Don of the dead....appropriate you start this thread

Thought it was cool. Marshall was back to his "messenger boy" status, but hopefully that will alternate betwee epis at least...

Thought the Love triangle was great....can't wait to see where that devel's to

The end, knew (ok, had a pretty good clue) the guy was alive....but sweet close, ntl

LOVED "Two Out of Three" as the finale song.....worked perfectly on all levels....


Just a side note....maybe i'm a nitpicker, but where the frack was the latex in this one....GLOVES people....GLOVES!!!!! Mary sticks her finger in blood at the scene and wipes it on the cop; she's examining the vehicle they suspect the "deceased" was carried in, and Marshall only asks (funny as it was) if she's going to write "wash me" on the windows......The Closer makes an uber point of the gloves now, as does CI and a number of other programs....if they were forgotten when it was time for filming, can't somebody raid a Doctor's office or something?!?!?!?!?!?

Ok, rant over....I feel better now!


KA23

I really enjoyed this episode.

The husband and wife loving each other, but not being able to make the other happy was really well done.

This triangle is heating up. I want Brandi to prove everyone wrong and not cross the line with her sister's boyfriend. However, I'm rooting for Brandi and Raph. They seem more compatible. For all of Brandi's faults and issues, she's more emotionally available imo. Plus, there's an obvious attraction between the two. I love the chemistry between them.

I wish Marshall had more to do, but he's gotten some good material lately; so, I can't complain too much.

I like that Mary is trying to open up. That's progress.

"This triangle is heating up. I want Brandi to prove everyone wrong and not cross the line with her sister's boyfriend. However, I'm rooting for Brandi and Raph. They seem more compatible. For all of Brandi's faults and issues, she's more emotionally available imo. Plus, there's an obvious attraction between the two. I love the chemistry between them."

Erin9, I agree completely. I like Raph, but he and Mary do seem incompatible to me. Maybe it's because Mary seems so comfortable with Marshall that my brain already links the two of them. But I don't want Raph out in the cold, so I hope the writers let it work out with him and Brandi eventually.

It was really a half-assed attempt of being pious. It's like praying all the time and not expecting your prayers to be answered.



Yeah, I think Marshall should be the real star of the show.

Loved the episode

I hope Marshall has a bigger part again soon . . . I find him hilarious!!!

But sorry - have to disagree completely on the love triangle. It feels completely yuck to me that there is chemistry between her sister and her boyfriend. Any good sister isn't going to date him even when they do break up (and as messed up as Mary's life is, they do sell the girls as being close). The fact that we toy with liking them together at all makes me a bit sad . . . something I don't think anyone would have accepted on tv just a few decades ago. But I have to say her mother handled it SOOOOO WELL! That was new - and a happy surprise. When Brandi cried I was just sick, not sad. She doesn't have the right to be upset about her sister's boyfriend rejecting her. And I think we like their chemistry because we haven't ever seen Mary's with Raph. They make Mary's relationship seem so shallow, but there has to be more we haven't seen for him to propose. Either way - I think it will be a big mistake for them to put Raph with Brandi - - - I'm hoping in the end Mary and Brandi do get closer though, cuz I think that is what Brandi is truly missing - - - another guy isn't going to solve Brandi's issues.

Can't wait for the next episode!

Perfectly said--I agree with you 100%

Can we talk about Jinx? They finally gave Jinx some background - and it was a great background that makes her about 1000 times more interesting to me. That, and despite Jinx's anti-mother rating from her daughters ("It's not like we had produce growing up!") in this ep, she really stepped up in a realistic way with Brandy. I'm sad that she kind of let bartender guy talk her out of it, but the whole subplotline really resonated with me. They were both creative souls that let life disappoint them. In the bartender's case (does he have a name yet?) he let the disappointment win. But the way Jinx was moving her hips in the bathroom, I'm thinking that she's going to let her dreams drive her anyway. I hope that even if she fails, she finds something more in it than more conversations over a martini. Did Lesley Ann Warren ever do broadway? (That's not listed on IMDB.) Was this a meta-joke?

I'm starting to dislike Brandy a lot - it's pretty much established she's immature, and while I understand where her feelings for Raphael come from, Mary opened a door and asked her to be straight with her about what's going on - and she lied to her about it. Major violation of the sister code. You do not steal or attempt to steal a blood relative's significant other, but if you do you fess up the moment you're confronted. It's crummy when you do it with other people, but it's crummier when you do something like that to your family.

As to the core story itself... interesting. I wonder if stuff with Mary's religious faith is going to come up a lot, especially since if she's doing the gambling version of Al-Anon, traditional religion is a big part of the program? I don't mind as long as it's not overbearingly about religious interpretations of faith, especially since Mary's slowly softening her edges and it would be normal for her character to begin to question all those assumptions about absolutes. It was clear she was really, really trying with Raph, and her sister was really screwing it up.

And good point about the gloves. Who on earth would dip a finger in blood when who knows what's in that blood? Mud, I would have believed - then it would have been funny if childish. But blood is just disturbing. Although Bobby D. doesn't have much to worry about on that natty shirt of his. Blood is water soluble, so easy to get out if you catch it early. I also thought that reading tire tracks and related forensics was part of police detective training? Maybe not?

I would have loved to see more Marshall, but they worked him pretty hard in the previous eps. I'm sad at no Stan, because Stan is awesome.

I liked this episode. I think Trojan Horst is still my favorite, but this was pretty darned good.

A sad and yet, insightful episode.

I agree with the poster above about Marshall being relegated to messenger-boy status. There needs to be more even-handedness and dependence between the star and the sidekicks, like there is in Burn Notice and Pysch. More of a "I can't do this without you..." thing. Marshall is the most normal one of the bunch. Gimme more Marshall!

I liked Lesley Ann Warren's storyline and like the poster above said, it added so much more depth to her character. The whole interplay with the bartender and his "we just weren't good enough" epiphany and her upbeat response to that was thoughtful and encouraging.

When is Brandy going to get a job?

I liked the interface with the police captain. He needs more screen time.

My only question is, if the husband's supposedly dead and either of the Fergusons want to remarry, then what happens (and they aren't actually divorced)? Would Witness Protection actually go along with such a deception? I have to admit I thought all along "the wife did it," and she was going to turn out to be his killer. I find it odd that they never suspected her. The twist at the end was interesting, but I wonder how realistic it really was.

Remember the line from last week when Mary and Marshall were going to meet the doctor's family and Mary made a point of saying how annoyed she was that the flight attendant "assumed that we weren't a couple"? Mary also flirts with the police captain and remember when he said (when she was wearing that low-cut LBD, "It's a good thing you're hot"? There seems to be little chemistry with her and Raph, however. Very forced. I think he's the last person she should end up with.

This is my third favorite ep of this season. Right behind Trojan and Iris. The focus on Mary's mom and sister had purpose in this episode. They weren't just thrown in there. I really liked that Mary's mom put the "you need to stop speech" to Brandi. I'm wondering if Brandi's ex-boyfriend is going to come into play before the season ends. Don't think that part of the story is done yet.

Need more Marshall. Wouldn't mind seeing a story or two focused on his witnesses. Gotta admit this ep had me guessing until the end. I thought the wife may have hired the cook to kill her husband, but seeing as how the protected witnesses were so devout in their religion I wasn't sure what was going on. Then I thought maybe the husband faked his death, which in the end he kinda did. Nice ep with good misdirection.

I really loved this episode; especially when they played Meatloaf's "Two Out of Three" at the end which not only reflect Don and his wife, but Raph (Chico, as Brandy calls him) and Brandy. My husband and I are married and Catholic (and yes, you can get a divorce, but it is frown upon the church, but that didn't stop my husband's brother and sister. They are both divorce and still practicing Catholics.) It was no wonder Don thought it was best to lie and die, so his wife be happy and move on. But wouldn't the marshalls be in trouble for covering Don's death when in fact he was alive?

Ya, Brandi was out of line. It seems to me that if you know that is your sister's (or friend, or whatever) boyfriend you don’t even entertain the idea and if feelings come up, you get out of that situation. On the other hand, we aren’t talking about emotionally open, logical thinkers. She is just as dysfunctional as her mother and sister, although her dysfunction seems to take after her mother more than Mary. They play her to be not real bright anyways, and she is on the rebound. That said, if I was Mary I would kick Brandi’s butt. However, I totally agree that Mary asked for it by copping out constantly on helping Raph and dumping it on her sister.

This is the first episode where I liked the mom! She was just a really annoying character before, but I’m starting to feel for her now. I hope she gets the part, although Mary would probably have a cow with her mother playing a prostitute.

Raph, what a guy! He held his ground and is totally more understanding than anyone I know. I think he appreciates that Mary is trying to open up, and I was so glad that he told Brandi that he didn’t want a relationship.



As for the song; excellent choice! I was actually a little teary eyed at the end. The writing in this episode did much more for character development than others. I truly felt for several of the characters. However, I do wish Marshall would have had more to do in this episode. He is the reason I wathc the show. I also missed Stan.

One other thing- I totally agree that if she is going to a crime scene then they better but on gloves. I noticed that right off also. It bugged me just like in “Who shot Jay..”

I know it's "wrong" for Brandi and Raph to be together, but I like their chemistry, and I think they're interesting to watch. They have real conversations and are capable of being open with each other. (Mary was trying in this episode though.) I just don't want them to get together while Raph is still with Mary.

I just don't see chemistry between Mary and Raph. IMO- chemistry is either there or it isn't. Writing only enhances it. I think their relationship IS shallow; I have no idea why Raph proposed. It came out of nowhere. Everything that I've seen and heard between them indicates their relationship is primarily based on sex.

I know that Mary has a very demanding job, but it seems that comes first all the time. She is ALWAYS getting Brandi to look after Raph because she's too busy or something came up.

However, I do agree that Raph can't "fix" Brandi. I'd also like to see the sisters become closer.

I am really liking Mary ( I could live without the mother and slutty sister) but I think the writers "jumped the shark"...Mary do not stick your fingers in blood!!!!!! ( if you do please lick it ,like in the olden day movies, and say "Yep its blood alright"!) and the line.." again with the schoosing"..ridiculous !!! Mary should of grabbed that knucklehead and put him in a headlock! And he got instructions from God from a burning Jeep (like the burning bush in the bible) Please don't let this show go all candy ass writers...come on!!!

Raph is a good guy, and IA- he appreciates that Mary is trying. But, I still don't know why he's staying with Mary. I don't get it.

He's pulling away from Brandi, but that's because he sees that he's developing an attraction/feelings for her. He likes her a lot. He's trying to do the "right" thing. I think he's going to miss her friendship. He did not look happy when he was ending things with her.

Btw- I love Mary...just not with Raph. I'd rather see her with Marshall eventually.

Let’s cut Brandi some slack. As shallow as she may be, she has a right to her emotions as inappropriate as we feel the cause of those emotions may be. We can’t control whom we are drawn to. Our only control is how we deal with that attraction. I’m willing to say that Brandi handling of that part of the equation was less than stellar. Brandi isn’t the self-sacrificing type nor is she the type who heeds that “little voice” that says what you are doing/trying to do is wrong.

And let’s just spread the blame around. Ralph seemed to be enjoying her company as much as she his. Was he the being the typical unaware male (Please don’t throw bricks. I’m generalizing only because that how I see the role as being portrayed.), who didn’t have a clue? At first, probably thinking that he was being the Big Brother Brandi never had by getting her to open up about her problems? After all from the looks he started giving her, he was “enjoying the view” and wasn’t exactly (until the very end) kicking her to the curb.

Brandi was crying what-could-have-been-tears. A sense of loss is a sense of loss. The fact that you don’t/never did have any right to what’s loss doesn’t make it any less painful.


Brandi gets my sympathy vote...

I was thinking about that this am.....The husband is "dead" at least to the wife, and WP seems to be going along with the concept, but did they testify yet, and if not, won't they need to bring him into the court, and if they do won't she see him?

If they already did their piece, (why would the sons be after them....but nonetheless) and the wife still thinks her hubby's dead, would they be able to "sell" that legally (last I checked polygamy/giny is illegal in most states, and unless they managed to slip divorce papers into whatever else they'd have to sign in WitSec, without her noticing, there's no way for them to legally, never mind religiously, get remarried (and if religiously did work, would that mean the state was lying to the church....it just keeps circling.....!))

Que Confusion!!!!!


KA23

Yeah, hasn't this guy ever read Jane Eyre?

It was a weak storyline, imo.