(S01E13) Well, I totally identified with Marin's constant procrastination so she didn't have to face writing her book. As a person who makes her living as a writer, I always found every excuse in the world to avoid writing: laundry, yardwork, etc. Anyway, the town rummage sale served as a metaphor for what was happening with a bunch of the couples in this episode. They were trying to figure out how much old stuff they could throw out before they could start anew.
Love Triangle #1: Marin and Jack are friends again. I wonder how long this back-and-forth will last? Jack was making out with Lynn and he seemed pretty into it (they are a hot couple, aren't they?). But he was obviously also quite jealous of Marin and Stuart. Now, why does Lynn act so oblivious to Jack's feelings towards Marin? She doesn't see the sexual tension? In the end, Jack and Lynn are moving back in and somehow that seems right. Although my heart breaks for Marin, who is being pursued by her publisher and I'm not sure how I feel about that. He pretty much creeps me out.
Love Triangle #2: The Ben/Sara/Teresa fiasco. Sara is back and after initially being alarmed about Ben and Teresa's reunion, she was a real grown-up about it. She knew she didn't have the right to claim him since she bolted but she decided to enter the fight for Ben. I got a big kick out of how the Teresa/Sara tension culminated in a fight over a unicorn quilt. A unicorn?!? Ben had a panic attack, bringing Teresa and Sara down to earth and, once again, Sara gains her composure and offers to run the Chieftain while Ben recovers and Teresa tends to him.
I loved how the Patrick/Annie storyline ended. After Patrick's botched attempts at proposing, I think it became pretty obvious that he was going to end up proposing at the dump but it still was cute since he had his foot stuck in a humane trap.
Sidenote #1: Teresa looked like she was sporting a black eye that was not all the way concealed with make-up.
Sidenote #2: I really want Anne Heche to brush her hair or pull it back!!
Next time: More sexual tension between Marin and Jack, and a crazy new house.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-20-2007 @ 12:12AM
Lisa said...
I love Men in Trees. I didn't think I would because I wasn't sure about Anne Heche. I, on the other hand, don't see the "hot" chemistry between Lynn and Jack. I do hope the writers keep playing the Jack/Marin side of the story from time to time. Stuart, the publisher, is a good kink in the wheel!
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1-20-2007 @ 1:54AM
D Colin said...
I wanted to see Sam the PlowGuy about town. I really like him.
Love this show. I got to say I like Lynn. Yes I want Marin and Jack together, but don't mind if it takes awhile.
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1-20-2007 @ 7:25AM
heinlein said...
While I still love how real the characters act, it seems that they are re-using the same storylines a bit too much.
Can we please have Patrick/Annie getting along with the wedding planning without breaking up and reuniting every second episode.
And please cut back a bit on the love triangle angst!
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1-20-2007 @ 8:02AM
Kristi said...
This is such a good show! I was not sure about Anne Heche, but she is great, quirky, fun to watch. Jack just needs to do all of his scenes with his shirt off. I like Lynn also, but really wanted Jack and Marin together. Let's hope ABC doesn't cancel this show, like they do to so many others.
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1-20-2007 @ 8:30AM
Kym said...
I love the show, and I really like Anne Heche. I would love to see the Jack and Marin story play out, I am not a fan of Lynn. I agree with the other poster, Annie and Patrick need to have calm and peace.
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1-20-2007 @ 8:50AM
Dave said...
"Men in Trees" is basically "Northern Exposure" about two decades later, except that because of the passage of time between them, more sex, much of which is an excuse for not having a stronger story line, making them soap operas, is required on the show (as it seems to be on most shows -- e.g., "Grey's Anatomy").
However, to the extent a show -- any show -- is well-written, it can be entertaining. The poster above's reference to the rummage sale as a metaphor for getting rid of the baggage people have in their lives is a good one. It shows good writing, while making the audience think. The poster may have missed another metaphor in this show, however, when the two women fought over the unicorn quilt, making the bartender, the wife and boyfriend to both, ill. Unicorn? Male? Two women fighting over it? I think the metaphor was obvious.
This show, like too many, has to watch out that it doesn't resort to merely sex scenes instead of good writing. Too often, unfortunately, "Grey's Anatomy" sinks to this level. While sex scenes may draw some audience members, the exessive use of it, especially to the exclusion or diminishment of a good story line, will lose others.
I was surprised that I liked "Men in Trees" as much as I do, but I worry about its excessiveness for no reason. Its geographical predecessor, "Northern Exposure," had a lot of quirky relationships too, but they were more as "givens" than dwelled upon in much more tightly-written scripts than I've seen on "Trees."
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1-20-2007 @ 9:59AM
innamorata said...
I don't see any chemistry, or anything really, between Lynn and Jack.
I understand the writing of Lynn's character but Bateman's delivery is beyond awful.
I really really really want that pseudo actress off my tv set.
On the other hand Marin's publisher is a delight to hear and watch. He was kindly blunt with Marin about her chapter and I appreciated it.
Mai is one charming but crazy cookie, isn't she?
Poor Ben, too much love and his heart gives out.
Patrick and Annie....as much I think they really are meant to be ...they've barely met a few months back. It bugs me somehow and where in hell was Celia? Her absence made no sense whatsoever.
All in all an uneven episode imo.
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1-20-2007 @ 10:52AM
Hilary said...
Men in Trees is a wonderful new show and I hope ABC see's and values it's contribution. It has wonderful and empowering messages and metaphors. I was a big "Northern Exposure" fan and this feels like "Northern Exposure" meets "Sex in the City".
This has become my favorite show. :)
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1-20-2007 @ 10:59AM
Dottiepop said...
Men In Trees is just a funny, enjoyable show that I look forward to watching every week. I don't need to critisize or take apart anything about the writing or acting or who plays what. I just enjoy the show and was amazed at how funny Anne Heche is. Not sure if I like where Jack and Marin are going but..........I'm sure by the end of the shows running, they will be together........sas or "Eagles" lost but .........
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1-20-2007 @ 11:29AM
Michelle said...
I Love Men in Trees, it's cute, exciting and refreshing; and any chance to see Anne Heche acting again is wonderful. I remember when she first started on Another World , her acting blew me away, especially when she has chemistry with a co-star. I love Jack and Marin, but like all couples must come the other side of the Triangle - Lynn , to always keep us quessing and things stirred up. Still all in all it is a great show!.
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1-20-2007 @ 2:07PM
MrsEldubya said...
I don't see the Jack and Lynn chemistry either. Justine Bateman is just bad and stiff as an actress. I was also one of those who wasn't sure they wanted to watch a show with Anne Heche but I enjoy Men In Trees. Sure it's a little bit Northern Exposure to it but then I liked that show too. It has that Sex And The City voice over and relationship angle too.
With all the crime and medical shows, it's nice to have a light hearted romance show with a whole town of people. Plus Jack is rather hot! :)
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1-27-2007 @ 5:24PM
Cheryl said...
I love Men In Trees..I love Marin..I love Jack..I love Patrick..I love PlowGuy..I love pretty much everything about the show. I am glad to see that Celia now has a man in her life..I was getting annoyed because she was too involved in Patrick's life..I am glad they have written Lynn into the show..even though I am soo upset that he is picking his love life back up with her when he just ended it with Marin..it is still a good decision by the writers though I must admit bc it keeps interest for viewers to "see what happens next". Marin and Jack look better together however...chemistry undeniable..the looks between them..exciting...as for Lynn and Jack...I don't see it..he doesn't look at Lynn and comment on how good she looks as he did with Marin in her little black dress! He loves her(Marin)..he just doesn't know it yet...Lynn is familiar, who's he's used to..she's safe...but Marin..she is who stirs him up!
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1-20-2007 @ 11:25PM
Danman48 said...
Did anyone else notice that the cabin that Marin bought was the same cabin as Jack O'Neil (Richard Dean Anderson) in Stargate SG-1. Because they both shoot in British Columbia?
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1-22-2007 @ 1:15PM
Dee said...
I love love this show but I'm so disappointed with Jack. I understand that he still has feelings for Lynn but to take her back entirely? (with another man's baby in her belly), only a few months pregnant and they are doing it already? Man, he must have forgotten everything that happened between them overnight. I guess he's accepted her and the child she's carrying already.
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1-22-2007 @ 3:50PM
Lou said...
I LOVE Men In Trees. It is one of only 3 shows I must watch every week! MIT is fun, quirky, sweet and just good entertainment. As a previous poster stated, I feel no need to critique - it's all good. I have nothing against Justine Bateman, think she's a good Lynn, but I want Marin and Jack together. I also adore Editor Girl and Plow Guy! Sooooo cute!
ABC - keep Men In Trees in the lineup!!!!
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1-22-2007 @ 4:14PM
Margaret said...
Danman48 - I had a little laugh to myself too, when I realized that Marin's cabin was the same one used in SG1.
And because I used to live in Alaska, I couldn't help but think "Marin's going to hate that lake come summer when Mesquito season starts." It's the unofficial state bird.
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1-25-2007 @ 11:00AM
squidlover said...
I love pretty much everything about Men in Trees, Anne Heche is great. I love the voice over story line, there's always a lesson to be learned.
My ONLY complaint is Jack's hair!! It's way to puffy!! It looks like it's teased and sprayed!! Yuck.
Give him a good haircut and take advantage of all those curls!!
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1-23-2007 @ 5:02PM
Erika said...
I love this show, but it's becoming too "soapy" - break up one show, get together the next...at least keep them apart (or together) for a full storyline!
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1-26-2007 @ 9:05AM
Lyne said...
I love the show--never miss it, but very disappointed with the Jack/Lynn thing ---probably b/c I don't think Justine Bateman is a good fit for that character----she doesn't look "maternal" at all (referring to Jack thinking she would make a good mother). Perhaps if someone else was cast in that role I might like the Lynn character a bit more. Also, I don't like how "nice" everyone is to each other especially with all the love triangles... Marin and Lynn should be at each other's throats---that would be more realistic and make a better storyline. They need at least one evil character---and I think it should be Lynn. :)
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1-25-2007 @ 8:35PM
Kathleen Wayman said...
It's a great show. It's the only one I watch consistently...and agree that it's Sex and the City meets Northern Exposure and how can that be bad?!
Justin Bateman is so odd in this role...but somehow, Lynn's an odd character and it seems to work. I'm rooting for Marin and for Plow Guy/Jane. And PLEASE can Patrick and Annie get on with it? I'd love to see him with her family.
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