November 13, 2006: "This Isn't Life.... It's Limbo."
After an extra week to digest the news of Angelo's death,
What About Brian returns in a somber state. We open at Angelo's service and with Dave trying to remember the lighter moments of his friendship, mixed in with a little lesson for everybody: Life's too short. But sadness quickly turns into the quirky tone that usually resonates in this show, as Karen creates a schedule for the friends to rotate looking after Nic. Despite Brian breaking up with her after the service, I have an unsettling feeling that she's not completely gone. But how long is she going to stick around? Because I'm really missing sweet, levelheaded Julie from
Felicity while I'm watching
Amy Jo Johnson play this irritating part.
William Devane is stirring the pot as Nic and Brian's father. Their family history is slowly unfolding - the mental health of their mom, the blame placed on their dad. Brian clearly still holds a grudge, and I'm quickly reminded of the sometimes-rebellious Matt we used to see on
7th Heaven. Gladly, I don't think we'll see Reverend Camden resolving this one.
But leave it to the writers to tastefully blend in some humor during this tragic story line. When Dave finds Angelo's urn in Nic's closet, we get a classic exchange between him and Brian. I really love the combination of Brian's seriousness and Dave's sarcasm. Cut to the business partners playing with plastic guns like children and contemplating their new business plan to salvage all their hard work.
Adam's handling the legal side of Angelo's death gave us this rare moment between him and Nic, and we got a sweet scene as they reminisced about Angelo and his goofy golf hat.
Dave's speech didn't just hit a nerve with me but apparently with Deena as well. "Life is short." But just when I thought this was headed toward reconciliation, she suggests they see a lawyer. I guess wasting time in "limbo" with Dave isn't really living life to the fullest for Deena. But when they go to Jimmy for a legal consultation about getting a divorce, he tries to convince them to rethink their decision, as a friend (in my opinion). I think Jimmy still saw some hope lingering between them and didn't want to believe they couldn't make it work.
In a less matured relationship, Summer is flipping through Adam's yearbook and he's reminded of the things he's always wanted to do, things he set out to do way back when.
But uplifting thoughts soon turn sour when Brian discovers Nic looking at Angelo's urn in her bedroom. It's the first time we really see Nic grieving - she's remained a rock thus far while everyone else was falling to pieces. She needed to flip out. "Shut up, Brian. Just shut up." She lashes out at him, going as far as saying that he's never known what it's even like to love someone at all, not even Marjorie. It's a great scene for
Rosanna Arquette - she really got inside the character and made me believe that she's so sad she's become angry.
While everyone is mourning Angelo, I am mourning Dave and Deena - the air around them gets more tense with every scene. Confiding in Brian, Dave lays down the news of his divorce, but probably weighing more heavily on their friendship is the news that he took a job with another company. Once again, Brian gets dealt the loner card. "It's time for me to grow up," says Dave. So Brian goes to the last place he wants to go - his father's company. A safe choice, but probably a smart one considering he's got no savings left and no partner to work with anymore.
In another office in town, Adam finds out he didn't make partner, and Jimmy - who did get the title - tells him he needs to watch himself, stay out of bar fights, and maybe he'll have more of a chance next time around. Hard to hear, clearly, as Adam quickly leaves.
But back to the central story this week: Nic is afraid of shutting everyone out like their mother did. She finally cries. She finally accepts she's alone. But when a package arrives from Angelo, it sent chills up my spine. The eerie timing of Angelo's gift for the baby and Nic's abnormal pains brings some preterm contractions, according to the Doogie Howser on call. And after Nic's scare, it seems there was a shift between Dave and Deena ‐ a nostalgia, a love that isn't over. I don't know if one night together will resurrect their marriage, though.
And even though one relationship is wavering back and forth, a new one is just beginning. Trying his hardest not to be alone, Adam opens up to Summer a little and she has some advice for him: Live a little. Look back at who he once wanted to be. And after some thought... he takes her up on the offer.
The life these friends created is being torn apart at every seam. Losing one caused a continuous unraveling of relationships and our tight-knit group is suddenly more disconnected than we've ever seen them. But even though this episode made me sad for almost everyone - even Karen when she was obviously let down by Brian's words - I thought the story lines made the show stronger and created more controversy to deal with and more interesting turns for the writers to take.
Bravo to the producers for the close of this episode. Everyone together on the pier, Angelo's favorite Ferris wheel as a backdrop, well-chosen music, and my favorite part - Adam slipping on Angelo's ugly golf hat as they truly say farewell to their friend/husband/brother-in-law. Goodbye, Angelo. I'll miss your good looks and sexy smile... and the calming affect you had on the rest of your crazy friends. Without you, they're bound for tangled love and loss.
