was kind of heartbreaking. Even worse? When Ben asked her if that's what she used to do after her abduction as a child.
- Poor Mick -- it was quite a shock to think (1) he might have a son, and (2) that son is twice as old as Mick's apparent age. How do you explain that away? Short answer? You don't.
- Do you think Mick really was in love with Lila, or were they just keeping each other going after a loss?
- Ben is starting to fish for information from Mick -- where'd you live? Where did you go to school? Since we know he had Mick's car-crash photos from last week, that friendly inquisitiveness doesn't bode well.
- Ben offers Beth a job as a "civilian investigator," which I guess is a cross between an outside consultant and an unlicensed private eye. Somehow I don't think this job will be any less dangerous to Mick's secret than her Buzzwire gig.
- Was it just my imagination, or did the flirtation scenes between Mick and Beth seem a little forced this week? To me, the exchange where Mick asked Beth if he should be jealous of Ben fell flat. Maybe it's all the talk of Josef and Beth having chemistry last week, but for some reason, I just wasn't buying it from the two star-crossed lovers this episode. Now, Beth and Ben, or Beth and Josef (or Mick and Josef, or random inanimate objects and Josef)... that I can buy.
I guess we could give Mick John Amsterdam's number to help him explain why his son looks twice as old as him :)
Considering that this is the second last ep of the year I figured they'd do more with Ben upping his investigation of Mick.
Rishi | May 9, 2008 11:34:18 PM | #Another great episode. I was reading on zap2it recent articles regarding Moonlights fate. Take the time and notice in the news archives of Moonlight right here within zap2it, the last 3 stories(http://www.zap2it.com/search/dispatcher.front?target=blendedsearch&Query=Moonlight)
Basically in order from oldest to newest it was clear as day what this show does for cbs...
4/19 - CBS aired a repeat of Moonlight which was the last ep shown back in the winter. Article headline,"CBS slides into 2nd in the ratings friday night". OK, It was a repeat and the first showing of anything Moonlight, even if it was a repeat, to air in awhile. Dateline beat it with a 4.9. However the next 2 wks of new episodes, lets just say they received a 5.0 share both weeks and the headlines were as follows..
4/26 - "Cbs sinks its teeth into Friday win with Moonlight"
5/23 - "Cbs BREEZES to win Friday".
I can only imagine this wks headline.If CBS doesnt notice that they are blowing the other shows away and receiving the highest shares amongst all shows that night, then they dont want to resign the show. Dont let it go!
Perhaps only one episde left. If you want to fight this, we have one more week left. Click on my url listed above to be involved and save the show.
I had thought about how Mick could explain the picture, and the easiest explanation would be he is the pictured Mick's grandson. That would explain the resemblance and names are often carried from generation to generation. I did like the fact that it was Joshua who noticed Mick in the picture.
Melody | May 10, 2008 1:33:16 AM | #The backstory episodes are solid. This was a nice story arc, left an open-ended question of the relationship between Ray's family and Mick.
Okay, so there were a couple things that I disliked. I disliked the rapid realization on Ken Vertilino. The Mick and Beth scenes were a bit off this week, although that's somewhat explainable by the story arc.
I don't know where they are going with Talbot in terms of "pro-Mick, anti-Mick", or are they sticking him in neutral "just doing his job".
I do like one thing, though. While they didn't intend for it, I do think they sort of ended up with a story arc asking individuals to define family. Sort of a theme, which based on the previews is somewhat explored.
Jason Dohring needs more scenes. His whole "Mick's here" after talking about procreating was awesome. The blood orange juice line might've been one of the best I've heard in awhile.
Overall, solid episode, solid show that has progressed. I think the ratings should be enough to earn a renewal, but you never know with CBS. That said, a Moonlight/Ghost Whisperer night is thematically solid, and Sophia Myles has indicated that they felt real positive about a renewal.
Btw, Sophia Myles is great in every which way.
Tony | May 10, 2008 2:03:07 AM | #Whether CBS renews or cancels Moonlight will rest solely on whether they can sell enough advertising time. It won't be about audience numbers, fan pleas, solid themes with other shows, awards or anything else. Advertising dollars are pretty much all that matters to tv studios.
I, personally, hope they renew it, but I won't lose any sleep over it if they don't.
I didn't feel that there were any forced interactions between Mick and Beth, no. But I did feel that the scenes from the 40's were forced. The WWII ambush scenes especially were a bit trite and seemed lifted from movies and tv shows of the past.
I think the key part of Mick's answer to Beth's question about whether he felt love for Lila or not was that he said, "I think it was [love]."
Love isn't wishy-washy. Either you feel it or you don't. So I'd say he loved her more as a friend and someone familiar to him than he loved her passionately as you do when you're in love.
Or, he may have been saving Beth's feelings.
I liked the scene between Beth and Mick in the kitchen when he asked if he should be jealous. (The answer to that question is yes and, oh yeah, watch your back when you're around the ADA too.)
Beth's answer was a perfect mix of flirtation and warning. I liked it.
The smile they shared when she said they might not have good sex was also very hot. I think they're great together.
I too found the Vertilino revelation mind-bogglingly fast and convenient. And what's with the whole kidnapping youngsters to teach them not to be afraid of the dark business? Talk about random! What kind of self-respecting childnapper has such a ridiculous motive?
He may have tried to take a page or two from Poe, but my guess is that Poe would laugh his 19th century ass off at his efforts.
I really don't see the overwhelming appeal of the Josef character. I think what he normally does on the show -- hang out with Mick, say a few outrageous things, go back to his busy life -- is enough. I don't need or want any more from him.
I agree that the actor who plays Josef is good-looking and wears his suits with distinction and grace, but the actor playing Mick is far more dynamic. He also doesn't sound like he needs to blow his nose every time he speaks.
But! I have noticed that Alex O'Loughin has nearly broken into his Aussie accent in the past two episodes. (Sophia Myles does it almost all the time -- so cute.)
Last time I noticed it was when he was on the steps talking to Beth on the way up to sleep in his freezer. This time it was when he was talking to Robert, his potential son.
Secretly, I think, Mick wants to declare his Aussie roots!
I also noticed that this week's ep and last week's ep had references to movie stars of old: Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo (twice), and Lana Turner.
Is it just me or does anyone else think the writers may have been gifted with a book containing glamour portraits of movie stars from the 30's, 40's and 50's? Yeah. Research can sometimes be fun!
I agree that the family motif in this ep was wonderful. Family is about more than DNA, it's true. Mick and Beth can definitely have a family if they choose.
Berlin | May 10, 2008 3:13:40 AM | #sarah, your recaps have been great.
not enough cool vamp effects in this episode, but maybe they were just getting us ready in anticipation of the season finale! more moonlighting PLEEEEEEAAAAAZZZZ....
Good recap...except that the kids name was Jacob, not Joshua!! :)
PJinGA | May 10, 2008 1:44:17 PM | #I just want to respond to Berlin-
Those of us who want to see more of Josef loved Jason Dohring in Veronica Mars and know how much he can do. He deserves so much more than Moonlight is giving him! I want to see more of him, too. I was so glad to see Jason so quickly picked up by a show, so I'll take him any way I can get him. To me he oozes chemistry.
genniel | May 10, 2008 2:48:13 PM | #I enjoyed this ep immensely. The backstory details are terrific and help to explain some of the characteristics that I find so endearing in Mick. He can be so old-fashioned sometimes and stories like that help to explain a great many things to me.
As for your imagination, I would say that it was a little off, maybe? Certainly I didn't see any of the heat from past eppies, but the deep affection between Mick and Beth was certainly there. Perhaps what you saw as 'forced' was merely Beth trying to give Mick some space to digest the possibility of having a family that he had never known (and that, in all probability, could never really get to know). Or as Berlin stated above, perhaps Mick was trying to spare Beth's feelings. Given Mick's attitude and feelings towards Beth, I wouldn't put it past him to try and shield her. In any case, Beth's gesture in the car was beyond lovely and showed to me just how much Mick and his happiness mean to her.
I can't sign off without mentioning Mr. O'Loughlin. He continues to amaze me every week with his abilities. The scene between
Jason Dohring and the Josef character continue to charm the socks off me -- the whole "Hi, Beth!" convo was high-larious. He took the typcial "I'm talking about a person behind her back and saying not-so-delicate things about her and she's standing in back of me right now isn't she?" scene and made it absolutley plausible and absolutely funny. He is such an important part of the show and I adore him.
I can't sign off without mentioning Mr. O'Loughlin. He continues to amaze me with his abilities. The scene between him and Robert-the-maybe-son was wonderful. The emotion was so well-played. The urge to give into despair must have been strong, but Mick held it in with just the slightest hint of watery eyes and catch in the throat. Nicely done, Alex!
I second (or whatever) the bad math. Besides the way too early uncovering of the culprit, that whole aspect of the eppy bothered me as well. I know that Mick said he participated in the Battle of the Bulge. That would have put him in Ardennes in December 1944 through January 1945. Worse yet, the Italian campaign was pretty much over in 1943 so we have Mick saying that he was wounded and sent home in 1944 was it? Thus missing the Battle of the Bulge completely. Oops! Perhaps the writers were too busy studying those glamour portraits of Betty Grable, Veronica Lake, Carole Lombard, Hedy (that's Hedley) Lamarr, et.al. to actually take a look at a history book and get Mick's hitch correctly. Not to mention the fact that Robert's wife would have to be alotalotalot younger than she actually looked to have had that kid. Let's see, according to that screen birth announcement, Robert was like 64 or something and the kid was like eight or nine? So Fertile Myrtle has this kid when she's late forties, early fifties (and I'm being generous)? Robert did say WE (thus including said Fertile Myrtle in his age group) had this kid late in life, didn't he? Yeah, I thought so. Screwed by the timeline. Ah well, it was a valiant effort and I still managed to appreciate it for the insights into Mick's character nonetheless.
And on a different note, the teaser for next week said "Season Finale" not "Series Finale". It may not mean anything, but I prefer to look at the glass as half full. Please CBS, make my dreams come true -- RENEW THIS SHOW on 05/14 -- make an old woman happy...PLEASE?!?!?!?!?!
lvk1978 | May 10, 2008 5:28:35 PM | #Ever since they stopped showing moonlight here in Aust i watched it on the net if CBS could make a lot of people's wishes come true, bring back Moonlight for a second season plsssssse. P.S Thanks for a great season so far..
Pegasys | May 10, 2008 10:49:22 PM | #Of course that's Mick's son and grandson! He and Ray spent so much time in close proximity that could have been anybody's hair on Mick's jacket even someone from the hospital who packed his clothing! The clue was in the doctor's statement "biggest premie he'd ever seen" and the fact that Ray'd been blown up he couldn't have children and his kid's an only child!
If Mick didn't feel so guilty about boning his 'dead' friend's wife he could have seen that for himself. And I'm sick of TV guilt - you can't control everything. Mick feels guilty because he didn't know his friend wasn't dead whilst he was in the midst of being blown up and in a coma himself! I mean honestly, there's plenty to feel guilty about but not this - he did what his friend asked him to - he took care of his wife.
What the heck is a "civilian investigator?" Another made up job from the writing team and as a trainee journalist myself there is no way the DA/police would allow a journalist that far into their investigations - they couldn't stop Beth selling her findings to the highest bidder now she's freelance and there's no way she'd sign a confidentiality agreement she's got to eat!
Is it me or is Jason Dohring looking hotter now that he's losing the really young schoolboy look from VM? I agree there isn't much point to his part but I do enjoy seeing him anyway. He's my guilty pleasure! In fact all the guys are hot on this show - lucky, lucky Sophia Myles (who is English by the way, not Australian like Alex). It must be a joy to go to work in the morning!!
Sirius | May 12, 2008 3:56:41 AM | #yea the flirtation wasn't all that great but i still enjoyed this episode a lot. I just want them to get it on and then if the show is renewed, break them apart
leslie | May 12, 2008 5:39:06 AM | #Ivk1978 -- I'm sorry, I just don't get what you're saying ... and I want to. Late in life for having kids could be late thirties. I don't remember hearing or seeing a birth announcement and I would guess Mick's son (or not son) to be around 55 years old. I'm just not getting what you're saying. If Mick is 85, he was born in 1923. Explain if you can.
I too, as someone said above, believe that Robert is Mick's son. I thought maybe Mick's razor could have broke and Ray (or anybody) gave him theirs to use, then all hell broke loose and Mick forgot. So the razor could be his friend's and the DNA didn't match ... Mick never used the razor.
Also, to the first comment: Mick said it was strange to see his son being so much older than he was. He knew why he looked older. He's not dumb. Mick could teach Mr. Amsterdam a few things ... after all, Mr. Amsterdam is 400 years old and still acts like he is the son, not the father ... though he's younger you mature in time, and he's had a lot of it, so he would feel fatherly. You grow older mentally, even if not physically.
Anyway, I think it was a nice, dark episode. I think the connections between the characters have been great, not forced at all. Mick being jealous or not was very cute and hot!
Renew Moonlight, CBS!!
RRN | May 12, 2008 7:00:45 AM | #Instead of analyzing every nuance from the show, just relax and enjoy one of the very best and inventive vampire shows ever made. Whether the writers are off a few years as far as when world events happened is small change compared to some of those game shows.
L Shapiro | May 12, 2008 9:47:19 AM | #oh no fellow moonlight fans, have you heard the rumors?!! it's not good (i hope it's not true)....
see article at this site:
www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-himymrenewalmoonlightcancellation,0,5287211.story
Well, guess CBS doesn't care that they just cancelled the only reason I watch their network. I get it-it's all about ratings, but I'm so over their serial-killer-of-the-week, woman-who chooses-a-non-traditional-lifestyle-dies-horribly top shows that it was refresing to see something different, and fun, and overall not end of the world grim doom and gloom. You know, hopeful. Oh well, at least I can hope the SCI Fi Channel picks up their reruns, as that seems to be where most of my favorite shows land eventually!
lilly b | May 14, 2008 8:33:55 AM | #
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