Major Crimes 2x02 Thoughts (AKA: the Mike Tao and Amy Sykes appreciation post)
Of note, this has remained a draft for longer than expected. :3
I am still pleasantly surprised the second episode really just made me as happy as it did. :) I was worried about the death-threat-to-Rusty storyline. :3 On the one hand, it makes sense (and we knew to take it seriously from the beginning what with the showing of the writer snapping on his rubber gloves and his weapons and eerie darkness), but on the other, this could go so many of a number of different ways. I like seeing that there's no completely "right" choice here - no obviously "good" decision. The DDA again has a point (though I'm not quite sure her motivations are completely beneficent - especially since there was no denial from her whatsoever when Sharon called her out on it in Taylor's office) in worrying about Rusty's safety and wanting witness protection (I have a feeling that whoever's writing the letters are deliberately ensuring that they are only borderline threatening but not threatening enough to throw Rusty into witness protection), but as we see by the end - if last week wasn't enough already to convince us - that forcing Rusty out of Sharon's care will do nothing either because it'll feel like abandonment - no matter how they attempt to justify/rationalize/explain it to him. :3 He's willing to give up some of those forward steps towards a normal life... as long as he gets to at least remain in her care. MY HEART! Also, I am not completely convinced that it IS Stroh-related, but might possibly be related more to Rusty's past on the streets it seems - since the writer keeps on referring to being an "old friend" and past "sins", inclusively. Then again, the writer could possibly be referencing the manner in which Rusty witnesses Stroh. ><"
That said, I know many people liked Taylor in this episode because he seemed on "our" side, but I really hated how the discussion about witness protection got downplayed into a discussion of money and funding, because as realistic as it it, it's also just plain sad. It's the life of a young man at stake, and I feel like beyond his value as a witness, the department and DA's office doesn't really care what happens (not at all helped, once again, by DDA Rios's comments earlier in the episode about his being a teenaged prostitute - without at all considering the circumstances that would drive a teenager into such a position to survive, and it's that continued callousness, I think, that needs adjusting; I don't mind that she's so focused on what she wants to get her job done correctly, but "Justice" is more than about punishing the wicked, it's also about protecting those most in need of protection - from themselves and others, and that's why characters in such procedurals need the voices that balance the perspective on the way the system works [I know, I still need to make the Sharon Raydor post I've been promising ^_^"]), which makes the Sharon and Provenza moments of voicing their worries really the only voices calling out about the circumstance and nature of the victim and witness. It makes all of their jobs and lives harder, but that's because it's supposed to be hard and difficult. The "right" thing is not a singular entity, pure and simple. Sometimes, it's just as dirty and complicated as any other option. :3 (Hi, Sammy (and Laura and Lee)... yes, my aunt has just reached the midway point of Supernatural season 2.)
Anyway, other notes, possibly more relevant to my choice of titling this post. I've made no secret of my love that Major Crimes as a show is so much more of an ensemble show. As much as I appreciate the centrality of Sharon and Rusty, I love how simple singular episodes give me more insights on the other characters that the seasons (okay, really, one full season with a mixed bag of other random episodes) of The Closer have given me of the other team members in general. I know we're going to eventually get more about Sanchez and Flynn, but already - we can see the overarching arcs. Buzz learning to work with the new boss but being himself and utilizing his skills to help the others. He's more than just a tech expert though. As Rusty puts it, he's been putting in a lot of extra work to help Rusty catch up for school, and he doesn't have to. AND he's "usually nice about it". LOL
Mike Tao though, this episode, LOL. I loved him? Not only because of the constant teasing of Flynn with the Gingko Biloba (because, seriously, I was laughing along as well - Chinese herbs... I know their effects pretty well all things considered), but because I like seeing out of the box he's usually placed in? My impression from The Closer was that he's the other "tech" guy. The guy who knows his science and his facts really well, and you would go to him with your questions, but then... we get "Dismissed with Prejudice" last season which wow... so he really was an investigator? And now, this time, we actually see him undercover and taking down a suspect, which, I admit is particularly awesome (also, I have to admit that both my little sister and I have been happy to see a few more Asian-American characters around who are not 'disposed' of or caricatured). He's smart, but he also has the skill-set that's seemingly expected of every detective. (Disclaimer: And maybe he did show these off before in The Closer? But by the time, I started watching, they didn't appear much.) He, apparently, also has a decent sense of humor outside of the technical. (And I will admit to laughing more than was probably decent when the screen name he came up with was "Mr. Clean". XD)
Amy had that moment to blow-up, and I know that it has raised speculation (not unlike speculation after "Dead Man's Hand" episode for Sharon), but I think it's not a one-off moment. It's a series of connections drawn from season 1. When she's the one who takes down the guy in "Medical Causes" when he's attacking his girlfriend, there was something in her face, but I'm going to choose for now to not read too deeply into it because it's not to unbelievable that she might just take those situations and offense more personally even without personal experience. I believe that these sort of crimes - of abuse - and specifically women-centered violence does reach deeply into both Amy and Sharon - not only because they are female, but because they feel the vulnerability women face within a biased system deeply. Amy was ex-military and, last season, we had an entire episode about the way position and power can be abused when there's deeply embedded gender divides, even beyond sexual assault, and she basically spent an entire season trying to prove herself capable for her position in the team. Sharon's a feminist who has been struggling and working within the force for decades (or there about), a profession where men not only out-number but completely out-rank women. Her own team, the "top-of-the-top" only ever features one other female detective at a time, and it's the woman she chose to add to the team herself. She hasn't received a promotion (though I personally think it'd be odd to start calling her Commander after so long knowing her as Captain), but the "promotion freeze" really is about as much BS as it possibly could be... considering that two men were promoted to the top positions within the LAPD. (I know, storytelling purposes and all that, but eh. It's still noticeable, and the fact that Brenda was the only female of her rank is in itself troubling, and now, there's not even that because she's left and is in the DA.)
Anyway, enough with the (possibly nonsensical) rambling of my thoughts - that have been rummaging around in my brain for the last week. I guess what I really wanted to say is that I am REALLY enjoying this season and I hope it keeps it up for all nineteen episode and that viewership and ratings will reflect it's good qualities. :)
I am still pleasantly surprised the second episode really just made me as happy as it did. :) I was worried about the death-threat-to-Rusty storyline. :3 On the one hand, it makes sense (and we knew to take it seriously from the beginning what with the showing of the writer snapping on his rubber gloves and his weapons and eerie darkness), but on the other, this could go so many of a number of different ways. I like seeing that there's no completely "right" choice here - no obviously "good" decision. The DDA again has a point (though I'm not quite sure her motivations are completely beneficent - especially since there was no denial from her whatsoever when Sharon called her out on it in Taylor's office) in worrying about Rusty's safety and wanting witness protection (I have a feeling that whoever's writing the letters are deliberately ensuring that they are only borderline threatening but not threatening enough to throw Rusty into witness protection), but as we see by the end - if last week wasn't enough already to convince us - that forcing Rusty out of Sharon's care will do nothing either because it'll feel like abandonment - no matter how they attempt to justify/rationalize/explain it to him. :3 He's willing to give up some of those forward steps towards a normal life... as long as he gets to at least remain in her care. MY HEART! Also, I am not completely convinced that it IS Stroh-related, but might possibly be related more to Rusty's past on the streets it seems - since the writer keeps on referring to being an "old friend" and past "sins", inclusively. Then again, the writer could possibly be referencing the manner in which Rusty witnesses Stroh. ><"
That said, I know many people liked Taylor in this episode because he seemed on "our" side, but I really hated how the discussion about witness protection got downplayed into a discussion of money and funding, because as realistic as it it, it's also just plain sad. It's the life of a young man at stake, and I feel like beyond his value as a witness, the department and DA's office doesn't really care what happens (not at all helped, once again, by DDA Rios's comments earlier in the episode about his being a teenaged prostitute - without at all considering the circumstances that would drive a teenager into such a position to survive, and it's that continued callousness, I think, that needs adjusting; I don't mind that she's so focused on what she wants to get her job done correctly, but "Justice" is more than about punishing the wicked, it's also about protecting those most in need of protection - from themselves and others, and that's why characters in such procedurals need the voices that balance the perspective on the way the system works [I know, I still need to make the Sharon Raydor post I've been promising ^_^"]), which makes the Sharon and Provenza moments of voicing their worries really the only voices calling out about the circumstance and nature of the victim and witness. It makes all of their jobs and lives harder, but that's because it's supposed to be hard and difficult. The "right" thing is not a singular entity, pure and simple. Sometimes, it's just as dirty and complicated as any other option. :3 (Hi, Sammy (and Laura and Lee)... yes, my aunt has just reached the midway point of Supernatural season 2.)
Anyway, other notes, possibly more relevant to my choice of titling this post. I've made no secret of my love that Major Crimes as a show is so much more of an ensemble show. As much as I appreciate the centrality of Sharon and Rusty, I love how simple singular episodes give me more insights on the other characters that the seasons (okay, really, one full season with a mixed bag of other random episodes) of The Closer have given me of the other team members in general. I know we're going to eventually get more about Sanchez and Flynn, but already - we can see the overarching arcs. Buzz learning to work with the new boss but being himself and utilizing his skills to help the others. He's more than just a tech expert though. As Rusty puts it, he's been putting in a lot of extra work to help Rusty catch up for school, and he doesn't have to. AND he's "usually nice about it". LOL
Mike Tao though, this episode, LOL. I loved him? Not only because of the constant teasing of Flynn with the Gingko Biloba (because, seriously, I was laughing along as well - Chinese herbs... I know their effects pretty well all things considered), but because I like seeing out of the box he's usually placed in? My impression from The Closer was that he's the other "tech" guy. The guy who knows his science and his facts really well, and you would go to him with your questions, but then... we get "Dismissed with Prejudice" last season which wow... so he really was an investigator? And now, this time, we actually see him undercover and taking down a suspect, which, I admit is particularly awesome (also, I have to admit that both my little sister and I have been happy to see a few more Asian-American characters around who are not 'disposed' of or caricatured). He's smart, but he also has the skill-set that's seemingly expected of every detective. (Disclaimer: And maybe he did show these off before in The Closer? But by the time, I started watching, they didn't appear much.) He, apparently, also has a decent sense of humor outside of the technical. (And I will admit to laughing more than was probably decent when the screen name he came up with was "Mr. Clean". XD)
Amy had that moment to blow-up, and I know that it has raised speculation (not unlike speculation after "Dead Man's Hand" episode for Sharon), but I think it's not a one-off moment. It's a series of connections drawn from season 1. When she's the one who takes down the guy in "Medical Causes" when he's attacking his girlfriend, there was something in her face, but I'm going to choose for now to not read too deeply into it because it's not to unbelievable that she might just take those situations and offense more personally even without personal experience. I believe that these sort of crimes - of abuse - and specifically women-centered violence does reach deeply into both Amy and Sharon - not only because they are female, but because they feel the vulnerability women face within a biased system deeply. Amy was ex-military and, last season, we had an entire episode about the way position and power can be abused when there's deeply embedded gender divides, even beyond sexual assault, and she basically spent an entire season trying to prove herself capable for her position in the team. Sharon's a feminist who has been struggling and working within the force for decades (or there about), a profession where men not only out-number but completely out-rank women. Her own team, the "top-of-the-top" only ever features one other female detective at a time, and it's the woman she chose to add to the team herself. She hasn't received a promotion (though I personally think it'd be odd to start calling her Commander after so long knowing her as Captain), but the "promotion freeze" really is about as much BS as it possibly could be... considering that two men were promoted to the top positions within the LAPD. (I know, storytelling purposes and all that, but eh. It's still noticeable, and the fact that Brenda was the only female of her rank is in itself troubling, and now, there's not even that because she's left and is in the DA.)
Anyway, enough with the (possibly nonsensical) rambling of my thoughts - that have been rummaging around in my brain for the last week. I guess what I really wanted to say is that I am REALLY enjoying this season and I hope it keeps it up for all nineteen episode and that viewership and ratings will reflect it's good qualities. :)