Niki’s storyline is shakily written at times, but I do love the symmetry of it, as the turning point for Niki will be when Jessica surrenders control to her. Niki gives Jessica control because she feels unable to get Micah back otherwise, because she can’t face using power and violence against DL herself; Jessica will give control back to Niki during a mission to get Micah back because she knows she’s very able to use power and violence against DL, but she also knows what it would do to Niki. And when Niki makes the step to integrating both her halfs, it’s via a broken mirror again.
I do have my problems with Niki's storyline and the way the character is often written, but I loved how they constantly kept the image of her connection to mirrors. As for her control issues and her inability to do actively do something on her own, I really wish they had tried to explore this a little deeper, especially because they are part of what I find problematic about Niki as a character. I understand that she is afraid of taking control of her own life, but it mostly comes across as her being a bit of a wet blanket, and I think that might easily have been avoided if they had illuminated the causes a bit more - or if they had shown her being a bit more assertive in the beginning. But maybe next season.
Alas, to the brunch:
(Also, Jesse Alexander, the scriptwriter, is great with the exchanges between mother and son: NATHAN: You're kidding.
ANGELA: No, I never kid about family brunch.
NATHAN: That's because we never have family brunch.)
He does put his experience for complicated - and snarky - family dynamics from Alias to good use, doesn't he? *g*
Is she asking him to tell her the truth, or to lie to her?
Both, I'd say. Mostly it seems a plea for "Tell me this is still going to work out" so she needs him to assure her that an affair is basically not a sign that he is one foot out of the door, but it also seems to me that she'd rather not want him to have an affair in the first place. This opens up all kinds of questions: How would she have reacted if he had cheated on her while she was still able to walk, and would he have done it if that were the case? I think if her reaction here is a sign that she is scared he could leave her (at the very least emotionally, since a divorce in their situation would probably political suicide), he probably didn't cheat before.
(Generally speaking, I heart their scenes together, and I really hope we'll see more of her next season.)
Peter does not choose to ask Simone to get it back from Linderman. Or, say, to give him Linderman’s phone number. He doesn’t tell her he knows exactly who Linderman is, either.
This is interesting. Especially since getting the painting via Simone would expose neither himself nor Nathan to Linderman's influence, but of course Peter likely thinks that Nathan can get the painting easier, since his connection at least seems more personal. Nonetheless, it makes it look as if Peter has changed his opinion about his family's connections to the mob and what they mean quite a bit since Dad died...
“you’re still a bastard; now, get that painting for me!” and “will you shut up about the special crap? Let me tell you all about my marital crisis!”
Isn't that the best summary of their relationship I've yet read... so adorable, those two. (You guys actually make me like Peter. I can't quite believe it. Astonishing. (Not that I disliked him before, it was more ... friendly indifference.))
Hours later: Part the Second
I do have my problems with Niki's storyline and the way the character is often written, but I loved how they constantly kept the image of her connection to mirrors. As for her control issues and her inability to do actively do something on her own, I really wish they had tried to explore this a little deeper, especially because they are part of what I find problematic about Niki as a character. I understand that she is afraid of taking control of her own life, but it mostly comes across as her being a bit of a wet blanket, and I think that might easily have been avoided if they had illuminated the causes a bit more - or if they had shown her being a bit more assertive in the beginning. But maybe next season.
Alas, to the brunch:
(Also, Jesse Alexander, the scriptwriter, is great with the exchanges between mother and son:
NATHAN: You're kidding.
ANGELA: No, I never kid about family brunch.
NATHAN: That's because we never have family brunch.)
He does put his experience for complicated - and snarky - family dynamics from Alias to good use, doesn't he? *g*
Is she asking him to tell her the truth, or to lie to her?
Both, I'd say. Mostly it seems a plea for "Tell me this is still going to work out" so she needs him to assure her that an affair is basically not a sign that he is one foot out of the door, but it also seems to me that she'd rather not want him to have an affair in the first place. This opens up all kinds of questions: How would she have reacted if he had cheated on her while she was still able to walk, and would he have done it if that were the case? I think if her reaction here is a sign that she is scared he could leave her (at the very least emotionally, since a divorce in their situation would probably political suicide), he probably didn't cheat before.
(Generally speaking, I heart their scenes together, and I really hope we'll see more of her next season.)
Peter does not choose to ask Simone to get it back from Linderman. Or, say, to give him Linderman’s phone number. He doesn’t tell her he knows exactly who Linderman is, either.
This is interesting. Especially since getting the painting via Simone would expose neither himself nor Nathan to Linderman's influence, but of course Peter likely thinks that Nathan can get the painting easier, since his connection at least seems more personal. Nonetheless, it makes it look as if Peter has changed his opinion about his family's connections to the mob and what they mean quite a bit since Dad died...
“you’re still a bastard; now, get that painting for me!” and “will you shut up about the special crap? Let me tell you all about my marital crisis!”
Isn't that the best summary of their relationship I've yet read... so adorable, those two. (You guys actually make me like Peter. I can't quite believe it. Astonishing. (Not that I disliked him before, it was more ... friendly indifference.))