Various secrets came out on Sunday's Madam Secretary as a gunman outside the State Department caused a lockdown of the Department. During the lockdown, an Iraqi delegation meets with Elizabeth to discuss Isis.
Also during the lockdown, Matt gets stuck with Daisy's fiancée Win. When the two chat a little about Daisy and smoke marijuana, Matt reveals his and Daisy's affair to him. After the lockdown, Win breaks up with Daisy and Matt and Daisy kiss. Elsewhere, Nadine is stuck with a State Department employee who is transferred to Angola much against her wishes. As the employee complains that she is transferred due to her being a single woman, Nadine has Bess transfer her to Europe instead because that's what she wants.
This episode was solid, but in my opinion too busy. I'm not even sure what the A-story was this week. Was it the negotiations with the Iraqis? Or the gunman outside? Anyway, the gunman seemed to be completely random and unrelated to the other stories. It would have been nice if there was some connection between the gunman and Elizabeth or the Iraq story. They could have also left out the gunman or focus completely on him instead, because now it all felt rushed. Also, Nadine and the other employee could have been explored further, as I think it raises quite an important issue whether or not single people are more expendable. Perhaps in another episode. As always, the epic (uhum) romance of Matt and Daisy is not a preference of mine either. All in all, the storylines in this episode could easily have been stretched out over two or three episodes instead of having it all cramped up in one.
What did you think of the episode? Did you find it too busy as well? Was the reveal that Elizabeth had someone tortured, shocking to you? What do you think Stevie will do now? And how do you feel about Matt and Daisy potentially getting together again?
Sunday's episode, "Game On", seems to focus on the Marsh storyline again. SpoilerTV has received a screener of the episode, so look for my preview of the episode to be published in a few days. Here is a promo:
The "romance of Matt and Daisy is not a preference of mine either". In fact I find it very distracting. It should be pretty obvious to everyone in the office that whatever is going on between them is interfering with their ability to do their job. I'd be happy to see one of them transferred right now.
ReplyDeleteStevie is a very spoiled, immature girl. Granted she heard some very hard facts but there's no big picture with her about anything. I'm glad she moved out. I hope they don't help her financially. She has to get a real life view of trying to live on a menial salary which is all she'll ever have if she doesn't finish her education. She should go back to school.
I agree about this episode being too busy. And the ongoing thread of the plane crash just adds to that feeling every week. I hope it's solved soon.
I think I can easily say this was one of my favourite episodes so far.
ReplyDeleteI will agree that the episode may have been a bit busy, but I think they way it was handled, by splitting up each storyline and containing it's main players in a room helped keep the stories tidy and concise.
"I'm not even sure what the A-story was this week."
I think I have an answer to that, and feel free to disagree. But from my POV the A-storyline was the Stevie/Bess conlfict. Stevie has been unhappy with both her parents for quite some time and they've been disappointed in her for just as long, and it's been building up to this confrontation, which was fueled by Stevie finding out about Bess's history. So IMO the Stevie/Bess/Blake take on the mantle for the A-storyline this week.
Speaking of, I do like the running gag of Blake's ambiguous sexual orientation (Bess being very specific about saying "signingficant other" instead of boyfriend/girlfriend) but I'm at a point where I'd actually like to know. Mostly because, even though I originally didn't particularly care -though personally I was leaning towards gay- and because as I did say I do like the gag, this week made me kinda see some little thing I liked between Stevie and Blake and I would like to know if keeping the possibility of shipping them open is a viable option or not.
And speaking of shipping... Daisy/Matt. I don't mind them as much as most seem to, but I will agree their "turbulent love story" might need to move a bit more to the background. Hopefully Win breaking off the engagement might help with that!
I LOVE Nadine. Love her (my relief when she was cleared by Bess's suspicions was unimaginable)! Her little C-storyline really worked for yet another great character moment for her. And Bebe is killing it BTW!
I was expecting more from the frame story of the episode, ie the gunman. I'll agree with you his presence in the episode was disjoined. If he'd had some relation to Bess being in Iraq, or even if it was something far more simple like him being there specifically because of the Iraqi officials then it might have worked better,. But overall I think that's quite a passable objection to the episode.
I'll agree that Stevie is immature, but I'm not sure about spoiled.
ReplyDeleteI won't argue that she can be occasionally bratty, however taking a step back, what I actually do see in Stevie is a very young opinionated woman, with not much life experience who does seem to be aware that she is privileged. The "spoiled" tendencies are there but I do see her struggling with them and I respect that.
I think what was her breaking point in this episode, is the illusion that all those things her parents have instilled in her that make her fight those "spoiled" tendencies, the standards they ask of her to hold for herself aren't things her parents apply to themselves. And she's been trying to please and appease them only to find out that it might actually be pointless if they themselves don't do what they preach.
It's been building up for a while too this situation: Her thinking Henry was cheating and how Henry and Bess handled it, and now this... It's a lot to take in.
I get where she's coming from, and I think she's quite justified from her POV. She might not be right in the big picture, but she's being true to herself.
Personally I feel she's open to the prospect of being set straight in the "big picture" (what with her parting comment of going to off to grow and gain perspective), but her claiming that lying and the double standards are not things she's willing to let go so easily is a fair assessment too. I think even Bess acknowledged that after what Stevie said to her before she left.
I actually really enjoyed this episode - unlike last week's - but I have to admit that Elizabeth's family is getting on my nerves. They take screen time away that I think could be used in a much more effective and interesting way and they never seem to add anything valuable except making a point of emphasising "look, on top of her important job, Elizabeth also juggles a life as a mother and wife". Yes, we get it already!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind Daisy and Matt. I mean, obviously they are terribly unprofessional and Matt is a complete jerk about it, but for some reason, I still enjoy their chemistry. And the scenes with Matt and Daisy's (now ex-)fiancé were perfect, not to mention absolutely hilarious at first when Matt freaked out about potentially having been found out.
Nadine remains flawless. As does Blake.
I'm right with you about Blake - the running gag was cute, but I feel like it's run its course and they should just say one way. Right now, Blake's sexual orientation is basically like Schrödinger's cat.
ReplyDeleteIt's like the writers are trying to have their cake and eat it by leaving it open to interpretation but teasing it every episode, and I for one am started to feel like they're trying to play it safe.
"Nadine remains flawless. As does Blake."
ReplyDelete*nods* easily THE best characters on the show... like... by a HUGE margin!
The only standerds so far that Stevie has to abide by? Is getting a college degree-which both of her parents have. Or she has to hold a job-which both of her parents have. And her mother doesnt want her to be getting drunk when shes not 21. That is it. Those are the only rules or standards we have seen Bess and Henry place her this season.
ReplyDeleteAs for being justified in believing her dad was cheating? How so? Before that episode, Henry has been a very devoted husband to his wife. He is clearly only into her. He stayed behind because of work. And he works with female students all the time. For Stevie to jump right to-oh god hes cheating? Was a little out of line. And then she more or less called her mom dumb because her mother wasnt kicking Henry to the curb for the cheating Stevie. She never apologized for calling her mother stupid either. And she never said sorry to her father for wrongly accusing him of being a cheat. No wonder things appeared tense in that home after that episode. She can be as mad as her moms past as she wants. she is not wrong for that. But she needs to own the times she wrongly judges a member of her family. She cant just bestow her judgement around to every member and then get upset when judgement comes right back at her. She starts doing that and shes gonna be at odds with everyone. And I say this as a Stevie fan.
I agree, the romance is distracting.
ReplyDeleteAs for Stevie, I agree she is a little spoiled but I also agree with the comments below that she has her reasons. I really liked her when she was introduced in episode 2 but I now feel indifferent towards her.
Seperating the characters in different rooms was great indeed, but I still think the episode was too busy. And the gunman was completely random, it would be good if he had some relation to Bess or the Iraqi delegation.
ReplyDeleteYes, Elizabeth's family indeed doesn't add much to the mix. They should get some interesting storylines soon.
ReplyDeleteWin and Matt's scenes were funny, especially when they smoked marijuana.
I guess I dont fault Bess and Henry for the affair thing, because I dont know how they could have explained it better. I'll admit it. They can't tell her, her dad is in the NSA. And Stevie is not buying the grad student story. So to me it is a case of-she needs to trust her mother's word. Her mother has been married to her dad for over 20 years(Because Stevie was said to be 20). She does know him better then Stevie so I find it odd Stevie didnt belive her. But then again we know nothing about Stevies romantic past. Just that shes been single and has 'date with the cutest boy in the world!'-Perhaps she got cheated on by a past boyfriend? Then I can understand why she isnt so easy to buy Bess explaintion
ReplyDelete