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Post by mlm828 on Apr 19, 2008 23:03:17 GMT -5
It's April 19 and time for "Leap of Faith": Sam Berglass and his plan, creepy Warren Doyle, "slouchy" Karen and her money laundering boyfriend Nick, Walter Clark, and a hell of a left hook.  |
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Post by mlm828 on Apr 22, 2008 18:03:05 GMT -5
Looking back at the series overall, "Leap of Faith" is the first of three episodes where the focus shifts from Jim's blindness to other issues -- in this episode, the old case that didn't stick, with tragic results, what to do about Karen's "connected" boyfriend, and keeping the fragile truce with Marty. My favorite moment in the episode may be when the squad meets in the locked interview room to discuss what to do with the embroidery receipt. Not only is there drama in wondering if they'll do the right thing, but it also shows Jim apparently took to heart Marty's words about being a squad and working together.  I have always been highly critical of Jim's decision to talk to Nick instead of Karen when he finds out Nick has a criminal record and is "connected." When re-watching the episode, I noticed that one of the options Walter suggested was having a "sit-down" with Nick.  I suppose it makes sense that Walter, who is probably an "old school" kind of guy, would suggest talking to Nick instead of Karen. It doesn't make it a better idea, but I thought it was interesting that it wasn't only Jim's idea to talk to Nick instead of Karen. This is not to say Jim's blindness is entirely forgotten. "Slouchy" Karen may have forgotten momentarily, but she definitely didn't forget when she ends up searching Sam's apartment by herself, while Jim waits (I guess that's what you'd call it) on the couch.  And I always liked the way they showed Jim exploring the scene and figuring out that Sam had cleared a path to the window.  Then there's the moment when Jim tells Doyle that, for the first time, he's glad he lost his sight, because no one will believe a blind guy could beat up Doyle.  I know this is a minority opinion, but beating a confession out of a suspect is just wrong, on so many levels. |
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Post by hoosier on Apr 22, 2008 18:53:27 GMT -5
I always wondered if Karen wasn't just the teeniest bit disappointed that Jim had a ride to Walter's racket judging from her facial expression when Jim says that he and Christie were going together. Hoping to have the chance to introduce him to Nick before they arrived? Was she worried that he would say something?
One scene that bothered me was the one where Marty displays the bloodied shirt they found behind Doyle's washing machine. I know it was for dramatic effect because they would have bagged and tagged it to preserve DNA evidence etc. and surely they wouldn't have wanted to shock any neighbor who happened to open their door!
Beating a confession out of a suspect is wrong. I don't know how they could have justified any of them, especially Fisk, standing and watching and doing nothing. Flight of fancy here that Doyle didn't immediately lawyer up and have all of their badges as he walked free on a technicality. While I think we have all felt like Jim at one time or another, few of us would actually have taken matters into out own hands, however satisfying it must have been.
Love Walter. Here is one person who really seems to understand Jim and one person he feels at ease with. And Walter seems to be well acquainted with Christie.
Two final obseravations--How did the blood get on the inside of the window sash in Sam's apartment? Its not splatter or sprayed, and wouldn't blood that resulted from cuts as he crashed through go outside? And notice that when Jim and Karen are called into Fisk's office Jim askes if its "brass"? Why? Is he suddenly paranoid? Did Archer go into Fisk's office through the other door for them not to notice him. Why would the brass be there anyway unless acting on a complaint of some kind?
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Post by mlm828 on Apr 22, 2008 21:08:47 GMT -5
Beating a confession out of a suspect is wrong. I don't know how they could have justified any of them, especially Fisk, standing and watching and doing nothing. Flight of fancy here that Doyle didn't immediately lawyer up and have all of their badges as he walked free on a technicality. Excellent points - except that I wouldn't call beating a confession out of a suspect a "technicality." But you raise one of the points that has always bothered me about the whole "beating up Doyle" scenario. Jim is an experienced detective. He wants Doyle convicted and sent to prison. He has to know beating up Doyle to get a confession jeopardizes that. It's theoretically possible they could still prosecute Doyle for molesting Ethan, since Ethan's testimony is independent of Doyle's confession. But if the beating became known (and it would be), the DA might not want to have anything to do with the case. I don't think Jim was acting in the heat of anger. His statement that no one would believe Doyle got beaten up by a blind guy is pretty calculated and shows me he thought it through in advance. |
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Post by inuvik on Apr 23, 2008 11:00:14 GMT -5
This is not to say Jim's blindness is entirely forgotten. "Slouchy" Karen may have forgotten momentarily, but she definitely didn't forget when she ends up searching Sam's apartment by herself, while Jim waits (I guess that's what you'd call it) on the couch. Hey, do you think that poster says Blind?  |
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Post by mlm828 on Apr 23, 2008 13:56:09 GMT -5
Hey, do you think that poster says Blind? Looks like "SOUND."   |
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Post by Chris on May 3, 2008 21:06:32 GMT -5
One thing I realized the other day, this is ridiculous!!!! The idea of a blind cop is absolutely impossible - at least the way our Blond Dude is supposed to work!!! I know, I know, other people have said that before and it has only taken me two and a half years to realize that (never said I was the brightest bulb in the chandelier, did I  ) Having said that, I still love the show and besides, everything goes in TV-Land.  I like Leap of Faith a lot because we get to see a more relaxed Jim. We see him at the party interacting with the others in a more relaxed way. It seems like they are enjoying each others company at the beginning of the party and are having fun when Karen and Nick joins them.  This is also the first time we hear him ask Christie what someone looks like.  He is jooking of course, asking about the coke spoon and the red painted finger nail but I find it interesting that he asks about Nick and not about his co-workers. Then there is his old friend Walter Clark. They are so comfortable in each others company, they have clearly been friends for years.  Even before the party when Karen asks if she looks "slouchy" Jim reacts more at ease than he would have earlier on. He's not offended he doesn't even crack a joke, he just says matter-of-factly, "how would I know???" Looking back at the series overall, "Leap of Faith" is the first of three episodes where the focus shifts from Jim's blindness to other issues -- in this episode, the old case that didn't stick, with tragic results, what to do about Karen's "connected" boyfriend, and keeping the fragile truce with Marty. My favorite moment in the episode may be when the squad meets in the locked interview room to discuss what to do with the embroidery receipt. Not only is there drama in wondering if they'll do the right thing, but it also shows Jim apparently took to heart Marty's words about being a squad and working together. Tom gets it right when he asks Jim if he could sleep at night if the reciept were to disappear. As much as he wants to nail Warren Doyle he can't live with getting him convicted on false evidence. On the other hand, Jim doesn't seem to have any problems with beating a confession out of him later...  One thing has always bothered me with this scene. Why do they go into the interview room to talk privately? So Karen closes the blinds but there's a microphone in the room. What if someone was in the room next door, listening ? And notice that when Jim and Karen are called into Fisk's office Jim askes if its "brass"? Why? Is he suddenly paranoid? Did Archer go into Fisk's office through the other door for them not to notice him. Why would the brass be there anyway unless acting on a complaint of some kind? I think he's just asking in order to know who he's going to meet in there. As far as I remember they are just arriving so they might not have noticed Dan Archer going into Fisk's office. - Chris |
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Post by mlm828 on May 3, 2008 23:38:34 GMT -5
This is also the first time we hear him ask Christie what someone looks like. He is joking of course, asking about the coke spoon and the red painted finger nail but I find it interesting that he asks about Nick and not about his co-workers. Good point. There are only a few times when he asks anyone what someone looks like. In the Pilot, he asks Karen what Randy Lyman looks like, and what she looks like, but I can't think of any other occasions when he asks what someone looks like. I wonder - do you think he would ask Christie what his co-workers look like? Somehow I don't think he would have asked Karen what the others look like. At some point, I think what people look like would become irrelevant to him, but I don't think that would happen so soon after losing his sight. |
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Post by Chris on May 4, 2008 5:55:01 GMT -5
I wonder - do you think he would ask Christie what his co-workers look like? Somehow I don't think he would have asked Karen what the others look like. At some point, I think what people look like would become irrelevant to him, but I don't think that would happen so soon after losing his sight. You're right. I can't imagine him asking Karen what the others look like either but I can easily imagine him asking Christie. That's also why I think it's interesting that he asks about Nick. Maybe he wants to know in order to get to know more about Karen. Knowing what type of men Karen falls for tells a lot about her as well. - Chris |
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Post by rducasey on May 4, 2008 13:25:21 GMT -5
I wonder - do you think he would ask Christie what his co-workers look like? Somehow I don't think he would have asked Karen what the others look like. Absolutely I think he would ask her after she met them, more than likely on the ride home. Jim: "So Christie what does Marty look like, I'm just curious? (hoping against hope she will say, "wow, he's pretty ugly." Christie:"Oh he's OK. But not anywhere as handsome as "my man". |
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Post by mlm828 on May 4, 2008 14:38:58 GMT -5
Absolutely I think he would ask her after she met them, more than likely on the ride home. Jim: "So Christie what does Marty look like, I'm just curious? (hoping against hope she will say, "wow, he's pretty ugly." Christie:"Oh he's OK. But not anywhere as handsome as "my man". LOL at your dialogue! I agree he would ask, and Christie is the person he would ask. I think the reason they show him asking about Nick is that it fits into the story line of Jim "looking out for his partner." |
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