Breakout Kings
Season One, Episode One, Pilot
Original Air Date: March 6, 2011
When August Tillman, an extremely dangerous and callous killer escapes from prison, U.S. Marshals Charlie Duchamp and Ray Zancanelli form an unlikely team to get Tillman back behind bars. Using four convicted felons hand-chosen by Zancanelli, Charlie and Ray go on the hunt for Tillman before he can hurt anyone else and get away clean. Will the new team work out or was it a doomed idea from the start?
August Tillman (Jason Cerbone) is counting as he suspends himself from the upper bunk in his prison cell. When he reaches 230 he falls to the bottom bunk then makes note of the number on a tally sheet he's been keeping. At his job in the prison shop making license plates, Tillman deliberately bends a plate and calls it as a defect. He secrets it away with a stash of other purposely defective plates. One month later, as he's taking out a trolley of garbage, he sees a woman, Amy Flynn, speaking with guards at the end of the prison alley where the dumpsters are located. He grabs his bundle of license plates and takes off running toward the truck where the woman and guards are standing. He unfolds the bundle of plates to reveal they are all attached. As the truck is leaving the prison, a guard runs a mirror beneath it and we see Tillman under the truck supported by the license plates. The guard doesn't notice him and allows the truck to leave the prison. A little over four minutes later, the truck stops at a sign and Tillman makes his move, bashing the drivers window and beating the driver as the woman, the same woman talking with the guards at the prison, screams in the passenger seat.
U.S. Marshal Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso) drives up to find Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lombardozzi) and another man, Jimmy speaking. Ray is telling a story which seems to not matter much until he makes his point: Jimmy has been dealing drugs on that street and Ray wants him to stop, now, as there is a school on the corner. After Jimmy assures him the dealing won't ever happen again and he leaves, Charlie takes Ray to a meeting with a superior at the U.S. Marshal's office. He's briefed about Tillman's escape and that a former proposal made by Ray has been accepted. Charlie, from CPA has been brought in to help oversee the program. Ray isn't pleased about this but he hasn't much of a choice and accepts.
At Coxsackie Correctional Facility in West Coxsackie, New York, Fritz Gunderson (Brock Johnson), a big game hunter (unlicensed) is informed he's being transferred during a fight. At Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York, Sean "Shea" Daniels (Malcolm Goodwin), an "Entrepreneur" is informed of his transfer while "conducting business" with another inmate. In Muncy, Pennsylvania, at Muncy Correctional Institution, a guard Philly (Nicole Steinwedell) is obviously very "close" to, asks where she's being sent. She doesn't know and leaves him with a gentle touch. Philly was Miss Idaho in 2001 and has been a con artist from 1999 to the present. Finally, at Rahway State Prison in Avenel, New Jersey, Dr. Lloyd Lowery (Jimmi Simpson), a former child prodigy, behaviorist and tenured professor is watching a game between two inmates when he's informed of his transfer. He takes the opportunity for one last barb to the fellow inmates.
Charlie and Ray assemble the felons and Charlie gives them the details about why it is so important to apprehend a newly escaped prisoner. Ray takes over telling them they were four of the toughest runners he ever caught and that the Marshal's have decided to use fugitives to help them catch fugitives. Charlie gives them the deal: if they agree to help, they will be permanently transferred to Maybelle Minimum Security Prison and they will get some time shaved off their sentences for helping catch Tillman. If anyone of them tries to escape, they will all be sent back where they came from and their sentences will be doubled. All four agree to the terms.
Charlie gives the newly formed team the low-down on Tillman. Six months into a 25-year bid for killing a biker in a bar who insulted his wife, while awaiting trial, he bolted and Ray caught him three weeks later after he'd killed two more people. Shea makes note of how dangerous Tillman is and the subject of weapons arises. Charlie makes it clear that no cons get weapons. They get cell phones while in the field but that is all. Julianne Simms (Brooke Nevin) brings information that, Jon Phelps, a man Tillman ran with in high school was found beaten to death in his Baltimore home.
The team heads to Baltimore to the Phelps scene where the detective in charge reluctantly allows the rather strange looking team of "special deputies" in and gives them the details of the case. "P. Vallarta" is written on the refrigerator door in blood leading the police to believe the dead man wrote that as he was dying. Gunderson disagrees citing that survival is the most primal instinct. Lloyd confirms this stating if Phelps had the strength to drag himself across the floor to the refrigerator to write "P. Vallarta" on the fridge, he would have instead crawled to the phone to call 911. Tillman is listening to everything being said in the room as he taped a cell phone to the bottom of a table. When the Baltimore detective mentions they have his plate number, he stops and changes the plates on the truck he's driving.
Charlie questions the effectiveness of the team since the con woman says the dead guy is a hustler and has no idea what he's into, the professor can't find squat on the computer, the "mountain man" (Gunderson) is in the corner looking for a cat to gut and the "gang banger" (Shea) is looting the joint. Shea takes several bottles of nail polish remover from a box he carries into the room and tells the Marshals it is used to remove the ink from the dye pack with money stolen from a bank. Ray places a quick call to Julianne who has information that links Tillman to an unsolved bank robbery with three suspects, two of which have been caught and all of which were high school buddies. Philly makes a request for a high school yearbook to get a picture and I.D. of the unknown man. Julie calls about the yearbook and is told one can be mailed. She needs is sooner and the woman tells her she can be to the school from Brooklyn in a half hour if she takes the tunnels which is an obvious problem for Julie.
The team stop a diner for lunch and Lloyd manages to offend Shea with talk about a shooting at the Hip Hop Awards. When the bill arrives, Charlie makes a comment to Philly about her having both soup and salad. She pulls out one of Lloyd's hairs, puts it in her soup, hails the waitress and mentions the hair. The waitress takes the soup off the bill. Ray calls Julie asking about the yearbook and she tells him she had the woman at the school scan the pages to send to her via email. While they're talking she sends the file to Charlie's computer. When he opens it, they see a picture of August Tillman, Jon Phelps and James "Jimbo" Cantrell (Mark Day) in a car under the caption "Auto Club". The team get ready to leave and Charlie notices a butter knife is missing from the table and asks Gunderson about it. Gunderson tells his new boss that it was for the team in case they came across any trouble. Charlie handcuffs Gunderson to the booth and the team leaves him behind.
August Tillman has arrived at Jimbo Cantrell's house and wants to know where the money they all stole together is. Jimbo says he doesn't know but Tillman doesn't believe that then drives a nail through his arm. The team, now down one member, arrives at Cantrell's home and they can hear the television from outside. They enter the house and find him dead. Philly and Lloyd talk in the car while Lloyd goes over everyone's files on the computer. He makes a note of Philly's real name, Philomena Rotchliffer, and asks how creative the kids in the schoolyard got with her name. As they're talking, Lloyd's phone rings and it's his mother. Inside the house, Ray calls Julie who tell them there was $500,000 taken in the robbery instead of the $100,000 reported to the media. As Ray is leaning down to literally pry Cantrell's body from the chair so he can get the cell phone in his back pocket, he sees the phone Tillman has taped beneath a table. Ray yells into the phone that he'll catch Tillman. Tillman tells him "not this time" when Charlie steps in to try and talk Tillman into coming in but the latter disconnects the line.
They next go to the home of one of the tellers from the bank and her boyfriend answers the door. As Charlie and Ray are talking with him they hear a vehicle start up. The woman is making a run for it. Charlie goes outside and throws the keys to the teams vehicle to Shea with orders to follow her. The woman leads Shea, Philly and Lloyd on a chase but they eventually catch and stop her.
The woman, Carmen, is taken in for questioning where she insists she had nothing to do with the robbery. She ran because her visa expired a year ago and she thought they were there because she was illegal. Ray brings Lloyd in to talk with her. He starts by asking what she had for breakfast the morning of the robbery (a bagel), what she saw when the gun was produced (a gun pointed at her), behind that (a man) and then behind that (she was looking at the gun). He goes back over her day starting with cereal then a robbery. She corrects him that she ate a bagel and not cereal. He keeps talking then abruptly veers off by asking who farted and shifts the attention to Charlie. He keeps going with the issue of who cut the flounder, angering Charlie, until the woman stops them insisting they clear up the matter before them so she can leave since she had nothing to do with the robbery. Charlie grabs Lloyd and pulls him from the room telling him he's going to send him back to prison. Lloyd tells Charlie the woman wasn't involved since she wasn't interested in changing the subject as a guilty person would be. Philly and Julie had been looking over bank surveillance footage in the other room and Philly agrees. The man who came to Carmen's aid at the bank, Kyle Ferro, is who they are looking for as he completely disappeared after the robbery. August Tillman meets with a man who gives him a bomb with instructions that to detonate it, all he needs to do is press pound on the phone twice.
Lloyd is alone in the office with Julie and he notices her strange and withdrawn behavior. He diagnoses her with social anxiety and panic disorder (with just a twist of depression). She isn't comfortable talking with him and he finally tells her that group therapy and shrink visits are hogwash as it's in their financial interest for her to stay afflicted. He tells her to go one block outside her safe zone, sit on a park bench and ask a complete stranger for the time. The next week, ask two strangers for the time. She needs to stop waiting for a wrecking ball to knock the problem down as a crack in the dike will do. Ray comes in with lunch and orders Lloyd to leave Julie alone.
At briefing, they discuss Kyle Ferro and Julie finds Kyle and his brother Frank (Tony Nappo), bought a bar in Richmond, Virginia together. Ray wants to go to Richmond and has to talk Charlie into agreeing, but he does. In Richmond, at Kyle's home, August Tillman has a woman and her daughter held prisoner. He's fine waiting for Kyle to come home as he wants to take care of the situation in house rather than over the phone.
When the team stops for gas, Shea looks longingly at a truck left unguarded by a patron who went inside to pay for his gas. Knowing what he's thinking, Lloyd steps up behind him and, after relaying a story about an experiment he did while he was teaching with 5-year-olds regarding rewards, tells him that he will not go back to a 25-year prison sentence at a maximum security prison just because Shea wants to bolt. Philly, who overheard the conversation agrees and tells them if anyone of them thinks of escaping to let her know so she can go too. In the mens room, Charlie takes some medication he needs. Shea wants to know what Lloyd did to get 25 years but Lloyd refuses to tell. Ray and Charlie return to the team and Shea expresses doubt that they can get Frank to speak with them about Kyle. Philly tells him to take her shopping and she can make him talk.
At the bar, Lloyd and Philly have gone in as a couple. She's dressed seductively and definitely getting Frank's attention. She makes her move and he invites her (and her husband that likes to watch) back to his place. Outside in the car, Shea suggests to Ray and Charlie the team needs a name and he thinks it should be "Breakout Kings" which both men find amusing. Philly successfully seduces Frank and manages to steal his cell phone. She excuses herself to let her husband know they're ready and checks his phone but can't find Kyle's number. Frank enters the room and his phone rings alerting him that she's got it. He demands to know who she is and she admits she is a con that was hired by the U.S. Marshals. Frank calls his brother who has entered his home and gets hit by Tillman. Ray and Charlie go into Frank's to save Philly and Lloyd. Frank takes Philly hostage and Ray shoots a light to get Frank off guard. Charlie and Frank argue over the shooting and Charlie is clearly having health problems. Philly steps in and breaks the two apart and tells them to use the cell phone to get an address to find Kyle using redial.
They enter Kyle's home to find the woman tied up. Tillman took Kyle and her daughter. Tillman calls and tells Ray to back off or he'll make the girl suffer and it will be on him (Ray). Charlie takes information from the woman about Kyle's current physical description and when she mentions the scar above his ear from when he was hit in the bank, Charlie likens it to the injury Amy Flynn had. He knows Amy and Tillman were working together. Julie has information that Amy Flynn quit her job citing stress after the attack. She tells them what kind of car Amy has and gives them information the couple may be headed for Quebec. Shea who ran product to Canada and knows where and how would be the best way to get into Canada undetected. They get a plane from the Richmond field office so they can get ahead of Tillman and Flynn to save the girl.
At the border crossing in North Troy, Vermont, Tillman and Flynn arrive. When they pull up to gas up their car, Shea and Philly go into action. They drive up behind them acting like a couple who is having an argument. Shea gets out of the car and the two continue yelling back and forth. Philly threatens to leave and hits Amy Flynn's car getting their attention even more. Shea apologizes and wants to pay for the damage but Amy declines. He insults her drawing Tillman out of the car. Ray draws on Tillman who produces the cell phone that can be used to detonate the bomb which Shea has discovered when he checks on the girl. Charlie orders Ray to stand down but Ray continues to hold his gun on Tillman. Charlie orders a stand down several more times before Ray finally complies. When Tillman backs up to Amy's car Charlie fires a shot hitting Tillman in the shoulder. As Tillman reaches for the dropped cell phone, Ray steps up onto his hand so he cannot reach it.
Julie is sitting on a park bench. When a man walking his dog passes, she stops him and asks the time. Lloyd calls his mother from Maybelle Minimum Security Prison in Hudson, New York to tell her he can call her more often, about the deal he has with the Marshal's and that he finally helped someone other than himself that day. She tells him "you could have done so much more, Lloyd, so much more" then hangs up on him. Philly checks her bank account at the Bank of Denmark and sees she has $1.3 million. Shea hangs up a paper with "months earned" next to a photo of his wife and child in his new cell.
Ray and Charlie are sitting in Charlie's car outside the house where Ray lives. Ray asks what version Charlie heard and the latter replies that he heard Ray stole some money. Ray tells him the story of what happened. He stole enough money from a bust to buy a car for his daughter because her step-father told her her real father couldn't afford it. Ray is in a halfway house instead of a prison. He gets out to go inside and Charlie reminds him he still has a gun "no cons get weapons". Charlie's wife calls and he tells her he's feeling great and on his way home.
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When I first watched this show the very first thing that went through my mind was "Oh, wow, this is like White Collar for blue collar criminals!" Yes, there could be comparisons drawn between Breakout Kings and White Collar. Both shows use the premise of a convicted felon working with law enforcement agents to solve crimes. However, I think that's where the comparison stops.
I like the cast that has been put together for this show. I immediately took to Ray Zancanelli, Shea and especially Dr. Lloyd Lowery. Ray is one of those tough-guy cops that I like so much. I never would have thought he had taken money and was a 'con' himself. He seemed like such a straight up cop from the get-go. Shea is street-wise and doesn't miss a beat. Then, there's Lloyd. The way Jimmi Simpson portrays him reminds me almost of a Steve Buscemi-esque character. He's odd, quirky, maybe a tad creepy and paranoid but you can't help but like him because of all those characteristics. Charlie Duchamp took me a little getting used to as did Philly but I quickly warmed to the both of them. Charlie is a bit intense at times and he really should take it easy a bit more--for his sake as well as everyone else.
I'm left wondering if at some point we will see Gunderson return to the team or if he was a one-time only thing here as his character seemed to be a good choice. He was a bit strange but he was smart. He knew straight off that things weren't what they appeared to be at the murder scene the team attended. I kind of hope so as I wouldn't mind seeing him back in the least.
All in all, this first episode kept my attention from beginning to end and I enjoyed it. I currently have no complaints with the writing and casting choices. I'm hoping that the show continues to be as good every week as this first week was. If so, I can most certainly see Breakout Kings quickly becoming a favorite show.
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Breakout Kings airs every Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the Arts & Entertainment Network.
For more information:
Breakout Kings Official A&E Site: http://www.aetv.com/breakout-kings/
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1590961/
TV Rage: http://www.tvrage.com/Breakout_Kings
Monday, March 7, 2011
UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Currently Airing New Episodes
New episodes of Law & Order: UK have started! As the shows have already aired in Canada, posts for each of the six episodes to finish up series two are already on the blog.
You can find each of the posts at the following links:
Help: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-45.html
Denial: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-42.html
I.D.: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2010/12/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-41.html
Shaken: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-43.html
Duty of Care: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-44.html
Skeletons: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-46.html
You can find every other post related to Law & Order: UK either by clicking on the entry for the show in the "Categories" list on the left-hand side of the blog or by visiting the "Television Shows" page in the "Pages of Note" section on the left-hand side.
You can find each of the posts at the following links:
Help: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-45.html
Denial: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-42.html
I.D.: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2010/12/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-41.html
Shaken: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/01/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-43.html
Duty of Care: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-44.html
Skeletons: http://wiggspotpourri.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-television-law-order-uk-episode-46.html
You can find every other post related to Law & Order: UK either by clicking on the entry for the show in the "Categories" list on the left-hand side of the blog or by visiting the "Television Shows" page in the "Pages of Note" section on the left-hand side.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
AUS Television: City Homicide, No Greater Honour, Part 2: Go Down Swinging
City Homicide
No Greater Honour, Part Two, Go Down Swinging
Original Air Date: March 2, 2011
A man comes into Homicide about his missing wife and the case takes on a surprising twist when he identifies the Jane Doe in the morgue as the woman who was the lover of him and his wife from swingers parties they attended. His wife is later found dead and the investigation leads the team into the swinger scene. Were the women murdered because of their lifestyle choices or could there have been another motive and who had motive to kill them? Meanwhile, Juliette Gardiner's continued digging into the Dane Majors case takes a deadly turn.
A distraught man, Drew Preston, comes into Homicide looking for his missing wife, Rebecca. Stanley takes him aside to speak with him and is told that the man's wife disappeared three days ago. He filed a missing persons report but he has a feeling something bad has happened. Allie and Nick are at the morgue and the description the man gave matches a Jane Doe that was found the night before by the freeway. Preston is brought into the room with Nick and Allie. Allie takes him into the room with Ronnie and the body where he identifies the body not as his wife but as Sophie Mayne, a woman who was a lover to Preston and his wife.
Preston tells Allie and Nick Sophie and Rebecca were often mistaken for sisters because of their similar appearances. The Preston's met Sophie in Canberra in the swinging scene. When Drew had to move to Melbourne from Canberra because of his work, Sophie on Rebecca's idea moved with them but had her own place. He had no idea she was missing as well. He last saw Rebecca on Saturday night, four nights ago, when she and Sophie went to a party together. He fears that if they were together, his wife is also dead.
In briefing, Allie and Nick bring the team up to speed on Sophie's murder. Her car is missing. Allie thinks it wise to put out a picture of Rebecca Preston as a person of interest in the murder since she was the last person known to be with Sophie. Rhys suggests Sophie and Rebecca might have been swinging a little too hard so Drew Preston killed them both. Matt orders Jennifer and Duncan to follow up on Sophie's last movements including the party, Rhys is to check on next of kin and people at her workplace, Allie and Nick go to Sophie's apartment while he checks the Sexual Offenders Squad in the event there are any predators in the local swingers scene.
As Nick is getting ready to leave, Juliette Gardiner arrives wanting to talk with him. He introduces her to Rhys, Allie and Jennifer and trades workloads with Rhys so he can talk with Juliette. She tells him the truth about the phone call she received while at his place the night before. The papers she was given the night before suggest there was a problem with the evidence that convicted Dane Majors; that it was planted by the police. She asks if there's anything in it and he answers her squarely "no". She can't ignore the information and must at least try to find out if it's credible. She says his word is good enough for her but not for her boss. When she leaves, he calls Bruce Dalton, the investigator he worked with on the Majors case.
Rhys and Allie look through Sophie's apartment and Rhys comments there are no knickknacks or girly things about the place. It's almost like a display home with no personality. There are no keys and the kitchen shows no signs of use and there's no food present. They find one photo of Sophie. Even the teddy bear on the bed is brand new. Allie finds casual clothes in the closet and Rhys finds credit card statements in the drawer of the bedside table. There are five cards from Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne and every one is maxed out on clothes, nice car and furniture.
When Duncan and Jennifer pay a visit to one of the couples, Steve and Olivia Ackerman, who host the swingers parties they are, at first, mistaken for swingers. Once they identify themselves as police, they ask if the couple recognize the Prestons and Sophie, which they do. They last saw Drew on Sunday when he visited their home wanting to know if his wife was there. Rebecca and Sophie were at the party the couple hosted on Saturday night but the wife claims she cannot remember what time they left as it was a busy night.
Bruce Dalton comes into Homicide to speak with Nick who asks his former colleague if there was anything in the evidence or procedures that they need to worry about. Dalton knows of none and assures Nick they are absolutely good on it and tells him if the journalist gives him grief to send him along to him. Jennifer comes in and informs Nick of a briefing in two minutes. Dalton introduces himself to Jennifer and the two men part with a handshake.
At briefing, Jennifer feels the Ackerman's were deliberately obstructing by refusing to give any information about the people who go to the parties, especially the husband, Steve. Nick confirms that Sophie was absent from work that week. Rhys has been researching the swinging scene and learns there is a fee, or donation, at the door to get in which can sometimes be quite substantial and it would be worth looking into the Ackerman's finances. Matt learned that Sophie's car was at the mechanic for two days. She paid the bill and picked it up on Saturday. They speculate the car is now with Rebecca Preston. Matt wants Drew Preston brought in and made aware that with Sophie dead and Rebecca missing he's the prime suspect.
In interview, Drew Preston tells Allie and Nick he knows of no reason his wife would have had to kill Sophie. He wasn't the only connection between them, the scene was a connection and they were both at the party, a party he didn't want to attend. The parties here weren't like those in Canberra. His wife accused him of being boring which made him jealous but he maintains he didn't kill either woman. He loved Rebecca. He didn't love Sophie but he liked her. Nick isn't getting any solid vibes off Drew Preston. Rhys suggests there is one way to find out what happened the night of the party. Matt agrees and sends Allie and Rhys to infiltrate the swingers scene.
Allie and Rhys arrive at the party using the names "Colleen" and "Jack". They bring the $60 door fee with them and turn it over to Olivia Ackerman. Allie is clearly uncomfortable but Olivia assures her there are plenty of newbies there. The two move through the party and separate to mingle. Rhys questions Olivia Ackerman if anyone ever gets jealous, which she says they don't. A man, Tom Smith, comes up to Allie to ask if she's going to join them but she declines saying she and her boyfriend are there to watch as it's all a bit new to them. Steven Ackerman takes interest in Allie. She drops Sophie's name saying she (Sophie) works with her brother. Steven leaves when Tom brings Allie a drink. Tom knows she doesn't want to be there and he assures her there's no need to be scared as the choices are all hers.
Nick meets Majors' slain wife's father, Graham Proctor, at a pub to let him know questions have arisen in the case. Graham is certain the evidence was solid against Majors and suggests it might be worth it to speak with Al Sullivan to let him know someone is taking Juliette for a fool. That night, Nick and Juliette have a discussion about the case. He informs her he's watching out for everyone, especially Graham. He advises her to go back to the source and make him tell her exactly where he's getting his information from for her own sake, to cover herself.
At the party, Allie is approached by a woman who says her husband has had his eye on her. Allie declines the second invitation of the night. Olivia gives Rhys information that Rebecca was fine but there were rumours flying around that Sophie had been lifting wallets. The door takings from last Wednesday went missing, a few months worth of takings. When things begin getting too hot between Rhys and the woman, Allie rushes in and tells him they are leaving.
At briefing the next morning, Rhys informs the team of the suspected thefts at the parties. The theory arises that Rebecca might have killed Sophie and took off with the bag of missing door takings or that they both could have been killed by Drew for the money. Jennifer asks what Rhys was able to learn about Drew and Rebecca and he tells them they had to leave early to maintain their cover because things were getting heavy. Olivia thought Rebecca was bubbly and sweet and completely infatuated with Sophie. She also told Rhys Drew and the two girls were having a few problems. Sophie was becoming possessive of Rebecca. The three of them had a huge fight the last time they all attended a party and were asked to leave. Rhys gets a call and when he steps away to answer it Allie tells the team she wants no part of anymore undercover work. Rhys' call was about a female body found with no identification. Matt sends Rhys and Allie to the scene while Nick and Jennifer look into the Ackerman's financials.
At the scene, they find the body of Rebecca Preston. She had been hidden under some carpets. As Drew Preston identifies his wife in the morgue, Allie gets a message from Duncan that the Ackermans have come in for an interview. Allie and Jennifer take Olivia and Matt and Rhys, Steven. Allie informs Olivia Ackerman that they are there because of a murder investigation and that both Sophie and Rebecca are dead. Both interviews focus on the missing money. Both of the Ackerman's give the amount of missing money at about $70,000-73,000. Steven Ackerman says the theft wasn't reported because he works for the tax department and the money is undeclared income. He admits they suspected Sophie about the missing wallets. Olivia says she caught Sophie in the undressing room a couple of times. When asked why the three weren't banned from the parties, Olivia says Sophie was very popular. Both of the Ackermans are presented with the fact they have motive for killing the women because of the missing money. Steven tells Matt and Rhys the girls didn't leave alone. They left with Tom "Smith", aka Tom Anstey.
Uniforms are checking out Tom's address but Rhys feels Drew Preston shouldn't be taken out of the suspect line-up. Allie definitely sees Tom as a viable suspect as she found him to be odd. Jennifer has information that crime scene is still working the alleyway where Rebecca Preston was found. They aren't sure if she was killed there or just dumped there. Pathology found a particle in scratches on Sophie's back, nail polish which matches the polish Rebecca Preston is still wearing. Matt sends Jennifer to re-interview Drew Preston and Allie and Rhys are to find Tom.
Tom tells Allie and Rhys he was having a sauna. He uses the last name "Smith" at the parties to be discrete. He denies having a relationship with Sophie or Rebecca outside of the Ackerman's parties. He admits he left the Saturday party with them. He says he walked them to Sophie's car two blocks away from the house and doesn't know where they went after that. He can't recall anyone seeing him. When Allie asks if he got along with Drew Preston he tells her he didn't know him too well but he claims he knew the girls were "sick" of Drew and were planning on running away together. Rebecca told him. She said the spark was gone. Tom says he thinks Drew killed them out of jealousy and rage.
At briefing, Rhys presents the new information they received from Tom and Jennifer adds that Drew Preston admitted things had deteriorated in the relationship with him and the two women. Rebecca's time of death could have been anywhere from Sunday morning up to Tuesday. Matt brings information that Sophie's car has been found burnt out and it is believed the fire happened four or five days ago. Part of a luggage tag with Rebecca Preston's name on it was found with the car. The seats in the car were slashed before the fire.
Bruce Dalton pays a visit to Nick, calling him out of the briefing. Dalton is angry because Gardiner caught him outside the station with two constables and tried to make him look like a joke. Nick defends Gardiner saying she believes she has a smoking gun. Dalton knows this as Graham Proctor came to see him as well. Nick sits down in front of Dalton and asks him point blank to be straight with him if there's anything to tell. Dalton gives him his word and that both men know their gut told them Majors was guilty. He feels it all has come about because someone wants Majors out of jail. Nick asks who it could be but Dalton has no idea. Dalton insists the evidence was straight up and he has nothing to hide and that Juliette Gardiner is trouble for Nick.
Juliette goes to see Dane Majors in jail again who insists he was set up. She tells him her source agrees with him which interests him. She wants to know more and asks what he's basing his belief the evidence was planted on. He tells her the golf club. He felt the case against him, which she notes was strong even without the club, was all circumstantial. Majors again implicates Nick as being the only officer at his place to find the golf club. He feels both Dalton and Nick cooked the evidence up against him together. At the new trial with the new jury his lawyer wouldn't let him take the stand to bring that point up in court. He tells her he's been saying something ever since but no one has been listening until now.
Nick asks Jennifer if she's ever been on a case where something doesn't seem quite right but the evidence is overwhelming and everything points to the suspect. He tells her he and Bruce put someone away but he ignored that thought of something not quite right and now Juliette Gardiner is convinced she has something and the worry is back again. He tells her that someone thinks the evidence was planted and is feeding that information to Gardiner. Jennifer advises him to talk to Gardiner and find out what she knows. He takes Jennifer's advice but Gardiner wants him to be straight with her first. He agrees, but when she pulls out a recorder he turns it off. She tells him he either knowingly planted the golf club or someone used him and names Bruce Dalton. Nick states that he knows of nothing that was done illegally in the Majors case and asks who is feeding her information. She doesn't know. He insists he didn't plant evidence. She gets out of the car then tells him she'll give him a heads up before they go to press so he can tell his side of things. He doesn't want her to bother as he doesn't need to see her again.
Allie brings the information that the autopsy showed Rebecca Preston was beaten for a period of time before she was strangled. Jennifer and Rhys agree it sounds like the Ackerman's could have come back to claim their money as Tom didn't need the money and Drew wouldn't have tortured his wife before killing her. Allie and Rhys go back to see the Ackerman's and find Tom running from the house followed by Steve and Olivia. Steve had apparently caught Tom and his wife together. Rhys and Allie bring the confrontation under control. Olivia claims to be in love with Tom and the two are going to run off to Italy. Steve goes back inside to get Olivia's bags. He throws her suitcase down on the drive and throws Tom's briefcase down as well. When it lands, it opens and money spills out. Rhys and Allie place both Tom and Olivia under arrest.
In interview, Olivia admits it was Tom's idea to get the money back from Sophie and Rebecca. She insists Tom wouldn't torture the girls and that he's a good man even though she knows next to nothing about him. She claims he told her on Sunday he'd spoken with the girls and Sophie gave the money back when she realized she'd done the wrong thing. Rhys lets her know that at the time Drew Preston was at the Ackerman home wanting to know about his wife, she might have still been alive. Had she spoken up she could have possibly saved her life.
When Rhys and Allie question Tom, Rhys lays down their theory of how the murders took place. He made his move when the girls went back for one last swingers party. He convinced them to go back to his place for a threesome and killed Sophie from behind by strangling her with his belt. When Rebecca refused to tell where the money was he held onto her and tortured her into telling then killed her. Tom tells them he thinks the killer didn't intend to kill Sophie, only frighten her to find out what she had done with the money. It was a sexual rush when her neck snapped. Rebecca's fear was a buzz when he tied her up to dump Sophie's body. He needed to hurt her to make her tell him where the money was. It made it more enjoyable. He felt nothing despite all the parties until that night. Tom, in his confidence, tells Allie that without any proof, they can't have the killer. Allie, informs him she remembered his story about going to the gym every Sunday and she checked on if he did go that day or go to the barbecue he claimed to have gone to. The gym has no member named Tom Anstey so she showed a picture which was identified as Tom Brown. He stopped in for five minutes to use the change room then leave. From her case, she removes the keys to Sophie's car that he left in his gym locker. He admits Olivia would have been next. The parties are full of the most perfect victims.
That night, Nick watches Juliette Gardiner as she leaves work and follows her. She drives to a car park where she once again meets with her mystery source. Both the source and Gardiner are shot. Nick enters with gun drawn but it's too late. Juliette dies.
--
I never thought I'd see anything make Allie Kingston uncomfortable. Then again, she's never been undercover in the swingers scene before, either. I actually found her reaction to the party rather amusing. She wanted out of there fast and was no doubt quite relieved things started getting out of hand with Rhys and Olivia Ackerman.
Tom Anstey was just plain creepy, wasn't he? I thought it was quite nice how Allie ended up getting the upper hand on him in the end. It would have been wrong on so many levels if he would have gotten away with killing Sophie and Rebecca. His bragging about going to the gym got him in trouble. His attitude got him caught.
I have to say I never saw it coming that Juliette was going to be shot. I thought she would meet with her source again and Nick would be there to overhear something. I don't believe for a second Nick killed either Juliette or her source. Right now, I'm placing my bets on Dalton. If he planted the golf club for Nick to find, he's got a lot to lose. He'd definitely be willing to kill for it, I think. Like I said last week, Nick is a stand-up guy. He's genuinely troubled by the allegations Juliette raised. Now that she's been murdered, he's going to want the truth even more than he does now.
--
For more information:
City Homicide Official Site: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/city-homicide/
Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024932/
TV Rage: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-17228
No Greater Honour, Part Two, Go Down Swinging
Original Air Date: March 2, 2011
A man comes into Homicide about his missing wife and the case takes on a surprising twist when he identifies the Jane Doe in the morgue as the woman who was the lover of him and his wife from swingers parties they attended. His wife is later found dead and the investigation leads the team into the swinger scene. Were the women murdered because of their lifestyle choices or could there have been another motive and who had motive to kill them? Meanwhile, Juliette Gardiner's continued digging into the Dane Majors case takes a deadly turn.
A distraught man, Drew Preston, comes into Homicide looking for his missing wife, Rebecca. Stanley takes him aside to speak with him and is told that the man's wife disappeared three days ago. He filed a missing persons report but he has a feeling something bad has happened. Allie and Nick are at the morgue and the description the man gave matches a Jane Doe that was found the night before by the freeway. Preston is brought into the room with Nick and Allie. Allie takes him into the room with Ronnie and the body where he identifies the body not as his wife but as Sophie Mayne, a woman who was a lover to Preston and his wife.
Preston tells Allie and Nick Sophie and Rebecca were often mistaken for sisters because of their similar appearances. The Preston's met Sophie in Canberra in the swinging scene. When Drew had to move to Melbourne from Canberra because of his work, Sophie on Rebecca's idea moved with them but had her own place. He had no idea she was missing as well. He last saw Rebecca on Saturday night, four nights ago, when she and Sophie went to a party together. He fears that if they were together, his wife is also dead.
In briefing, Allie and Nick bring the team up to speed on Sophie's murder. Her car is missing. Allie thinks it wise to put out a picture of Rebecca Preston as a person of interest in the murder since she was the last person known to be with Sophie. Rhys suggests Sophie and Rebecca might have been swinging a little too hard so Drew Preston killed them both. Matt orders Jennifer and Duncan to follow up on Sophie's last movements including the party, Rhys is to check on next of kin and people at her workplace, Allie and Nick go to Sophie's apartment while he checks the Sexual Offenders Squad in the event there are any predators in the local swingers scene.
As Nick is getting ready to leave, Juliette Gardiner arrives wanting to talk with him. He introduces her to Rhys, Allie and Jennifer and trades workloads with Rhys so he can talk with Juliette. She tells him the truth about the phone call she received while at his place the night before. The papers she was given the night before suggest there was a problem with the evidence that convicted Dane Majors; that it was planted by the police. She asks if there's anything in it and he answers her squarely "no". She can't ignore the information and must at least try to find out if it's credible. She says his word is good enough for her but not for her boss. When she leaves, he calls Bruce Dalton, the investigator he worked with on the Majors case.
Rhys and Allie look through Sophie's apartment and Rhys comments there are no knickknacks or girly things about the place. It's almost like a display home with no personality. There are no keys and the kitchen shows no signs of use and there's no food present. They find one photo of Sophie. Even the teddy bear on the bed is brand new. Allie finds casual clothes in the closet and Rhys finds credit card statements in the drawer of the bedside table. There are five cards from Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne and every one is maxed out on clothes, nice car and furniture.
When Duncan and Jennifer pay a visit to one of the couples, Steve and Olivia Ackerman, who host the swingers parties they are, at first, mistaken for swingers. Once they identify themselves as police, they ask if the couple recognize the Prestons and Sophie, which they do. They last saw Drew on Sunday when he visited their home wanting to know if his wife was there. Rebecca and Sophie were at the party the couple hosted on Saturday night but the wife claims she cannot remember what time they left as it was a busy night.
Bruce Dalton comes into Homicide to speak with Nick who asks his former colleague if there was anything in the evidence or procedures that they need to worry about. Dalton knows of none and assures Nick they are absolutely good on it and tells him if the journalist gives him grief to send him along to him. Jennifer comes in and informs Nick of a briefing in two minutes. Dalton introduces himself to Jennifer and the two men part with a handshake.
At briefing, Jennifer feels the Ackerman's were deliberately obstructing by refusing to give any information about the people who go to the parties, especially the husband, Steve. Nick confirms that Sophie was absent from work that week. Rhys has been researching the swinging scene and learns there is a fee, or donation, at the door to get in which can sometimes be quite substantial and it would be worth looking into the Ackerman's finances. Matt learned that Sophie's car was at the mechanic for two days. She paid the bill and picked it up on Saturday. They speculate the car is now with Rebecca Preston. Matt wants Drew Preston brought in and made aware that with Sophie dead and Rebecca missing he's the prime suspect.
In interview, Drew Preston tells Allie and Nick he knows of no reason his wife would have had to kill Sophie. He wasn't the only connection between them, the scene was a connection and they were both at the party, a party he didn't want to attend. The parties here weren't like those in Canberra. His wife accused him of being boring which made him jealous but he maintains he didn't kill either woman. He loved Rebecca. He didn't love Sophie but he liked her. Nick isn't getting any solid vibes off Drew Preston. Rhys suggests there is one way to find out what happened the night of the party. Matt agrees and sends Allie and Rhys to infiltrate the swingers scene.
Allie and Rhys arrive at the party using the names "Colleen" and "Jack". They bring the $60 door fee with them and turn it over to Olivia Ackerman. Allie is clearly uncomfortable but Olivia assures her there are plenty of newbies there. The two move through the party and separate to mingle. Rhys questions Olivia Ackerman if anyone ever gets jealous, which she says they don't. A man, Tom Smith, comes up to Allie to ask if she's going to join them but she declines saying she and her boyfriend are there to watch as it's all a bit new to them. Steven Ackerman takes interest in Allie. She drops Sophie's name saying she (Sophie) works with her brother. Steven leaves when Tom brings Allie a drink. Tom knows she doesn't want to be there and he assures her there's no need to be scared as the choices are all hers.
Nick meets Majors' slain wife's father, Graham Proctor, at a pub to let him know questions have arisen in the case. Graham is certain the evidence was solid against Majors and suggests it might be worth it to speak with Al Sullivan to let him know someone is taking Juliette for a fool. That night, Nick and Juliette have a discussion about the case. He informs her he's watching out for everyone, especially Graham. He advises her to go back to the source and make him tell her exactly where he's getting his information from for her own sake, to cover herself.
At the party, Allie is approached by a woman who says her husband has had his eye on her. Allie declines the second invitation of the night. Olivia gives Rhys information that Rebecca was fine but there were rumours flying around that Sophie had been lifting wallets. The door takings from last Wednesday went missing, a few months worth of takings. When things begin getting too hot between Rhys and the woman, Allie rushes in and tells him they are leaving.
At briefing the next morning, Rhys informs the team of the suspected thefts at the parties. The theory arises that Rebecca might have killed Sophie and took off with the bag of missing door takings or that they both could have been killed by Drew for the money. Jennifer asks what Rhys was able to learn about Drew and Rebecca and he tells them they had to leave early to maintain their cover because things were getting heavy. Olivia thought Rebecca was bubbly and sweet and completely infatuated with Sophie. She also told Rhys Drew and the two girls were having a few problems. Sophie was becoming possessive of Rebecca. The three of them had a huge fight the last time they all attended a party and were asked to leave. Rhys gets a call and when he steps away to answer it Allie tells the team she wants no part of anymore undercover work. Rhys' call was about a female body found with no identification. Matt sends Rhys and Allie to the scene while Nick and Jennifer look into the Ackerman's financials.
At the scene, they find the body of Rebecca Preston. She had been hidden under some carpets. As Drew Preston identifies his wife in the morgue, Allie gets a message from Duncan that the Ackermans have come in for an interview. Allie and Jennifer take Olivia and Matt and Rhys, Steven. Allie informs Olivia Ackerman that they are there because of a murder investigation and that both Sophie and Rebecca are dead. Both interviews focus on the missing money. Both of the Ackerman's give the amount of missing money at about $70,000-73,000. Steven Ackerman says the theft wasn't reported because he works for the tax department and the money is undeclared income. He admits they suspected Sophie about the missing wallets. Olivia says she caught Sophie in the undressing room a couple of times. When asked why the three weren't banned from the parties, Olivia says Sophie was very popular. Both of the Ackermans are presented with the fact they have motive for killing the women because of the missing money. Steven tells Matt and Rhys the girls didn't leave alone. They left with Tom "Smith", aka Tom Anstey.
Uniforms are checking out Tom's address but Rhys feels Drew Preston shouldn't be taken out of the suspect line-up. Allie definitely sees Tom as a viable suspect as she found him to be odd. Jennifer has information that crime scene is still working the alleyway where Rebecca Preston was found. They aren't sure if she was killed there or just dumped there. Pathology found a particle in scratches on Sophie's back, nail polish which matches the polish Rebecca Preston is still wearing. Matt sends Jennifer to re-interview Drew Preston and Allie and Rhys are to find Tom.
Tom tells Allie and Rhys he was having a sauna. He uses the last name "Smith" at the parties to be discrete. He denies having a relationship with Sophie or Rebecca outside of the Ackerman's parties. He admits he left the Saturday party with them. He says he walked them to Sophie's car two blocks away from the house and doesn't know where they went after that. He can't recall anyone seeing him. When Allie asks if he got along with Drew Preston he tells her he didn't know him too well but he claims he knew the girls were "sick" of Drew and were planning on running away together. Rebecca told him. She said the spark was gone. Tom says he thinks Drew killed them out of jealousy and rage.
At briefing, Rhys presents the new information they received from Tom and Jennifer adds that Drew Preston admitted things had deteriorated in the relationship with him and the two women. Rebecca's time of death could have been anywhere from Sunday morning up to Tuesday. Matt brings information that Sophie's car has been found burnt out and it is believed the fire happened four or five days ago. Part of a luggage tag with Rebecca Preston's name on it was found with the car. The seats in the car were slashed before the fire.
Bruce Dalton pays a visit to Nick, calling him out of the briefing. Dalton is angry because Gardiner caught him outside the station with two constables and tried to make him look like a joke. Nick defends Gardiner saying she believes she has a smoking gun. Dalton knows this as Graham Proctor came to see him as well. Nick sits down in front of Dalton and asks him point blank to be straight with him if there's anything to tell. Dalton gives him his word and that both men know their gut told them Majors was guilty. He feels it all has come about because someone wants Majors out of jail. Nick asks who it could be but Dalton has no idea. Dalton insists the evidence was straight up and he has nothing to hide and that Juliette Gardiner is trouble for Nick.
Juliette goes to see Dane Majors in jail again who insists he was set up. She tells him her source agrees with him which interests him. She wants to know more and asks what he's basing his belief the evidence was planted on. He tells her the golf club. He felt the case against him, which she notes was strong even without the club, was all circumstantial. Majors again implicates Nick as being the only officer at his place to find the golf club. He feels both Dalton and Nick cooked the evidence up against him together. At the new trial with the new jury his lawyer wouldn't let him take the stand to bring that point up in court. He tells her he's been saying something ever since but no one has been listening until now.
Nick asks Jennifer if she's ever been on a case where something doesn't seem quite right but the evidence is overwhelming and everything points to the suspect. He tells her he and Bruce put someone away but he ignored that thought of something not quite right and now Juliette Gardiner is convinced she has something and the worry is back again. He tells her that someone thinks the evidence was planted and is feeding that information to Gardiner. Jennifer advises him to talk to Gardiner and find out what she knows. He takes Jennifer's advice but Gardiner wants him to be straight with her first. He agrees, but when she pulls out a recorder he turns it off. She tells him he either knowingly planted the golf club or someone used him and names Bruce Dalton. Nick states that he knows of nothing that was done illegally in the Majors case and asks who is feeding her information. She doesn't know. He insists he didn't plant evidence. She gets out of the car then tells him she'll give him a heads up before they go to press so he can tell his side of things. He doesn't want her to bother as he doesn't need to see her again.
Allie brings the information that the autopsy showed Rebecca Preston was beaten for a period of time before she was strangled. Jennifer and Rhys agree it sounds like the Ackerman's could have come back to claim their money as Tom didn't need the money and Drew wouldn't have tortured his wife before killing her. Allie and Rhys go back to see the Ackerman's and find Tom running from the house followed by Steve and Olivia. Steve had apparently caught Tom and his wife together. Rhys and Allie bring the confrontation under control. Olivia claims to be in love with Tom and the two are going to run off to Italy. Steve goes back inside to get Olivia's bags. He throws her suitcase down on the drive and throws Tom's briefcase down as well. When it lands, it opens and money spills out. Rhys and Allie place both Tom and Olivia under arrest.
In interview, Olivia admits it was Tom's idea to get the money back from Sophie and Rebecca. She insists Tom wouldn't torture the girls and that he's a good man even though she knows next to nothing about him. She claims he told her on Sunday he'd spoken with the girls and Sophie gave the money back when she realized she'd done the wrong thing. Rhys lets her know that at the time Drew Preston was at the Ackerman home wanting to know about his wife, she might have still been alive. Had she spoken up she could have possibly saved her life.
When Rhys and Allie question Tom, Rhys lays down their theory of how the murders took place. He made his move when the girls went back for one last swingers party. He convinced them to go back to his place for a threesome and killed Sophie from behind by strangling her with his belt. When Rebecca refused to tell where the money was he held onto her and tortured her into telling then killed her. Tom tells them he thinks the killer didn't intend to kill Sophie, only frighten her to find out what she had done with the money. It was a sexual rush when her neck snapped. Rebecca's fear was a buzz when he tied her up to dump Sophie's body. He needed to hurt her to make her tell him where the money was. It made it more enjoyable. He felt nothing despite all the parties until that night. Tom, in his confidence, tells Allie that without any proof, they can't have the killer. Allie, informs him she remembered his story about going to the gym every Sunday and she checked on if he did go that day or go to the barbecue he claimed to have gone to. The gym has no member named Tom Anstey so she showed a picture which was identified as Tom Brown. He stopped in for five minutes to use the change room then leave. From her case, she removes the keys to Sophie's car that he left in his gym locker. He admits Olivia would have been next. The parties are full of the most perfect victims.
That night, Nick watches Juliette Gardiner as she leaves work and follows her. She drives to a car park where she once again meets with her mystery source. Both the source and Gardiner are shot. Nick enters with gun drawn but it's too late. Juliette dies.
--
I never thought I'd see anything make Allie Kingston uncomfortable. Then again, she's never been undercover in the swingers scene before, either. I actually found her reaction to the party rather amusing. She wanted out of there fast and was no doubt quite relieved things started getting out of hand with Rhys and Olivia Ackerman.
Tom Anstey was just plain creepy, wasn't he? I thought it was quite nice how Allie ended up getting the upper hand on him in the end. It would have been wrong on so many levels if he would have gotten away with killing Sophie and Rebecca. His bragging about going to the gym got him in trouble. His attitude got him caught.
I have to say I never saw it coming that Juliette was going to be shot. I thought she would meet with her source again and Nick would be there to overhear something. I don't believe for a second Nick killed either Juliette or her source. Right now, I'm placing my bets on Dalton. If he planted the golf club for Nick to find, he's got a lot to lose. He'd definitely be willing to kill for it, I think. Like I said last week, Nick is a stand-up guy. He's genuinely troubled by the allegations Juliette raised. Now that she's been murdered, he's going to want the truth even more than he does now.
--
For more information:
City Homicide Official Site: http://au.tv.yahoo.com/city-homicide/
Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1024932/
TV Rage: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-17228
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Recommendation of the Month: Republic of Doyle
There are tons of things I watch that I don't blog about. I thought I'd start a new monthly feature where I would recommend some of those things to you. Some of the shows are currently airing and others aren't. I won't recommend anything that doesn't currently air on television that isn't available on DVD or Blu-Ray (or both) because if you can't find it, you can't give it a try, right?
So, on or around the first day of each month you can expect one of these chatty (but not too chatty!) little posts about a television show I dearly love. While keeping things as brief as possible, I'll try to introduce you to the characters and give you a bit of an idea as to what the show is about so you can decide whether or not it might become one of your favorites, too.
So, let's get going!
If someone told me I had to choose five television shows, past or present, that I absolutely couldn't live without there is one that I wouldn't hesitate for a second to include on that list: Republic of Doyle.
Republic of Doyle is a Canadian private eye series set in St. John's, Newfoundland. The show is currently enjoying its second season and has already been renewed by the CBC for a third. Doyle stars series creator, writer and executive producer Allan Hawco as former policeman turned private eye, Jake Doyle. His business and investigative partner is his father, Malachy Doyle (Sean McGinley). Malachy is a retired policeman himself and full of witty lines and always ready to trade a barb or two with his son. Rose, the love of Mal's life, helps the Doyle boys by carrying out investigations from the office.
Republic of Doyle has been compared to The Rockford Files and Magnum P.I. and I think those comparisons are quite fitting. Both Rockford and Magnum had strong lead characters, compelling supporting characters and a perfect blend of mystery, action and humor. Doyle is no different.
Jake Doyle is a character you can't help but love. He's flawed (very flawed!), he's got a quick and ready wit, he'll go the extra mile to help his client out of a jam (as long as that extra mile doesn't threaten him with severe bodily harm) and he takes his fair share of punches. Jake has quite an affection for the ladies. When the series starts, he's going through a less than amiable divorce from Nikki Renholds. At the same time, he's got eyes for the local constable who looks more like a beauty queen than a policeman, Leslie Bennett. Jake's dad, Malachy Doyle has long since given up on trying to keep his son out of trouble because he knows no matter how hard he tries, Jake can't stay out of trouble.
Tinny Doyle is Malachy's sixteen-year-old granddaughter who lives with her grandfather and Rose. Her relationship with Rose is a little tough at the beginning but, as the series progresses, they go from angry teen/frustrated Rose to two women who can get along and work together. We're first introduced to Des Courtney when Jake and Mal are chasing him down because he's spray painting graffiti all over buildings in St. John's. The dislike between he and Jake goes to new heights when Des spray paints "Dick for hire" on the side of Jake's beloved GTO. Des is given an option: turn his life around and help the Doyle's or he will be turned in. Of course, he chooses the former and becomes the newest member of the Doyle team. He's also completely and hopelessly in love with Tinny and doesn't really hide that fact very well (even though he thinks he does).
The writing on the show is strong and focuses not only on providing viewers with an interesting and entertaining story each week but with creating compelling characters you can come to really care about. You want to know what will be happening next with prodigal son Christian or if Jake will ever get things straight in his love life or just how much trouble Tinny is going to be getting herself into with her current plans. The female characters aren't weaklings who need the men to bail them out of trouble at every turn. They can stand on their own two feet and, in many occasions, give the guys a run for their money. The crimes are unique and sometimes hilarious (how often on television do you see an investigation into a stolen chip truck?).
Allan Hawco has done a brilliant job focusing on St. John's and Newfoundland with Republic of Doyle. The series theme song, Oh Yeah is by Newfoundland band, Great Big Sea. (Trust me, after becoming a Republic of Doyle fan you'll never say the phrase "oh yeah" again without thinking of RoD or even singing the theme song.) Lots of famous faces from Newfoundland have had guest starring roles in the show including Gordon Pinsent (Maurice Becker), Michael Coady (registration, sign-in guard), Shaun Majumder (Benny Natchie), Mary Walsh (Miranda Cahill), Mark Critch (Ned Bishop) and Joanne Kelly (Stacey Layden). The awesome Gordon Pinsent has appeared as Maurice Becker twice and will no doubt be seen again as he has a score to settle with Jake. Victor Garber also made an incredible appearance in season one as novelist Garrison Steele who is always ready to give the bad guys, or Jake, what they really deserve: a good slap. Garber will be returning in season two. The city of St. John's is as much of a character as Jake, Malachy, Rose or Des. It provides the beautiful and colorful backdrop for the action. At times, the picturesque images of St. John's and the Atlantic Ocean on which it lies almost steal the scenes from the actors themselves.
Season one of Doyle is available on DVD in Canada. The series can also be bought on iTunes. Episodes of season two can be watched on the official CBC website for the show (Canadian residents only). Republic of Doyle has started airing in countries other than Canada. In October of 2010, viewers in the United Kingdom were introduced to the Doyles. Australian and Brazilian viewers were able to follow Jake and Mal on their weekly adventures starting in November of 2010. With a little bit of luck, this amazing Canadian television show will continue to expand to other countries so more viewers can enjoy the action, humor and amazing characters Republic of Doyle has to offer.
Characters:
Jake Doyle: Allan Hawco
Malachy Doyle: Sean McGinley
Rose Miller (Doyle): Linda Boyd
Tinny Doyle: Marthe Bernard
Des Courtney: Mark O'Brien
Leslie Bennett: Krystin Pellerin
Dr. Nikki Renholds (formerly Doyle): Rachel Wilson
Walter McLean (Jake's lawyer): Sean Panting
Christian Doyle: Jonathan Goad
Republic of Doyle airs Wednesday nights on the CBC at 9:00 p.m. (9:30 p.m. in Newfoundland).
For more information:
Republic of Doyle Official CBC Website: http://www.cbc.ca/republicofdoyle/
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1297754/
TvRage: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-24461
So, on or around the first day of each month you can expect one of these chatty (but not too chatty!) little posts about a television show I dearly love. While keeping things as brief as possible, I'll try to introduce you to the characters and give you a bit of an idea as to what the show is about so you can decide whether or not it might become one of your favorites, too.
So, let's get going!
If someone told me I had to choose five television shows, past or present, that I absolutely couldn't live without there is one that I wouldn't hesitate for a second to include on that list: Republic of Doyle.
Republic of Doyle is a Canadian private eye series set in St. John's, Newfoundland. The show is currently enjoying its second season and has already been renewed by the CBC for a third. Doyle stars series creator, writer and executive producer Allan Hawco as former policeman turned private eye, Jake Doyle. His business and investigative partner is his father, Malachy Doyle (Sean McGinley). Malachy is a retired policeman himself and full of witty lines and always ready to trade a barb or two with his son. Rose, the love of Mal's life, helps the Doyle boys by carrying out investigations from the office.
Republic of Doyle has been compared to The Rockford Files and Magnum P.I. and I think those comparisons are quite fitting. Both Rockford and Magnum had strong lead characters, compelling supporting characters and a perfect blend of mystery, action and humor. Doyle is no different.
Jake Doyle is a character you can't help but love. He's flawed (very flawed!), he's got a quick and ready wit, he'll go the extra mile to help his client out of a jam (as long as that extra mile doesn't threaten him with severe bodily harm) and he takes his fair share of punches. Jake has quite an affection for the ladies. When the series starts, he's going through a less than amiable divorce from Nikki Renholds. At the same time, he's got eyes for the local constable who looks more like a beauty queen than a policeman, Leslie Bennett. Jake's dad, Malachy Doyle has long since given up on trying to keep his son out of trouble because he knows no matter how hard he tries, Jake can't stay out of trouble.
Tinny Doyle is Malachy's sixteen-year-old granddaughter who lives with her grandfather and Rose. Her relationship with Rose is a little tough at the beginning but, as the series progresses, they go from angry teen/frustrated Rose to two women who can get along and work together. We're first introduced to Des Courtney when Jake and Mal are chasing him down because he's spray painting graffiti all over buildings in St. John's. The dislike between he and Jake goes to new heights when Des spray paints "Dick for hire" on the side of Jake's beloved GTO. Des is given an option: turn his life around and help the Doyle's or he will be turned in. Of course, he chooses the former and becomes the newest member of the Doyle team. He's also completely and hopelessly in love with Tinny and doesn't really hide that fact very well (even though he thinks he does).
The writing on the show is strong and focuses not only on providing viewers with an interesting and entertaining story each week but with creating compelling characters you can come to really care about. You want to know what will be happening next with prodigal son Christian or if Jake will ever get things straight in his love life or just how much trouble Tinny is going to be getting herself into with her current plans. The female characters aren't weaklings who need the men to bail them out of trouble at every turn. They can stand on their own two feet and, in many occasions, give the guys a run for their money. The crimes are unique and sometimes hilarious (how often on television do you see an investigation into a stolen chip truck?).
Allan Hawco has done a brilliant job focusing on St. John's and Newfoundland with Republic of Doyle. The series theme song, Oh Yeah is by Newfoundland band, Great Big Sea. (Trust me, after becoming a Republic of Doyle fan you'll never say the phrase "oh yeah" again without thinking of RoD or even singing the theme song.) Lots of famous faces from Newfoundland have had guest starring roles in the show including Gordon Pinsent (Maurice Becker), Michael Coady (registration, sign-in guard), Shaun Majumder (Benny Natchie), Mary Walsh (Miranda Cahill), Mark Critch (Ned Bishop) and Joanne Kelly (Stacey Layden). The awesome Gordon Pinsent has appeared as Maurice Becker twice and will no doubt be seen again as he has a score to settle with Jake. Victor Garber also made an incredible appearance in season one as novelist Garrison Steele who is always ready to give the bad guys, or Jake, what they really deserve: a good slap. Garber will be returning in season two. The city of St. John's is as much of a character as Jake, Malachy, Rose or Des. It provides the beautiful and colorful backdrop for the action. At times, the picturesque images of St. John's and the Atlantic Ocean on which it lies almost steal the scenes from the actors themselves.
Season one of Doyle is available on DVD in Canada. The series can also be bought on iTunes. Episodes of season two can be watched on the official CBC website for the show (Canadian residents only). Republic of Doyle has started airing in countries other than Canada. In October of 2010, viewers in the United Kingdom were introduced to the Doyles. Australian and Brazilian viewers were able to follow Jake and Mal on their weekly adventures starting in November of 2010. With a little bit of luck, this amazing Canadian television show will continue to expand to other countries so more viewers can enjoy the action, humor and amazing characters Republic of Doyle has to offer.
Characters:
Jake Doyle: Allan Hawco
Malachy Doyle: Sean McGinley
Rose Miller (Doyle): Linda Boyd
Tinny Doyle: Marthe Bernard
Des Courtney: Mark O'Brien
Leslie Bennett: Krystin Pellerin
Dr. Nikki Renholds (formerly Doyle): Rachel Wilson
Walter McLean (Jake's lawyer): Sean Panting
Christian Doyle: Jonathan Goad
Republic of Doyle airs Wednesday nights on the CBC at 9:00 p.m. (9:30 p.m. in Newfoundland).
For more information:
Republic of Doyle Official CBC Website: http://www.cbc.ca/republicofdoyle/
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1297754/
TvRage: http://www.tvrage.com/shows/id-24461
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
US Television, White Collar, Episode 2.15 "Power Play"
White Collar
Season Two, Episode Fifteen, Power Play
Original Air Date: March 1, 2011
When Elizabeth learns from the assistant of her picky and powerful new client that he is involved in a scheme to cause blackouts in New York City she naturally tells Peter. He agrees to meet with the assistant but, when he is held up, Neal impersonates Peter to secure her help. Peter and Neal must trade places and become each other to take down the men responsible for millions in electric costs and the deaths of three people during the blackouts. Meanwhile, Sara Ellis is back with news that furthers their investigation of Vincent Adler and who, or what, he is looking for.
Elizabeth is briefing her people on the specifics of an event they are catering when her ultra-picky client Andrew Stanzler (Richard Schiff) walks in to further clarify what he wants for the event. His assistant, Brooke is clearly troubled. She asks Elizabeth about her husband working for the FBI and tells her everything isn't alright.
Temperatures in New York have soared into the triple digits making life miserable for New Yorker's. Peter must install a window air conditioner in the house because the central air has gone out after a blackout. Elizabeth has a talk with Peter about Stanzler who makes his money as an energy trader, so she thought. She tells him Brooke informed her that she thinks Stanzler has been creating the blackouts. She overheard her boss talking about it with another trader and, after some research, she thinks he's withholding supply during peak hours then selling supply to the city for triple the rates. Peter wants Brooke to come into the Bureau to talk about the situation but she is terrified someone will see her and call her boss. She suggests he come to the museum while Stanzler is out, and he should bring Neal because Brooke is really nervous and he has a calming smile.
Neal and Sara Ellis meet on the street and she tells him Argentina was hot but very interesting. She figured out where the crates they found earlier were being smuggled out of, an estate in southern Argentina. It had been burned to the ground and she is pretty sure it was Vincent Adler who did it as she thinks he was hiding there after he fled the United States. She met some locals including a woman named Rosa who worked in Adler's kitchen. Rosa said he was obsessed with finding a German soldier named Gerhardt Wagner. Neither she or Neal know the name but Sara is hoping the FBI can find out who he is.
At the museum, Elle assures Brooke that Peter will be there soon. While Brooke goes over seating arrangements with Yvonne (Kelly McCreary), Neal arrives alone. He said Peter told him he'd be meeting him there. She asks him to call to see how long it will be before Peter can arrive. Brook receives a text that Stanzler is on his way. Peter tells Neal it will be around 18 minutes before he can arrive. Peter tells Neal to do whatever he needs to do to keep Brooke calm but he can't let her go. Not having any time to spare, Neal introduces himself to Brooke as Agent Peter Burke, much to Elizabeth's surprise. Neal assures Brooke, who is terrified, that the Bureau will take care of her if she'll help them, which she agrees to do. Once Brooke walks away to meet with Stanzler, Neal and Elle talk about who will tell Peter what had to be done. Neal nominates Elle, of course.
Peter isn't happy about Neal impersonating a Federal agent. Neal knows that if they reveal to Brooke that he impersonated Peter she will never trust either of them or Elle and they won't have her help, which they desperately need, to get Stanzler. Elizabeth calls and Peter tells her he and Neal have decided they are going to be honest with Brooke. After speaking with her for a few seconds Peter informs the entire team that for the next hour, and only the next hour, everyone will refer to Neal as Peter and Peter as Neal. They aren't to ask questions (as some want to do), not to laugh (as some are) and never to speak of it again.
Elizabeth and Brooke arrive in the office. Neal gives Elle a quick kiss on the cheek, much to Peter's displeasure. Elizabeth introduces Peter to Brooke as Neal Caffrey. Peter gives Brooke way more information about Neal than she really needs to make a point to him. In Peter's office, Brooke tells them that Stanzler's company is the broker and New York's electricity system is a deregulated market. Peter/Neal suggests Neal/Peter talk to the Commodities Trading Commission before pointing out there's a photo of the real Peter and Elizabeth on the desk. As Neal puts the photo in the desk drawer, Brooke wants to speak to Neal/Peter alone. Neal assures her that while Peter/Neal seems intimidating, he's very useful in cases like hers and is the single most valuable asset they have at the Bureau. She still insists they speak alone so Neal/Peter sends Peter/Neal out to get him some coffee (cream, no sugar).
Once Peter/Neal is gone, Brooke tells Neal/Peter that she believes StanzlerStanzler wants a thief. Neal feels it's too bad Stanzler has already met him or he could find out what is going on. Peter insists the "new Neal Caffery" can find out. Peter orders Neal to talk to Brooke and have her put Neal Caffrey on Stanzlers books.
While Mozzie continues working on the antenna, Neal puts together a fake I.D. for both he and Peter in their changed identities. Peter and Sara arrive at Neal's apartment to show them a DVD as to why Adler is so interested in Wagner. Peter points out Wagner on the DVD and explains he worked as a radio operator in the U-boat headquarters. After the Third Reich fell, he fled to the U.S. and claimed to have top secret information he wanted to share with the U.S. but he was sent to a detention center at Ellis Island. He escaped from the detention center a few weeks later. Sara questions what kind of information Wagner could have had that Adler would be interested in a half century later. Neal feels it's related to the antenna Mozzie has been working on. Peter suggests Wagner may have gotten into the naturalization line. His name could have been changed and his life along with it. Peter says they'll check the archives for matches to Wagner. Everyone leaves and Neal and Sara walk the same way. Someone is following them so Neal puts his arm around her drawing her close so she can keep an eye on the guy following them. He turns her around so he can watch the man. A car speeds up and the man gets into it and it speeds away.
Peter goes over the museum layout with Elizabeth in preparation for his being Neal Caffrey, master thief with Stanzler. She helps him with his impersonation of Neal, helping him make his Neal a charmer. As he's getting ready to leave, she calls him back so he can take off his wedding ring. Reluctantly, he takes it off and gives it to her. Brooke introduces Peter/Neal to Stanzler. Peter tells him Bill Roscoe told him Stanzler was interested in an acquisition and if there is a job he's the man for it. Stanzler laughs the comment off that everyone in his business says the same thing. Peter ups the ante telling him he can rob the museum in under 20 minutes. Peter details the buildings weaknesses and tells Stanzler he would skip the display and hit the private collection to avoid security.
Peter briefs the team that Stanzler wants a thief to steal a flash drive from another trader Frances Luntz. Peter believes Stanzler and Luntz are using their combined market power to create temporary shortages. Luntz doesn't trust Stanzler and secretly videotaped one of their meetings and that video is on the flash drive Stanzler wants stolen. They cannot use a warrant because Stanzler doesn't know exactly what's on the tape. If the video is insufficient they lose their chances of catching either Stanzler or Luntz. He does want a warrant for Luntz home, however. When the team has left the briefing room, Neal tells Peter about he and Sara being followed after they left his apartment the night before. Neal thinks Adler put a tail on Sara who is currently at the Archives where Neal will be meeting her. Peter orders him to stay close to Sara and tells him he'll need some training for his break in. Neal's got him covered.
Peter arrives at Neal's apartment to receive his thief training from none other than Mozzie who first wants Peter to take a pebble from the palm of his hand. When Peter doesn't, Mozzie next asks him to give him $20, which he does. That was lesson one: we take, we don't give. Mozzie pockets the money and continues to the next lesson.
Neal meets up with Sara and they both are free of anyone following them. She tells him it could take up to four weeks to get access to the files they want. Neal has a plan. They tell the woman at the Archives they are looking information about an individual who may have come through Ellis Island in 1946 and need files to match a physical description. They can tell her nothing else because of National Security. The woman is very cooperative once she believes Neal is with the FBI, and after he shows her his fake ID identifying him as Peter Burke. She takes them into a huge room full of ledgers, records and card catalogs--all from 1946.
June brings Byron's "training jacket" up to Peter who Mozzie is trying to teach lock picking. Peter must drop a bug into Stanzler's jacket so the Bureau can listen to him from the van. Dropping the bug isn't the hard part. He must retrieve it without jingling the bells on the jacket. After two tries where he jingles the bells, Peter declares the task impossible. Mozzie reaches in on one try and gets the bug, no bells. June explains Peter must use just two fingers like tweezers so the thumb will never touch the mark, which he wasn't doing.
At the Archives, Neal and Sara continue their search through the mountain of files which Sara admits will take a while. Neal asks her why she's helping, what her angle is on it. She tells him if Adler has spent his life searching for something the payoff must be larger than the billion dollars he's already stolen. Neal questions if that is all and she simply replies she likes the mystery. She tells him about how when she was thirteen her older sister ran away and the family never heard from her again. She used to go into her room and wonder if there were clues there as to where her sister was. She never found any answers. She feels if they find Adler, Neal might be able to have some closure about Kate.
Mozzie, now wearing the jacket, gives Peter one last chance with the bug. Peter steps up next to him, reaches into the pocket and removes his hand. Mozzie feels into the pockets and tells him he didn't drop a bug. True, he didn't. Peter brings up his hand showing the $20 Mozzie had taken from him earlier in the day. Mozzie informs Peter he's ready to commit a crime.
Diana and Jones wish Peter luck the next morning. Neal tells him it's going to take a while to find information on Wagner. Neal starts to give Peter a "be careful" speech but Peter stops him. Neal tells him to go out there and make him look good. Peter meets with Stanzler and drops the bug. Stanzler gives him his instructions to look for anything labeled "Project Edison" once he reaches Luntz's master bedroom. Stanzler will be meeting with Luntz for twenty minutes and that will be all the time he has to find his way in, make the steal and get out.
Stanzler drives up to Luntz's mansion and knocks on the trunk lid of the car, where Peter is hidden. When Stanzler goes indoors, Peter gets out of the trunk and goes inside. He gets a quick glimpse of Stanzler and Luntz's meeting about their scheme then heads off to get the flash drive.
Mozzie helps Sara go through the files at the Archives. She asks if Neal sent him to stay with her to which he replies no one sends him anywhere, he just goes places. The lights go out on them and Mozzie takes that as a sign. He puts on a helmet and grabs a device telling Sara he'll let her know what that sign was, gets up and leaves.
At Luntz's mansion, Peter arrives in the master bedroom. Peter finds a key and Neal talks him through the caper telling him to look for an in-wall safe. He finds one behind a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Luntz. He opens it and finds the video. He makes a copy so the Bureau can have one and the original can be given to Stanzler. Diana alerts the team to the conversation between Stanzler and Luntz about having a guy inside the power company who flips a switch causing rolling blackouts and they will make a fortune. Luntz is reluctant to speak with the man but Stanzler urges him to. Neal informs Peter of this and Peter orders they will wait till Saturday and take down all three men. Peter gets out of the house and when he gets out of Stanzler's trunk, he gives him the drive and retrieves the bug from his jacket pocket. Stanzler gives him his payment and asks if he wants another job. He'll pay him double to be at the museum at 5:00 on Saturday. Peter agrees.
At the Bureau, they watch the video Peter copied from the flash drive. Neal and Peter brief the team about the plan Stanzler and Luntz have and Peter reveals he's been invited to the event as Neal. They can take advantage of the situation and slip video feed onto Stanzler. They installed a camera in place of the lapel button on his suit. Brooke will make sure Stanzler is wearing the jacket with the camera. Jones and Diana will be in the van. Neal will be accompanying Elizabeth, as a precaution.
At the event, Stanzler introduces Peter/Neal to Neal/Peter and Elizabeth. Brooke informs her boss that Luntz has arrived. Stanzler takes Peter/Neal aside and into a room where Luntz is waiting. He tells Peter he wants him to watch Luntz and will have more for him when he returns then leaves. Peter talks to Luntz who apparently believes him to be the inside man from the power company. Luntz thinks the entire scheme has gotten way out of hand and he wants out. Peter asks Luntz straight out if Stanzler told him he was the man from the power company to which he receives confirmation. Peter finds the doors locked and he tells Luntz about Stanzler having him break into his home to steal the video. He contacts Jones to let him know they are locked in the Stanzler Gallery. As Jones is starting to work on that, he gets a call altering him to another blackout getting ready to sweep through the sector. Peter orders Diana to find Elizabeth and the two women head to the backup generator. Peter has figured out Stanzler's plan. He plans to kill Luntz and him (Peter) when the power goes out. Peter is trying to pick the locks while Neal keeps eyes on Stanzler.
When the blackout occurs, Neal pulls out his fake identification and orders everyone to stay calm. He runs after Stanzler and is stopped by a locked gate. Again, he pulls out his ID and orders a guard to open the gate. Jones informs Peter Stanzler is making his move. Neal puts agents on the move to the Stanzler Gallery to save Peter and Luntz. Stanzler arrives in the gallery with Peter and Luntz. Diana and Elizabeth arrive at the generator which has been disengaged. Jones asks if she can turn it on. Stanzler begins firing toward Peter and Luntz in the dark. The generated lights come back on and Neal enters announcing the FBI, ordering Stanzler to drop his weapon. Peter overtakes Stanzler and he is arrested.
Peter and Neal chat outside the museum and Peter tells Neal that he (Neal) enjoys being him (Peter). Neal admits there is a certain allure to the profession and Peter admits being Neal Caffrey has its charms. When Peter sends Neal off with a "good work" he slyly takes Neal's fake ID from his pocket. Elizabeth finds her husband and gives him his wedding ring back.
Neal arrives at the Archives where Sara is still working and brings her some food. The power goes out on them and Mozzie, who is looking at microfilm. Neal and Sara share a kiss and things begin to escalate farther when the power returns. Mozzie catches Neal and Sara when he returns to tell them he found something. Wagner went through immigration with the name Michael Hunter who died in New York. He has one surviving family member, a granddaughter, Alexandra Hunter. Alex takes a call and informs the caller she's heading to the location now. She's being followed by the same man following Neal and Sara.
--
From the episode description I knew this show was going to be great. It didn't disappoint. This episode was awesome! One of my favorites yet.
The humor was amazing. I loved the point Peter had to make to Neal when he first met Brooke. She didn't need to hear everything Peter wanted to tell her but he made sure Neal was surely aware that he could send him back to jail at any time. The humor was rolling through virtually every scene from the briefing where Jones and Diana wanted to know about Peter's meeting with Stanzler masquerading as Neal right to Mozzie teaching Peter how to be a criminal. Peter learned from the old pro Mozzie pretty fast, didn't he?
I like Neal and Sara as a couple. It's always a pleasure to see Sara in the show. She's tough and no-nonsense. I think she and Neal together is an interesting twist seeing as how she's pursued him in the past to put him in jail.
With the new developments concerning Alex and Sara, I'm sure that next weeks season finale is going to be something else!
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White Collar airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. (US Eastern time) on the USA Network.
For More Information:
Official Site: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/whitecollar/
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1358522/
TV Rage: http://www.tvrage.com/White_Collar
Season Two, Episode Fifteen, Power Play
Original Air Date: March 1, 2011
When Elizabeth learns from the assistant of her picky and powerful new client that he is involved in a scheme to cause blackouts in New York City she naturally tells Peter. He agrees to meet with the assistant but, when he is held up, Neal impersonates Peter to secure her help. Peter and Neal must trade places and become each other to take down the men responsible for millions in electric costs and the deaths of three people during the blackouts. Meanwhile, Sara Ellis is back with news that furthers their investigation of Vincent Adler and who, or what, he is looking for.
Elizabeth is briefing her people on the specifics of an event they are catering when her ultra-picky client Andrew Stanzler (Richard Schiff) walks in to further clarify what he wants for the event. His assistant, Brooke is clearly troubled. She asks Elizabeth about her husband working for the FBI and tells her everything isn't alright.
Temperatures in New York have soared into the triple digits making life miserable for New Yorker's. Peter must install a window air conditioner in the house because the central air has gone out after a blackout. Elizabeth has a talk with Peter about Stanzler who makes his money as an energy trader, so she thought. She tells him Brooke informed her that she thinks Stanzler has been creating the blackouts. She overheard her boss talking about it with another trader and, after some research, she thinks he's withholding supply during peak hours then selling supply to the city for triple the rates. Peter wants Brooke to come into the Bureau to talk about the situation but she is terrified someone will see her and call her boss. She suggests he come to the museum while Stanzler is out, and he should bring Neal because Brooke is really nervous and he has a calming smile.
Neal and Sara Ellis meet on the street and she tells him Argentina was hot but very interesting. She figured out where the crates they found earlier were being smuggled out of, an estate in southern Argentina. It had been burned to the ground and she is pretty sure it was Vincent Adler who did it as she thinks he was hiding there after he fled the United States. She met some locals including a woman named Rosa who worked in Adler's kitchen. Rosa said he was obsessed with finding a German soldier named Gerhardt Wagner. Neither she or Neal know the name but Sara is hoping the FBI can find out who he is.
At the museum, Elle assures Brooke that Peter will be there soon. While Brooke goes over seating arrangements with Yvonne (Kelly McCreary), Neal arrives alone. He said Peter told him he'd be meeting him there. She asks him to call to see how long it will be before Peter can arrive. Brook receives a text that Stanzler is on his way. Peter tells Neal it will be around 18 minutes before he can arrive. Peter tells Neal to do whatever he needs to do to keep Brooke calm but he can't let her go. Not having any time to spare, Neal introduces himself to Brooke as Agent Peter Burke, much to Elizabeth's surprise. Neal assures Brooke, who is terrified, that the Bureau will take care of her if she'll help them, which she agrees to do. Once Brooke walks away to meet with Stanzler, Neal and Elle talk about who will tell Peter what had to be done. Neal nominates Elle, of course.
Peter isn't happy about Neal impersonating a Federal agent. Neal knows that if they reveal to Brooke that he impersonated Peter she will never trust either of them or Elle and they won't have her help, which they desperately need, to get Stanzler. Elizabeth calls and Peter tells her he and Neal have decided they are going to be honest with Brooke. After speaking with her for a few seconds Peter informs the entire team that for the next hour, and only the next hour, everyone will refer to Neal as Peter and Peter as Neal. They aren't to ask questions (as some want to do), not to laugh (as some are) and never to speak of it again.
Elizabeth and Brooke arrive in the office. Neal gives Elle a quick kiss on the cheek, much to Peter's displeasure. Elizabeth introduces Peter to Brooke as Neal Caffrey. Peter gives Brooke way more information about Neal than she really needs to make a point to him. In Peter's office, Brooke tells them that Stanzler's company is the broker and New York's electricity system is a deregulated market. Peter/Neal suggests Neal/Peter talk to the Commodities Trading Commission before pointing out there's a photo of the real Peter and Elizabeth on the desk. As Neal puts the photo in the desk drawer, Brooke wants to speak to Neal/Peter alone. Neal assures her that while Peter/Neal seems intimidating, he's very useful in cases like hers and is the single most valuable asset they have at the Bureau. She still insists they speak alone so Neal/Peter sends Peter/Neal out to get him some coffee (cream, no sugar).
Once Peter/Neal is gone, Brooke tells Neal/Peter that she believes StanzlerStanzler wants a thief. Neal feels it's too bad Stanzler has already met him or he could find out what is going on. Peter insists the "new Neal Caffery" can find out. Peter orders Neal to talk to Brooke and have her put Neal Caffrey on Stanzlers books.
While Mozzie continues working on the antenna, Neal puts together a fake I.D. for both he and Peter in their changed identities. Peter and Sara arrive at Neal's apartment to show them a DVD as to why Adler is so interested in Wagner. Peter points out Wagner on the DVD and explains he worked as a radio operator in the U-boat headquarters. After the Third Reich fell, he fled to the U.S. and claimed to have top secret information he wanted to share with the U.S. but he was sent to a detention center at Ellis Island. He escaped from the detention center a few weeks later. Sara questions what kind of information Wagner could have had that Adler would be interested in a half century later. Neal feels it's related to the antenna Mozzie has been working on. Peter suggests Wagner may have gotten into the naturalization line. His name could have been changed and his life along with it. Peter says they'll check the archives for matches to Wagner. Everyone leaves and Neal and Sara walk the same way. Someone is following them so Neal puts his arm around her drawing her close so she can keep an eye on the guy following them. He turns her around so he can watch the man. A car speeds up and the man gets into it and it speeds away.
Peter goes over the museum layout with Elizabeth in preparation for his being Neal Caffrey, master thief with Stanzler. She helps him with his impersonation of Neal, helping him make his Neal a charmer. As he's getting ready to leave, she calls him back so he can take off his wedding ring. Reluctantly, he takes it off and gives it to her. Brooke introduces Peter/Neal to Stanzler. Peter tells him Bill Roscoe told him Stanzler was interested in an acquisition and if there is a job he's the man for it. Stanzler laughs the comment off that everyone in his business says the same thing. Peter ups the ante telling him he can rob the museum in under 20 minutes. Peter details the buildings weaknesses and tells Stanzler he would skip the display and hit the private collection to avoid security.
Peter briefs the team that Stanzler wants a thief to steal a flash drive from another trader Frances Luntz. Peter believes Stanzler and Luntz are using their combined market power to create temporary shortages. Luntz doesn't trust Stanzler and secretly videotaped one of their meetings and that video is on the flash drive Stanzler wants stolen. They cannot use a warrant because Stanzler doesn't know exactly what's on the tape. If the video is insufficient they lose their chances of catching either Stanzler or Luntz. He does want a warrant for Luntz home, however. When the team has left the briefing room, Neal tells Peter about he and Sara being followed after they left his apartment the night before. Neal thinks Adler put a tail on Sara who is currently at the Archives where Neal will be meeting her. Peter orders him to stay close to Sara and tells him he'll need some training for his break in. Neal's got him covered.
Peter arrives at Neal's apartment to receive his thief training from none other than Mozzie who first wants Peter to take a pebble from the palm of his hand. When Peter doesn't, Mozzie next asks him to give him $20, which he does. That was lesson one: we take, we don't give. Mozzie pockets the money and continues to the next lesson.
Neal meets up with Sara and they both are free of anyone following them. She tells him it could take up to four weeks to get access to the files they want. Neal has a plan. They tell the woman at the Archives they are looking information about an individual who may have come through Ellis Island in 1946 and need files to match a physical description. They can tell her nothing else because of National Security. The woman is very cooperative once she believes Neal is with the FBI, and after he shows her his fake ID identifying him as Peter Burke. She takes them into a huge room full of ledgers, records and card catalogs--all from 1946.
June brings Byron's "training jacket" up to Peter who Mozzie is trying to teach lock picking. Peter must drop a bug into Stanzler's jacket so the Bureau can listen to him from the van. Dropping the bug isn't the hard part. He must retrieve it without jingling the bells on the jacket. After two tries where he jingles the bells, Peter declares the task impossible. Mozzie reaches in on one try and gets the bug, no bells. June explains Peter must use just two fingers like tweezers so the thumb will never touch the mark, which he wasn't doing.
At the Archives, Neal and Sara continue their search through the mountain of files which Sara admits will take a while. Neal asks her why she's helping, what her angle is on it. She tells him if Adler has spent his life searching for something the payoff must be larger than the billion dollars he's already stolen. Neal questions if that is all and she simply replies she likes the mystery. She tells him about how when she was thirteen her older sister ran away and the family never heard from her again. She used to go into her room and wonder if there were clues there as to where her sister was. She never found any answers. She feels if they find Adler, Neal might be able to have some closure about Kate.
Mozzie, now wearing the jacket, gives Peter one last chance with the bug. Peter steps up next to him, reaches into the pocket and removes his hand. Mozzie feels into the pockets and tells him he didn't drop a bug. True, he didn't. Peter brings up his hand showing the $20 Mozzie had taken from him earlier in the day. Mozzie informs Peter he's ready to commit a crime.
Diana and Jones wish Peter luck the next morning. Neal tells him it's going to take a while to find information on Wagner. Neal starts to give Peter a "be careful" speech but Peter stops him. Neal tells him to go out there and make him look good. Peter meets with Stanzler and drops the bug. Stanzler gives him his instructions to look for anything labeled "Project Edison" once he reaches Luntz's master bedroom. Stanzler will be meeting with Luntz for twenty minutes and that will be all the time he has to find his way in, make the steal and get out.
Stanzler drives up to Luntz's mansion and knocks on the trunk lid of the car, where Peter is hidden. When Stanzler goes indoors, Peter gets out of the trunk and goes inside. He gets a quick glimpse of Stanzler and Luntz's meeting about their scheme then heads off to get the flash drive.
Mozzie helps Sara go through the files at the Archives. She asks if Neal sent him to stay with her to which he replies no one sends him anywhere, he just goes places. The lights go out on them and Mozzie takes that as a sign. He puts on a helmet and grabs a device telling Sara he'll let her know what that sign was, gets up and leaves.
At Luntz's mansion, Peter arrives in the master bedroom. Peter finds a key and Neal talks him through the caper telling him to look for an in-wall safe. He finds one behind a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Luntz. He opens it and finds the video. He makes a copy so the Bureau can have one and the original can be given to Stanzler. Diana alerts the team to the conversation between Stanzler and Luntz about having a guy inside the power company who flips a switch causing rolling blackouts and they will make a fortune. Luntz is reluctant to speak with the man but Stanzler urges him to. Neal informs Peter of this and Peter orders they will wait till Saturday and take down all three men. Peter gets out of the house and when he gets out of Stanzler's trunk, he gives him the drive and retrieves the bug from his jacket pocket. Stanzler gives him his payment and asks if he wants another job. He'll pay him double to be at the museum at 5:00 on Saturday. Peter agrees.
At the Bureau, they watch the video Peter copied from the flash drive. Neal and Peter brief the team about the plan Stanzler and Luntz have and Peter reveals he's been invited to the event as Neal. They can take advantage of the situation and slip video feed onto Stanzler. They installed a camera in place of the lapel button on his suit. Brooke will make sure Stanzler is wearing the jacket with the camera. Jones and Diana will be in the van. Neal will be accompanying Elizabeth, as a precaution.
At the event, Stanzler introduces Peter/Neal to Neal/Peter and Elizabeth. Brooke informs her boss that Luntz has arrived. Stanzler takes Peter/Neal aside and into a room where Luntz is waiting. He tells Peter he wants him to watch Luntz and will have more for him when he returns then leaves. Peter talks to Luntz who apparently believes him to be the inside man from the power company. Luntz thinks the entire scheme has gotten way out of hand and he wants out. Peter asks Luntz straight out if Stanzler told him he was the man from the power company to which he receives confirmation. Peter finds the doors locked and he tells Luntz about Stanzler having him break into his home to steal the video. He contacts Jones to let him know they are locked in the Stanzler Gallery. As Jones is starting to work on that, he gets a call altering him to another blackout getting ready to sweep through the sector. Peter orders Diana to find Elizabeth and the two women head to the backup generator. Peter has figured out Stanzler's plan. He plans to kill Luntz and him (Peter) when the power goes out. Peter is trying to pick the locks while Neal keeps eyes on Stanzler.
When the blackout occurs, Neal pulls out his fake identification and orders everyone to stay calm. He runs after Stanzler and is stopped by a locked gate. Again, he pulls out his ID and orders a guard to open the gate. Jones informs Peter Stanzler is making his move. Neal puts agents on the move to the Stanzler Gallery to save Peter and Luntz. Stanzler arrives in the gallery with Peter and Luntz. Diana and Elizabeth arrive at the generator which has been disengaged. Jones asks if she can turn it on. Stanzler begins firing toward Peter and Luntz in the dark. The generated lights come back on and Neal enters announcing the FBI, ordering Stanzler to drop his weapon. Peter overtakes Stanzler and he is arrested.
Peter and Neal chat outside the museum and Peter tells Neal that he (Neal) enjoys being him (Peter). Neal admits there is a certain allure to the profession and Peter admits being Neal Caffrey has its charms. When Peter sends Neal off with a "good work" he slyly takes Neal's fake ID from his pocket. Elizabeth finds her husband and gives him his wedding ring back.
Neal arrives at the Archives where Sara is still working and brings her some food. The power goes out on them and Mozzie, who is looking at microfilm. Neal and Sara share a kiss and things begin to escalate farther when the power returns. Mozzie catches Neal and Sara when he returns to tell them he found something. Wagner went through immigration with the name Michael Hunter who died in New York. He has one surviving family member, a granddaughter, Alexandra Hunter. Alex takes a call and informs the caller she's heading to the location now. She's being followed by the same man following Neal and Sara.
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From the episode description I knew this show was going to be great. It didn't disappoint. This episode was awesome! One of my favorites yet.
The humor was amazing. I loved the point Peter had to make to Neal when he first met Brooke. She didn't need to hear everything Peter wanted to tell her but he made sure Neal was surely aware that he could send him back to jail at any time. The humor was rolling through virtually every scene from the briefing where Jones and Diana wanted to know about Peter's meeting with Stanzler masquerading as Neal right to Mozzie teaching Peter how to be a criminal. Peter learned from the old pro Mozzie pretty fast, didn't he?
I like Neal and Sara as a couple. It's always a pleasure to see Sara in the show. She's tough and no-nonsense. I think she and Neal together is an interesting twist seeing as how she's pursued him in the past to put him in jail.
With the new developments concerning Alex and Sara, I'm sure that next weeks season finale is going to be something else!
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White Collar airs Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. (US Eastern time) on the USA Network.
For More Information:
Official Site: http://www.usanetwork.com/series/whitecollar/
The Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1358522/
TV Rage: http://www.tvrage.com/White_Collar
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Detroit, Michigan's Economic Woes Extend to the Canine World
The ever-increasing economic woes in the United States have everyone worried. People are worried about losing their jobs, finding jobs if they already have, losing their homes and how they will pay their bills. But, there are more victims of the economic downturn than just the people.
In many large cities across the United States, family pets have fallen victim to the financial crisis in the United States. One of those cities is Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is suffering through extreme economic hardships and it is thought there are as many as 50,000 to 100,000 stray and homeless dogs in Detroit. For whatever reason, the animals are now living on the streets and in abandoned houses and buildings fending for themselves. With just 23 Animal Control officers in Detroit, the dogs far outnumber those who bear the responsibility of catching them and helping them find new homes.
One woman, a producer who has worked with Discovery Channel, Monica Martino, and some of her friends and colleagues have focused on Detroit and have started an organization, Detroit Dog Rescue to help the stray dogs find the loving homes they deserve. Monica Martino developed a story idea for a program focusing on Detroit's stray dog issues. She proposed the idea to the city of Detroit but they passed on it, which came as a big surprise to her. Ms. Martino would like to work with the city of Detroit and even try to extend the rescue efforts nationally to assist other cities such as Cleveland and Los Angeles with the growing problem of dogs displaced by the hard times facing the United States.
Below is video of an interview Ms. Martino gave to NBC's Today Show about the problem facing Detroit and her wishes for Detroit Dog Rescue. Hopefully, Ms. Martino's efforts will succeed and the canine friends in the United States will get the help they so desperately need.
In many large cities across the United States, family pets have fallen victim to the financial crisis in the United States. One of those cities is Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is suffering through extreme economic hardships and it is thought there are as many as 50,000 to 100,000 stray and homeless dogs in Detroit. For whatever reason, the animals are now living on the streets and in abandoned houses and buildings fending for themselves. With just 23 Animal Control officers in Detroit, the dogs far outnumber those who bear the responsibility of catching them and helping them find new homes.
One woman, a producer who has worked with Discovery Channel, Monica Martino, and some of her friends and colleagues have focused on Detroit and have started an organization, Detroit Dog Rescue to help the stray dogs find the loving homes they deserve. Monica Martino developed a story idea for a program focusing on Detroit's stray dog issues. She proposed the idea to the city of Detroit but they passed on it, which came as a big surprise to her. Ms. Martino would like to work with the city of Detroit and even try to extend the rescue efforts nationally to assist other cities such as Cleveland and Los Angeles with the growing problem of dogs displaced by the hard times facing the United States.
Below is video of an interview Ms. Martino gave to NBC's Today Show about the problem facing Detroit and her wishes for Detroit Dog Rescue. Hopefully, Ms. Martino's efforts will succeed and the canine friends in the United States will get the help they so desperately need.
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