The Land of The Living

[M.A.Y.]

Land of The Living.....


Finally, an episode where Nick was actually the star! Best of all this episode featured the two best elements of the show: one, tension between Nick and Burton; and two, tension between Nick and Lulu. So it appears that the "honeymoon" between father and son is now over. The scene between Nick and Burton after the client told Nick that he was just like his father was fantastic! I was worried that Hollander was forgetting how much confusion, pain, angst and anger there really is between father and son. It is this dynamic that is at the heart of the show, and watching Nick and Burton try to come to terms with their relationship is like watching lightening arc across the sky on screen.

There is so much electricity to their scenes that you can't take your eyes off them! So Nick doesn't want to act like something he's not for money? It looks like Nick's work with LSoP has caused a change in the way he views his corporate work. The old Nick truly would have been more like his father in completing the deal with Mr. Thomas, but this new Nick also recognizes that his corporate clients are more than just billable hours for his docket. Nice to see this progression in Nick, but it will surely make for increased tension with his father. And we'll also get to see just how badly Nick wants to be managing partner. So can Nick be the kind of corporate lawyer he now feels compelled to be or will he revert to his old ways? This is great stuff and should make for some excellent episodes down the road!

Well, the truth has finally caught up with Mrs. Olsen! At last she admits that she never loved the Cad in the first place. Nick and Lulu are so much fun to watch together! The romantic tension is palpable and fuels the show nicely. When Nick told his father that he couldn't be something he wasn't, who knew that realization would carry over to his relationship with Mrs. Olsen. She wanted him to sit at the bar and just listen to her talk . Well too bad for you lady! Imagine how Nick must have felt listening to her tell him everything that he already knew: that Brian didn't deserve her, and that she wasn't truly in love with Brian. And to make matters worse Mrs. Olsen tells Nick that she knows how much he cared for her. How brutal was that?! Nick doesn't want to be just her friend who sits in a bar all night long and listens to her problems. He wants to love her, and that's why his answer in response to her request was " ...I can't". Awesome scene, and the point where she wipes the food of his chin makes this one worth a few rewinds!

Nick's case with the boy dying of leukemia was the best we've seen all season. The writers wisely avoided sentiment and made the boy unlikeable, but in the end still deserving of help from his sister. I'm not sure of exactly what drove Nick to set up that meeting between the parents and the kids. What do you think? Why did he do it? It seems that in the end, good or bad (even really, really bad) your family is all you've got.

The Living gave us a glimpse at some characters (and I'm not just talking about Mr. Thomas and the kid) who, though alive, were just barely living. And maybe we have just seen Nick take a step and plant two feet firmly in the land of The Living.

Overall, a very good episode.

[jezbel]

fantastic review M.A.Y. You nailed the bar scene and the Burton/Nick disagreement. The disfunctional family storyline served to show us how Nick is changing, becoming more sensitive to family issues, realizing how old hurts can be helped if not fixed and that he can be a catylist in making things happen on an emotional level. I think he's come a long way in confronting his own issues in this episode. At least that's how I saw it. A great scene in the jail.

[Jennifer]

MAY, love your view of this episode. This is my favorite episode so far in season 2. I am pleased that Lulu at least admitted that she doesn't love Brian and Nick admitted that he cares about her. I trully enjoyed every scene Nick and Lulu had. They have such great chemistry together. Many had different take when Nick walked out on Lulu when she suggested that the two of them to just sit and talk. My opinion is that, Nick wanted Lulu to figure out the solution to her marital problems on her own without any help from him. He wanted her minus the excess baggage. He came across as someone who was in pain and struggling to refuse the woman he cares about. I can't wait for more Nick and Lulu scenes.

Jennifer:bouncing::bouncing:

[Con]

Jennifer, I am with you can't wait for more Nick and Lulu scenes, the show on the 12th looks good- I hope David Hollander continues their storyline in the manner he has been doing it, you know he gives us no Nick and Lulu scenes and then throws in a couple of fantastic scenes- worth waiting for.

[bakergirl]

Hey you'll, I did love this on the best also. [flash=200,200]URL[/flash]

TEXT

M.A.Y. do you think that Burton really is going to let someone else close the deal and that Nick will stick to it that he doesn't want to be, someone he is not?
really ?

[fourbeccaone]

Thanks JDillan for some great fanfiction for this boring Tuesday night with no Guardian to keep us entertained.
Nice story lines. Great writing. Keep them coming!!

[M.A.Y.]

bakergirl said:

[flash=200,200]URL[/flash]

TEXT

M.A.Y. do you think that Burton really is going to let someone else close the deal and that Nick will stick to it that he doesn't want to be, someone he is not?
really ?

Good question....I do think that Burton was definitely going to get someone else to close that deal. I also think that Nick will continue to struggle with this new realization of the kind of man he wants to be. The interesting part will be to watch Nick & Burton work this out as both colleagues and father & son!

[jezbel]

What's supposed to be in the white box???