Ok, let me try to marshal my thoughts and speak coherently and carefully here....
For those who didn't like the ep, yes, from a technical standpoint, the case was simplistic and certainly not the main focus and very forgettable. (I did however love the action Flack and Danny bit at the apartment
) And I also have to say that Adam's mocking monologue was THE funniest thing I have seen in a long time, and I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe! :guffaw:
And now to the part where I have to be careful....
I understand that going into this ep, people expect certain things and emotions and perspective based probably on their own intense feelings and emotions about 9/11. We all bring a different perspective and way we dealt (and still deal) with it, and that inevitably colors how we anticipate or think something should be handled. Not necessarily in a right vs wrong sort of say, just in our relatability. For an episode like this to be EPIC (from our personal perspective), we have to be able to relate to it on a personal level; and when we expect to do that ahead of time and then might not end up doing so like we thought, it kind of falls flat.
But let me tell you all this, it was told from the perspective and emotional toll of the first responders, and as one myself, it was accurate beyond anything I've seen. Ultimately how could it not be told through the eyes of the first responders, given that it's the NYPD we're talking about
But beyond that, Gary has spent
countless hours amongst the real life FDNY and NYPD victims families, and one of his closest friends he has is John Viggiano who lost two sons, a police officer and a firefighter on 9/11. In fact, John himself was amongst those standing behind Mac at the end in his uniform (he's retired FDNY), and one of his son's plaques was featured. And being a first responder myself, I can assure you that the emotions and details and body language and way everything was portrayed, was so accurate. All I was able to do throughout his interactions with Joe Vincent, the scene where he brought in the dead firefighter (god that was
tough to watch.....hit just too close to home
), and the whole end tribute, was be beyond grateful that there's somebody who
knows, someone who cares enough to pay close enough attention, and someone who gets it, in Gary. It's one thing for someone, even genuinely, to support us first responders and military, it's a whole other level when someone cares enough to want to
understand our struggles and pain and triumphs and life.
Mac's dealing with Joe wasn't even sort of sanctimonious... he knew exactly
why his friend was avoiding, in the unspoken way that only fellow first responders and military can with each. There's a commonality in our experiences that simply can't be explained, and Mac knew the struggle and reasons and motives behind what his friend was going through, and handled it perfectly. Made me wish I had a friend like that.
And the fact that Gary incorporated so much real life and actual people and the wall and the real plaques.... it was the best tribute I have watched. In large part because it was told
from our perspective, not just
about it.
There, I've said my piece. Agree or disagree about the technicalities of the episode, I will simply say, that for the purpose of paying tribute to the
first responders of that day, it was perfectly done.
