Damages 4.08
In which we learn a new definition of crocodile tears. Also that CIA agents suck at childcare, but that's not news if you've watched Alias.
I thought the season was setting Ellen up for having to cross some sort of line, possibly something that could get her debarred, due to the Bill foreshadowing and Patty's repeated questioning whether she's in all the way, but of course the tag scene as well as Patty's most recent meeting with Boorman indicate another definition of "doing whatever it takes". Chris Sanchez as the corpse seemed too obvious so far, but of course if the condition for his death changes - if it's not due to High Star (well, not immediately due to High Star - of course High Star set the whole thing in motion) but due to Patty Hewes and Ellen bringing the case to Patty's attention, then the obviousness changes into something new. If Patty has Boorman as a witness against Howard Erickson, not only does she not need Chris Sanchez alive anymore but Chris Sanchez dead (and in a way that that can be traced directly back to Howard, who gave the order) is far more valuable. For Patty and the case, but not for Ellen, or rather: that's the crucible of it. Ellen has acquired a good degree of ruthlessness over the past seasons, but so far she's been able to balance everything to the side of not sacrificing someone's life. Which we know (and Ellen does, too, for the most personal of reasons) that Patty is capable of.
Having avoided all the obvious traps of taking the case away from Ellen (the deal with Erickson, Bill offering intel to Patty but not Ellen), Patty has been far subtler and now she is in a position to take over completley because Ellen has let her guards down and has come to invite Patty in and depend on her assistance again. But you know, I still think this isn't just a case of Patty outmanoeuvring Ellen with the endgame of getting rid of her entirely. That's one possible outcome she's going for, but imo she's also going for a is-or-isn't-she-a-possible-successor test as well. I.e. if Ellen manages to pull off some 11th hour way to make this a draw instead of a defeat she will be worthy.
Just in case we were in doubt: beware men in a lethal business crying and feeling sorry for themselves. It's bound to result in someone else's death. The show doesn't do this in a caricature way; there is no doubt Howard Erickson's grief for his late wife is completely sincere (just like his concern for his kids, etc.); he's just as sincere ordering Chris Sanchez' death. (Now that Chris has stripped away his delusion of being a much beloved patriotic Überfather to "my men" as opposed to a highly paying mercenary making a profit.) For all we know, Gerald Boorman is completely sincere about grieving for his "asset" the dead Afghan woman, and that's one reason why he's locked up the boy but so far never threatened him or tried any punishments for non-information but taking away his freedom. Doesn't stop him from killing his French mistress quickly and efficiently after tricking her into letting down her guard, and dispose of her body with the pre-arranged suitcase with lead. And of course, all the way back in season 1, Patty was sincere in her shock and misery over Ray's suicide in her office and her grief at the grave of her dead daughter while she was giving the order to kill Ellen.
Children: this season we have Katherine (and Michael as Patty's adult child), Howard Erickson's kids, Tom as the dead good son, Chris Sanchez as Erickson's pretend son who is anything but in reality, Ellen as Patty's not-acknowledged-is-she-or-isn't-she daughter, and now the Afghan boy who tells Boorman, as quietly and finally as Chris told Howard why his employes work for him, "you are the devil" when Boorman is trying some pseudo paternal bonding over the boy's mother. I'm not sure where exactly they're going with this theme, but fictional messed up family fiend that I am, it intrigues me.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/710522.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
I thought the season was setting Ellen up for having to cross some sort of line, possibly something that could get her debarred, due to the Bill foreshadowing and Patty's repeated questioning whether she's in all the way, but of course the tag scene as well as Patty's most recent meeting with Boorman indicate another definition of "doing whatever it takes". Chris Sanchez as the corpse seemed too obvious so far, but of course if the condition for his death changes - if it's not due to High Star (well, not immediately due to High Star - of course High Star set the whole thing in motion) but due to Patty Hewes and Ellen bringing the case to Patty's attention, then the obviousness changes into something new. If Patty has Boorman as a witness against Howard Erickson, not only does she not need Chris Sanchez alive anymore but Chris Sanchez dead (and in a way that that can be traced directly back to Howard, who gave the order) is far more valuable. For Patty and the case, but not for Ellen, or rather: that's the crucible of it. Ellen has acquired a good degree of ruthlessness over the past seasons, but so far she's been able to balance everything to the side of not sacrificing someone's life. Which we know (and Ellen does, too, for the most personal of reasons) that Patty is capable of.
Having avoided all the obvious traps of taking the case away from Ellen (the deal with Erickson, Bill offering intel to Patty but not Ellen), Patty has been far subtler and now she is in a position to take over completley because Ellen has let her guards down and has come to invite Patty in and depend on her assistance again. But you know, I still think this isn't just a case of Patty outmanoeuvring Ellen with the endgame of getting rid of her entirely. That's one possible outcome she's going for, but imo she's also going for a is-or-isn't-she-a-possible-successor test as well. I.e. if Ellen manages to pull off some 11th hour way to make this a draw instead of a defeat she will be worthy.
Just in case we were in doubt: beware men in a lethal business crying and feeling sorry for themselves. It's bound to result in someone else's death. The show doesn't do this in a caricature way; there is no doubt Howard Erickson's grief for his late wife is completely sincere (just like his concern for his kids, etc.); he's just as sincere ordering Chris Sanchez' death. (Now that Chris has stripped away his delusion of being a much beloved patriotic Überfather to "my men" as opposed to a highly paying mercenary making a profit.) For all we know, Gerald Boorman is completely sincere about grieving for his "asset" the dead Afghan woman, and that's one reason why he's locked up the boy but so far never threatened him or tried any punishments for non-information but taking away his freedom. Doesn't stop him from killing his French mistress quickly and efficiently after tricking her into letting down her guard, and dispose of her body with the pre-arranged suitcase with lead. And of course, all the way back in season 1, Patty was sincere in her shock and misery over Ray's suicide in her office and her grief at the grave of her dead daughter while she was giving the order to kill Ellen.
Children: this season we have Katherine (and Michael as Patty's adult child), Howard Erickson's kids, Tom as the dead good son, Chris Sanchez as Erickson's pretend son who is anything but in reality, Ellen as Patty's not-acknowledged-is-she-or-isn't-she daughter, and now the Afghan boy who tells Boorman, as quietly and finally as Chris told Howard why his employes work for him, "you are the devil" when Boorman is trying some pseudo paternal bonding over the boy's mother. I'm not sure where exactly they're going with this theme, but fictional messed up family fiend that I am, it intrigues me.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/710522.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.