Eli Stone Fodder

Eli Stone: Father Figure

Rebounding from last week’s average at best episode, “Eli Stone” showed this week, that it indeed has awesome potential.

What Happened

Eli is suffering from WWII visions were he has to protect a soldier by the name of Private Swayne. Unable to locate said soldier, Eli is accidently successful when he goes to meet Taylor for a lunch date. While waiting, he meets a boy named Ryan Swayne who is caught in the middle of a custody battle between his father, and his mother who is Private Swayne in the National Guard. Taylor represents the father and Eli, trying not to ignore his visions, tries to represent the mother. However, she already has a lawyer, who is quite incompetent. It’s actually Larry who briefly represented Beth in the Pilot episode. After Eli comes to Larry’s rescue in the court room, Private Swayne fires Larry and hires Eli instead. Taylor isn’t pleased at having to face Eli in court. Later, when Ryan is on the stand, Eli discovers bruising that the boy has on his side. Through more visions involving war, a gun, and his father, Eli discovers that Ryan’s parents engineered the entire custody battle so Private Swayne wouldn’t have to go back to Iraq. Though more than reluctant at first, Eli continues the charade and the court awards custody of Ryan to his mother. The father however, is arrested for suspected child abuse.

Taylor and Eli are having problems with their relationship. At their pre wedding gala, Eli suffers a vision and wakes up on the pastry table in front of the stunned guests. Later in their apartment, Eli tells Taylor they should split up. He says his father was the same way, and while it wasn’t his fault, he still made the lives of those around him a living hell.

Jordan is putting the clamp down on Eli. He takes away the stylish sports car and slashes his expense account. This is all in an effort to get Eli to see the “error” of his ways. He even forces Eli to take a physical to prove his well being. Eli of course has an aneurysm and can’t pass the test. After some debate, Nathan finally agrees to sign the documents, proclaiming a clean bill of health.

Patti, out of spite for Taylor, secretly invites Beth to the gala. Beth and Eli have an awkward meeting until Eli recommends that she should dance with Nathan who is standing nearby.

The WWII visions that Eli is having, resemble the same visions his father had. During one of Dr. Chen’s sessions , Eli remembers that his father was holding and firing a real gun during one of his own visions. Eli had lied to police by saying he was the one who fired the gun so his father would not be taken away and committed.

The Good

The plot twist with the custody trial was very well written. I don’t think most viewers saw that one coming. It was also nice to see the writers deviate from musical visions. While I believe that they are generally well done, it was nice to see a little bit more action. Kudos as well to Jonny Lee Miller who does a fantastic job in carrying the show on his shoulders. Not that the other actors aren’t talented, but it’s a rarity in contemporary television to see a show so focused on a single character.

The Bad

There was a sub plot between Eli and Maggie that really didn’t go anywhere. I’m not saying that every single scene and line of dialogue has to have paramount importance, but their verbal exchanges really made no sense. It is almost as if the producers found out they were a few minutes on the short side and decide to sprinkle some meaningless rebuttal throughout the hour.

The Ugly

With much humility, I am forced to seat myself in the ugly seat this week. I was convinced that George Michael’s star power would dominate the show. Not only has his presence and music complemented the main plots nicely, but that same presence was almost non-existent in this episode. All I can say is, I’m sorry and I stand corrected.

What did you think of the show? Do you think the show will survive now that we are returning to the status quo of television?

By the way, does anyone know the type of car Eli had? I tried to guess during the towing scene, but with out much success.

Until next week guys,

Happy Valentines Day.

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Posted by Ozzy on February 15, 2008 11:12 AM
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