Body of Proof: "Dead Man Walking"
Apr. 19th, 2011 10:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieHa! Well, I guess this was pretty much the one scenario where it would be halfway believable for a team of medical examiners to be totally badass, such as by storming into a hospital and shutting down an entire surgical ward, and they certainly played it to the hilt. In fact, the whole thing felt like a much, much more natural way of integrating the ME characters into the crime-solving. At least surgical procedures and hospital administration is something Megan actually should know something about, and I can certainly see Kate having the power and connections to lean on Gwen in appropriate ways.
I loved Ethan's little subplot/romance, too! Awwwww, so cute. I loved the bit at the end where Curtis was caught between Ethan and Karen and going, "Ohhhh, places I do not need to be, OMG." And I liked that it was a straight-forward, non-criminal death that it centered on. It's nice to see some of the more routine work they do. (There was a nice shot somewhere in the middle where we saw another body prepped for autopsy, giving the impression of a bustling office, which again makes it seem like a more real, fleshed-out setting.)
Though speaking of realism...I question whether a former neurosurgeon-turned-ME can use a bottle of vodka and a kitchen knife to cut someone's abdomen open and figure out exactly what's gone wrong and exactly how to fix it until the paramedics get there. (Though at least they had her only able to do a stop-gap measure, and not just go ahead and cure the guy.) Then again, these kinds of shows do tend to work best on the "drink more, think less" principle.
So, Megan and Peter broke down a door and performed emergency surgery. Surely this is up there with the delivering-a-baby-together cliche on the scale of shippiness? Yes? Oh, you guys. You're too adorable for words. I liked their banter at the beginning, too, and the way Peter literally pushed her forward when the guy they saved wanted to thank her.
I also liked the way Megan's dead patient "haunted" this episode without completely overwhelming it. (Minus one scene. More anon.) I'd been wondering how the inevitable malpractice suit had gone down, and exactly how she'd left neurosurgery. Like Peter, I was really impressed with the way she handled it: giving up her practice immediately, not trying to fight it. The pilot certainly gave the impression that she'd been dragged kicking and screaming from her surgical tools. I liked how the accident informed her drive to get to the bottom of this case; in general, I find "because she wants justice!" kind of a weak motivation for any character, and very much appreciate it when we get a more specific motivation.
Something I did not appreciate, though: Megan's chat with Dr. Chandler near the end. These were special circumstances and all, but I really, really, really want them to quit with the scenes where she goes all judgy-judge on people and tells them they're "pathetic" or "reckless" or whatever. Writers, if you've done your job, we know that already. Megan doesn't need to tell us. I like her being smug about her intelligence and medical knowledge; being morally righteous makes her much less sympathetic.
I guess Bud is still in court this week? I...can't say as I missed him. I already mentioned that the show has a few too many characters, and Sam's excellent. I wonder if they were planning to go somewhere with that "Because you're prejudiced" line the cheesesteak place worker said to her? Given the issues inherent with Megan's frequent treatment of Curtis (SPEAKING OF WHICH: OMG, that scene where they're all archly mutually respectful, how great was it?), I was surprised to see that pop up.
Kate was awesome this week. She knows the mayor well enough to know that he hates when people hang up on him! And the mayor calls her back! Heh, she and Castle should talk.
One last thought about Ethan: is he actually Megan's intern/fellow, or is he just employed by the city and has attached himself to Meganlike a baby duckling because he's figured out that she's the smartest person in the building and he'll learn the most from her?
I loved Ethan's little subplot/romance, too! Awwwww, so cute. I loved the bit at the end where Curtis was caught between Ethan and Karen and going, "Ohhhh, places I do not need to be, OMG." And I liked that it was a straight-forward, non-criminal death that it centered on. It's nice to see some of the more routine work they do. (There was a nice shot somewhere in the middle where we saw another body prepped for autopsy, giving the impression of a bustling office, which again makes it seem like a more real, fleshed-out setting.)
Though speaking of realism...I question whether a former neurosurgeon-turned-ME can use a bottle of vodka and a kitchen knife to cut someone's abdomen open and figure out exactly what's gone wrong and exactly how to fix it until the paramedics get there. (Though at least they had her only able to do a stop-gap measure, and not just go ahead and cure the guy.) Then again, these kinds of shows do tend to work best on the "drink more, think less" principle.
So, Megan and Peter broke down a door and performed emergency surgery. Surely this is up there with the delivering-a-baby-together cliche on the scale of shippiness? Yes? Oh, you guys. You're too adorable for words. I liked their banter at the beginning, too, and the way Peter literally pushed her forward when the guy they saved wanted to thank her.
I also liked the way Megan's dead patient "haunted" this episode without completely overwhelming it. (Minus one scene. More anon.) I'd been wondering how the inevitable malpractice suit had gone down, and exactly how she'd left neurosurgery. Like Peter, I was really impressed with the way she handled it: giving up her practice immediately, not trying to fight it. The pilot certainly gave the impression that she'd been dragged kicking and screaming from her surgical tools. I liked how the accident informed her drive to get to the bottom of this case; in general, I find "because she wants justice!" kind of a weak motivation for any character, and very much appreciate it when we get a more specific motivation.
Something I did not appreciate, though: Megan's chat with Dr. Chandler near the end. These were special circumstances and all, but I really, really, really want them to quit with the scenes where she goes all judgy-judge on people and tells them they're "pathetic" or "reckless" or whatever. Writers, if you've done your job, we know that already. Megan doesn't need to tell us. I like her being smug about her intelligence and medical knowledge; being morally righteous makes her much less sympathetic.
I guess Bud is still in court this week? I...can't say as I missed him. I already mentioned that the show has a few too many characters, and Sam's excellent. I wonder if they were planning to go somewhere with that "Because you're prejudiced" line the cheesesteak place worker said to her? Given the issues inherent with Megan's frequent treatment of Curtis (SPEAKING OF WHICH: OMG, that scene where they're all archly mutually respectful, how great was it?), I was surprised to see that pop up.
Kate was awesome this week. She knows the mayor well enough to know that he hates when people hang up on him! And the mayor calls her back! Heh, she and Castle should talk.
One last thought about Ethan: is he actually Megan's intern/fellow, or is he just employed by the city and has attached himself to Megan
no subject
Date: 2011-04-20 03:17 pm (UTC):D
I like the idea of Megan/Kate too, and I adore that we get to see them being awesomely professional together and also getting a little closer week by week.
For Megan/Peter, I think I was lost when Peter, in the pilot, said, "It's true, she doesn't have any [friends]." Bantery best friends ships (and I agree, they are definitely best friends) where they can tease and insult each other are my crack; add to it that he's teaching her social skills and just totally taking no notice of how cranky she gets--which sort of befuddles her--and you've basically got my dream ship. It probably doesn't hurt that that they have so many scenes together. Path of least resistance and all. ;)
First, I am irrationally happy when someone from a fandom I love, loves another fandom I love too XD
Hee! For someone who claims not to like crime procedurals, I appear to have gotten into a bunch of them. I think if I hadn't been a fan of Castle, I wouldn't have started watching this, because I only knew about it from the relentless ad campaign ABC ran during Castle last month.
And now I just ship Murphy/Beckett too :D (Kate/Kate LOL)
Bwah! That would be fun. I really hope they do a crossover if BoP lasts long enough; they're on the same network, they appeal to the same demographic, Dana Delany wants it to happen...sounds like gold to me. I really want to see what Megan and Castle make of each other.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-20 07:38 pm (UTC)"For someone who claims not to like crime procedurals, I appear to have gotten into a bunch of them."
Well, I don't even watch any TV-series for the plot, maybe just the sitcoms, I watch them for the subtext and the character relationships :D Plus the eyecandy :D I watch BoP because of Julie Benz, Darla from Buffy, played a lesbian on Desperate housewife, and Dana Delany was her partner XD I thought she is hot, so I guessed her new show worth a shot and I wasn't disappointed :D
Woh this comment has an awefully lot smiley already and I was just babbleling.
I don't know if you remember, but Dana Delany played Jordan Shaw, FBI Agent. I just remembered it because I read a Jordan/Kate fic recently :P
So it is really just a few steps or a little schizophrenia for Megan/Castle to happen :D And the mayor sends Kate Murphy to "fix it" :D
I too really hope BoP will live long enough for a fic like this :D
no subject
Date: 2011-04-20 10:21 pm (UTC)I've run into "tsundere" on TV Tropes, but I don't see it used much in the fandoms I'm in...maybe it's more of an anime thing.
I find that the bantery best friends ships often turn into awesome romantic ships, so I'm holding out hope here. :)
I don't even watch any TV-series for the plot
Yeah, I don't watch either this or Castle (or Bones, back when I could still stand it) for the cases, but rather the character stuff. I just wish there were more shows that didn't have all this crime-fighting baggage to put up with in order to get to the good character stuff. I'd like more shows where I can enjoy both aspects. When I'm watching something like Fringe, I can usually enjoy both halves. Ah, well.
Dana Delany is insanely attractive. I can't believe she's 55.
I do remember DD as Jordan Shaw; just rewatched those episodes the other day, in fact! I'm thinking the hypothetical crossover should involve her in some way just for the lols. Maybe Megan has a twin sister?