Nick wants to be...Where You Are...LuLu

[M.A.Y.]

Nick wants to be...Where You Are....LuLu


What a great episode! Dramatically taught and interesting storylines for almost everyone. Once again we get the theme of drugs destroying the lives of those who use or who are involved with them. And it appears that only family can save one from such a fate (witness Nick who has been saved from destruction on several occasions by his father).

And speaking of recurring themes...yet another example of Nick turning to his father when he is in the deepest of deep trouble. Nick claims that Rob's story of his wild night of drugs in NYC is bull, but is Nick's memory any more reliable? He was after heavily into drugs at the time as well. It's not likely that we will ever find out what really happened (since Hollander is so fond of keeping secrets!) but in the end it doesn't matter because the truth is that Nick always turns to Burton when there is nowhere else to go. This despite their fractured and somewhat tortured relationship. I loved hearing that Nick asked Rob to call his dad, and what was even better was Burton's reaction to hearing that Nick requested Burton's assistance. These two only have each other and it makes for great drama watching them struggle with this reality.

So are James and Jake buddies? It seems like it would be too hard to be Jake's friend what with his massive inferiority complex and desperate need to impress those with status. But then James also has a mighty big chip on his shoulder and seems to also be struggling with similar issues as he often tries to prove his worth to those he feels look down on him. I guess they were made for each other!

LuLu

's storyline with Dee was really compelling. The kid was charming without being cloying. And her passion for the kid helped the viewer care more about him. I like the way her case with Dee dovetailed with Nick's case at F&F. Hollander ought to do more of this. Regardless of their long-term romantic future it gives the show a dramatic lift when Nick and LuLu

are thrown together in their professional capacities.

It was interesting to watch Nick struggle with his attempts to comfort LuLu

. At the crime scene his gesture of care and concern with the cup of water was handled so badly that he came off as abrasive. Then in the diner with Burton Nick completely missed the hint from his father that perhaps Nick could try and support LuLu

in her obvious time of need. I think that Nick may have actually believed that LuLu

's mother would have been all the comfort that LuLu

needed. And then (most pathetic of all) was the final scene with Nick watching LuLu

from afar in her time of pain and self-doubt. He so obviously wanted to go to her, to help her, to be where she was, but he chose to stay back and watch Alvin give her the comfort he so wanted to be able to give her. Alvin put the final nail in it when he told Nick that they had everything covered and that he wasn't needed. Harsh.

So will Nick come around? Can he figure out how to relate to a woman in more than a sexual or professional capacity? The next episode was promoted as the most powerful hour of television that can't be missed...I sure hope so.

Overall, a very good episode.

[EllenArden]

I agree - great episode! And a good review ! You made me see that final scene in LSoP when Lulu's talking to Alvin and Nick is standing back in his office in a clearer light. Bring on next week!

[cloud9]

:wave: Hat's off to you M.A.Y for an Excellent review of a beautifully written and acted episode. Thanks for noticing so many things that I didn't focus on such as the final scene.

I really loved James' 'got-cha' of Jake. Man, that Jake is really puffed up with all his important business, isn't he. Between last week's ep and last night's he's showing that he's riding for a major fall. How will F&F react???

I really don't want to read too much into the trailer for next week. DH really likes to give us misdirection about 'the relationship', but I am hopeful that maybe the Lulu and Nick gap is narrowing. ----'later---cloud9

[nritter]

I WONDER IF ANYONE THOUGHT LULU WAS PRETTY STUPID IN NOT GUESSING THAT DEE WAS DEALING DRUGS WHEN SHE FOUND HIM AT THAT MENACING GUY'S PLACE. WHAT ELSE WOULD HE BE DOING THERE?

ALSO, I THINK LULU'S LESSON WAS WELL FORESHADOWED EARLY IN THE SHOW WHEN ALVIN SAID THAT SOMETIME KIDS JUST HAVE TO EXPERIENCE CONSEQUENCES. IF LULU HAD QUIT TRYING TO KEEP DEE WITH WHATSHISNAME AND JUST LET HIM GO TO THE GROUP SHELTER, DEE WOULD AT LEAST HAVE STAYED ALIVE.

FINALLY, DID ANYONE APPRECIATE --DESPITE THE LACK OF NICK'S SCREENTIME!-- THE FACIAL SIGNS OF HIS ETHICAL DISCOMFORT WITH THE ROB DEAL? FINALLY HE DOES ENTER THE CONF. ROOM TO CLOSE THE DEAL, BUT HE'S OBVIOUSLY UNHAPPY ABOUT PART OF IT. AGAIN, MARVELOUS ACTING.

[Godis]

I so disagree with you nritter. The goup home would not have prevented Dee from hanging around with those drug dealers. I don't see how it is Lulu's fault that he died. Dee wanted to be adopted by that guy...I forget what his name was and it was very mutual. Lulu was acting on the needs of her clients so I don't know how you can put Dee's death on Lulu.

[nritter]

TO GODIS:

I DON'T BLAME LULU FOR D'S DEATH; JUST THOUGHT HER STUPID NOT TO HAVE GUESSED THE TRUTH. AND I ASSUME A GROUP HOME KEEPS CLOSE ENOUGH TABS ON ITS KIDS THAT DEE COULDN'T HAVE GONE WHERE HE DID.

[bakergirl]

Great review F&F partner!

The final scene at LSOP, when Alvin told Nick he wasn't needed, was heartbreaking and sad.

I must disagree, however, on the fact you thought that Nick came over as cool and abrasive. After all, he did try to comfort LuLu at the crime scene, and although a little clumsy, he did try!
Ofcourse, LuLu really never makes it easy for him to get closer, except when it serves her well. And,... as I have said before, she has a habit of leading him on and then pushing him away when he makes the effort.

Now, what in the world is wrong for her to finally make up her mind about him, and give the man a break!
It doesn't always have to come from him, (after all she kissed him too)......she knows already that he loves her - he's told her many times!
Back at the scene at LSOP, you could clearly see Nick struggling with the fact of not going up to LuLu and comforting (maybe holding) her, but Alvin was in the way - then again, she chose to go and talk to Alvin and not Nick.
It was very disturbing to watch that final scene with Nick standing in the background, clearly being in pain too!

I do not believe for one minute the story Rob was feeding Burton about Nick's drug situation and Hospital incident in New York City. I think he was trying to impress Burton, and changing the story along the way - after all, he still needed Fallin & Fallin to make the deal for his new invention.
Did you notice in the Diner, when Burton said to Nick what Rob had told him about New York, that Nick asked his Father: "which story did he tell you?"

The final chapter, of the deal to be made at the office of Fallin & Fallin was almost now a done deal,.......but why did two powerful lawyers let themselves being blackmailed by a coke sniffing addict?

It's the money, I guess!

[nritter]

RIGHT, IT'S ALWAYS THRE MONEY!

WHEN NICK TOLD HIS DAD ROB LIED, I THOUGHT THE STORY WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO ROB.

AND DIDN'T NICK SHOW A LOT OF GRACE NOT TO RAT ON ROB IN DETAIL --EVEN WHEN ROB HAD LIED ABOUT NICK TO HIS DAD?

[lambertoise]

Finally, a great one. All of the stories were good : James & Jake, Burton & son, LuLu


& Nick, LuLu


& Dee, Alvin & his employees, and that coke lying Rob (I am sure he lied about what happened).

What was exceptional, I think, was that the non spoken words were as good as the spoken ones. I like a show when the writers don't feel they have to write everything in capital letters so we can understand.

But, there is a but, I do hate these promos, not at all in synchro with the show's quiet tone. And I also hate the fact that they think we need an awful suspense to stay tuned till the next time.