Mental -- Coda
On this week's Mental: Jack and Zan's relationship hits the skids, Arturo wrestles with a Mad Hatter and the good doctor helps an autistic girl who witnesses her father's murder. Jack and Zan have the romantic/half-dressed/candles and wine thing going on. On the surface it's a cozy scene, but soon enough, the conversation turns more serious. Zan refers to a conversation with her mother, who wants to know everything about the new man in her daughter's life, including whether or not she's in love. Ouch -- they went the "I said I might love you and you didn't say anything back" route. Jack's saved by the bell (or cell phone in this case).
The police are calling to ask for his assistance with a child who may have witnessed her father's murder. She's huddled in a closet, with blood spatter on her face, and screams anytime someone tries to get her out. Jack arrives at the scene, looking totally out of his element, as detectives and crime scene techs work.
Detective Bagdonitz and Lieutenant Truitt think she's in shock, but Jack determines she's most likely autistic. She's got pretty good verbal skills, but is echolalic: she repeats back a lot of what's said to her. Jack does his crazy-whisperer thing and gets Leeza to leave with him. The officers say they'll be in touch.
As Jack works with Leeza to find out what she may have witnessed, he discovers she did, in fact, attend a day school where the teacher had tapped into the girl's extraordinary piano talent. He also begins to get the idea that a policeman may have at least been in the room when Leeza's father was shot. He leaves a message for the detectives and takes Leeza on a field trip to her old apartment (presumably to reenact the crime).
Detective Bagdonitz arrives and it becomes apparent his real interest is in hiding his culpability in the murder -- even if that means killing a young girl and her doctor. Jack tries to get the gun away from the detective and in the struggle it flies across the room. Leeza picks it up and looks at it curiously. Eek. Jack knocks Bagdonitz out and talks Leeza into giving him the gun. At least they didn't try to make Jack out to be some sort of badass hero, familiar with pointing a gun at the enemy. He looks scared spit-less in this scene. Lieutentant Truitt arrives and the drama's over. Bagdonitz confesses to being an enforcer for a local drug lord and to killing Leeza's dad for skimming off the profits.
It turns out Leeza's mother is a famous musician -- the girl was kidnapped by her father years ago. Truitt is grateful for Jack's help and offers his assistance if Jack ever needs him. After a pause, Jack mentions his sister Becky and asks for help in locating her.
Arturo's dad flies in for a visit and we get some interesting insight into what makes his character tick. He appears to get his ladies' man ways from dear old dad, but Arturo's medical degree is real, while Diego merely plays one on TV (23 years on a soap opera). There's obvious resentment on both sides: Dad doesn't feel Arturo's a real doctor, and Arturo doesn't think Diego's a real actor. It doesn't help that Diego correctly diagnoses one of Arturo's patients as having Mad Hatter's disease, something his son missed. Gee, Thanksgivings must be fun in the Suarez house.
Interesting side note: Mad Hatter's refers to milliners of old, who literally went mad from constant exposure to mercury-treated fur and felt used to make hats. In this case, the patient has lead fillings, which are causing the Mad Hatter's.
Chris Vance does a good job of demonstrating Jack's emotional distance the instant Zan mentions (potentially) being in love. It's a nice juxtaposition: a character that can't help but go the extra mile to find out what's troubling his patients and offer a way out, but as soon as anything gets too heavy in his personal life he shuts off and wonders (aloud) why everything can't just be casual and fun.
Does his profession require that he remain emotionally distant in his personal life so that Jack can be as successful as he is in helping the mentally ill? Or, does his sister's disease and disappearing act (heavy breathing phone calls notwithstanding) prevent him from making real connections, especially romantic ones? Hm... maybe the head shrinkers of Wharton Memorial are getting to us.
But... wait just a dang minute people! Exactly how long are we to assume Jack's relationship with Zan has been going on (aside from a few episodes) in Mental-land? Isn't she asking for way too much way too fast when she essentially throws out the "love me or lose me" ultimatum? We might be on Jack's side with this one -- what's the big rush?
What do you think -- was Zan right to demand an answer and end the relationship when Jack couldn't give her what she wanted? Or, did she do a big leap-frog from casual dating to serious relationship? Talk in the comments!
Detective Bagdonitz and Lieutenant Truitt think she's in shock, but Jack determines she's most likely autistic. She's got pretty good verbal skills, but is echolalic: she repeats back a lot of what's said to her. Jack does his crazy-whisperer thing and gets Leeza to leave with him. The officers say they'll be in touch.
As Jack works with Leeza to find out what she may have witnessed, he discovers she did, in fact, attend a day school where the teacher had tapped into the girl's extraordinary piano talent. He also begins to get the idea that a policeman may have at least been in the room when Leeza's father was shot. He leaves a message for the detectives and takes Leeza on a field trip to her old apartment (presumably to reenact the crime).
Detective Bagdonitz arrives and it becomes apparent his real interest is in hiding his culpability in the murder -- even if that means killing a young girl and her doctor. Jack tries to get the gun away from the detective and in the struggle it flies across the room. Leeza picks it up and looks at it curiously. Eek. Jack knocks Bagdonitz out and talks Leeza into giving him the gun. At least they didn't try to make Jack out to be some sort of badass hero, familiar with pointing a gun at the enemy. He looks scared spit-less in this scene. Lieutentant Truitt arrives and the drama's over. Bagdonitz confesses to being an enforcer for a local drug lord and to killing Leeza's dad for skimming off the profits.
It turns out Leeza's mother is a famous musician -- the girl was kidnapped by her father years ago. Truitt is grateful for Jack's help and offers his assistance if Jack ever needs him. After a pause, Jack mentions his sister Becky and asks for help in locating her.
Arturo's dad flies in for a visit and we get some interesting insight into what makes his character tick. He appears to get his ladies' man ways from dear old dad, but Arturo's medical degree is real, while Diego merely plays one on TV (23 years on a soap opera). There's obvious resentment on both sides: Dad doesn't feel Arturo's a real doctor, and Arturo doesn't think Diego's a real actor. It doesn't help that Diego correctly diagnoses one of Arturo's patients as having Mad Hatter's disease, something his son missed. Gee, Thanksgivings must be fun in the Suarez house.
Interesting side note: Mad Hatter's refers to milliners of old, who literally went mad from constant exposure to mercury-treated fur and felt used to make hats. In this case, the patient has lead fillings, which are causing the Mad Hatter's.
Chris Vance does a good job of demonstrating Jack's emotional distance the instant Zan mentions (potentially) being in love. It's a nice juxtaposition: a character that can't help but go the extra mile to find out what's troubling his patients and offer a way out, but as soon as anything gets too heavy in his personal life he shuts off and wonders (aloud) why everything can't just be casual and fun.
Does his profession require that he remain emotionally distant in his personal life so that Jack can be as successful as he is in helping the mentally ill? Or, does his sister's disease and disappearing act (heavy breathing phone calls notwithstanding) prevent him from making real connections, especially romantic ones? Hm... maybe the head shrinkers of Wharton Memorial are getting to us.
But... wait just a dang minute people! Exactly how long are we to assume Jack's relationship with Zan has been going on (aside from a few episodes) in Mental-land? Isn't she asking for way too much way too fast when she essentially throws out the "love me or lose me" ultimatum? We might be on Jack's side with this one -- what's the big rush?
What do you think -- was Zan right to demand an answer and end the relationship when Jack couldn't give her what she wanted? Or, did she do a big leap-frog from casual dating to serious relationship? Talk in the comments!