The One Behind the Wheel

Season 3, Episode 12, Aired

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Allison is possesed by a woman named Sandra ... but Sandra still seems very much alive. Joe and Detective Scanlon try to convince her otherwise, and Joe must hide the truth of what is going on with their mother from the girls.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • Allison is possessed by the spirit of a woman in a coma. Joe has to put her in a mental institution.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By lalalalalemons, Oct 30, 2011
    I cried at the end of this episode. It was the most romantic, scary, smart episode of this entire excellent series (so far). I love the use of this Corinne Bailey Rae song Just Like A Star too. It reflects what I love most about the relationship between Allison and Joe: they drive each other crazy but adore each other. It also allows Patricia Arquette to show off her amazing acting chops. She really does seem like a completely different character. I think I'd forgotten how different she could be. This writer should be so proud, though, because ultimately this episode balances the various storylines of home and work life perfectly, with extremely high stakes, heart-felt emotional content and a very very satisfying ending. Brilliant!moreless

  • From beginning to end Allison is so unpredictable. The concept of a spirit borrowing her body is brilliant. I love Joe - will you marry me?

    10
    "Perfect"
    By charpena, Jul 29, 2010
    This is my favorite episode. I love Joe in this story. It really showed his sensitive side and his true love for Allison. He's a number one husband in my book. Husbands could take a few lessons from Joe. I also love the music from Corinne Bailey Ray, it was so fitting and really helped to romanticize the beautiful relationship that Joe and Allison have.

  • I loved this episode! It was refreshingly very Joe-centric, and really brought the depth of his need for and connection to Allison and the structure and stability of their family to the forefront; this doesn't always get conveyed.moreless

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By sistersun, Apr 13, 2010
    Another personality (who, thank goodness, is NOT a psycho-serial killer) has control of Allison's body! Where the heck is Allison? Who is the rude, foul-mouthed, disrespectful woman who's barged into Joe and Allison's bed and life? And WHY WON'T SHE LEAVE? How can Joe handle this and protect himself, his girls, and Allison?

    Those are the questions answered in tonight's episode

    Jake Weber's Joe is tremendous in this episode. He effectively conveys the confusion, anger, distrust, desparation and sense of loss one would feel when faced with the effective shanghaiing of your life partner! His brave front for the girls (how do you successfully hide something this big from your PSYCHICALLY EMPOWERED children?) and attempts to shield them from seeing their 'mother' transformed into this horrible woman who doesn't even know their names, was great. His moments when he admitted how lost he was without his AllisonJoe really wished Allison could just WAKE UPhis Valentine's Day telephone messagehis open weeping when Allison finally returned to herself: heartbreaking and awesome!

    Patricia Arquette's turn as Allison/Sandra O'Bannon was no mean feat either! It was wonderful to see PA play this other character within the same show. It was interesting to see her physical portrayals of Sandra's coming to grips with her strange new reality, as well as the knowledge that her husband loathed her personality enough to murder her: that she was the poison in their marriage and she was baggage that would gladly be left behind. That said, I, too, was deeply relieved when Allison regained control of her body. That Sandra could make anyone want to commit murder!

    Sofia Vassilieva's Ariel instincts seemed right on in this episode (she is always pretty wonderful to me, though). She protects her younger sisters. She sensed that something was wrong; she knew that mommy was somehow 'broken'. But she had enough sensitivity to not push Daddy too far on this, 'cause he might get 'broken' too

    Great episode: keep 'em coming at this level.moreless

  • If ever an episode of Medium deserved a 10 rating, it was this one. One of the best episodes of the series.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By scifiguyuk, Apr 13, 2010
    If ever an episode of Medium deserved a 10 rating, it was this one. Right from the outset this episode showed that it was gonna be good. With the usual 'Alison waking up from a dream' opening gone, it was a refreshing change and the thrills didnt stop there, the episode just got better and better.
    I gotta give kudos to both Patricia Arquette and Jake Weber here for outstanding acting! It's been said before, but Jake Weber needs more recognition, he was amazing in this episode, and it was great to see him get a chance to shine in the forefront for once.
    The emotion was so heartfelt all the way through and it was an excellent spotlight on the Joe/Alison relationship. The scene where Joe calls Alison's cell to say 'Happy Valentine's Day' really had me welling up, it was so poignant. The use of Corinne Bailley Ray's 'Just Like a Star' throughout this episode, was a great choice because not only is it a beautiful song in itself, but it really added to the sense of loneliness and loss that Joe was feeling as he watched the woman he knew as his wife disown him.
    I would definitely say that this is one of the best episodes of not only the season, but the series. It was very well-written and I genuinely had no idea what was going on until the final reveal. Although you knew Alison would come back eventually there was a real sense of loss at having Alison's face there, but not having her behind it.
    Overall a very unique and special episode, and it's scripts like this that make me wish Medium got the exposure and appreciation that it deserves.moreless

  • great episode

    10
    "Perfect"
    By sfviewer, Feb 14, 2008
    Allison wakes up from a dream one morning feeling lost. When Joe wakes up he finds out he quickly discovers that Allison isn't sleepwalking, she is actually possessed by the spirit of another person who calls herself Sandra O'Bannon. It's an excellent episode, I really enjoyed watching this episode. It's something new, Patricia Arquette plays a possessed person really well. It's so awesome, her portrayal of a dead woman really makes this episode a classic. There's some comedy on this one, the detective story is excellent. The writers came up with a way to play around with a dead soul. They really did a great job with it.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • At the beginning Allison/Sandra is wearing a Mesa University t-shirt. There is no such university. The Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus is located in Mesa, Arizona.

    • It seems unlikely, given their differences in height and weight that Sandra's clothes would fit Allison so well.

  • QUOTES (6)

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    • Allison/Sandra: Excuse me! Do you know who you're speaking to? Joe: Enough! You can't do that. You can't be that way! Not while you look like that; not while you're…wearing my wife!

    • Allison/Sandra: I demand that you remove this man! Joe: I demand that you WAKE UP!

    • (Joe takes the shovel from Sandra and starts digging) Allison/Sandra: Thank you. Joe: What did you just say? Allison/Sandra: I said thank you. I'm sorry, it just slipped out. Give me a minute, I'll talk trash, behave like a spoiled brat, go back to being the repugnant human being you've come to know and love. Joe: It's okay, thank you works too.

    • Joe: Was she there today, at the hospital? Allison/Sandra: That's the weird thing. I was there. And you should have seen us together. He was so tender, in a way that he hasn't been in years. It was as if, I don't even know how to describe it, it was as if all of the bad parts of our marriage were just knocked right out of us in that car crash and some lighter, happier version of Tom and me just walked right out of the wreckage. The only problem is, I'm part of the baggage that got left behind.

    • Joe: What are you doing? Allison/Sandra: Looking for my clothes. Joe: Allison. Allison/Sandra: Sandra. Mrs. O' Bannon to you. Joe: Ok, Sandra. This room is filled with your clothes. Allison/Sandra: 35% Rayon, I think not.

    • Joe: (about Allison) That woman's a mind reader.

  • NOTES (2)

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    • Featured Music: "Like A Star" - Corinne Bailey Rae (off and on throughout the episode)

    • International Air Dates: The Netherlands: May 18th, 2007 on Net 5 France: February 2nd, 2008 on M6 Norway: February 12th, 2008 on TV2 Czech Republic: March 4th, 2009 on Prima Finland: July 22nd, 2009 on Nelonen

  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • When Sandra (in Allison's body) was complaining about being arrested, she asked if Ashton Kutcher would appear with cameras. She was talking about Kutcher's reality show, Punk'd.

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