What just happened?

[krickets]

(Unrelated preview image is unrelated.)


→ What just happened?!?!?!? I was just saying last week that neither Gwen, nor Jamie have alibis for the night Rosie was killed. The third man on the 10th floor has got to be Jamie. I love that little scrappy fucker, but there's no way it's Gwen. The whole thing with her coming to the cops about Richmond's alibi not panning out just wouldn't make sense if it's her. (Unless she was just jealous of all of Richmond's exploits and thought she'd pin a murder on him?) Dammit. Jamie Wright, I sincerely hope that if you were there in that casino that my whole "trying to save Rosie and ended up driving the car into the water and couldn't save her" theory is true. Either that or Ames did it and Jamie's some kind of bystander. Ugh. Why do I feel so strongly for him? This isn't fair. I actually have come to love the dynamic between him, Gwen, and Richmond. They're like this little, fucked up, political family. Ugh.

→ Not enough Linden and Holder in this ep. I rarely complain about this show. But this is unforgivable. Basically, haha. This is one of the only eps where their presence has been super low-key. But I do have to say I absolutely loved the shot of them marching into the casino. (And serving that warrant! SNAP!) And loved all the shots of their legs walking together through city hall, Holder at Linden's heels. My people, you guys. I love them so much that they literally just have to walk near each other and I'm happy.

→ Proud of Stan for not being able to go through with it, although I don't know what his game plan was for dealing with Janek after letting that guy get away. Alexi is kind of my hero right now though. As soon as he overheard Janek admitting that he ordered the hit on Michaelski and that it wasn't Stan acting on his own accord, as Alexi was previously led to believe, I knew that Janek's number was up. That whole scene was great. Especially Alexi's final line. Boom. Good riddance.

→ Linden and Holder fighting? Again? Breaks my heart every time. Can't you see that he just cares about you, Linden? Can't you?

→ Linden and her smart ass flashing the key card to the casino's security camera. I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

→ JAMIE MOTHERFUCKING WRIGHT, YOU GUYS. I just can't. I don't want him to be the killer. This turn of events with the damn key card is so unexpected. I just... how am I going to wait until next week?

ETA: Spoilers for the promo below:




...after seeing the promo I'm feeling differently about my "the third man must be Jamie" assessment. But still. Worried!

PS! I wrote post-ep fic earlier today for last week's ep:
how we ended up here; holder/linden; pg13

Comments

[timewaslost.livejournal.com]

u54jrehijgrtfhdgjfdgjsrdfkl

IDEK i was thinking it was jamie but it would be a twist if it was gwen this whole time IDEK

MY BRAIN HURTS NOTHING MAKES SENSE

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I just can't wait for the next two. But I'm so nervous that it'll be the end that I kind of don't want them just yet.

[timewaslost.livejournal.com]

it's actually hilarious because it has been barely a day and my mom is already jonesing for a new episode like you wouldn't believe WHAT IS THIS SHOW AND WHY DOES IT GIVES ME ALL THESE THOUGHTS AND FEELS

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I am pretty much on pins and needles. HOW IS IT ONLY WEDNESDAY? DEAR SUNDAY, GET HERE FASTER!

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

I agree with you re. not wanting it to be Jamie, but mostly because I don't think I could buy (unless some serious 'splainin was done!!!) him as being that cold-hearted. That he could be involved in such a horrific incident/cover-up and not be outwardly affected by it at all. I just... don't get the impression. And I don't get that impression because of the characterisation we've received for him to date. If they want to re-write that, then fine, I won't like it and I'll rage against it because, well... cop out. But yeah, I don't know... I don't like it! I would particularly find your 'Jamie trying to save Rosie but not being able to' suggestion hard to buy, because SURELY that would have had an impact on him in SOME visible way??!

As you know, Gwen was my prime suspect right through season one, though I tend to agree that it makes less than zero sense for it to be her now... Hmmm.

Is it possible that the swipe card had been stolen/lost and then used by someone else? Like it's all just been a massive fake-out?

I knew it was going to be Alexi in the car with Janek at the end there (for no real reason other than that initial fore-shadowing in Stan's garage), but I was still like BOOYEAH when it was! The whole second half of this episode had me on tenterhooks despite most of what was happening (besides the final swipe card revelation) being pretty damn obvious. I didn't notice the lack of Holder/Linden, but that's probably because I'm not as invested in them as a potential couple as some people are? Maybe? No idea. I think the focus on the other characters this episode was important and intriguing and the bits we did get of H/L were spot-on. As usual!

TWO MORE EPISODES TO GO.

eta: I just found this: it's from a review I posted in my journal post the season one finale. Most of the Gwen stuff is now utterly redundant, but the Jamie stuff I still stand by...

Jamie | Some are saying that there has been collusion between he and Richmond and that he is the murderer. I do not at all buy this. I don't think he has the balls for murder. He seems altogether too naive, and maybe that's the whole point. But I don't think so. His "are there any skeletons in your closet" comment to Richmond and his earlier season comment regarding "plausible deniability" are interesting. But, when it comes down to it, I think he's a little too wide-eyed to be that calculating.

Gwen | My money is still on her. And now I think there are two motives in play where she is concerned. I think she found out about Richmond/Rosie and killed the girl (maybe accidentally) in order to get rid of her and 'save' Richmond (motive one). I think she dumped Richmond in it (after finding out that Meg wasn't only a thing of the past!) by recanting her alibi out of jealousy (motive two). I think she is smack bang in the middle of all the shit. SMACK BANG! Also, a couple of times she made reference to being "good" at her job etc.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Okay so I'm leaving this comment on my phone in the parking lot before work so I'll come back for theories (yay!) later. I guess I also felt like the story with Stan being asked for a second hit, and the mayor threatening to expose Darren, were, while compelling, irrelevant to the murder investigation and more importantly kind of one-off moments that weren't already a part of their individual stories. (It was very "this problem will be solved by episode end" ish.) As the momentum in the case is so high it was a little frustrating waiting to see what was happening at the casino and then later at city hall. It's not all about the ship goggles I promise.

[waltzmatildah.livejournal.com]

Yay! I look forward to your return!!

For some reason, I have been heavily invested in Stan since the pilot. It was his gutteral reaction to Rosie's body in the trunk that absolutely and 100% completely sold me on this show as something I simply HAD to watch. And while I've grown to love the vast majority of the characters to a degree that is probably not too far from unhealthy, it will always be Stan that I have a soft spot for. Therefore, anything to do with him (and ESPECIALLY anything to do with his characterisation) is a-okay in my book, even when it's not specifically Rosie's murder related (although, I'd argue that even the non-directly related to Rosie stuff still had an element of Rosie in it -- that's the thing with her death that I find most intruiging. It has infiltrated SO MANY PEOPLE. This girl we haven't even really met, and don't really know all that much about, is integral to EVERYTHING). ARGH I LOVE IT SO.

*ahem*

And all of this thinking about it (my reactions to the episode) just made me realise that it probably wasn't YOUR ship goggles that lead you to disappointment but MY character goggles that lead me to happiness! Haha! /fail on my part.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Stan's plot but mostly in relation to how it involved Alexi. I said to someone in the comments below just how much I love Alexi's story, and particularly Alexi and Rosie's story. It's very poetic and Romeo+Juliet-esque. So to have him learn the truth in such a careless easy way and to have him exact his revenge against Janek (a man who no doubt deserves it) that very same day was awesome, awesome television. At least for me.

I think Stan is the Larsen family member that we've been most connected to in an emotional way. I just felt like his story is still his story without the whole 2nd hit plot. So it was that particular plot that I was less invested in than usual. Same with the mayor threatening Richmond. There was groundwork for those plots to happen, of course. I just felt like 3 episodes before the end of the season (and potentially the series) my thoughts are more concerned with the overall picture and the characters themselves than these side-plots. But like I said it was still well-done. It was scary to see him make that choice, and okay, the boys and the dog in a pirate costume? Adorable! And then when he realizes he can't do it. You just want to cheer for him.

And when I think about it, Richmond's speech does sort of round off his campaign in a nice way. Which obviously would have to happen since we've been leading up to it.

So maybe I'm just being picky because, like Linden, I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ALL THE SMALL STUFF! WE'VE GOT A MURDER TO SOLVE, PEOPLE!

[timidwildone.livejournal.com]

"my thoughts are more concerned with the overall picture and the characters themselves than these side-plots"

I could not agree more. My hope is that tying all these loose ends up now leaves room for some serious drama and getting-down-to-business in the final two eps. I was really frustrated with the pace of this ep and the lack of Holder/Linden, but I guess with last week being so H/L heavy, this was bound to happen.

I enjoyed how they showed Linden waking up inside the car, slightly disoriented. How they panned to the back, showing all her boxes haphazardly stacked. She must've been out pretty hard to not wake up through a stop at the hotel and packing her stuff in the car. I found myself chuckling when Holder said "take a shower". I felt so tense seeing her in the same sweater she wore to the casino before her committal. She needs a day off to be human again.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Yeah I thought so too. It was kind of obvious that they were stalling on the whole key-card business. I am hoping that next week is breakneck.

Yeah I really loved the SOUND in that scene of her waking up. I can't imagine she didn't shower when she was at the hospital, but maybe she didn't. We at least know she got some sleep!

She definitely needs to be human again but I have serious doubts we're going to see that before the end of the season. Maybe in the finale after the case is wrapped up?

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Back for theorizing.

No, you're totally right about Jamie. It doesn't really jive with what we've seen so far. I feel like I'd have to re-watch to know for sure. Jamie has had this carefree attitude especially at the beginning, and then when stuff happens he's been pretty convincingly "You're shitting me!" about it. Everything seems to come as a shock to him in a pretty convincing way. IT CANNOT BE HIM.

If Gwen is involved, I sincerely hope she's not the "doer" because it just wouldn't make sense. Maybe she gets a call AFTER Richmond leaves the room, goes to meet someone at the casino and somehow makes it back BEFORE him? I just don't know.

I do think that someone else from city hall could be the third man. But at this point, I have NO IDEA what is going to happen next. (I love that just when we think we've got it mostly figured out, they pull the rug out from under us to make us question everything. After last season, the clues in S2, with the exception of Alexi, have been leading us pretty steadily in one direction. I am kind of happy to be completely fucking confused again.)

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

What kind of wife doesn't show up to her own wedding? The answer is no kind of mother. No kind of wife. And she knows she should feel guilty and ashamed, and there's a part of her that does, even when she tries her best to ignore it.

I awwed at the TV screen like I was part of some cheeseball live-studio audience for a sitcom when that happened. The framing on this show is so perfect sometimes I don't even know how to process it like a normal person.

For no reason whatsoever, Jaime has always been my number one suspect, but now that they seem to be pointing in his direction, I don't buy it. I don't feel like he has it in him, no matter how cutthroat he's willing to be. I'm not sure what the motivation would be for him? Or Gwen either for that matter. UGH. This is actually super frustrating because I felt like they had did a good job at telling us who killed Rosie (the casino people + the mayor/and/or his lackeys) and that the more pressing question was now why. What did she see or hear that warranted her dying? But now we're twisting back around to the Richmond team and I don't think we need anymore suspect twists.

I'm with you, there wasn't nearly enough Holder and Linden, but I always look forward to seeing the Larsen family, so the Stan subplot worked really well for me. I'm not as invested in the Richmond stuff though.

Linden and her smart ass flashing the key card to the casino's security camera. I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

SO MUCH LOVE FOR THAT SCENE. :D

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I think your first quote is wrong because it confuses me. It's from my fic, lol. I can't even figure out what you could be referencing here. Haha.

I can't believe everyone has suspected Jamie. I really like his character. In fact he's what makes the Richmond storyline bearable for me. Even Gwen interests me far more than Richmond ever did. (I can't explain this. I like him well enough, I just don't find him that compelling. Even though Campbell does a fine job with the character.) Richmond works better for me as a bad guy. Always has. But I know deep down that he's not a bad guy. At least, not the bad guy we're looking for. Jamie is just this super complex, interesting character, who loves what he does and loves his friend but is married to his work and can be ruthless at times. But I just love that about him. The question of "who is the third man" and its answer isn't necessarily going to tell us who killed Rosie. I have a feeling there's more to the story! (Of course there is!)

I was most excited for the Larsen sub-plot because of Alexi. I love his story and I love his and Rosie's burgeoning romance cut short. The daughter of a hitman and the son of a mark. It's so damn poetic. And to have Alexi be the one to rid the world of Janek is particularly good. Except you have to worry about what is going to happen to him now. (Not just for his well being, and whether he'll be caught, but for his soul.)

UGH THIS SHOW IS SO GOOD.

[ozmissage.livejournal.com]

*headdesk*

I highlighted this quote: And loved all the shots of their legs walking together through city hall, Holder at Linden's heels. but my clicking finger must not be forceful enough because it didn't save it and your fic quote was the last thing I highlighted before that. Oops. ;)

Jaime has grown on me so much this season that I finally let that particular suspicion go. I still don't entirely understand why he (or Gwen, for that matter) would have been there that night though. I feel like I need to rewatch the entire show, but there's no time.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I was re-watching Siyonara, Hiawatha yesterday with gigglemonster and I noticed this scene where Jamie and Gwen are in Richmond's office and they're watching the news footage talking about Mayor Adams and Chief Jackson potentially striking a deal regarding the waterfront. Jamie says to Gwen, "The waterfront..." just referencing what is on the TV and then Gwen looks at him and says something like "What about it?" And in that moment, I could see how Gwen could somehow know more than she's saying. Knowing what I know about the key card now, It just seemed suspiciously "innocent" the way she said that. HMMMMM.

[mollivanders.livejournal.com]

I have to wait a whole week? What is this nonsense? I NEED THEM IN MY EYEBALLS NOW.

Jamie's the only one out of the whole political team I actually like. Damnit.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I KNOW RIGHT? Haha. This is how I feel. And I have been feeling that way pretty much every week for weeks on end. I didn't think I could feel stronger about it, but here I go again!

Oh, Jamie. WE LOVE YOU TOO MUCH.

[twilightthief.livejournal.com]

I was proud of Stan too but holy hell Alexi!! Wow!

So many twists and turns and I was literally gasping at the end when Linden and Holder walked into the Richmond office!!

It's hard..sometimes I lean towards Jamie and other times I lean towards Gwen ;/ TBH I dont want it to be either of them though!

Linden was great when she flashed the card to the cameras! loved it!

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think I need to write something for Rosie/Alexi. It is decided.

It must be because I'm biased toward him but right now the only person I could see being the third person at the construction site is Gwen. No way is it Jamie. NO WAY.

[geekiest.livejournal.com]

I think it's Gwen. Trying to punish her father, or Mayor Adams for what they've done.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I feel more confident that it could be Gwen than Jamie. But I still don't really know. Right now the person most likely to actually be responsible for Rosie's death in my mind, is Michael Ames. But that just seems too obvious!