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Post by lambertoise on Jan 28, 2004 11:36:58 GMT -5
The catholic church has learned, a long time ago, to appreciate the benefits of confession. Not only it gave the priests power, but most of the time it brought relief to the sinners. Nowadays, psychologists are the new priests and sinners are only people looking to feel better and eventually, become better persons. But the true gift of confession is that your sins stay a secret...
It was disturbing to see Nick distributing his letters. Dismissing the envelope was everybody’s first reaction. That must have hurt. You take your time writing down your apologies, you put your pride in the fridge and look how well your effort is received!… OK, with a little incentive, Jake finally opened his, maybe Burton will read his own ( but I doubt it ), but Suzanne and Lulu, who was the one Nick truly wanted to apologize to, didn’t accept the apology. I first thought Nick was only going through the motions with these letters, but it’s so humiliating that it has to be more than that.
The storyline with the bus driver was excellent. Cliff Jenkins was one of these characters that always make a strong impression on Nick : a honest man, a kind person, a family man who teaches his daughter to value dignity over pride, truth over comfort. Witnessing the mess he puts himself in by telling the truth made Nick truly unhappy. I wish this story would have a conclusion in a next episode.
Suzanne’s being a mother was a surprise. Because she met Nick at 2 o’clock at night, and then seemed to have so much free time in the morning, enough anyway to go to the motel, I didn’t see her as a mother. Was it an afterthought or was her son planned from the beginning?
The cold shoulder treatment Lulu gave to Nick was sad to watch. For myself, I wanted her to forgive him. But if we are to believe Alvin, she is the daughter of an alcoholic, so she knows first hand 30 days might mean nothing. Nothing at all. She probably saw her father going sober, falling off the wagon, apologize and do it again. We can understand then why she isn’t impressed by the 30 days diploma. Yet, I wished she had been warmer to his efforts.
IMO, Amends was a nice episode, I’d say a classic one, not the best but a good one. It gave me enough to think about until the next one. And this time, unfortunately, I read the spoiler… Shame on me!
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Post by cloud9 on Jan 28, 2004 13:58:58 GMT -5
Thanks for your insightful remarks, lambertoise.
Yes, it was difficult to see Lulu's reaction to N's apology but it is also understandable since we know what she's been through with her dad, Brian, and now Nick.---She is disappointed about the drinking, etc., but I feel that the main hurt she feels is because he was unfaithful with Susuanne. IMO, she would have forgiven and supported him through a problem with drugs and alcohol but for Nick to be unfaithful when he knows full well what Brian's unfaithfulness did to her is very hard, and perhaps impossible, for her to forgive---- especially now that she is pregnant. ----I'm pretty sure, that as far as Lulu is concerned, Nick had a chance for the family that he so longs to have, but at the very first temptation he blew it......
Sad, but the man has to come to the realization that sometimes, 'Sorry' doesn't make it all go away. ---cloud9
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Post by SaundraKane on Jan 28, 2004 14:59:31 GMT -5
I too really felt for Nick when he passed out his letters and everyone tried to ignore them. I think people in reality are uncomfortable with things like that...(I saw this happen with an alcoholic friend who was trying to do the same thing)..so it was very realistic that people would show discomfort.
And my guess is that this will continue to be a challange for him.....he is recovering not recovered. But I have to give him credit..he hit bottom last week and he is coming back.
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Jan 28, 2004 18:52:38 GMT -5
Lambertoise, I think this ep showed one reason why Nick has been using for 16 years (my guess is longer, but that's the info we have). Every time he tries to atone and do better he gets smacked down. This was never meant to be a bed of roses, and I can understand the reactions, Jake's and Lulu's especially, but all the people in Nick's life are havng a hard time seeing how much effort Nick is making here--even Burton. I've said on other boards that this is a first step and perhaps Nick is rushing things, but I also agree with you, Lambertoise--this is perhaps the first time in his adult life that Nick has truly tried to look beyond himself and although it may be realistic for people to react as they did, it would be nice if things worked out for Nick just a little every now and then. Lulu's reaction was undertandable--she's been burned too often to think Nick is all the way out of the woods. On the other hand, she definitely needs to develop some tolerance--she seems to be empathizing more with the LSP clients, so perhaps she can eventually work her way around to being a little more charitable toward Nick. It will take longer, though, because Nick plays a so much larger role in her life. However, I did feel like jumpring up and cheering when Alvin told her "You are 50 percent of any relationship." If she treats Nick like something she scraped off her shoe, whether or not she's justified, what does she expect him to do? Even a masochist like Nick is eventually going to tire of being a doormat.
Anyone who leaves a 10-year--old alone as much as Suzanne Pell seems to have done isn't too hot in the parenting deaprtment, although Cam seemed to be a pretty mature kid for his age. She's been awfully lucky so far and I hope she won't have cause to regret it.
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Post by cecilia on Jan 28, 2004 20:21:54 GMT -5
However, I did feel like jumpring up and cheering when Alvin told her "You are 50 percent of any relationship." If she treats Nick like something she scraped off her shoe, whether or not she's justified, what does she expect him to do? Even a masochist like Nick is eventually going to tire of being a doormat. Anyone who leaves a 10-year--old alone as much as Suzanne Pell seems to have done isn't too hot in the parenting deaprtment, although Cam seemed to be a pretty mature kid for his age. She's been awfully lucky so far and I hope she won't have cause to regret it. Linda, I agree and I´ll cheer up, I´m sure!....lately, Alvin and Burton have become the heros in this show. Lulu needing therapy or counseling was clear since the beginning of season two, with all the doubts she had about her marriage. Accepting she is 50 percent in the relationship....this can be like Nick surrending to the higher power!....Imo she is a very insecure and vulnerable person (hence her "superior" attitude), and she protects herself from suffering what she has probably already suffered (from Caroline, CPA, Brian....). The victim role is a very comfortable place to be for a lot of people, and I guess Lulu is very used to it. I really, really hope she takes Alvin´s advise and tries to get help for her problems. And I hope it´s before Nick gets tired of her attitude. I understand her coldness lately, but she hasnt acted very maturely either. I wouldnt want to fall over S.Pell, because I guess she is honest trying to make amends with Lulu; but I´m going to repeat myself: I know people have the right to do with their lives whatever they do, after work, no matter what it is. But I would expect from a social worker, someone who deals with troubled people, hurt people, needed children, better moves than coming on a hot guy after being attacked by a young client (knowing the guy lives with another woman), and as Linda says, leaving his child alone a lot. I know she can have a babysitter, but at those odd hours she used to call Nick, how did she manage to get covered? And letting such a young kid know about her problems with men.....she doesnt strike me as mature, centered, or whatever should be needed to be in her position, making recommendations that can take apart families. cez;D |
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Post by lambertoise on Jan 30, 2004 9:10:25 GMT -5
I think this ep showed one reason why Nick has been using for 16 years.(...)Every time he tries to atone and do better he gets smacked down. all the people in Nick's life are havng a hard time seeing how much effort Nick is making here--even Burton.. I think, Linda, that you put the finger on one of Nick's main problem for his coming out (!) as a kind person. In theory, everybody values honesty, kindness, generosity, but what does Nick see in his world ? His father being praised for being a shark, himself receives congratulations when he wins a case even if it means that the real victims loose... Everything in his life is a proof that money and power are the real values he should stick to ...without saying it of course! So now, nobody seems to understand his efforts for what they are : hard work. In a way, cheating and drinking are easier. He knows the reactions he will get and he thinks people expect that from him anyway. But making amends doesn't bring the expected congratulations or/and forgiveness. What will? I hope someone will soon give him a break... even if I agree that he deserved more than one lesson! |
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Post by cecilia on Mar 12, 2004 22:39:29 GMT -5
After actually watching the episode (what it´s truly a diferent thing), I would like to add to my other post (and I´m gonna cheat, because I´ve already watched the rest... but.... am I going to be grounded?  -Imo, Nick´s intentions were good, but not a hundred percent honest. He didnt reach the bottom when he made the letters and completed the program. He DID reach it when he understood he wouldnt be forgiven just because he was sober and filling forms; that was what his life was always: if your grades are good and you are a good boy, who cares if you are "piling" grudges in your heart enough to carry through three or four reincarnations?... if you are "the helluva lawyer" and you work hard, nobody cares if you feel depressed and get stone drunk or high. Just make it sure you seem sober enough next morning. This time, meaning people (even people that might have acted the other way before) told him: "sorry, mate" and turn their heads off. It must hurt, but no pain, no gain. What led him to rehab?....or is it that he (an smart, educated man) really wants people around to believe he got high and cheated on his pregnant girlfriend because she doesnt want to get married?... Reading as too much strength what was going on in his life was seeing the empty half of the glass: -he was (finally!) living with the girl he loves, who was pregnant of his child and seemed to want to share the next thirty years of his life (even without a ring...or are we living in the middle age?) -he had the chance to become manager partner -he had fulfilled a huge part of his CS -his father told him he was happy for him and sounded sincere He needed an excuse to get high and he found it. That´s why, imo, he just reached the bottom by the end of this episode. Going back to details: -I dont understand why did he go four times to Suzanne´s house. The only reason I can find is that he felt really guilty about her, because he hadnt any kind of feelings for her (not even the liking ) And it was tough for her to listen. As much as I dislike the character, I felt sorry for her, and I think she went back to her senses fast and decided that a good relationship with Lulu would be much more healthier. I didnt like the story of the kid and the necklace. -the bus driver and his daughter were terrific, and their story sad. But this is TG. I hope Alvin could do something good for him. -I loved Jake´s reaction to Nick´s confession. My problem with Nick´s intends is that I saw him too eager to be understood and forgiven, what made me believe he didnt get the first step. The point is to apologize without expecting any result. You just do it for yourself, but the others have the right to say "no, I dont care", and you just CANT insist. It doesnt work like that. When he gives Jake the enveloppe and he doesnt open it, he brings those business issues to strenght his idea; I wonder if he would´ve done it Jake reading the amends letter in the first attempt. -I love Alvin the whole episode (I think the first dialogue, cars and the fuel, is just superior!). I guess that´s all. I know it´s long and messy, but we have six weeks of emptyness ahead!.....I cant think clear!  |
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Post by jevees on Mar 13, 2004 13:00:12 GMT -5
Hi Girls, now that I read your post I need to share with all of you an impression that i have when i saw Amends and i`d like to know your opinion! ;D I don`t remember very well the scene but Nick is in his house, in fact in the kitchen and he is writting some stuff in different papers and he is using a book, then he hears a knock at the door and he hides everything. Now is it me or Nick was copying some stuff from the book to make the letters of apology??? I found this scene very disgusting, cause if it was work, why hiding it if he hears someone is coming in....just weird don`t you think? Besides the fact that he doesn`t say I`m sorry to anyone personally, except for Burton I guess, he actually didn`t writte the letters, he was copying them?  |
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Mar 13, 2004 19:43:03 GMT -5
Jevees, I didn't get the impression that he was coipying the letters. I thought he was following the guidelines in the AA 12-step book but writing something that meant a lot to him to do. Being Nick, he didn't want anyone to know what he was doing because he didn't want to be disturbed in the process. I can understand that--there are times I'm writing something and I don't want anyone to see what it is, not because it's something I want to hide, but because I just am not ready to discuss it at that point. That may be where Nick was. I believe it was Alvin at the door at that point and since he was giving Nick a hard time about Nick rushing the program with the amends letters, that may be why Nick didn't want him to see what he was doing--it would just spark an argument.
I hsve never read the 12-Step book. Could someone out there who has advise if indeed there are letters in it that can be copied? I don't think that's ever been Nick's style, but there are a lot of things about Nick that we don't know.
BTW, Jevees, if you haven't joined the letter writing campaign to try to save this show, I urge you to do so. The Yahoo! Simon Baker Board has a whole section devoted to it, with addresses and helpful suggestions for composing the letters to CBS.
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Post by jevees on Mar 15, 2004 19:29:30 GMT -5
BTW, Jevees, if you haven't joined the letter writing campaign to try to save this show, I urge you to do so. The Yahoo! Simon Baker Board has a whole section devoted to it, with addresses and helpful suggestions for composing the letters to CBS. Thanks for your opinion about Nick writting the letters, i hope he actually wrote them from his heart and not from a book! About the letter, I`m on my way right now to sign it! Thanks for the tip! ;D |
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rmb
Law Student
Posts: 5
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Post by rmb on Mar 17, 2004 17:58:18 GMT -5
It's funny because I thought that he might have been researching child custody issues in case Lulu decided that she didn't want Nick involved in her and their child's life. Nick just didn't want Alvin to see what he was doing.
I've often thought that it would be interesting that Nick accidently discovers that Burton tried to get custody of young Nick while researching his own child custody issues. I'm not sure how that would work since the documents from the custody hearing probably would be sealed. Perhaps, even though Burton lost, the judge's findings set the groundwork for a precendent-setting case in which the father gains custody.
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Post by Lindatheeditor on Mar 17, 2004 21:46:55 GMT -5
That's an interesting thought. After watching "Bachelor Party" I'm annoyed with Burton, so the scenario I keep coming up with is, Burton finally tells Nick, or someone else does, and his reaction is "So what? Once you got custody when Mom died, you couldn't wait to get rid of me. That's how much you wanted custody."
As I say, I wouldn't mind watching Burton get his tail twisted a little bit right about now.
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