TVSquad

(S03E10) Based on the preview we saw last week, I was really looking forward to this episode. Unfortunately, the episode you see doesn't always measure up to expectations drawn from a preview. This episode didn't end up being as good as I thought it would. Not that it was horrible, I'd say it was just ok.

The first problem was with the Devalos story. The preview hinted at Allison somehow helping him deal with his daughter. As it turns out, Allison really wasn't involved. Giving them the name of a city in New York was not exactly the revelation I had in mind. It was still nice to get some development of the Devalos character, but it seemed like there might have been a better story there to tell where Allison actually does factor in.

The story did make for some nice dramatic scenes between Devalos and his wife. I thought Miguel Sandoval did a great job in this expanded role. A couple things stood out as particularly interesting. First, Devalos having a conversation with Ariana. That leaves open the possibility that his near death experience has given him some kind of ability. Only the possibility though, as the fact that it was his daughter means that he could just be a grieving father who is not dealing well with the loss. I also liked his reaction to Dr. Gates, and the irony of him going to Allison looking for the same kind of answers.

What didn't make sense in that part of the story was New York. Unless I missed something, I understood that Ariana had left Phoenix to go to college in New York, where she died. Now, other than needing a device to create drama between Devalos and his wife, why wouldn't they have brought her home to be buried? The end, with the field of flowers, was a nice moment, but I'm not sure it fixed anything for the two of them. Of course, the problem there is that it might not be possible to fix.

As far as the Allison story, I really didn't like the opening. Joe's line, "You're a doll.", was cute, but other than that it was just way too simple and didn't set the tone for the episode. If they had taken the time and actually animated the dolls, maybe that would have worked, but as it was, just not for me.

The mystery itself was pretty good. I didn't see the Sarah Jane twist coming until we found out that she was the little girl in the dreams. I was leaning more toward that girl having lived in the house before Oliver and she had left Maggie behind. I especially liked the ending, where Allison confronted Sarah Jane and told her that she knew what she had done. It was an interesting extension of the conversation Joe and Allison had where he asked her if she is now judge and jury. She did let someone get away with murder, but I think the fact that Scanlon wouldn't even begin to take any of it seriously let her off the hook. While he was completely wrong, he did get the line of the night. "That Raggedy-Ann may look out of shape, but she'll kick your ass in a fight."

The family story of the week was small, but fun. I actually had no idea that there was a chicken pox vaccination. Joe's increasing anxiety over the possibility of catching it was well done. Especially when he was torn between disappointing Marie or getting close enough to actually catch something. In the end I was pretty sure he would get it, but having it come from work was a nice twist.

Overall, this was an episode worth seeing for big Medium fans. For casual fans or someone new to the show you won't miss anything by not seeing it.