What a fantastic episode!
- Mac - finally, finally, we got to see just what a dangerous man Mac is, and how he truly is a man driven by his emotions. As Jade Nolan pointed out, this ep really did show just what he's capable of, and serve as reminder of the fact that he was a Recon Marine, and that as a Recon Marine, he killed men. I think this ep pretty much blasts any of the whingey, whiny whinges that Mac is 'too cold' or 'by the book' or 'only sees things in black and white' out of the water. And if you don't like that, tough, deal with it or shut up.
- I really was struck by the emotional toll this case took on Mac, not just because what he did in order to find and save Christine had to take him back to things he did/saw/experienced as a Recon Marine, things he's tried hard to push to the very darkest reaches of his memory, things that drive him to keep that very careful self-control, but also because it involved *Christine* and he was essentially powerless to help her via all the methods that were within the rules and regulations of what he was allowed to do as a detective. The interrogation scene with Kalim, the moment when he saw that tongue in the box, when he got the calls from Christine, and that scene at the airport really show how truly scared and desperate he was behind that coldly furious-beyond-belief facade. We haven't seen him that scared since 'Indelible' when he was talking to Claire on the phone and then the second plane hit the second tower, and they got cut off. Just....wow.
-I liked Don and DB distracting the marshals so Mac could sneak Kalim out. Of everyone, they are both the most able to understand the desperate situation Mac was in, and understand his motives, and it was obvious that Don was more than ready to bend a few rules for Mac, whatever it took, and whatever the consequences. Mac thanking Don, and the unspoken understanding between them at the end was wonderful to see. It really shows their closeness and the trust between them, and how they're not going to express that by getting all touchy-feely but through MANLY nods and wordless 'yeah, I get you,' moments. Heh.:lol:
-I loved that Jo trusted Mac enough to let him go off and do his thing (and that he trusted her enough to cover the more basic investigative-angles of the case while he did) - again, like Don, I think she could easily get where he was coming from, and understood that the breaking of some rules was necessary. I bet she'd be every bit as deadly-determined and desperate were one of her kids kidnapped. I loved their scene at the end, when she hugged Mac, and said 'thank god we got Christine back' - it's great that she, and the whole team, seem to consider Christine as family. I liked Mac apologising to her too, and her simple understanding that he did what he had to.
-Mac's pure vulnerability and his obvious *love* for Christine in this ep was just.....there are no words, really. <3 <3 <3
-DB was awesome. Loved his firmly established friendship with Mac, and how he backed Mac up even when Mac would have preferred to go it alone. I chuckled when Don asked if they were planning to just walk Kalim out the front door, and Mac and DB exchanged a look and just said, 'Yes'. Evidently, DB has just as many sneaky-smarts as does Mac, his distracting the federal marshal guys was EPIC. His final scene with Mac was great as well. If we do get a s10 of NY, I'd love to see more of Mac and DB working together, and then DB going out for drinks etc with the NY team.
-Flack looked good in that hat he was wearing at the beginning. Just sayin'.
-The airport scene with Mac and that guy and 'Russian roulette' was one of the best scenes EVER in the show. Dangerous, desperate Mac to an extent we've never seen before. I honestly thought there just might be one bullet in that gun.
- Mac and Christine at the end was just.....<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3. 'I knew you'd come for me' 'Always'. Mac is NOT man you would want for an enemy. But as an ally or even better a friend? I honestly don't think you could ask for better.
-I liked Lovato threatning to shoot Kalim's sister if she tried to run. Heh. You wouldn't want to piss her off, either. I now really want to see her and Mac interrogate some perp or other together.
-I hate Hawkes, but I will say I wanted to give him a pat on the back when he was telling Lindsay they needed to be strong for Mac. That was nice, and whatever my issues with him, it's good to see he does care for Mac.
-Boyd getting his tongue cut out.....ewwwwwwwwwwww, nasty!
-Jo was great in this ep (as was everyone else even if they only got a small role) and it was particularly good to see her, along with DB and Don, really be there for Mac even when he was trying to go it alone. Mac does so much for his guys, and it's lovely on those occasions when we get to see that trust and protectiveness and closeness,goes both ways, and see them be there and look out for him as well.
Okay, so that's my review of the ep. I also want to say that I think Jade Nolan and Mac&Adam fan made very good points. It feels like lately certain people post only to complain, whinge, and bash certain characters (and no, I don't mean just Mac, so there) and/or the show in general, and that the majority of the so called ep review threads seem to have become less about any genuine discussion/review of an ep, its good or bad points, than about that. It's really quite petty, and getting at posters who have dared to question that is just nasty. I don't post on the majority of threads here anymore for just that reason, but I wanted to just give my thoughts on this one and just say my bit about the general attitude over here as well. If you don't like it, sorry. I don't like it here either anymore. But I do like the show, and I do love Mac, even more after this episode.
That's everything. I doubt I'll be posting here again.
