I am always happy when I can write a review for a good episode. Lie to Me’s “Dirty Loyal” episode this week is just such an episode. I can’t believe the difference in the way I feel about the show now, compared to the first season. But I’d like to state for the record that, even as a viewer who has not seen season two, I felt every thrill of the interplay between Cal and Wallowski, Cal and Gillian, and Gillian and Wallowski. Wow. I make a big deal about the writing, the writing, the writing in an episode. However, last night? I’m pretty sure we saw some Emmy-award winning acting from Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, and Monique Curnen. Cal always likes to get up in people’s faces, but his interactions with Wallowski last night at the shooting range were sexier than a lot of actual sex scenes I’ve seen.
What was especially interesting in last night’s episode, apart from the acting, was the parallel story structure. There are two pairs of partners in this episode. Last night, Lie to Me made it clear that Cal’s partnership with Gill is every bit as meaningful to them as a detective partnership is to cops. In all of the crime lore I’ve read, the partnership relationship is sacred. But what happens to that relationship and the loyalties required for it to be able to continue when the partners significantly disagree on something? Or when one cop is dirty… but for what started out as a good reason?
Did you notice how Gill’s fury toward Cal seemed to mimick Wallowski’s with Farr as the interrogations and scenes started escalating? I think I only started to notice it when Gill, Torres, and Loker point out the stages with the photos of interrogation with Suarez. Wallowski could barely contain her disgust until she finally walked out. Gillian’s actions echo those during the interrogation of Wallowski. Just as Wallowski knew her partner and Suarez were lying, Gill knows that Cal is lying to protect Wallowski. And she knows that Wallowski has been coached on how to lie. However, just as Wallowski doesn’t approve of what Farr is doing in overlooking the murders of his son’s gang members, she understands that he has feelings toward his son that overpower his ability to do what’s right.
Even though Gill doesn’t understand Cal’s feelings for Wallowski, and she is clearly hurt by them, her loyalty to him prevails throughout.
It’s heartbreaking when (the other clue to the parallel structure), first, we have Cal telling Farr to choose between his partner and his son. Farr chooses Wallowski. But then, the Internal Affairs officer tells Gillian the same thing: choose between your partner and Wallowski. No contest. Gillian immediately chooses to protect Cal — so when he accuses her of disloyalty, indeed it looks pretty ironic from where she’s sitting.
I like the fact that Gillian refused Wallowski’s invitation to have coffee. That is where her boundary is. Her loyalty to Cal is unflinching, but she cannot extend that to making nice with Wallowski. Gill has to blame someone for how difficult this has been, so Wallowski is a logical choice. Blaming Cal would mean that the partnership would be in jeopardy. So, again, she chooses loyalty to Cal over the truth.
Great stuff. I can’t wait til next week!
Clacked by Jen Creer
on Oct 19, 2010 @ 18:02 EST5EDT
