(S03E15) The folks over at Medium are on something of a guest star roll. After a nice turn last week by Eric Stoltz, this week they treat us to Peri Gilpin (Frasier) as Allison's mother Diane Benoit. That wasn't the only piece of nice casting here. Given the ratings of their former shows, I'm sure that Kyle Gallner (Veronica Mars) isn't as recognizable as Gilpin, but it was nice to see him again. For her part, Gilpin was terrific. Diane certainly had her issues, but considering what we know about Allison, I don't think anyone was expecting June Cleaver. The booze and the parenting with pills were a little disturbing, but in her own crazy way I got the feeling that she really was trying to do what she thought was best for Allison. While she seems to have avoided some of the mistakes Diane made, Allison does share that trait with her mother.
Meanwhile, Gallner also did some nice work as young Stephen Campbell. As a Veronica Mars fan, just seeing him made me think of Beaver, but there were some similarities in the characters as well. Towards the end, as Stephen got creepier and creepier, it was quite similar to the end of Beaver's run on Mars.
We should also acknowledge a nice performance by Jessy Schram (Jane Doe) as young Allison. It took me a second to get it through my head that everything present day that we were seeing was happening in young Allison's dreams. The regular format of the show brings the tendency to expect that this is where we get the real time clues. And that was one of the things I really liked about the episode. Once again they managed to do things in a fresh and interesting way..
I really liked the interaction of Izzy (Zoe Kazan) and Allison. It served to show how after all of these years, Allison DuBois is still dealing with many of the same things that Allison Rowland faced so long ago. When Izzy said, "No, people will think you're nuts." I had a flash back to that first meeting with Push in the pilot where he, more or less, thought she was nuts.
They did a nice job conveying the time change also. The clothes were a pretty obvious sign, but I liked that they had all the period music playing in the background of various scenes. I caught Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf," Flock of Seagull's "I Ran," and Night Ranger's "Sister Christian."
There were two things that stood out as being very obvious. First, in the big mystery case that didn't actually happen, it was an easy call that Stephen was the guy. Second, the moment young Stephen showed up at Allison's window with her cat, I knew that Pablo wasn't long for this world. Those are both ok though, because, Pablo fit in nicely with the theory that many serial killers start out by abusing animals, and the mystery that didn't happen wasn't the crux of our story.
The big question was what would Allison do with this knowledge. I like how they tied that up. When she went to deliver the cookies, she did hesitate, so she was considering just letting Stephen kill himself. But she never turned away and actually made the definitive move to actually go through with it. For a moment when they flashed to the neighbors across the street I though she was headed there. But in just pausing at the door, she may very well have been in the process of saving Stephen, despite what the dreams were telling her. That is a much lighter cross to bear.
I was a little disappointed in the Science Fair scene. Not that there was anything wrong with it. In fact I like how Stephen showing up essentially brought Allison's path back in line by preventing her from meeting Joe there as opposed to Fat Bobby's. "You guys met at a place called Fat Bobby's?" Even if Allison couldn't meet Joe just yet though, it doesn't have to mean that the rest of us can't get a look at the young boy genius. I was curious.
Finally, when we did make it back to real time, I liked the ending, even though it wasn't what I was expecting. Having Allison meet Nancy Claymore (Hayley Chase) was a good way to put a point on the change that came about because of what she did. But I was looking for Allison finally picking up the phone and getting in touch with Izzy again after all these years. Overall, another very good episode.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-08-2007 @ 9:30AM
Teresa said...
I agree with every point. I also wanted to see young Joe. And every time Pablo was on the screen I kept thinking it was the last time I'd see him too. Very creepy story though. It sounds good in theory to be able to stop all serial killers before they get started but then you get into Minority Report area.
Gilpin did a good job here too - you just felt so badly for Alison that she grew up with a constant "people will think you're nuts" mantra. Wonder if she used the same pill-popping parenting styles on her brother?
Good review!
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3-08-2007 @ 9:50AM
e said...
And if anyone is wondering what song was played throughout the episode, it was "Sewn" by The Feeling. I don't understand why "Medium" plays snippets of a same song throughout and then doesn't credit it in the end. . .
I enjoyed this episode; just when we thought we had it figured out, they threw us for a loop.
And I was wanting to see a young Joe also!! I loved the dot-matrix printed note. That was a nice touch.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:04AM
La-di-dah said...
Agree with every point in the review as well, but I also have to re-stress: Jessy Schram did a FANTASTIC job as young Allison. At the end of the episode, I was asking myself: do I believe that young girl grew up to be Allison DuBois? YES, right down to the emotions seeping from her when she's getting intution from someone, and props to the writers too for the hesitating-at-the-door scene, because I believe Allison would go ahead and knock, because she "really did care" about young Stephen. Sad about Izzy - I hope we get a reunion sometime. It sort of seems Allison has come a long way in shedding her old life, which makes me curious, along with the clues 3 seasons long that she might have had a substance abuse problem, to see young Allison more often. And I would love to see how college Joe and college Allison meet. They would be so cute.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:32AM
Sverre said...
I didn't see this mentioned, but "young Allison" also did a stint on Veronica Mars. She was Logans girlfriend for a while.
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3-08-2007 @ 10:59AM
Jimmy said...
This season of Medium continues to be the strongest yet which makes it so frustrating that ratings are down so much, buyt there is more completition at 10 pm on Wednesdays. This season has been one solid episode after another. I think everyone has really hit their stride in terms of writing quality and acting.
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3-08-2007 @ 11:24AM
Dawn said...
Okay, I wasn't too sure about this episode at first, but after a second viewing, I decided I really did like it. The writers have done a wonderful job this season of keeping things fresh and interesting. Loved seeing more of Allison's backstory. Didn't care for her mother, though it explains a lot about who Allison became and why. I have to say I disagree with the journalists who are saying that this show is getting tired and stale. They obviously haven't been watching lately. Another great episode, as always, and an excellent review, Brett.
(But I would have loved to have seen young Joe too, darnit)
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3-08-2007 @ 1:05PM
getsheila said...
My favorite episode so far. I LOVED how they tricked me in the beginning with the dream viewpoint change-up to the young Allison. And the 80's music...ahhh, that takes me back.
So glad you stopped by Open Mic Night last night. You helped make it tons 'o fun!
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3-08-2007 @ 4:31PM
Betty said...
Oh Brett, you big hairy man you, what a great review and another great episode from the writers at "Medium"!
I was hoping to have the question answered - is Allison's mother still living? I don't believe this has ever been addressed in any other episode. I do know from the few snippets that have been said about her mother she was not supportive of Allison's gift - the same gift she shared with her grandmother - you'd think something her own Mom had said at some point would have made Diane a believer.
The pill popping and booze was a bit disturbing for the Mom to be pushing on her daughter. It's amazing Allison and Scanlon aren't side by side in those NA meetings!
Most of the cast was in the episode for at least one scene (except for Tina Di Joseph, thank goodness!). Really quite clever way to develop the story while giving us some more backstory.
We still have unanswered questions about Allison's brother and stepfather. I was hoping to get a glimpse of them and like everyone else, the young Joe Dubois. Oh well, just more to look forward to!
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3-12-2007 @ 6:29AM
mellonmarshall said...
now I ain't seen season 3 being english and it not yet being on the telly but I was always of the understanding that Alison was nearly an alcholic, and that she drink it out of her, ie last ep of season 2 with the alt universe or when her brother first comes to town where she actually says it
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