Post by -|E|- on Jun 8, 2007 20:43:22 GMT -5
May 30, 2007
"RECOIL" by Adam E. Fierro
I really like this episode. I co-wrote it with Liz Craft and Sarah Fain. There are three moments in this episode that are among my favorite Shield moment's ever. The first is Dutch watching through the window as Hiatt and Tina get it on.
We'd lived with the "romance" of Tina and Dutch for so long, and we could never decide where to take it. Should they hook up, or should Dutch just lust from a distance? After the "pimpology" episode, Dutch seemed to use his new knowledge to a point, but he and Tina still hadn't slept together. It was the Shield version of romantic tension, which is to say kind'a one sided, and sort'a pathetic. We finally decided that we wanted to end Dutch's pain, but needed a clever way to do it. Billings was that way. Dutch had been Billings' foil for several episodes and now it was time for a Billings' win. We had this idea for Billings to manipulate basically everybody as he master-minded not only Tina and Hiatt sleeping together, but also Dutch showing up at her house at the exact right time to see them going at it. It also served, from a character standpoint, to remind people that Billings is not a buffoon, but someone to always be reckoned with.
It also gave us a really funny moment as Dutch was seen by Hiatt, watching the action through the window. Jay Karnes is one of the few actors in the world who could play a scene like that with as much pathos, and dignity, as he did. In the end, Dutch was able to walk away from his crush on Tina with a new strength and self-awareness, even as word of his peeping spread through the Barn.
The second moment in the episode which ranks among my favorites is Shane telling Diro about the money train. It's completely character illustrative, and reminds everyone about the difference between Shane and Vic. Vic's life is a chess game. He's constantly aware of the next several moves he'll make. Shane believes he's thinking ahead, but he let's his emotions get in the way of his ability to make cold, rational choices. This moment is the perfect example of how dangerous Shane's emotions are. He was trying to get back at Vic. Shane was angry about being rejected by Vic after killing Lem, a move he felt Vic would have and should have made himself. Shane would eventually make his way to the Armenian mob, the very people the Strike Team had stolen the money from. And in an emotional, angry moment; feeling like he had lost Diro's trust and credibility to Vic, he revealed their darkest secret. Only Shane would have done that, at that moment, that way.
The third moment I loved, which I wasn't even aware of at the time, was finishing the last script I would write with Liz, my future wife. We were married three days before I wrote this blog. I loved working with her and Sarah. I only got to do it twice in two seasons, but I'm proud of the two scripts we did. We didn't know she and Sarah would create their own show and not be available for the Shield's final season, so it wasn't special at the time. But when we watch it together tonight, my new wife and I, I have no doubts about how special it will feel.