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Post by lambertoise on Nov 5, 2003 18:03:01 GMT -5
DH used an original twist to give us a better idea about what probationers might do for their community. Even if it was painful for the concerned probationer! I was a little surprised to see how gracefully Nick accepted this new punishment. But now I’m worried : how many hours now does Nick have to put with LSP with these 30 or 40 hours he had to give cleaning and painting -with an accustomed hand - Hazel Park? Again, the show gave us a TG’s good quality fix : sadness over the bright young hooker who is going to die too soon; happy smiles between Lulu and Burton about their Adoption Day; tears and dignity with the mother-to-be-who-won’t–be-a-mother ; the nice exchanges between a usual mute Nick and the chatty young probationer. OH!  How I love the way Simon Baker expresses everything without doing nothing. His whole body seems to talk. He is the only actor I know who does that so perfectly! Will Burton pursue Shannon’s adoption? I think he will, because the Adoption Day held in his offices, despite the 137,000$ lawsuit, brought him joy and pride. But let’s remember: it is TG here and when happiness shows its nose, soon after, we get to be hit by something unexpected. |
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Nov 7, 2003 1:00:54 GMT -5
Lambertoise, I agree with your assessment of this episode in nearly all respects. It was really exciting to see Nick in something besides his corporate armor. Lonnie creeped everyone out, including me. Granted, he was trying to survive the only way he knew how, but it sure didn't add to his appeal. The young prostitute was a real grabber and the parents who gave up the little boy when his mother won the settlement were also heart-tuggers.
The Adoption Day at F&F may have given Burton some ideas, but I don't think they'll ever come to fruition, and not because I don't like the character of Shannon and don't understand why Burton decided to give up on trying to build a better relationship with Nick and instead obviously prefers her. Roy Cantwell will never sign away his parental rights. As things are right now, from his POV there's a leak in the main money pipe and he's standing underneath with a bucket. As long as Burton is Shannon's foster parent, Roy can use the pliers on him whenever it's expedient. Since he's a proven sleaze, we know he'll do just that.
In any event, in "Swimming" [glow=red,2,300]WARNING: SPOILERS [/glow] Burton is facing major heart surgery. The Department of Social Services might decide he's no longer physically fit to be a foster parent and remove Shannon. It all remains to be seen. BTW, that might set Nick back a little in regard to his LSP hours--he'll have to take over at F&F, and that's a full-time job. so he may very well find he has more hours to put in at LSP to meet his commitment.
You're so right about Simon. He can say more by lifting an eyebrow and turning his head than other actors can with a Shakespearean soliloquy. Incredible.
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Post by fourbeccaone on Nov 7, 2003 18:39:44 GMT -5
Hello everyone.
Has it occurred to anyone that maybe Burton is afraid to go to court to gain custody of Shannon for fear of losing as he did in the custody hearing over Nick during his divorce with Anne.
I wonder if this will all come out when Nick asks his father why he isn't persuing adopting Shannon. Lulu will probably be inquisitive since she is helping Burton and Nick will need to find out the answer.
fourbeccaone
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Nov 7, 2003 20:36:29 GMT -5
fourbeccaone, I'm not sure Burton's losing custody of Nick has all that much to do with what's going on with Shannon. He can't adopt Shannon because Roy Cantwell, her birth father, won't agree to terminate his (Roy's) parental rights. As I've said, as long as Shannon is Burton's foster child, Roy has himself a ticket on the gravy train. It won't surprise me at all if there's a variant of that business in "All The Rage" where Burton paid Roy off in order to squelch the sexual misconduct charges. Nick was right about that--it was the only expedient solution at the time; unfortunately, it left the door open for this sort of thing to happen again, and Roy giving pond scum a bad name, it probably will.
As for Burton's losing custody of Nick, I don't think that has much bearing. We don't know why Burton sought custody in the first place--possibly masculine pride--but we know that as soon as he got custody by default when Anne died, the first thing he did was ship Nick off to boarding school. Whatever the reasons for his decision, it's a safe bet that Nick is still smarting from what must have seemed to him a complete and total rejection, and the Shannon business just pours salt in the wound.
Since Lulu is handling the business with Shannon, there's no reason for Nick to ask Burton anything about it, and Lulu might very well be unable to tell Nick anything--if she's helping Burton, that makes Burton her client, and she can't violate lawyer-client confidentiality rules.
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Post by fourbeccaone on Nov 7, 2003 21:00:27 GMT -5
Linda,
Very good points.
Since you are analyzing the show, have you noticed anything different about Nick's demeanor? He seems to be a different Nick. Calmer---can't put my finger on it--lost for a good discription. Just wondering if you noticed any difference.
fourbeccaone
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Post by fourbeccaone on Nov 7, 2003 22:49:26 GMT -5
Linda,
Another observation...
Shannon in Burton's kitchen...
Burton told Shannon that Roy refused to give up parental rights. Shannon said she didn't want him to be her father anymore--just tell him. Burton told her that wasn't possible. Children don't have a choice. Shannon asked Burton if he could go to a judge, go to court. I got the impression the answer was yes. That is why Shannon said---well that is good 'cause your this great lawyer. "Burton you can do it." Burton looked stressed and pained. I immediately thought that maybe this was remnamts of the prior custody suit over Nick at the time of the divorce. In Family, when Burton told Liz in the car in the parking garage that he tried to get custody of Nick but lost to motherhood, I thought Burton looked pained by that result, too. I also wondered if Burton and Anne hadn't talked about how to care for Nick after her death. Can't help but think that maybe Anne had some say so about Nick going to Boarding school.
Just rambling thoughts...
4becca1
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Nov 10, 2003 1:10:28 GMT -5
I don't know if Burton was reliving losing the custody battle over Nick or not in that scene, fourbeccaone. He knows that courts would tend to side with the natural parent--that they didn't when Roy first came on the scene was due to Nick havng done his homework very thoroughly to demonstrate why Roy should not have custody. Roy then persuaded Shannon to lie about the sexual misconduct business, Burton paid him off and Roy realized here was his meal ticket--let Shannon remain as a foster chld with Burton and he could pull this kind of thing agan and again.
As someone pointed out on another board, Nick doesn''t have much reason to like Shannon--her recanting her testimony at his probation revication hearing in "Testimony" almost got him put away--heck, if he had been charged with felony murder in Mandy's death, he could have been looking at a death sentence. Mary Gressler kindly came through, but no one could blame Nick for not considering Shannon his best friend in the world. And that's one of the incongruities in this whole business--Burton likes this kid and they get along well together, but doesn't the man remember what almost happened? Nick must be wondering just what's gong on in his father's mind.
As for Anne suggesting Burton send Nick to school--that's something we may never find out about. Did she sense the antipathy between father and son and think tha the two of them would be better apart? Did she tell (beg) Burton to keep Nick with him, and did Burton ignore her wishes? Unless TPTB decide to illuminate us on this pont, we'll never know. There are a lot fo fanfic hypotheses out there about this, including mine, but the real authority id DH, and so far he hasn't shown any desire to enlighten us.
In re your question about do I think Nick looks more relaxed this season, I'm not really sure. It was surprising of him to disclose why he was at LSP in Lulu's little kaffeklatsch her first day as LSP director but welcome.
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Post by cecilia on Nov 10, 2003 16:50:03 GMT -5
S
P
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I
L
E
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Dont keep reading if you dont want to know!!!!!!!....
in that episode called "Beautiful blue mystic" are casted a young/son Nick.....and a "Anne"!.....we might be seeing a flashback of Nick and his mom, finally!
great posts!
grrrrrr!... I´m anxiously waiting for these tapes to arrive!...
cecilia
;D
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Post by fourbeccaone on Nov 11, 2003 16:28:39 GMT -5
Linda,
Thanks. I like to read your takes on scenes. Nice points.
Linda---how is that fanfic coming with Nick and the government job vs staying with Dad and F&F? Will Nick and Burton ever come to terms with reality??--just a little?
Cec,
Flashbacks!! Love to see it.
fourbeccaone
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Nov 12, 2003 0:12:42 GMT -5
Fourbeccaone, on the Yahoo Groups: the_guardian_nickfallin board, two versions of Custodial Interference, Part 7, sections A and B are posted, one rated PG, the other R. I'm working on part 8, and Nick is seriously leaning toward life with a federal paycheck. Even what happened tonight in "Believe" took a beating from events in Part 7. Thank you for your interest--it makes this even more rewarding.
I'm looking up definitions of love after what happened tonight--according to what I remember of several of them, Nick loves Lulu, but I'm not sure about her. Then again, she isn't sure about her, so I can't expect myself to be.
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How I love the way Simon Baker expresses everything without doing nothing. His whole body seems to talk. He is the only actor I know who does that so perfectly! 