All things being equal, I prefer the more serious episodes over the comedic installments. The reason is actually very simple. Most of the comedic episodes cast Johnny as a comic figure, which is something that I have a hard time believing. I much prefer to see Johnny as a man filled with angst, destined to fight a losing battle, despite his gift. It’s the small victories that give the character nobility, making the battle for the future that much more involving.
In this case, the comedy came from a different angle, using the guest star’s pathetic nature as the source of laughs rather than Johnny. If anything, Johnny was the near-perfect straight man. It was easy to believe that Johnny was caught between a desire for self-preservation and his well-established desire to save as many lives as possible, regardless of his personal welfare.
As mentioned in the review for the previous episode, I sometimes find the “messages” a bit heavy-handed. And like the previous episode, I thought this did a nice job of delivering the message without going too far. The “money can’t buy happiness” message was hardly subtle, but it made sense within the context of the story.
The writers managed to make it all come together in an interesting and unexpected way, and in an unexpected twist, Johnny couldn’t prevent the future he foresaw. That’s one thing that I always find appealing, because it would be easy for him to be right each and every time. He also has to be wrong or unable to change things in situations that don’t involve Greg Stilson, because that would undermine the integrity of the series.
One small disappointment was the barely-there appearance of Sarah. I know a lot of people have been pleased with her absence, but I’ve always liked the character, especially in earlier seasons. Her absence has been a huge factor in the lack of cast chemistry this season, because Johnny seems to be more isolated. That supporting cast is a necessary element, and the series would be ill-equipped to survive without it.
I place this on par with the previous episode, and I think it is one of the better episodes of the fifth season. This also marks the mid-point of the season. Looking back, the season has certainly struggled to find its voice. Not one episode has been above average, and that’s a rare circumstance. With only five episodes left of the season (and possibly the series), there’s not much time to go out on a high note.
(As a sidenote: I also have a podcast associated with my various reviews called “Dispatches from Tuzenor”. Recent episodes have highlighted “The Dead Zone”, so it might be something of interest . Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)