Eli Stone

I've watched Eli Stone since the first episode here in the UK, and I have to admit that although it started out well it now doesn't seem to know where to go, so is rushing past some of the options too quickly. In this episode everyone finds out about the aneurysm and Eli has to vacate his office because Jordan isn't very happy with him. At this point the show needs to stop being so sentimental and inject more fun and irony into it (it kinda lost it after the first few episodes). Instead what it seems to be doing is setting up conflicts for Eli - I mean Maggie the ever faithful sidekick doesn't even like him anymore. Although his conflict with Jordan should be something good to play on.



The flashbacks to his dad need a little more enthusiasm in them as well, I like the story here but having his father reveal he has visions and Eli coming back at him with hatred felt a little too throwaway. Introducing the idea that Eli's father asked Chen to guide him later in life felt unfortunately like a deception rather than the obvious 'Oh, I see, I like that' moment they were obviously aiming for as well.



Bits I do like are the absurdity of the visions and Patti's hate for Taylor. I would have liked a little more Maggie in this episode as well because she is cute. More bite and shock in the visions would be good as well, how far can Eli see into the future? It's good they are developing the characters and their situations (something Heroes has a lack of at the moment) but revealing to the world about his condition feels like it shouldn't have happened so fast.

This is really an amazing show. Eli reveals his illness to protect his brother. Jordan is ambushed with the truth and his shock is visible. He is hurt and angry but he still steps up and saves Eli from disbarrment. However the most explosive reveal was Dr. Chen's bombshell that he knew Eli's father. Eli's father told Eli that he could see the future and of course, Eli was a young boy and didn't believe him. Now it's revealed that Eli's father knew Dr. Chen would meet in the future and he makes Dr. Chen promise that he will help Eli. The whole scene made me cry. Eli truly seems to be coming to terms with his relationship with his father through these guided flashbacks. At the same time, now that his secret is revealed, Eli seems to be ready to embrace his future. I can't wait to see the next episode!

It's been pretty wacky in the last five episodes. Getting George Michael no matter what you might think of him or his music was a twist of brilliance - the songs are up beat and lend to the dancing aspect and choir type base that have been used, and the lyrics have fit in perfectly with the underlying current of the themes etched through both each episode and in the bigger picture with the show too - "You've got to have faith" etc. I still cringe every time Eli gets into a musical number - and ends up dancing on a table or in the middle of the office, but it is a really bold move to even have these musical aspects to the show - and to have all the characters participate, and it really works and sets the show apart from anything else on tv. The stories are both self contained and all hold another piece of the overall puzzle and direction in which Eli must go. And all of the story arc still stands up and holds strong despite all the musical aspects and all the comedic lines interwoven into each script. When the drama aspect unfolds it is so very often pointed and sharp and direct, and it hits you fair in the heart from out of nowhere. This is when Eli Stone absolutely shines, and in Something to Save it does it better than any of the previous episodes.



I also love how the writers of this show seem so totally unafraid of leaving any conventional wisdom behind when it comes to the direction of the show or its characters. Things change in an actually believable way - people react and get angry and then change their minds and relent. Jordan Wethersby has gone from being an idiot to someone you understand and respect and start to like, to someone who has been hurt by both Eli and his daughter and has walked away and said enough.



Eli has tried to hide his aneurysm , been found out and had to fight to keep what is most important to him, while losing his fiancée, his working partner and effectively his job. Taylor has hated him, not trusted him, been jealous of him, and found that in everything she still loves him more than any of the other emotions. His brother has fought against him and then for him and risked so much and had it returned by Eli lying to save his career. Patti too loves Eli more than anything - but is constantly fighting him, and her character shines in the brilliantly subtle underhanded ways in which she deals with almost everyone. But she is always here for Eli - even giving up secrets which threaten her own life to help him (in One More Try).



The prophet storyline could so easily be a joke - could so easily be too in your face and unbelievable. That would be the case in any genre that tried to use it, but good heavens in a comedy/drama/musical? You'd have to be totally crazy - and yet it works, and it works so well it amazes me every single time. Eli with his father's ashes at the top of the mountain. Nathan explaining he buried the cassette of the song with his father and nobody else could possibly know and here Eli is having the song beamed back at him, and now of course in this episode finally it's sort of full circle as he finally sees a memory of his father telling him that he sees the future, and finally understanding that everything did make sense in his fathers life as it has to in his own, and then the huge pile driver at the end when Dr. Chen reveals he knew his father and that he had told him what the future would bring. It all works and it all fits and it is getting better and better.



The characters are now comfortable, but they still keep changing and taking different paths. And that is bold - it would be so much easier to be totally formulaic in the set up. It would be so much easier not to have Eli and Taylor split up so soon, not to have Eli lose his place of work if not his job, not to have him pushed out on a limb while he is still trying to make sense of everything else as well. But as I said the writers seem to live to take risks, and so far it really works. Even down to the way the characters are portrayed. Dr Chen in particular is so damn cool - so laid back and so apparently flippant about his jokes, and the way he acts, yet always feeling somehow like he is so pivotal to the storyline and secretly knowledgeable about everything going on. And of course in this episode we see that is exactly true. I have to say I'm really loving this show, it started out a little wacky and I wasn't sure it would really work or even exactly where the characters were coming from, let alone where they were going. And with so much else going on and the initially silly antics it was a little hard at first to pull it all together, but that's definitely changed over the last few weeks, and it's really making its own very strong sense now. This one is out in left field, in some ways kind of much like Pushing Daisies is - different, but certainly that kind of "off the beaten path". In the same way its growing into something really pretty special, and its become a bigger joy each week to get the next fix.

There is this saying, 'who can harm you, if God protects you?' This episode so reminds me of that. Of all the chaos, the perfect of all solution is created to save Eli from loosing his license. Well that might have to do more with good lawyering, but none the less love the whole divine concept. Eli claims that his aneurysm, does not effect his ability to practice law, and instead files a counter claim of discrimination with "American with disability act." Also, a truth about Dr. Cheng is revealed. Everything is however not good for Eli, Jordan is unhappy that he tried to hide his illness and takes away his office, secretary and case load. Nonetheless, a victory for Eli - almost brought me to tears in the end scene.

This episode deals mainly with Eli's medical condition, but there is some humor with allusions to the old series L.A. Law and the BALCO steroid scandal. Alan Rachins (Brackman in L.A. Law) makes a cameo at the start, and Eli's firm represents an athlete, accused of steroid use, who accidentally kills his third-base coach with a foul ball - much to the consternation of Martin Posner, who brought his children to the game.



Jordan Weathersby (Victor Garber) does yeoman's work on this installment, representing Eli at the behest of Taylor (Natasha Henstridge) and defending him in a press conference. We see the different characters deal with the knowledge of Eli's problem - some well, others not so well - and we also are treated to several flights of fantasy from the damaged brain of the lead character (as we have become accustomed) which is what sets this series apart from other law series.



We shall see where this series goes from here, now that the cat is out of the bag.

First, let me say how glad I am that his secret is out and it is being dealt with. The "I have a secret" and can't tell my closest friends and family always bothers me when it's used unnecessarily, which is most times to me. The B sides need some work over the last couple of episodes but due to what's been going on, they're forgivable.



With his secret out, revealed at his hearing, Jordan pulls a brilliant move, filing with the disability board and holding a press conference, to essentially save Eli's license. A brilliant piece of writing and acting! However, this isn't the genius of this episode. What is, is how everyone reacts to what happens. That is where this episode shines! Especially with Jordan.



Taylor lies to her dad, Jordan, to get him to represent Eli and he does. However, Jordan also told Eli earlier that if he EVER found out that Eli lied to him about his health, there would be repercussions, and there were! He effectively "fires" Eli without firing him. His speech was excellent, "I can't fire you but I don't have to give you an office, a secretary, and I'm not obligated to like you or respect you. We're done!" I liked it because he held to his principles. He may cave later but he showed Eli that had Eli come clean from the beginning, things could have been a lot easier on him.



Next we see more of why Patti doesn't like Taylor, holding her responsible for Eli's journey to the dark side. However, she ends up as Taylor's assistant.



Finally, we get the most revealing scene of all: Dr. Chen. His revelation that Eli's dad told him he'd be helping his son out someday was perfect! All the pieces fit now, no one is there by coincidence! Each character is a cog in a masterful clockwork contraption which is now revealed to us. Overall, a very satisfying episode. I hope this show sticks around!

First, let me say how glad I am that his secret is out and it is being dealt with. The "I have a secret" and can't tell my closest friends and family always bothers me when it's used unnecessarily, which is most times to me. The B sides need some work over the last couple of episodes but due to what's been going on, they're forgivable.



With his secret out, revealed at his hearing, Jordan pulls a brilliant move, filing with the disability board and holding a press conference, to essentially save Eli's license. A brilliant piece of writing and acting! However, this isn't the genius of this episode. What is, is how everyone reacts to what happens. That is where this episode shines! Especially with Jordan.



Taylor lies to her dad, Jordan, to get him to represent Eli and he does. However, Jordan also told Eli earlier that if he EVER found out that Eli lied to him about his health, there would be repercussions, and there were! He effectively "fires" Eli without firing him. His speech was excellent, "I can't fire you but I don't have to give you an office, a secretary, and I'm not obligated to like you or respect you. We're done!" I liked it because he held to his principles. He may cave later but he showed Eli that had Eli come clean from the beginning, things could have been a lot easier on him.



Next we see more of why Patti doesn't like Taylor, holding her responsible for Eli's journey to the dark side. However, she ends up as Taylor's assistant.



Finally, we get the most revealing scene of all: Dr. Chen. His revelation that Eli's dad told him he'd be helping his son out someday was perfect! All the pieces fit now, no one is there by coincidence! Each character is a cog in a masterful clockwork contraption which is now revealed to us. Overall, a very satisfying episode. I hope this show sticks around!

It was another great episode. While keeping its strange mix of upbeat and sad, we get a better glimpse at the subtle complexities of the characters. At the same time, the writers twist the plot in unanticipated directions.



On the surface, this show is just a feel good comedy. However, there is substance underneath. In another inspiring closing argument, Eli declares his deep desire to serve "his clients" due to the impending specter of his premature death. This may be another deception but this time portrayed on him. In recent episodes, was he really worried about the best interests of his clients? He after all pursued a witness that hurt his client's case. Regardless what Eli proclaims, his quest appears to be to make peace with his gift and subsequently with his relationship with his father.



Other characters are also not as clear to me as they were before the episode. Maggie was pretty hard on Eli. For such a crusader, she was not very sympathetic to a man with a life threatening condition. Taylor has been as much a victim of Eli's condition as anyone. Her biggest critic, Patti, seems to have doubts. Jordan may be an ogre or may just be incredibly hurt by the splintered expectations he had for Eli. Throwing Eli out of the firm wasn't an act of love. We do know is that, if we have the privilege to have this show continue, there will be surprises.



The most puzzling part of this episode was not that Eli's dad knew Dr. Chen. Even though I did not see it coming, I should have. The real surprise to me is Eli being thrown out of the firm. This show isn't LA Law or The Practice. Why would the writers expose us to other lawyers in n the firm when he will probably not have much contact with them? I'm wondering and will tune in for at least the next two episodes, praying that ABC will renew.