Reflections on Roman from "Life" - meta, y'all!
On Wednesday, pers_pineapple will be re-watching and discussing an episode of Life that leaves me almost catatonic with joy. The episode is, of course, "The Fallen Woman", featuring That Guy Who's Name Rhymes With Carrot as easily one of the best - and most interesting - villains of recent memory, Roman.
And no, I'm not bias.
So in honour of this occasion, and to get any Roman-ish squee out my system so my recap isn't embarrassing for all, I've compiled a little meta picspam to look at why this character has remained on not only my psyche, but the majority of everyone else's, too.
Reflections on Roman
Or: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb
---
Without even clapping eyes on Roman, our view of him is distinctly dark. In playing with the idea that Lena's an angel, he is surely the devil - people trafficking, drugs, murder, dog fighting, the whole nine yards. Not only that, but we are lead to believe he's a character without mercy, a character to be feared and, in some sick way, respected.
"No-one knows Roman" - born in a Russian prison, he has no fear - already we're beginning to see a man who isn't there - "you can't hold onto him", which is perhaps the most disturbing aspect we learn of him in the beginning.
He's a ghost, and Charlie doesn't like ghosts.
Our first view of Roman is through the detailed surveillance that comes about after Charlie and Dani begin to delve deeper into his past, and the outstanding warrants from Interpol et al for his arrest. He's obviously into it all, big and small - stealing DVDs, identity theft, gasoline scams and wearing odd hats.
See the odd hat? He's channeling Oliver! or has a secret career as a train driver. Anyway. There are also three different spellings of his name: Novikov (IMDb), Neviko and Nevikov. We learn he's been on the LAPD's radar for years, but never had a charge stick.
Without even appearing properly on screen, Roman already has people running for the hills - a formidable enemy of sorts for Charlie, who's new path in life is to make everything right. Roman is, in many ways, the anti-Charlie - but through his ruthless endeavors we can't help but make a parallel between the two. Both are survivors, making up for or punishing the world for what has transpired in their lives, but each choosing distinctly different paths to take for much the same end result.
Charlie, Dani and the SWAT team are sent to finally bring Roman in - but it's not that clean cut. His reveal is something close to visual poetry, so of course, YouTube needs to be brought in.
All squee aside, the build up to his reveal is immense. Not only does he quite obviously put Charlie and Dani on edge, it's his absolute cool charm that radiates through the scene. He has a SWAT team at his door, yet he's eating steak, lighting a cigarette and could be watching Friday Night Football for anyone can tell.
It brings home Julia's comment that he has no fear - and not only that, but it's obvious that he knew they were coming and who they've been talking to ("cuff me, Officer New Money" - the same term Julia called Charlie in a previous scene). It's delectable and nasty and one of the best reveals I've ever seen.
Roman is taken into custody, cool as a cucumber. His posture gives the impression he's tried to make himself into a cultured, learned man, despite the illusions to a horrible up-bringing. There's an element of "I don't give a fuck" amusement, but also of a man who's out to prove he's worth a damn - by any means possible.
A nice touch - as the Lt, Charlie and Dani are discussing and watching him by monitor, he flicks his eyes to stare directly down the camera. It's both unnerving and absolutely telling.
As Charlie and Dani interrogate him, it's quite obvious that Roman's main weapon - other than scary murdering etc - is knowledge. Within five seconds, he's already tried to bond with Charlie over murder by goading him into admitting he killed the Seybolts, but Charlie isn't having it.
But it soon becomes apparent that it's not Charlie that Roman is interested in playing with - it's Dani. The amount of knowledge he has about her can only be attributed to two sources - either he has an informant within the ranks of the police department, or, and perhaps more interestingly, he was involved in the same world Dani was when she became addicted to drugs, however inadvertently.
It gives us the impression he knows exactly what is going on in the underworld at any given time, as well as those police officers who maybe trying to catch him.
Charlie, of course, isn't having his partner talked to like this and slams his fist onto the table - but Roman doesn't flinch. Women, quite obviously, do not sit very high in Roman's book, and his unashamedly nasty toying with Dani shows a blatant misogynist (although it could be argued that he's simply a bully who is able to sense weakness and thus exploit it).
Even as she's beginning to tear up, he detracts all questioning away from himself by further humiliating Dani, pointing out she "has a good look", and she should consider a career as a Natasha. The scene ends with him stating, boredly, that his lawyer will arrive soon and he'll walk, giving us the impression he's been there, done that.
Charlie catches up with Roman as he gets into the elevator, again a free man, and has a last minute grab at getting information. However, it's Roman who throws the curve ball, asking Charlie very bluntly if he'd ever considered one of his co-worker's had set him up for the Seybolt murder. This, of course, counteracts everything he said to Charlie in the interrogation - buddying up to him and making us believe he thinks Charlie is guilty - and again, we realise how much information and what fantastic deductive reasoning Roman must have.
He also has a love for coloured aviators, but that's besides the point.
As the episode continues, Roman-as-the-devil is shown through his treatment of animals and Lena's boyfriend being kept in a cage. The despicable nature of his day-to-day business dealings are brought to the front, and a team is sent out to finally, resolutely bring Roman in.
His arrival in the squad room causes the entire station to stop - his disheveled clothes and bloodied face show that no force was spared to bring him in, and the station's solidarity against this modern day Devil is apparent. Gathering forces against the evil, if you like.
He locks eyes with Charlie and Dani, and we think we see a skerrick of remorse or shame - the uncatchable Roman has been captured.
And as I'm attempting to be unbiased and slightly insightful, I won't say anything like "man he looks hot here" or "DO ME DO ME DO ME", for that would undermine everything I came here to say. Right?
Right.
As Roman's lead back into the interrogation room, it's obvious that the cops holding him are being exceptionally rough. However, Roman's being almost too giving in his nature, holding his hands out to be cuffed, walking into the room without needing to be forced - but, of course, this doesn't deter the officers from giving him a good, hard shove.
It's interesting how Roman's framed and lit throughout the episode - the blaring sun that seems to cover him in an unearthly, ethereal glow goes against everything we come to feel about him. The light that surrounds him gives him an almost angelic - ironic? Deliberate? - so we come to view him as almost out of this world, out of our reach.
Having him dressed all in white gives us the same impression - because aren't angels only supposed to wear the colour of innocence? It leaves us with the feeling that Roman's almost trying to portray himself this way, a "what? Me?" mentality while also driving home that idea that simply? Like an angel, you can't hold hold him.
(Or Garret looks hot in white. Whatev.)
As he's left alone in the sun of the interrogation room, any sign of his remorse slips into a purely selfish laugh - a laugh, we learn very quickly, is born from the fact that he will again walk away from this charge with nothing but a fat lip.
Charlie and Dani walk into an empty interrogation room and a better idea of why Roman's been so hard to catch, when they're told by homeland security that Roman is, and always has been, an informant for the United States government. We're brought back to the fact that Roman's main weapon is knowledge - and by being the supplier and receiver, he holds all the cards in a very dangerous game of poker.
It gives us the impression that he almost can't leave enough alone - that he has to assert his power and make himself known, just on his terms.
This is shown brilliantly when, as a free man with no apologies owed to anyone, he calls Charlie to almost bait him into being in his debt. "Ask your partner about the Bank of LA shootout," he says, the protective world surrounding him shown by the loyal dog at his feet. "Ask your partner what happened to all that money."
Without even being in the room, Roman manages to open the proverbial can of worms - which partner, Dani or Bobby? - and also tell Charlie that not only has he been watching, but he will continue to do so. Roman's need for control and almost puppet-master-like interfering is just another layer to such a dynamic villain.
Also noteworthy - he says "your partner" constantly. Is he giving a hint that it's his current partner, or is it just a quirk of his english? INTERESTING, RIGHT?!
But it's during the final sequence when, sandwiched between Dani re-examining her faith, Charlie's watching of his wall and Julia's freedom from whatever oppression she faced, we have a shot of Roman - with a real, honest look of thoughtfulness on his face. It's like he's contemplating the past couple of days, alone, and this is the only time he can show what he's truly feeling on the surface.
With the parallels between his character and Charlie's, it is obvious that the writers have left the door open for Roman to return. So many questions are asked in under five-minutes of on-screen time - maybe it's a testimony to Garret's acting, or the series as a whole - but Roman is one character that will be sorely missed if he's not brought back again. There is so much going on, and, for me, this is one of the episodes that really brought it home to me that this show was something else.
And Roman's hot. But y'all knew that.
THE END.
Did he need that much meta? No. But Garret's A+ acting just kind of lends itself, y'know?
Don't forget the pers_pineapple re-watch, peeps!
And no, I'm not bias.
So in honour of this occasion, and to get any Roman-ish squee out my system so my recap isn't embarrassing for all, I've compiled a little meta picspam to look at why this character has remained on not only my psyche, but the majority of everyone else's, too.
Reflections on Roman
Or: How I Learnt to Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb
---
Without even clapping eyes on Roman, our view of him is distinctly dark. In playing with the idea that Lena's an angel, he is surely the devil - people trafficking, drugs, murder, dog fighting, the whole nine yards. Not only that, but we are lead to believe he's a character without mercy, a character to be feared and, in some sick way, respected.
"No-one knows Roman" - born in a Russian prison, he has no fear - already we're beginning to see a man who isn't there - "you can't hold onto him", which is perhaps the most disturbing aspect we learn of him in the beginning.
He's a ghost, and Charlie doesn't like ghosts.
Our first view of Roman is through the detailed surveillance that comes about after Charlie and Dani begin to delve deeper into his past, and the outstanding warrants from Interpol et al for his arrest. He's obviously into it all, big and small - stealing DVDs, identity theft, gasoline scams and wearing odd hats.
See the odd hat? He's channeling Oliver! or has a secret career as a train driver. Anyway. There are also three different spellings of his name: Novikov (IMDb), Neviko and Nevikov. We learn he's been on the LAPD's radar for years, but never had a charge stick.
Without even appearing properly on screen, Roman already has people running for the hills - a formidable enemy of sorts for Charlie, who's new path in life is to make everything right. Roman is, in many ways, the anti-Charlie - but through his ruthless endeavors we can't help but make a parallel between the two. Both are survivors, making up for or punishing the world for what has transpired in their lives, but each choosing distinctly different paths to take for much the same end result.
Charlie, Dani and the SWAT team are sent to finally bring Roman in - but it's not that clean cut. His reveal is something close to visual poetry, so of course, YouTube needs to be brought in.
Click to viewAll squee aside, the build up to his reveal is immense. Not only does he quite obviously put Charlie and Dani on edge, it's his absolute cool charm that radiates through the scene. He has a SWAT team at his door, yet he's eating steak, lighting a cigarette and could be watching Friday Night Football for anyone can tell.
It brings home Julia's comment that he has no fear - and not only that, but it's obvious that he knew they were coming and who they've been talking to ("cuff me, Officer New Money" - the same term Julia called Charlie in a previous scene). It's delectable and nasty and one of the best reveals I've ever seen.
Roman is taken into custody, cool as a cucumber. His posture gives the impression he's tried to make himself into a cultured, learned man, despite the illusions to a horrible up-bringing. There's an element of "I don't give a fuck" amusement, but also of a man who's out to prove he's worth a damn - by any means possible.
A nice touch - as the Lt, Charlie and Dani are discussing and watching him by monitor, he flicks his eyes to stare directly down the camera. It's both unnerving and absolutely telling.
As Charlie and Dani interrogate him, it's quite obvious that Roman's main weapon - other than scary murdering etc - is knowledge. Within five seconds, he's already tried to bond with Charlie over murder by goading him into admitting he killed the Seybolts, but Charlie isn't having it.
But it soon becomes apparent that it's not Charlie that Roman is interested in playing with - it's Dani. The amount of knowledge he has about her can only be attributed to two sources - either he has an informant within the ranks of the police department, or, and perhaps more interestingly, he was involved in the same world Dani was when she became addicted to drugs, however inadvertently.
It gives us the impression he knows exactly what is going on in the underworld at any given time, as well as those police officers who maybe trying to catch him.
Charlie, of course, isn't having his partner talked to like this and slams his fist onto the table - but Roman doesn't flinch. Women, quite obviously, do not sit very high in Roman's book, and his unashamedly nasty toying with Dani shows a blatant misogynist (although it could be argued that he's simply a bully who is able to sense weakness and thus exploit it).
Even as she's beginning to tear up, he detracts all questioning away from himself by further humiliating Dani, pointing out she "has a good look", and she should consider a career as a Natasha. The scene ends with him stating, boredly, that his lawyer will arrive soon and he'll walk, giving us the impression he's been there, done that.
Charlie catches up with Roman as he gets into the elevator, again a free man, and has a last minute grab at getting information. However, it's Roman who throws the curve ball, asking Charlie very bluntly if he'd ever considered one of his co-worker's had set him up for the Seybolt murder. This, of course, counteracts everything he said to Charlie in the interrogation - buddying up to him and making us believe he thinks Charlie is guilty - and again, we realise how much information and what fantastic deductive reasoning Roman must have.
He also has a love for coloured aviators, but that's besides the point.
As the episode continues, Roman-as-the-devil is shown through his treatment of animals and Lena's boyfriend being kept in a cage. The despicable nature of his day-to-day business dealings are brought to the front, and a team is sent out to finally, resolutely bring Roman in.
His arrival in the squad room causes the entire station to stop - his disheveled clothes and bloodied face show that no force was spared to bring him in, and the station's solidarity against this modern day Devil is apparent. Gathering forces against the evil, if you like.
He locks eyes with Charlie and Dani, and we think we see a skerrick of remorse or shame - the uncatchable Roman has been captured.
And as I'm attempting to be unbiased and slightly insightful, I won't say anything like "man he looks hot here" or "DO ME DO ME DO ME", for that would undermine everything I came here to say. Right?
Right.
As Roman's lead back into the interrogation room, it's obvious that the cops holding him are being exceptionally rough. However, Roman's being almost too giving in his nature, holding his hands out to be cuffed, walking into the room without needing to be forced - but, of course, this doesn't deter the officers from giving him a good, hard shove.
It's interesting how Roman's framed and lit throughout the episode - the blaring sun that seems to cover him in an unearthly, ethereal glow goes against everything we come to feel about him. The light that surrounds him gives him an almost angelic - ironic? Deliberate? - so we come to view him as almost out of this world, out of our reach.
Having him dressed all in white gives us the same impression - because aren't angels only supposed to wear the colour of innocence? It leaves us with the feeling that Roman's almost trying to portray himself this way, a "what? Me?" mentality while also driving home that idea that simply? Like an angel, you can't hold hold him.
(Or Garret looks hot in white. Whatev.)
As he's left alone in the sun of the interrogation room, any sign of his remorse slips into a purely selfish laugh - a laugh, we learn very quickly, is born from the fact that he will again walk away from this charge with nothing but a fat lip.
Charlie and Dani walk into an empty interrogation room and a better idea of why Roman's been so hard to catch, when they're told by homeland security that Roman is, and always has been, an informant for the United States government. We're brought back to the fact that Roman's main weapon is knowledge - and by being the supplier and receiver, he holds all the cards in a very dangerous game of poker.
It gives us the impression that he almost can't leave enough alone - that he has to assert his power and make himself known, just on his terms.
This is shown brilliantly when, as a free man with no apologies owed to anyone, he calls Charlie to almost bait him into being in his debt. "Ask your partner about the Bank of LA shootout," he says, the protective world surrounding him shown by the loyal dog at his feet. "Ask your partner what happened to all that money."
Without even being in the room, Roman manages to open the proverbial can of worms - which partner, Dani or Bobby? - and also tell Charlie that not only has he been watching, but he will continue to do so. Roman's need for control and almost puppet-master-like interfering is just another layer to such a dynamic villain.
Also noteworthy - he says "your partner" constantly. Is he giving a hint that it's his current partner, or is it just a quirk of his english? INTERESTING, RIGHT?!
But it's during the final sequence when, sandwiched between Dani re-examining her faith, Charlie's watching of his wall and Julia's freedom from whatever oppression she faced, we have a shot of Roman - with a real, honest look of thoughtfulness on his face. It's like he's contemplating the past couple of days, alone, and this is the only time he can show what he's truly feeling on the surface.
With the parallels between his character and Charlie's, it is obvious that the writers have left the door open for Roman to return. So many questions are asked in under five-minutes of on-screen time - maybe it's a testimony to Garret's acting, or the series as a whole - but Roman is one character that will be sorely missed if he's not brought back again. There is so much going on, and, for me, this is one of the episodes that really brought it home to me that this show was something else.
And Roman's hot. But y'all knew that.
THE END.
Did he need that much meta? No. But Garret's A+ acting just kind of lends itself, y'know?
Don't forget the pers_pineapple re-watch, peeps!