'Eli Stone': Breaking up is hard to do
I didn't catch the last episode of Eli Stone, so when this week's opened with Eli in the shower with Maggie, I understandably thought I'd been dropped into an alternate universe. But given the nature of the show, I wasn't surprised when it turned out to be a vision, with Eli as Maggie's fiance, Scott. It's far from the only alternative-universe moment. The firm is splitting in two, with Martin Posner and Marcy Klein breaking off to continue their money-grubbing ways (just kidding), and Jordan and Eli going in a public interest law direction; and everyone in the firm is forced to choose sides.
Both good and evil spoilers ahead...
First, the vision. Eli's troubled by, well, the intimacy of being in the shower with Maggie (I for one am enthralled with her bathroom -- it's enormous), and as ever goes to Chen for a reality check to try and figure out what it means. It's two visions in a row involving Maggie, and while Eli maintains that his affection for her is purely professional, Chen reminds him that he has the ability to change destiny, and that he shouldn't let her go.
At the office, Maggie's sweating over her engagement party, and the fact that she's the only associate Posner hasn't asked for a meeting with. She assures Eli she wouldn't leave, because Posner "is like Darth Sidius." Who knew Maggie was such a geek? In general, the development of her character from perky chirper to a likable and interesting foil for Eli has been a triumph for this show. When Darth does strike, it's to offer Maggie a senior associate position heading the pro bono department, at double her current salary. She agrees to mull it over. When Eli finds out, he pledges to match the offer, even though with the firm bleeding associates, they don't have the cash to make that happen.
Posner is also courting Matt, offering him a partnership in the new firm. Taylor asks Eli to help her convince Matt to stay, and even to put him on one of his cases. Matt reluctantly agrees, and while they're going through what Patti calls the "wackadoo file" looking for possible clients, a guy comes in and asks them to help his girlfriend, who's been picked up by Homeland Security, along with her husband. She was a student at Berkeley when her visa ran out, and when no other options were possible, she married her gay best friend because it was too early in her relationship with her boyfriend to suggest that they marry for a green card. Now she faces deportation, her husband faces jail time, and if she goes back to Pakistan, she faces an honor killing.
At her removal hearing, the woman, Sana, explains the tradition of honor killings, and why she believes she'll face death back in Pakistan. Then her cousin comes to see Eli and Matt, explaining the tradition further. Matt, whose conscience seems to have been ignited by the case, asks if the guy has proof that Sana's father would follow through with something like that. He produces a letter.
Eli's second vision finds him back in Maggie's shower, as Scott -- but the woman in the shower isn't Maggie. Her name is Candace, and it turns out that she's the boss of the woman prosecuting Sana. We'll get back to that in a minute. Eli and Matt take the letter from Sana's father to the opposing counsel, who grudgingly offers a deal -- a bad one that incenses Matt and motivates him to urge Sana to turn it down. If Sana agrees to go back to Pakistan, charges against her husband will be dropped. She wants to take the deal, but Matt practically throws himself at her feet to convince her not to do it. He brings in Will, the boyfriend, and talks about how neither husband nor boyfriend would be able to bear it if she were hurt or killed back with her family.
Matt makes the closing argument, advocating passionately that Sana was willing to sacrifice for her husband, making their marriage more real than many. The judge says he cannot reward or condone her behavior, and will not grant Sana citizenship, though because of the situation in Pakistan, will allow her to remain in the U.S. as long as there is a threat against her. But the way's not clear yet. The opposing attorney recommends that Carter, Sana's husband, be prosecuted for fraud, and get the maximum five years. Which prompts Eli to do something pretty shady, even though it is a means to an end: he confronts Candace, the attorney's boss and the woman Scott is sleeping with, and suggests that she consider another solution. Talk about muddying the idealistic waters. Candace sees it Eli's way, recommending community service and probation.
Matt's so amazing on the case that you can't help but think that maybe he's chosen the light over the dark side. But he's making the move. This case -- a case he cares about -- has made him lose sleep, sweat, and be far more unkempt than he's used to. Turns out he likes sleeping nights, and the distance from his clients that affords him such a good night's sleep. He breaks the news to Taylor, telling her that he can't do emotional. Which definintely complicates things for her, since she just found out she's pregnant -- a fact that Jordan catches onto at Maggie's engagement party because of her affinity for Emmenthal (it makes sense in context). She doesn't yet know if she wants to be a mother, much less a single one if need be, and has yet to make up her mind whether to keep the baby.
Speaking of Maggie's engagement party: it's a flop. Half of her guests are colleagues who bailed because of the tensions over the splitting firm. She's getting drunk because she and Scott had a huge fight over her turning down Posner's offer. And Eli confronts Scott about the affair, saying he'll tell Maggie if Scott doesn't. Punching ensues -- Eli can take a punch, but he's the one who draws blood -- and ultimately, Maggie and Scott break up. She later explains this to Eli in a conversation that also includes her professing her love for him. But despite her feelings, she's going to take Posner's offer. She can't let her feelings for him cost her more than she already has, she tells him. And for once, she's putting herself first.
Which leads her to a conversation with Posner, who's appalled at her attempt to negotiate. But an uncharacteristically cool Maggie retorts that nothing's non-negotiable, and she has leverage because of her unique value to his new firm. "You relish the thought of how it will hurt Eli if I work for you," she tells Posner. "Do you really have that low an opinion of me?" he asks. "Lower, actually." But if he's willing to meet her terms, she'll take the gig and use the position to help the people she wants to help. And she gets the job.
In the end, Eli brings the "wackadoo file" to Jordan to scout for new clients. The ranks are thinned, but they're stronger as a result. And together, Jordan and Eli look forward to a new beginning.
What did you think? Were you as impressed as I was by how cool Maggie was in an awful situation? Did you think Matt might actually grow a heart? What do you think of the mano y mano, firm vs. firm situation that's being created? And did you miss the singing?
I liked this episode. Lots of twists and unexpected things happened. I'm not too sure about how they're going to balance going between the two firms. I was really impressed with how Maggie handled everything. Did not expect her to go over to 'the dark side', but we'll see how long that lasts.
Can't wait for next week, though. :)
I think this may be a critical gamechanger episode for the show. This episode brought some potential strength to the show. Now, they have to be careful how they do the firm vs. firm thing. That said, I think splitting Maggie and Eli apart was the best thing for now. It gives these two characters some depth that wasn't going to be achieved as is.
We now get a loose idea for one goal for Eli - to change Maggie's future, as his previous vision suggested that being at Posner and Klein would change her. The end game is to bring things full circle to the Live Strong episode from last year, when he saw himself with Maggie at the rally.
This does beg the question - how does he change the future? That is, what actions lead to changes in vision, as Eli can change things. Thus, what actions led from MAggie at the Live Strong rally to MAggie at Posner/Klein. That wasn't really delved into.
I feel like there's so much that can be done with the Matt Dowd character, and I feel like the split may lead to a nice character arc for him, helping him find himself. This episode may have been the first step.
Okay, some more thoughts.
I like the dynamic between Jordan and Eli.
The one thing I missed about this episode was the dynamic between Nate and Eli. That said, the lack of Nate allowed us to investigate Maggie and Eli's relationship along with Matt and Eli's relationship.
One critical question I have from this episode - where does Keith Bennett go? He was so critical in the Live Strong episode.
I think the baby puts an end to any suggestions of Taylor/Eli getting back together. I think that's a good thing. The dynamic between the Wethersby's and Eli is more familial now.
It's scary to think of perky Julie Gonzalo going to the darkside. It won't happen, and at some point, I think Matt Dowd comes back as well. I can see the season finale being some sort of clash between the two firms that eventually reunites the core members.
The lack of singing was good for the episode's tone. The lack of clarity on the visions, though, was a bit disappointing.
I forget her name, but Mrs. Wethersby, Jordan's wife, could be a useful character in holding the firm together. There's got to be some "at home" dynamics that can be explored, even if they bring it to the workplace.
The Maggie/Eli exchange was well done. As the viewer, we knew Eli had some thoughts about her, but was fighting it. Julie Gonzalo was eloquent in expressing Maggie's feelings, and Jonny Lee Miller was good in keeping Eli reserved. There's some shows where tension is bad. This tension that will be created from the two could be a great thing. I can envision these two clashing, but I imagine it'll be a slow buildup. I imagine we'll see Maggie and Eli perhaps seeing each other at their pro bono cases and being friendly. I imagine we'll see Maggie slowly turn, leading to some clashes.
Unless they change the endgame, though, Eli has to sway Maggie away, and while it seems inevitable at this point, at least to me, that action happens, I am very curious about the buildup.
What made the end of Eli Stone season 1 so good was that it built up this long range vision. It built up the threat of Eli's health contrasted with the grand things that Eli could potentially do, and it did it in a way that was, well, for this show, believable. I have enjoyed Season 2, but the buildup's been a tad slow. We see the markings of the future greatness that can happen, but the contrast has been gone, and the tension from Season 1, which was tension over Eli's state, was lacking.
The split may bring a different form of tension, but I feel that something else needs to be done. I don't know what, though.
There were twists I didn't expect in this episode. I didn't expect Matt or Maggie to go with Posner and Klein. I did think Matt would decide to go with Jordan and Eli once he became p***ionate about his client. I actually felt a tear during his summation. But I guess he decided he cared too much to make it his work all the time. The big surprise was Maggie going. I guess for the remainder she is there, Eli will be trying to get her back into the "light."
I did like Jordan's speech to Eli about becoming responsible to all their ***ociates now. Eli was acting on emotions. It was because of what he saw as the potential future involving Maggie, but he still has a responsibility to a lot more people now. That makes things more complicated.
I also liked Jordan playing "Columbo". Funny.
Honestly, if they don't start having musical numbers again soon, I'm thinking of dropping the show. That's what made the show for me, apparently. Also made the visions more vision-ee for me.
I like this show. It has many good characters (each with there own strength and weaknesses) and the scripting is 90% crisp. I will keep watching to see how this firm split pans out and the writing doesn't get pulled down into the Desparate Housewives gutter. I purchased the 1st Season DVD set and have shared it with family and now they're hooked. I hope the producers and writers and ABC keep their good senses.
This is my new favorite must see show on TV. THe writing is terrific and the cast is amazing. There isn't one character I don't like (I have even warmed to Matt Dowd...ha!)
I love the chemistry with Taylor and Jordan. They have a great father/daughter relationship without being too sappy.
I would like to see more with Keith and Nate with their own storylines that aren't always wrapped up in what Eli is doing.
And Jonny Lee Miller has a fabulous way of creating chemistry with everyone....Patty, Maggie, Chen, Jordan, Taylor, etc.
I am much more vested in Eli and Maggie than I used to be because of the way Maggie has turned around. As she is gaining confidence in herself she is becoming stronger and stronger without losing the perkiness and naivetee that made her likable (if not annoying sometimes.) Maggie's character has really grown ( the Maggie from last season would NEVER have stood up to Posner the way this season's Maggie did...bravo!!!!) ANd I look forward to seeing how Eli and Maggie being on different sides will effect their relationship.
Eli glimpsed a future and I'm not torally sure that he is going to ultimately end up with Maggie. I still see Jordan in play. I can see she and Eli reuniting, with Eli helping her with raising her child.
This was one of my favorite episodes. Eli is finally starting to realize that maybe he has some affection for Maggie. And that fact that he let her go is leaving me wanting more.
I also think the moment between Eli and Patty was very touching.
Forget it. I loved everything. This show is awesome.
I really love this show and it's on my must see tv list. I hope they don't drag out the firm vs. firm thing too long. I think it will get old fast.