|
Post by pheral on Sept 12, 2006 14:38:42 GMT -5
avast me hearties! SPOILERS FOR 'THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT'! (i don't wanna use the spoiler box for a whole thread) s p o i l e r s p a c e(Eeee this is my first thread on this forum, i'm scared! Don't hoiyt me! *brandishes pudding utensil* Aha, yes, i have pudding. That set you off kilter didn't it? Mwaha! Oh cripes.. must.. stay on... topic...)I'm sure you guys have been over this episode and scene before, but after watching the ep for the first time tonight i really really feel the need to expel all this awe - so i hope you'll bear with me. The final scene, where Mark goes to Milts hospital bedside and they have their talk... i've watched it a few times already because i am just so impressed with DHK... i mean, Mark is literally shaking. I had to stop the ep and check, because i had a late night last night and i was worrying that the room was moving, but nope, Mark is really trembling like heck all the way through that conversation. And the second he sits down his posture is all scrunched, and kinda still, as if his physical body is guarding his mental state. It's just such an accurate and realistic portrayal of how mental trauma can translate into the body, he got it bang on. I'd also bet my thingy dollar (ha! now i'm pre-empting the 'thingy' inserter! take THAT! ) that he's tearing up, because he sounds distinctly nasally when he laughs a bit at the Judge's final joke about the movies. I was seriously watching and thinking Mark looked like he was in shock. And of course the things Milt says are so sweet, even though someone seriously needed to give Mark a big hug at the end of that scene. i think i shall imagine someone does. Just some random doctor, or something. Makes me feel better! Anyway, quite apart from that fantastic final scene... i also noticed with some joy that when Milt is shot and Weed is still brandishing the gun - Mark's eyes are only for Milt, he doesn't care that there's a madman still backing out of the court, he's standing up and running for Milt without a thought for his personal safety. Mark's little sad remark about how crappy the courtroom they gave Milt was, was really sweet too. Oh, and the "what happens next" was beautiful. Man, i could wax lyrical about that ep for weeks. So i'd better stop now... ;D (okay this is rediculous, the replacer-thinger won't let me type the name of that utensil you eat pudding with! you know, the one that starts with an 's' and ends with an 'n' and has two 'o's and a 'p' in the middle? Oiy.)
|
|
|
Post by lmlewis on Sept 12, 2006 17:55:03 GMT -5
It won't let you use sthingy? Huh? That is too wierd. Ohhhh. It's just the last four letters. Come on, now. I've never even thought of s-p-o-o-n as an s-thingy. Did it just start doing this recently?
But, anyway, it is not possible to discuss The Birthday Present too many times. We will be old and gray (wait, some of us already are) and it will be like a a bunch of Henry's old buds getting together on St. Crispin's day: 'Remember 'The Birthday Present'?' 'Aye, now there was an episode.'
|
|
Liz
Speed Demon
Such special moments...
Posts: 150
|
Post by Liz on Sept 12, 2006 18:02:39 GMT -5
I'm just checking the V-chipper sthingy donkey puss girl thingycat chickenbreast
|
|
Liz
Speed Demon
Such special moments...
Posts: 150
|
Post by Liz on Sept 12, 2006 18:03:53 GMT -5
I'm just checking the V-chipper sthingy donkey puss girl thingycat chickenbreast Okay, now I'm totally confused. It thinks breast is okay, but not s-p-o-o-n? Weird!
|
|
Liz
Speed Demon
Such special moments...
Posts: 150
|
Post by Liz on Sept 12, 2006 18:11:06 GMT -5
Back to the subject at hand. I can't say enough about "The Birthday Present". Without a doubt, it's Danny's shining moment on the series, despite how good he is in the rest of the episodes, this is it for me. The trembling, the unshed tears (yeah, there are some), the single minded focus on Milt after Weed fires, the body posture and the way he holds the Judge's hand and literally begs him to stick with him. While this was a fan's script in subject matter, in Danny's more than capable hands, it became so much more. I would definitely say this is my second favorite episode, just narrowly edged out by "The Homecoming".
|
|
cann
Hot Rod
"For you Hardcastle, anytime"
Posts: 68
|
Post by cann on Sept 12, 2006 19:28:26 GMT -5
I have always felt that way about this episode, DHK did one fine job in the whole episode. :) I felt like BK could have done better (sorry) :-X it just wasn't believable that he was just shot in the chest. I understand why it might have been down played but I still think I would have liked a little bit more. He always portrays such a strong man, it would have been nice to see him act a little weaker.
I would love to know how DHK prepared for this, maybe he has been in this situation in his own life.
|
|
|
Post by jadzia2000 on Sept 12, 2006 20:04:49 GMT -5
This was definiately a mark-focused episode, and this one really allowed DHK to single-handedly carry an episode to the ultimate max and I'm sure he knew there was absolutely no room to mess this up.
he certainly didn't disappoint. I thought his performance was amazing and truly believable. His tolerance of Sandy was totally expected, and even after the judge got shot while they're in the waiting room Mark already had him pegged, but was shocked to hear Sandy would actually show revenge rather than be a cop. Mark said he didn't like the kind of cop he was in the beginning, and he was right.
I loved every moment in the episode, particularly the part when the judge got shot, he's like begging, "Judge keep your eyes open, please", and tells Sandy to shut up when Sandy's whining about the judge dying and Mark holds the Judge's hand. Another sign of Mark's need for family, and shows his fear of losing the Judge who has been this whole time his surrogate father.
The part when Mark is talking to the doctor and the doc says he's probably going to die, and not sure if he'll ever wake up. DHK discplays his emotions here very well, talking about the Judge's Bday and how they don't make them good anymore.
But when he shot Weed and killed him, wow!! I loved the part just before he shot him his hand was shaking as he's pointing the gun at him and gave Weed every chance to put his gun down. Poor Mark. You almost wish he had let Sandy die, but probably would have killed Mark, too.
Was it me or after Mark mutters "Oh god, what happens next?", then the scene changes to the Judge waking up from his coma, does it seem like as the Judge woke up, he may have been thinking about Mark, and maybe something bad has happened that made him wake up? Although he was looking around and trying to focus his eyes, but also, I could swear the look on his face is a look of concern?
The tag scene, oh yes, the tag scene. Could the show be any better than this? The judge trying to get Mark to talk about it, and Mark trying to avoid the event, changing the subject. Even defending the insipid Sandy after all that. Sandy didn't deserve that much credit, honestly. Just goes to show how classy Mark is compared to Sandy.
But the judge obviously knew what happened, and even trying to make him feel better by saying that although he was a longshot he turned out great, and was proud of him. AW!!!! And finally, when Mark finally opened up, it was great. Just brilliant. DHK was just great, and I'm sure BK was impressed as well. I could have sworn there was a little tear, especially at the end.
Great episode, and definitely emmy worthy.
BTW, would this episode had not been a better season closer than the lousy Angie's Choice?
|
|
|
Post by pheral on Sept 13, 2006 3:21:13 GMT -5
I'm just checking the V-chipper sthingy donkey puss girl thingycat chickenbreast Aaaaahahahahaha!!! I think that's the most fantastic post i've read on a forum yet! ;D
|
|
|
Post by pheral on Sept 13, 2006 3:28:51 GMT -5
While this was a fan's script in subject matter, in Danny's more than capable hands, it became so much more. I would definitely say this is my second favorite episode, just narrowly edged out by "The Homecoming". oh yes, you've got my agreement there... i've not yet watched all the details of Homecoming (when i'm short on time i tend to skin eps on fastforward, terrible i know) but the scene in the lake just breaks my heart. Although there are other Mark-centric eps i enjoy more. I have always felt that way about this episode, DHK did one fine job in the whole episode. I felt like BK could have done better (sorry) No, that's okay, to be honest i was pretty disappointed too. Luckily DHK really did carry the ep to the extend that it didn't matter, but i felt it could have been ten times better. I love BK in this show, but he let this ep down a bit in the shooting scene. and tells Sandy to shut up when Sandy's whining about the judge dying and Mark holds the Judge's hand. Oh yes! I love how fierce he is in that second, really snapping at Sandy, not letting himself even hear the possibility that the Judge might die. God yeah, that was another brilliant moment, he was so calm as Mark so often can be during these moments of misery.. but his poor face.. ach. No! Wheeeee! ;D Heck yeah. And i haven't even seen Angie's Choice yet.
|
|
cann
Hot Rod
"For you Hardcastle, anytime"
Posts: 68
|
Post by cann on Sept 13, 2006 7:40:03 GMT -5
I agree this would have been a better season closer.
|
|
|
Post by lmlewis on Sept 13, 2006 9:50:17 GMT -5
This was definiately a mark-focused episode, and this one really allowed DHK to single-handedly carry an episode to the ultimate max and I'm sure he knew there was absolutely no room to mess this up. he certainly didn't disappoint. I thought his performance was amazing and truly believable. His tolerance of Sandy was totally expected, and even after the judge got shot while they're in the waiting room Mark already had him pegged, but was shocked to hear Sandy would actually show revenge rather than be a cop. Mark said he didn't like the kind of cop he was in the beginning, and he was right. I loved every moment in the episode, particularly the part when the judge got shot, he's like begging, "Judge keep your eyes open, please", and tells Sandy to shut up when Sandy's whining about the judge dying and Mark holds the Judge's hand. Another sign of Mark's need for family, and shows his fear of losing the Judge who has been this whole time his surrogate father. The part when Mark is talking to the doctor and the doc says he's probably going to die, and not sure if he'll ever wake up. DHK discplays his emotions here very well, talking about the Judge's Bday and how they don't make them good anymore. But when he shot Weed and killed him, wow!! I loved the part just before he shot him his hand was shaking as he's pointing the gun at him and gave Weed every chance to put his gun down. Poor Mark. You almost wish he had let Sandy die, but probably would have killed Mark, too. Was it me or after Mark mutters "Oh god, what happens next?", then the scene changes to the Judge waking up from his coma, does it seem like as the Judge woke up, he may have been thinking about Mark, and maybe something bad has happened that made him wake up? Although he was looking around and trying to focus his eyes, but also, I could swear the look on his face is a look of concern? The tag scene, oh yes, the tag scene. Could the show be any better than this? The judge trying to get Mark to talk about it, and Mark trying to avoid the event, changing the subject. Even defending the insipid Sandy after all that. Sandy didn't deserve that much credit, honestly. Just goes to show how classy Mark is compared to Sandy. But the judge obviously knew what happened, and even trying to make him feel better by saying that although he was a longshot he turned out great, and was proud of him. AW!!!! And finally, when Mark finally opened up, it was great. Just brilliant. DHK was just great, and I'm sure BK was impressed as well. I could have sworn there was a little tear, especially at the end. Great episode, and definitely emmy worthy. BTW, would this episode had not been a better season closer than the lousy Angie's Choice? Yup to all the above, and the guys were great. I did have that same qualm cann mentioned earlier--that the seriousness of the injury would not have allowed for such a rapid recovery and blithe demeanor, but, for once, the guys hardly had to rise above the material at all. Soo, yay for a Cannell-written episode. It moves from humor, to fear, to pathos, to hope. In the end you know something about the characters that you didn't know before (or, better yet, it seems as though the characters know things about themselves that they'd never realized) and yet it doesn't surprise you at all, because the guy who wrote the script knows them best of all.
|
|
|
Post by owlcroft on Sept 13, 2006 14:18:49 GMT -5
I agree with everything except BK "letting us down". I think it was the director who chose the judge's demeanor in that scene and the actor does what the director says. If you thought there should'be been more leaping around and screaming from a guy shot in the heart, well . . . maybe next time! (Also, who else noticed McC's snarl when he tells Sandy to shut up.)
This is a test -- Sit down, grab and a fork and a sthingy and have some dinner -- this is a test.
|
|
cann
Hot Rod
"For you Hardcastle, anytime"
Posts: 68
|
Post by cann on Sept 13, 2006 17:00:59 GMT -5
I think you are also right owlcroft, it is mostly up to the director, if he wasn't happy with how BK acted he would have directed more from him. So I guess I can't really be all that disapointed.
|
|
|
Post by pheral on Sept 14, 2006 4:17:01 GMT -5
If you thought there should'be been more leaping around and screaming from a guy shot in the heart, well . . . maybe next time! lol! That's definitely not what i think there should have been! Fantastic isn't it? Love it.
|
|
ajk
Grease Monkey
Posts: 23
|
Post by ajk on Sept 17, 2006 6:29:28 GMT -5
One of my all time favourites, and I haven't even seen a clear picture of it yet! I have feeling that's once I see it on DVD its going to be a real heart stopper!
The whole scene in the hospital after Hardcastle has woken up is so well acted, and nicely understated. I like the fact that the emotion is very much contained - and that trembling from Mark is so wonderfully portrayed. But I do have to say that I do shout at the screen that Mark really does need a hug!!!!!
|
|