No Good Deed goes on behind a closed door...

[M.A.Y.]

No Good Deed goes on behind a closed door....

To quote Jesse this episode was "outstanding"! Finally Hollander delivers on all counts: Great scenes for Burton with Mary and Nick. A strong case for Nick at LSP that draws out his compassionate side and helps him grow up. And best of all... great scenes with Lulu! There was even a little humour between Nick and Jake thrown in for good measure. It seems that Hollander saved up all his best stuff for this one episode. Let's hope he can keep it up!

So where to begin...the end of course! Okay so every one's mind is spinning at the possibilities of just what will happen behind that closed door! Nick played it so well with Lulu. After extending himself to her over and over again, telling her how much he wants her, he wisely was cool towards her when she was so obviously waiting for him to come after her again! Well no way lady! You could read the look on Nick's face: "If you want me, come and get me." And what do you know the lady went for it! What woman can resist an honest compliment, let alone a whole stream of kind words? Not Lulu! I loved it when, after the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing, Lulu told him he was great and Nick just said thank you and walked off...way to go mate!!
Even when she came into his office for that final scene, Nick was still as cool as could be. Nick couldn't have played it any better! "I meant some of them." After shooting her down with "I just like to win"! Such great stuff. That scene is worth a few dozen rewinds!

So the big question is what will happen behind that closed door? Will they do it right there on Nick's desk in his broom closet office with the dirty old sink next to their...heads?! It's not likely that the next episode will pick up in the seconds following Lulu's closing of the door (loved that look on her face...finally the face of woman who knows who she wants!!) And I'd hate to think that their first time will happen off screen. So I hope that they don't do it. But then again Hollander can't drag it out so long that when they finally do have sex everything afterwards becomes anticlimactic. Their relationship is a great spark for the show, so Hollander had better tread carefully, now that he's got us all whipped into a frenzy!

Burton was great tonight! But I don't buy the "just friends" line. Burton is as lonely as Nick is. And being with Mary not only offers companionship, but a chance to be the father he never was for Nick with Shannon. Great to see that he still tries so hard with Nick, though. The scene with Burton and Nick, in his blood stained shirt, rejecting his father's help, yet again, was beautiful. Mary summed it up nicely: "they don't want your help until it's something you can't really fix...you can't let them know you're helping them." That's Burton and Nick in a nutshell!

What a reversal for Nick "no hugs" Fallin to assume medical responsibility for Jesse. This is the same Nick we saw last season in "Heart" and in the episodes with Hunter (I wouldn't mind seeing that kid again, he brought out such a nice side of Nick). It seems that Nick will have to lie as well as Lulu did in order to keep Jesse's fantasy about his "father" alive.

This episode is a real turning point. By closing that office door, Lulu opened the door of their romantic future.

Overall, a very, very good episode!

[Jennifer]

MAY, are you my long lost cousin? We are always in agreement when you do you review and as usual I agree with your assessment on the Nick and Lulu romance. As for the ending scene, I don't even think that they made out in the broom closet. I just took it as the show implying that Nick and Lulu are about to become thisclose in the upcoming episodes. I see them as becoming more than friends. And yes, this is a good episode.

[atotaltotalfan]

Hi. I agree with you -- wonderful episode. I'd really like to see Mary and Shannon return in future episodes. I don't think there's any question that Burton has fallen for Mary. And I loved the reason she gave for refusing to move in to Burton's house. What a strong woman -- perfect for Burton! I also love the way DH is building the Nick and Lulu thing. Very slowly, cautiously. It's torture!

[Chasni]

As the previous e-mails have noted, I too agree with everything that's been said. I loved this episode!!!! David Hollander did a great job and I too hope we see a lot more of the elements that were presented in "No Good Deed" in many of the future episodes. I like how he's choosing to handle the Nick and Lulu relationship. They obviously work well together and that was definitely brought out in the show but Mr. Hollander didn't overbear it with "love" overtones. I can't wait to see how their relationship in handled and if they will finally get together. The hopeless romantic in me wants to see Nick and Lulu together and can't wait for that to happen but there's a part of me that hopes Hollander prolongs it because it's too soon and Nick has to suffer.......that's what makes the show!

Also, choosing the right moments to show Nick's soft side was handled well. It will also be interesting to see how Nick's relationship with his father goes. The anouncement at the end when Burton tells everyone at Fallin & Fallin that this has been the worse year for revunue and everyone needs to put forth 110%. I'm very interested to see in future episodes how Burton handles the fact that Nick's time is torn between his legal services work and his place at Fallin & Fallin. What can I say, I LOVE this show!

[quilter]

Excellent episode. Actually I guess we have had three very good episodes in the last three weeks.

What an unexpected victim of the shooting. The handling of Jesse case by NF was full of surprises from his representing him in court to attending his graduation (even if Alvin had to bribe him with credited house) and then taking him to see his mother. The real surprise was his offering Jesse a job at F&F and how Jesse responded to the chance. Again NF had the "no hugs" attitude, but his expression told a lot.

His asking Jesse to spend the day with him and see what he did was very sincere and actually showed a very "human" NF. His further concern when Jesse was the victim, was great. NF following Jesse to the hospital and asking to be his medical guardian revealed a "grown up" NF. What a difference from the season one NF.

Lulu really showed herself to be quite a "cool" person under the worst type of fear. She was very interesting to watch, but of course the best scenes were between her and NF just prior to and as the suspenseful door was closed. DH did a great job on drawing everyone in. As the final scene was taken, my husband looked at the clock and stated something about a tricky and great ending.

There was definitely screen chemistry between BF and Mary. Do hope that DH will continue with this relationship and let it develop over time. What a great story line to allow both Mary and BF have a second chance at helping Shannon and NF. It seems that Mary had great insight into BF and NF relationship as a result of her daughter.

Do like to see a slow developing human side to NF. DH needs to let NF grow very slowly so NF's anger, mistakes, caring about Lulu, and his relationship with his father is believable and sincere.

Hope 2003 holds more exciting episodes.

[Linda Wilson]

While Burton may develop a friendship with Mary I think it will always have limits. Nick, after all, is indirectly responsible for Mandy's death and while I can see Mary understanding and accepting that Mandy's cocaine use ultimately killed her, she couldn't be blamed for feeling a little reserved toward Nick--the man is, after all, at least partly responsible for the fact that she now has to raise her granddaughter. She just about told Burton to aim some of that pent-up affection and need for companionshiiip at Nick when she ducked out of the shoulder massage. And the message I got when she was talking about Shannon being her second chance was that Burton also has a second chance with Nick, but, she strongly inferred, he's going to have to make it for himself because Nick is not going to give it to him very easily. We were told that Season 2 is about a father needing his son and NGD showed that Burton needs to be needed.

[lambertoise]

What a great episode : very good moments with Burton, excellent storyline with the kid Jesse and a great ending, full of promises!

I realize how much it makes a difference when the client of the week is a kid : there are a lot of shows with legal stuff, but maybe because DH has a very good counsellor on this subject, the characters are real and bring emotion.

[quilter]

To Linda Wilson

I fully agree with you in respect to the relationship between BF and Mary. But, still it would be fun to see a relationship develop even it is only for the sole purpose of both of them having second changes with a son and a granddaughter.

In the scene where BF goes to NF house after Jesse is shot, was very interesting in that father was trying to support his son and NF indicated that he was alright. Perhaps he is growing up just a little bit, but definitely has emotional hurdles to jump over.

The scene with Judge D where he asks to become Jesse's medical guardian was from a NF that was very different last year. At least now he seems more human and more willing to give of himself. Still a "no hugs" guy
but a friendlier Nick.

NF is still not quite willing to give of himself without someone nudging him. In the scene where Nick was to take a present to Jesse for graduation, he was not going until Alvin said he would credit the hours. Once involved with Jesse he did not seem to have problems helping him.

Was I wrong or did I hear someone said to Nick that he had handled Jesse's case for 18 months? Now how does that fit into the time line. If I heard wrong, please let me know.

Great show with lots of emotions, drama, a little humor (liked the conversations that BF and Shannon had at his home), and a great script.

[bakergirl]

I agree with everyone on this one, and yes, it was one of the better shows - but not the best.
For me, it's still up-there with "The Living" and last week's "Sacrifice".

I do think Nick/ Burton's scenes and Nick/Lulu's are best though, they're always food for thoughts.

Also, our - Golden Locks Boy - is showing more of himself lately, and maybe someday we will get to know him better. Although, I like that gloomy touch about him.

He can show compassion and contempt, - he can speak the words, - but he can say more without them.
The eyes are always talking !

He was sweet and concerned with the boy Jessy.
He was wonderfully calm and cool with Lulu at the end, but I knew he couldn't last.
Just wished Lulu hadn't closed that door.:thud: