Poor samismiles! Boy, did you come to the wrong thread if you wanted to criticize Nick! Well, if nothing else, you got our posters out in record numbers!
That's OK- don't be daunted. We've had disagreements over interpretations in the past, and I'm sure we'll continue to have them in the future. Stick by your guns, I say. If you weigh all the evidence and still feel the same way, then more power to you.
LOL! Don't worry folks, I don't take any arguments personally and enjoy the debate. I haven't had a chance for my "rebuttal" yet (damn work!) so I hope no one minds if I take a step back and address some issues...
First, I totally agree that Cavaliere was an a** in this eppy, dismissive and snide of Nick. Never thought otherwise! And while I thought Nicky was
very professional at first (didn't anybody see my Lion-tamer vs tempermental pitbull analogy?
) but by the time Nick had glomed onto his Walter theory, he became as tunnel-visioned as Caveliere and as snide as Cavaliere was with Nick, Nick lowered himself to his level and matched him wit for wit -- it became competitive. Whether that was Nicky standing up for himself and not being steamed-rolled by others or not -- I saw it as being competitive when neither would back down.
I re-watched the banter between the two concerning the lie detector test and yup, still think the two of them were bickering like little boys.
Nick was really gung ho--even slaped his hands together in a way to focus his new energy. Also when the cops pushed Walter to the ground Nicky didn't say to take it easy with the guy, but to be careful about the sweater! Nick seemed very "pumped" up, not in an obvious way, just I don't know...he got "his man" so to speak.
I loved when he was talking to Walter, "I like you sweater Walter, where'd you get it!?"..."I said where'd you get it" - gave me chills. He was so mad and fierce it was an excellent scene
Ooohh... I have to comment here. I'm actually shocked that so many people found this to be such a "good" Nick scene. The Walter scenes were what initially led me to see Nicky acting as unprofessionally as Cavaliere was being with the boy. He *was* absolutely "mad" and "fierce" with Walter! Nicky was being as much of an a** with Walter as Cavaliere was with the brother. His comments, "Be careful with the sweater. It's evidence." was said purposely in stark disregard to the
mis handling of Walter by the burly policemen drove home the fact that Walter was the least of his concerns and Nicky treated him like garbage (because in Nicky's mind's eye Walter was looking guiltier by the minute). It was very dehumanizing to a suspect. A crazed, delusional possibly guilty suspect... but a suspect none the less and still innocent until proven guilty. What have we said about Nicky's emotions getting in the way of a case?
I saw it as a nice parallel scene by the writers, Nick's interrogation of Walter seen in comparison with Cavaliere's interrogation of the brother. Cavaliere attacks the kid. Nick attacks the bum. They both used the same tactic to try and reach the same confession. I can see how everyone (me included) felt sorry for the brother... because he's "just" a kid (and with that comes protectiveness and children automatically regarded with an air of innocence) -- but what about Walter? In truth, the man was so deranged that his mental compacity was not much more than that of a child. Anyways, I felt bad for Walter and Nicky is guilty of coming down hard on him as much as Cavaliere was of coming down hard on the brother.
In another parallel, Cavaliere was wrong to reach his guilty verdict of the brother before the evidence presented itself based solely on his police "instincts". It was unscientific. Yet Nicky was also wrong to exclude the brother because his instincts (hope?) didn't want to believe that the brother could have done it. In the end, it was Catherine that provided the hard evidence.
Re: Turning his back on Cavaliere with his final comments, "I'm sorry.... (long pause) That you feel that way". But Nicky *did* turn his back on Cavaliere! That whole response to Cavaliere's demand for an apology was meant for Cavaliere. For the first part, Nick is facing him. For the second, his back is turned. Yes, Nick was returning his attention to the family at that critical pregnant pause (good observation by the way
abharding ), but when Nicky chooses to speak the second half with his back to Cavaliere his is clearly dismissing him as unimportant. And his tone was snide.
All of which I found immature.
Whew! I must be a sadist to post this in Nickyland.
*braces for something (hopefully soft with a chewy chocolately center) to be flung my way*.
