My first reaction, scene one: yay, Hoyt!
My second reaction: ah, no, kids lying and "Aunt" Geri? I'm uncomfortable enough with her being so much Cordell's unequal without throwing in another reminder she's an "Aunt" to the kids.
But rather than going chronologically, let's just hit the highlights.
---
THE GOOD: Well, actually great.
The Jackal story line with Larry's reactions and Cordell jumping in to support his best friend (with all those complications) is immense.
I'm hanging on every scene with Padalecki and Bell.
Also great, the moments between Hoyt (Matt Barr) and Cordell. Barr and Padalecki are excellent scene partners and can both play into the angst while being action heros as well.
And yes, I'd call Hoyt a hero, because even if he was a felon his heart was gold. He deserves nothing but love.
I fully buy into the idea that friends can be as tight as family. That they look out for each other, even if it's not convenient. And they do that even without being begged or needing to say the words. (Great, though, when Larry does.)
These portions of the episode kept me going and they averaged up my number of stars by a lot. They are the scenes you want to pause and come back to, definitely were the reason I'll rewatch later.
(Side note: that last scene of Cordell in the "quiet" was amazing both in acting and cinematography. Padalecki standing on the precipice as Walker gave me chills)
---
THE BAD: While the acting by Violet Brinson and Kale Culley was wonderful, I'm not liking that the kids are still lying.
I suppose Stella takes after her father in trying to help the hapless (maybe) Witt. So I like that heart, even if I still don't feel the rationale adequate.
However, how can they keep disappointing their father and lying to him when doing so? They're basically good kids, so how are they heartless to him when they have empathy to strangers?
I thought s1-3 it was an issue of the effects of grief and maturity, since the show does try to have good representation of various age groups. And kids do go through things to learn. They needed grace.
I thought we were somewhat over this last year, but I'll hang on and hope it's a minor bump.
Still not dvr/FF/skipping ahead on them, however, because of what the actors dug out of the scenes inside of that storyline.
THE UGLY:
Geri is actually beautiful, but the writers have given me yet one more key to why she's so incredibly flawed, broken and careless of others.
We find out that behind those protective walls called "boundaries," she's a full box of grievances that she can't really work on or she'll have to address how she played a huge part along with longtime love Hoyt.
What messy choices they made over their decade plus of love, and what impacts that has had. She built that final wall heaven high.
Just to name one impact, of course, she's now pushed away Cordell multiple times, used excuses to run away. (That this time she's correct about him Empty Nesting is the proverbial broken clock being right twice a day) The self-protection is strong in that one, even if she dresses it up prettily and ties it in bows.
As to going to OKC, I refer anyone who may read this (if anyone ever does) back to my comments on the last episode. The girl boss routine and telling rather than collaborating not only doesn't make sense, but also is at odds with her professed love.
It's a new project. It can be delayed without giving up any career potential. Cordi has been empty nesting this whole year, hasn't she had eyes during that time? And now he's also OBVIOUSLY spiralling, don't you help people you love?
Geri is the relationship version of Harry Met Sally's salad. She thinks she's easy going and helpful, but she's a mass of rules and "dressing on the side."
I do see that more clearly after last night, excellent job by the writers, but it makes me even more sure she's not adequate. And for a title character, shouldn't the love interest at least be more than a pretty face?
(Edit to add: I understand in real life all people have flaws and we just find the person whose flaws most match up with ours and make allowances, but this is fiction. It would be nice if the hero I'm here for was choosing someone whom I'd have coffee with, not erase from my contacts)
My second reaction: ah, no, kids lying and "Aunt" Geri? I'm uncomfortable enough with her being so much Cordell's unequal without throwing in another reminder she's an "Aunt" to the kids.
But rather than going chronologically, let's just hit the highlights.
---
THE GOOD: Well, actually great.
The Jackal story line with Larry's reactions and Cordell jumping in to support his best friend (with all those complications) is immense.
I'm hanging on every scene with Padalecki and Bell.
Also great, the moments between Hoyt (Matt Barr) and Cordell. Barr and Padalecki are excellent scene partners and can both play into the angst while being action heros as well.
And yes, I'd call Hoyt a hero, because even if he was a felon his heart was gold. He deserves nothing but love.
I fully buy into the idea that friends can be as tight as family. That they look out for each other, even if it's not convenient. And they do that even without being begged or needing to say the words. (Great, though, when Larry does.)
These portions of the episode kept me going and they averaged up my number of stars by a lot. They are the scenes you want to pause and come back to, definitely were the reason I'll rewatch later.
(Side note: that last scene of Cordell in the "quiet" was amazing both in acting and cinematography. Padalecki standing on the precipice as Walker gave me chills)
---
THE BAD: While the acting by Violet Brinson and Kale Culley was wonderful, I'm not liking that the kids are still lying.
I suppose Stella takes after her father in trying to help the hapless (maybe) Witt. So I like that heart, even if I still don't feel the rationale adequate.
However, how can they keep disappointing their father and lying to him when doing so? They're basically good kids, so how are they heartless to him when they have empathy to strangers?
I thought s1-3 it was an issue of the effects of grief and maturity, since the show does try to have good representation of various age groups. And kids do go through things to learn. They needed grace.
I thought we were somewhat over this last year, but I'll hang on and hope it's a minor bump.
Still not dvr/FF/skipping ahead on them, however, because of what the actors dug out of the scenes inside of that storyline.
THE UGLY:
Geri is actually beautiful, but the writers have given me yet one more key to why she's so incredibly flawed, broken and careless of others.
We find out that behind those protective walls called "boundaries," she's a full box of grievances that she can't really work on or she'll have to address how she played a huge part along with longtime love Hoyt.
What messy choices they made over their decade plus of love, and what impacts that has had. She built that final wall heaven high.
Just to name one impact, of course, she's now pushed away Cordell multiple times, used excuses to run away. (That this time she's correct about him Empty Nesting is the proverbial broken clock being right twice a day) The self-protection is strong in that one, even if she dresses it up prettily and ties it in bows.
As to going to OKC, I refer anyone who may read this (if anyone ever does) back to my comments on the last episode. The girl boss routine and telling rather than collaborating not only doesn't make sense, but also is at odds with her professed love.
It's a new project. It can be delayed without giving up any career potential. Cordi has been empty nesting this whole year, hasn't she had eyes during that time? And now he's also OBVIOUSLY spiralling, don't you help people you love?
Geri is the relationship version of Harry Met Sally's salad. She thinks she's easy going and helpful, but she's a mass of rules and "dressing on the side."
I do see that more clearly after last night, excellent job by the writers, but it makes me even more sure she's not adequate. And for a title character, shouldn't the love interest at least be more than a pretty face?
(Edit to add: I understand in real life all people have flaws and we just find the person whose flaws most match up with ours and make allowances, but this is fiction. It would be nice if the hero I'm here for was choosing someone whom I'd have coffee with, not erase from my contacts)
