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"Army Wives" mini-cap: Season Two picks up right where the bomb went offSomebody died. I knew going in that it was going happen. I even had a pretty good idea who it would be. But they tricked me and, even though I figured out the trick before the very end, I still got caught off guard and shed a tear or two. But we’ll get to that. When we last left the Hump Bar … (OK, an Army brat friend of mine told me that “hump” means “marching over land.” But The Marching Over Land Bar? I doubt it.) The first season of Army Wives came to an explosive finish (it had to be said) when a crazed soldier strapped bombs to his body and blew himself to Humpdom-come in front of his wife. (Yes, the cut to white was the bombs detonating.) Of course, some of our favorite Army wives (and Roland) were in the bar at the time.
We don’t get to jump ahead in time in order to avoid the explosion’s fallout. Season 2 opens four days after the finale as Pamela Moran (Brigid Brannagh), who found her voice as a radio host last season, goes on air to talk about what happened.
One thing that happened is that Kim Delaney, who plays Claudia Joy, seems to have gotten her lips puffed. But I digress. Pamela’s narration leads into flashbacks of the days since the explosion, starting with Joan (Wendy Davis) holding a press conference at which we learn that four people were killed and 15 injured – three critically. One of the most critical is Betty “I just learned your last name” Camden, owner of the Hump. (No way to say that without it sounding dirty. Sorry.) Roland is hospitalized as well, but he’s not seriously injured. Of course, after such a close call, he’s all sorry about the adultery and Joan’s all ready to work things out and, whatever. IMO, the only thing that reforms a cheater is taking the “near” out of “near death experience.” Dump him, Joan – we’ll get you Tasha’s number.
Claudia Joy and Amanda (Kim Allen), meanwhile, are off to University of Virginia to get Amanda enrolled, since classes started a few days earlier. Both are burned and cut and generally scuffed up, but seem fine, other than apparently thinking they have to reveal every intimacy and resolve every difference before Claudia Joy goes home. (You know, every time Kim Allen has been on the show, I’ve checked iMDb to see if she’s related to Kim Delaney. Kudos to the casting director.)
Since Roxy (Sally Pressman) hasn’t heard from Trevor since he was deployed, she refuses to leave the house and won’t let her boys go to school. She can’t stand the war news, but can’t quit watching it. We know everything is going to be fine, though, because Roxy is just too adorable to put through something like becoming widowed.
We didn’t see enough of Denise (Catherine Bell) this episode – as if that’s even possible – but she glowed in the scenes she was in and I suspect she’s going to become the strongest one in the group this season while Claudia Joy deals with her loss.
What? Oh, right. The whole thing with Amanda is a dream that Claudia Joy had in the hospital while still unconscious from her injuries. As we see mother and daughter saying goodbye at UVA, we realize that Amanda is walking, not into her dorm room, but into the light. Amanda saved her mom’s life in the bar, but sacrificed her own. Sniff. This was not a fun episode of Army Wives and even though I cried at all the right places, I thought it was a bit uneven. At first, I thought perhaps the writing was just too heavy-handed, because some of the things that Pamela said during her narration seemed about as far from spontaneous and moving as you can get: “Must be a military thing, this capacity to press on despite the obstacles, to see a mission to its completion.” You know, I was just saying that. On second viewing, though, I realized that some of Catherine Bell’s lines were equally cheesy, yet she said them so naturally that I didn’t notice. So perhaps Brannagh’s acting just wasn’t up to the weight of Pamela’s task. I know the characters have a lot of serious you-know-what to deal with, but I do hope the show lightens up before Renee O’Connor makes her guest appearance. The last thing we need is another depressing lesbian storyline. What did you think? Did the Season 2 premiere of Army Wives fulfill its mission? Or was this episode, well, a bomb? Will you keep watching? Submitted by on June 10, 2008 - 5:00pm. |
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Poor Claudia Joy
The ending was definately sad. But I'm sure Claudia Joy will find comfort in the arms of her BFF Denise. Well maybe not in the way I'd like but oh well. I'm glad Joan and Roland are going to try and work it out. I'm I the only one who finds Roxy slightly annoying at times. She went over board with the paranoid military wife bit in my book. I can't wait for Renee O'Connor!
Shelley C
I was riveted
Okay, some of it was cheesy, some maybe heavy-handed. But The look on Amanda's father's face when Claudia Joy wakes up is unbearable, there is so much pain and anguish. And Roxie, how I've missed that adorable imp. Yes, her nervous worried wife take was too much, but she didn't write the stuff, did she?
And I am still not okay about Joan and Roland. And you know what? Neither is he. I think he looked trapped instead of relieved that she forgave him.
I'm all for Denise taking charge. Of the situation. About Claudia Joy. What did you think I meant?
But I am definitely okay with Claudia Joy needing to turn to someone, anyone, for comfort in her time of grief. Renee O'Connor, I'm thinking. Sorry. Just
visualizingthinking.www.bettnorris.com
www.bywaterbooks.com
That's why I love this
That's why I love this show! The season premiere was so good. They definitely got me, I really thought it was betty who was going to die, which I'm sure they planned on it. Amazing episode! Who do I have to beg to have a special guest appearance of Rose Rollins as Tasha. That'd be amazing, completely far fetched and hard to work in the plot but I'm okay with that.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
thanks!
Loved it.
I feel guilty about being twenty-four and enjoying anything on Lifetime but this show is really good. The premiere started a bit slow for me but once it picked up they did genuinly surprise me. I think this season is going good places with Claudia Joy she's like their 'Bianca' what the heck else can you do to this woman? It's like watching a good person get tortured; the sadist in me can't turn away. Meh, sue me I like drama filled slashy stuff! I can't wait for Renee!
_____________
This space for rent.
Well at least you're not 19.
Suspension of disbelief
I'm ex-Air Force and work on a Navy base, so of course we relentlessy make fun of Army Wives for being unrealistic. And yet we still watch. We watched this episode twice in a row. I had to see it again knowing Amanda's dead. Pamela on the radio was a bit much, but they really pulled off the Amanda arc. I cried. I even know of a few Navy men who cried. This show is still overdramatic, but I have a little more respect for the writers now. Plus, Joan's easy on the eyes.
~ Angie
I enjoyed the season
I had a cryfest.
This episode was without a doubt one of the bests, and the fact that Amanda passed away was one the most tearjerking moments I have witnessed on television. I cried for a good thirty minutes after the show ended because it was so heart-wrenching. I have never kept up with watching Army Wives but I feel that I might have to this season with such a spectacular opener. I will desperately miss Amanda, who I cannot deny was the most attractive woman on the show, and might have difficulty accepting her death. Now I know that this was only television, but for two days afterward I was absolutely depressed.
I actually just started
I actually just started watching this show this week at the insistance of my best friend. And I'm hooked. I totally didn't see the Amanda thing coming at all, until the color started fading in the mother/daughter hug and I immediately went 'oh sh**' Nicely played by Fugate and Co. And I really liked the music backing it.
And kind of OT, but wow is this show heavy handed on the girlslash. Between Denise and CJ's eye!sex in every freaking scene they're in, and Roxy and Pamela's not all that subtle flirting, it's like whoa. lol
Not OT at all
DVD
haven't seen this here ...
but this is a youtube link that claudia joy/denise fans might like. Watch to the end ...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=W90iqnt_1Qw
Yes, I know it's a joke, but still kind of interesting. I guess we're not the only ones aware of the onscreen chemistry and subtext.
wow that was great! I
wow that was great! I really wish they could work that into the plotline. I can see it now Caudia Joy distrought over the death of Amanda and unable to deal with her husband goes to Denise.
Hey a girl can dream right?
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
Well apparently the recent
Well apparently the recent DVD release has that kiss, PLUS another one. I haven't seen it myself just yet, but I'm going to be buying this week when the paycheck rolls in :)
All the extras on the set are apparently pretty good I hear
Second kiss?
There's a second kiss? Awesome. Must get the dvds then.
I love this show. Must be all the subtext that Katherine Fugate is such an expert at. I didn't think it was possible to have such a straight show and yet so much girlslash.
I did NOT expect Amanda to die. I'm ambivalent about it. Mostly because it means that now Claudia Joy will spend the whole season dealing with her loss instead of ooohh... I don't know, realizing she's gay and hooking up with Denise.
But then again, you have a point and maybe it'll be a chance for Denise to move to the front. And realize she's gay and hook up with ROC. And by the time she figures out she really wants to be with CJ and dumps ROC, CJ will be over her grieving period. Perfect timing. Or at least that's how it works in my brain parts.
Either wayyyy, can we please get to the hooking up with ROC part? :D
Roland and Joan. I just don't care for them. Best thing they could do is just break it off and move on.
That picture with Denise? Much love. I'm SUCH a sucker for Catherine Bell. Especially when she's all dyked out
Renee's guest spot
I've read on the Talking Xena board that Renee's lesbian part is a thing of the past. This is from the first post in that thread:
<<re: Army Wives
by katherine on Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:27 am
"renee herself is not the issue. she has fans all around.
when we returned from the strike, the scripts hadn't even been written yet. there was a long discussion with many different important players on what season 2 should be about. storylines are being revisited and some have changed -- as can be expected when the scripts themselves haven't even been written yet and one discovers what "feels" right and what doesn't for an entire season. as always, i will be on the lookout for a part for renee. as i have always done. it will happen. don't lose faith."
That's the latest from the Executive Producer and Writer Katherine Fugate.>>
Here's the link to entire thread, but you have to be registered to read it:
http://talkingxena.yuku.com/topic/11534/t/ARMY-WIVES-UPDATE.html
As far as I am concerned, I hope we get to see Renee in any role on Army Wives - I really miss seeing her on TV. *sigh*
Dang!
Wow! What an episode!
I was soo glad last night when I found the new episode on YouTube, becasue season 1 just finished here in the UK about 2 or 3 weeks ago, but there was no way I could wait until next year to find out what happened!
But what an episode! From start to finish I was hooked, but I have to admit, it wasn't until the scene in the station at the end when Amanda + Claudia-Joy were suddenly all clean + minus their bandages, that I realised it was one of them that had died!! (I was having an extremely blonde day all day! no offence to other blondes, but i am actually THAT blonde it took me that long to figure it out! lol)
I can't wait til the next episode airs!
You can read about Reneé
You can read about Reneé probably not being part of AW in season 2 on Katherine Fugates Webpage. Just go to "Message Board" - "Ask Katherine" and then Topic "Army Wives from Warriorbard". You don't need to be logged in.
http://www.katherinefugate.com/
Out of my mind… Back in five minutes
I'd enjoy Army Wives a LOT more if ... .
they included a FULL TIME lesbian character in this series.
Yeah Renee O'Connor was supposedly going to have a guest role as a lesbian seductress (which is supposedly no more) but I want to see two gay women having a relationship while one or both of them is serving as an officer or enlisted soldier in the homophobic US Army. As a former US soldier myself, I know of a handful of women couples who carried on a relationship while one was serving in the US military, while the other was at home.
I only watch Army Wives because Katherine Fugate wrote one of my favorite Xena Warrior Princess episodes, When Fates Collide. This series hasn't been nearly as adventerous, romantic, sexy and cutting edge as that one XWP episode ....
well crapadap
haha!
I've never seen this show, but this is really funny...
"Dump him, Joan – we’ll get you Tasha’s number."
Second Kiss?
Did I miss the first one? 'splain please!
I was completely surprised at the CJ/Amanda stuff! It will be interesting to see how CJ and the hubby deal with all this. I've seen my mom, an aunt and a close family friend lose a child (all first born, no less) and that is torment the likes of which no one should experience.
You can already see the tension between the couple. Lots of marriages do not survive it.
Anyway, I wondered about Kim D's lips. At first I thought it was part of the makeup f/x routine. But then, it looked self inflicted, so to speak. Catherine Bell seems a bit off somehow as well. Dammit, why must she be a Scientologist?