S3x12: Partners
April 13, 2010
Oh it’s a hot bundle of drama on this episode. Pembleton’s left the force and the writers are navigating the tricky waters of Domestic Violence, while skirting away from DV tropes involving police officers. It’s quite the challenge and for the most part H:LOTS scores a B-. Still this is light years beyond the efforts of other shows to shine on spotlight on DV without sensationalism, victim blaming or equating the survivor’s pain with the abusers (e.g. all abusers were abused).
PEMBLETON, GEE and THE BRASS
- Pembleton done went and left the force in the wake of the hanky panky Congressman Hot Pants debacle. Pembleton’s on the line for following orders and the BRASS and even GEE – though for different reasons – are not inclined to protect him. Bayliss goes to bat for Pembleton, but finds it does more harm than good. Pembleton could sure use a little Bruce tonight. Brilliant Disguise if you have it handy.
BAYLISS and LEWIS
- Lawd, Lewis’s bad driving makes its first appearance when he pairs with Bayliss on a murder and instead nearly kills himself, Bayliss and the Medical Examiner by going the wrong way down a one way street. In other news, it looks like the crew (Bayliss, Munch and Lewis) are finally going to open the Waterfront, except with so many false starts, folks are starting to see them as the “Boys who cried Bar Grand Opening”.
RUSSERT
- Russert battles her conscience when shes rushes to the ER after hearing her ex-partner’s wife is badly injured and medical professionals are asking questions. Russert does that thing I despise in regards to DV, which is to doubt her initial suspicions, which of course proves quite disastrous. Still this is handled with care and it’s not an easy story arc to watch, but worth doing so.
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My understanding is DV is particularly prevalent in cop households, so it’s good to see that H:LOTS doesn’t shy away from dealing with it.
Yeah, they are often great at turning the rubber hose on one of their own.
Bayliss really showed off his obnoxiousness in this episode – every time he started talking to Maria Delgado I was like, “Lord, please stop.” I had forgotten about Lewis’ driving and was wondering if this could even be for real. I had an aunt who drove like that. I literally thought I was going to die in the car that day and even came to peace with it until we miraculously arrived at our destination unharmed. I’m still not sure how that happened.
I loved the shot of Pembleton shaking the broom at the smoke detector.