While this dosen't hold up to the drama the previous episode delivered us, it can stand on it's own with the same formula as last weeks. And it really works well for this show, so let's get started!
--
We begin with another shooting (that seems to be the normal opening for this show, just as House is to people fainting or vomiting blood before opening credits.)
But once Cal steps in, he get's a warm welcome.
"Never thought I'd see it!"
"See what?"
"The day they got Cal Lightman back in Vegas."
--
Professional liers, that's a treat. Indeed, Cal's in his arena here, and boy he REALLY enjoys it. Gillian and Ben are both there, nice to see Ben right up with the 'top dogs' of the team and a part of the main (and only) case once more. He's proving to be a much needed member of this team.
Now apparently, Cal was banned from Vegas (no surprise there) but I would have LOVED to see what he did to get banned from a city besides being a human lie detctor...
"God I miss this."
And he misses it enough to give Ben a nice bit of cash to gamble on '00' his numbers apparently. But quickly get's kicked out.
--
Now, Cal's talking to the family of the young man who'se gone missing...and nothing really interesting here besides moving the plot along.
But when Cal confronts Gillian; "Things change."
"People don't." Sounds like a House quote, dosen't it? Hey it's a Fox show, odds are the shows will tie together eventually...(CROSSOVER PLEASE!!!)
Now when Ben comes back with the winnings...Cal quickly learns that Ben bet on another number...and Cal tells him to do it again. Wow.
--
Ria and Loker were all alone this episode, and I must say, I REALLY enjoyed watching them goof around for the most part. Once Loker recieves an E-mail from Gillian to analyze, it's no problem...then another one comes up...3, 4, 5, 6, 7...wow. Ok.
I was rolling on the ground laughing by this point.
Priceless.
--
Back to Vegas, this lovely woman is great at manipulating Cal...and anyone for that matter, practically getting Cal on his knees;
"Tell me the truth"
"Can't you see the truth?"
Nice one...yet, he's got something out of her, but once he thinks he's got a lead, a phone call comes in, and it's a ransom call...for 2 million dollars.
Eh, that's nothing.
--
Once Lightman is working the woman for more questions (I believe her name is Poppy Wells), he tells off some guys to
"Go lose some money. Go on. Buzz off."
Not important...but it was funny.
--
Ria and Loker are viewing the tapes of Loker's date! ! They made a bet on that if the date was for him, Loker would get Ria's office for a week, and of it was a date with the '5 Star Restruant', Ria would get a very cool looking ant farm...nice.
--
Once Gillian spots Cal eyeing up Poppy...she tells him "She's the female equivalent of Roulette." Making Cal even MORE attracted to his odds.
So Ben has set up the 'kidnappers' apparently, and tells Cal that he's won again...but on another number! Man, Ben really is lucky, but Cal want's those 00's. WOW, he has issues.
--
So they get a lead to this man who was thought to be 'not taking the game very seriously' and they break into his appartment...blaring with music, yet he's wearing sound proof muffs...and studying the plays. If that's not serious, I don't know what is. But whose in the next room? Another player! Whom the guy next door has sucessfully driven nuts thanks to loud 'parties' and music.
Now once Gillian examines a tape of this guy, we see him do a magic trick...now you see the phone...now you dont!! Wait for it...there it is again!! This guy texted another man to 'do the deed' so they're on the right track.
Untill Cal meets up with Poppy.
"She's Roulette. Stay away."
We all know Cal won't. Really.
"We should play sometime."
"We already are."
Aaand he did what I hoped he woulden't do...(sorry Callian fans!! But was never officcial...and Gillian can read him like a book...really.
Ok, well maybe a book in another language, but she know's him)
Now Cal and Poppy go on a little feild trip and find a body in a trunk!! (Was it just me, or did anyone get a flashback of Reservoir Dogs?)
--
"Best poker coach."
"What happened?"
"He died."
Well put. Gillian asks about how Poppy knew this man and she reveals that he only ever taught her one thing. TOTT. Ta-ta's On The Table. Well it works obviously. (Isn't that sad?)
--
Loker taped his date, no surprise there, and they begin their analyzing...Oh, she smiled! That's nice...wait, she looked away! She's bored. NOPE! She licked her lips! It's Loker's...wait...a Rule of Womanhood?? Oh, she was just bored...again...
Ria has a new Ant farm!!
--
Cal's getting tired of this case going in circles (and by this point so am I, it's gotten REALLY confusing) so Cal finally says "Best liers in the world, congrats. Someone tell me something."
And they argue...and Cal arrests Poppy.
Well played!! (Pun intended.)
--
Poppy reveals the fact that our young star, Jake, is just in his place, and he just 'want's his old life back.'
This 'Reservoir Dogs' man was killed because he was coaching Jake...so who killed him?
On a side note, Gillian knew about the bets, but does nothing about it. It's Vegas, it HAD to happen...
--
Now, since Cal arrested Poppy, he knows she'll go to the man who killed our 'Reservoir Dogs' case...and she does...but she's in trouble.
--
Cal to the rescue!! Ben bolts after this man, and after a nice tackle into the pool, he's taken down. Case over and done.
--
Cal want's double..."You hire me as a lie expert, then you lie to me. Double it."
--
Ria and Loker, of course, Ria was only kidding...but this woman really was interested...but so is Ria! Looking Loker directly in the eyes, there's no denying that there was HUGE tension in that scene, I can tell you. I was holding my breath, and thus is the beginning of Ria/Eli. Reli...Toker...Lorres...I like that last one. Lorres...isn't there a name for this already?!?
--
Gillian looks FABULOUS, comming up to Ben to watch the game...but he takes her out for a night on the town!
That is, until we see Cal recieve 1 million in chips...and watch in antici..............................................................pation as he bet's it all on 00's.
We will never know.
--
'All In' all (SO sorry for my lame pun's) this was a great episode. More funny than anything and it was SO much fun to watch.
Screeentime was NOT a factor here, and the storylines were easy to follow because there was really only one.
So! Is this the beginning of Lorres?? YOU BET! While no heavy relationships are to be expected from ANYONE this early on in the series, the tension is there, and it's set in motion and we'll just have to see where the writers take it!
Ben? He was, as I said, with the top dogs of the team, and that's where he belongs. While not as interesting as Cal so far, the writers are giving us alot to laugh about him...his insane luck with Roulette, and his ability to keep Cal comming back to him.
He's a great guy, and I'm glad he's on this show to stay.
Gillian? Looked FANTASTIC in the last scene. It's great to see her happy, because it really makes EVERYONE happy. Her emotions really effect the tone of the whole show, and that tells us alot about her character if she has the power to do that.
Cal...where do I even begin! Not only did he look fantastic, (yet again), he slept with the 'enemy' so to speak, and he got his answers. And it was all at no cost to him, this is Vegas, right? He was in his world tonight, and seeing him where he plays God is like House in the hospital. It's just natural to him and it's as funny as hell to watch.
Tim Goodman..........
Every television critic I know is making both end-of-year and end-of-decade lists. Although we have many different takes on what happened this year and in the last 10, there does seem to be one consistency: We each make what amounts to an improbable list. This is mine.
_________________________________________
"Fran here - I will not bother putting the whole list in ...just this bit"
________________________________________
Tim Roth, "Lie to Me," Fox. It's easy to give network programming - even the finest of it - less attention and affection in the face of so much impressive work on the cable side. But Roth's combination of smarts, aggression and compassion has not only elevated this procedural drama, but also proved he deserves the Emmy attention that has previously (and deservedly) gone to Hugh Laurie on "House."
Every television critic I know is making both end-of-year and end-of-decade lists. Although we have many different takes on what happened this year and in the last 10, there does seem to be one consistency: We each make what amounts to an improbable list. This is mine.
_________________________________________
"Fran here - I will not bother putting the whole list in ...just this bit"
________________________________________
Tim Roth, "Lie to Me," Fox. It's easy to give network programming - even the finest of it - less attention and affection in the face of so much impressive work on the cable side. But Roth's combination of smarts, aggression and compassion has not only elevated this procedural drama, but also proved he deserves the Emmy attention that has previously (and deservedly) gone to Hugh Laurie on "House."
This picture of Tim Roth really seems to sum up the feelings of this episode.
