Episode 12, “Valentine”
Originally aired: February 12, 2004
While “Valentine” succeeded in what it set out to do – to tell a story about several different types of relationships – it was an episode that did not dig much deeper than that. It was a spooky hour that put the focus on the main characters, always a welcomed move, and changed a relationship along the way. Overall, “Valentine” was enjoyable to watch, but pretty forgettable in the grand scheme of the series.
The twists that were taken were more for the sake of extending the story to take up an hour than to shock the audience into sticking around the whole time. Introducing a hitchhiker into any visual medium immediately introduces suspicion and mistrust into his motives and his plan. The first twist – that this hitchhiker was the victim instead of the murderer – was partially unexpected because it played against the stereotype, but also partially expected because he was introduced so early in the episode. Tru can’t solve the case right away. But, as they say, you should always trust your first instinct because the hitchhiker was in fact a serial killer, which came as less of a shock because they played into stereotypes.
The episode did do a decent job of depicting the different types of relationships that exist among the characters. At first glance, Tru and Luc appear to have a more mature relationship than Lindsay and Harrison, who come across as having an immature, “why not” relationship. But, this episode demonstrated that those exterior labels are just that – exterior labels placed on them by us. It is truly the other way around. Tru will not allow herself to dive into this relationship, hiding herself from Luc instead of doing the brave, mature thing by confessing her gift (which, granted, may not be a smart or successful move in their relationship). Lindsay and Harrison know exactly what type of relationship they want and have found it. And then there was the serial killer hitchhiker who never spent a Valentine’s Day away from his girlfriend’s tombstone and kills people so that others will feel the same sense of loss. That relationship is too convoluted to analyze. It was a smart move to put these characters into the same situation to show the strength of their bond and the type of partner their significant other is looking for. The fact that Tru and Luc were heading to another getaway but ran into a roadblock that sent them to meet up with Harrison and Lindsay did make the situation feel more contrived than it needed to be.
One problem with Tru Calling that this episode brought to the forefront is its ability to have a significant development, a change in a relationship, only to go back and undo what it just did. While it is fascinating to see how the same situation plays out differently when one factor is changed the second day, it is also frustrating and difficult to be invested in the original story when you know that there is a fifty percent chance that it will chance. In addition, it sometimes becomes a challenge to look back on the episode and remember which end result came second. There was a moment when I was watching the next episode where I forgot that Harrison and Lindsay did not break up the second day like they did the first since their two break ups were more memorable than their decision to stay together.
Finally, we saw a bit more range in Lindsay’s character, if only for a brief amount of time. Watching her, someone who has almost always been high spirited and chatty, be traumatized by almost getting killed was a wonderful moment to show her range, both the character and the actress. Plus, Lindsay shared a nice, rare bonding scene with Luc.
Additional Comments:
– This episode conveniently came up in the flashback posted the day before Valentine’s Day. I wish I could take credit for the timing, but it was totally by accident.
– Does the “I was only trying to protect you” excuse actually work in real life because it makes no sense on television?
– So, Tru has a bit of an issue with being asked for help by serial killers and people committing felonies, but she has no problem framing someone for petty larceny when she was “only trying to protect him.”
– How could Harrison not see the suspect approaching behind him as he was standing in front of a giant mirror?!
– “Valentine’s Day is a sham perpetuated by the floral and greeting card industries to move product.” – Davis, ever the romantic
– Luc’s delivery was spot-on.
Tru: Luc, they’re beautiful [roses]. Where did you –
Luc: Somebody just left them there on one of those graves at the cemetery. I figured they probably didn’t need them anymore, so I … I’m kidding. They were stashed in my bag.
– “Can you believe we’re at a motel with a cemetery next door and a freaking psycho on the lose. Can it get any more Friday the thirteenth?” – Harrison
– “A calling is something you’re destined to do. Something that gives your life meaning. Something that makes you happy. What I do feels more like a curse.” – Tru
Episode 13, “Drop Dead Gorgeous”
Originally aired: March 18, 2004
A huge shift tonally from the previous episode, “Drop Dead Gorgeous” took a much more well-lit approach to blackmail and murder. Although it did nothing to increase the public’s opinion of beauty pageants and objectified the series’ star, it was nice to see Tru working out of her element for the greater good. The episode was lacking intensity and shocking moments, but it was not completely dismissible.
While the episode did include the stereotypical dingbat pageant contestant and the cutthroat contestant who would do anything to win, include blackmail a judge, it also introduced a more optimistic character (the victim) with a level head and a sunny disposition. She was a little too naïve, but in comparison, she was the best choice in contestants for Tru to spent time with. Thankfully, Tru did not have to make up a poor excuse to get close to the victim, even though putting Tru into the beauty pageant seemed like audience gratification. The case itself took all of the turns you would expect it to take. It’s never the ex-boyfriend, and it’s rarely the person who’s actually being blackmailed.
Introducing the idea that other people in the community are starting to take notice of Tru’s knack for saving complete strangers and have questions about it is an interesting concept capable of creating much more drama for the character, but at this point, it is also far-fetched. It blindsided Tru as much as it blindsided the audience because we have not seen or heard about Tru being interviewed for the newspaper or were given reason to believe that her involvement was taken notice of. The real issue with this storyline is that the reporter’s motivations were completely absent. Therefore, it made her appear as if she were intentionally trying to uncover a mystical secret that Tru has, knowing all along that it was this type of secret, not something more simple like Tru has police connections or she’s just gotten lucky. If this were happening in real life, the story would be a profile instead of an exposé.
The positive side to the reporter coming into Tru and Davis’ lives was that it gave the writers the opportunity to put Davis in an awkward situation of being flirted with and being flustered by it. It was a fun scene. Luckily, he kept his cool well enough not to divulge any important information, which would have been an unbelievable moment for the character given that he has been so loyal about keeping Tru’s secret. In addition, it finally propelled Davis to tell Tru about her mother’s own secret – that they share the same gift. This was teased way back in episode 2, “Putting Out Fires,” when Davis casually mentioned that the crime rate rose the year after Mrs. Davies’ death, and then not hinted at again. Now if only we could get some real answers about her mom’s murder.
As is the case with most superhuman stories, Tru decided that she needed to give up having a love life in order to work for the greater good of humanity. She is not your typical superhuman, but she does have abilities above those of normal humans. This decision comes as an extreme one for somebody in her situation since her relived days are only every once in a while. The idea behind putting those in need before yourself is honorable, I just think she took the easy way out in this case.
The aftermath of Tru and Luc’s breakup was odd. Somehow, having Tru be the one to give him permission to date other people the second day instead of him informing her of his date on the first day caused him to act more hung up on her and ruin his date. Maybe because she was on the “same wavelength” that he was during that second day conversation it made him wonder if they were a better couple than he thought. Or maybe this was a situation that did not have a logical explanation; it was just a concept they really wanted to work in. We all know now that Matt Bomer can carry a scene, so it is strange that it took the Tru Calling writers ten episodes before giving him a story of his own, even if it only included two brief scenes of him acting opposite someone who was not another main character.
By this point in the series, Tru giving what she thinks are cool, coy, clever answers in order to avoid actually answering a question from a stranger about her ability and not having to explicitly lie to them in the process has become annoying. These nudges to the audience are no longer novel. It is great that they have kept her morality fairly high to where she does not tell lies to those close to her (she does to victims), but she was a teacher’s ethics violation in the series premier, so the audience’s right to judge her for lying to save people is nonexistent in comparison. At the very least she could come up with better excuses. I am also wondering how the series would be different if it utilized voice over, not that it needs to – the flashes to remind the audience what happened two minutes ago are already too much unnecessary explanation. I simply think that using voice over for these coy comments would be less bothersome.
Additional Comments:
– The opening shot was wonderfully choreographed, weaving through the pageant floor to pick up bits of several conversations. Every once in a while, Tru Calling has its moments of cinematic beauty.
– Why was Lindsay wearing a kimono all episode?
– Why did someone decide to have the names Davis and Davies in the same series?!
– Continuing its trend of using now-semi-recognizable guest stars (for some of us), there was Clare Kramer coming off a season of being the big bad in Buffy. Also, watching a pre-Lois Lane Erica Durance play an airhead beauty queen with crazy curls and no aspirations to meet someone more historically relevant than Kelly Clarkson made me uncomfortable.
– How much of a bummer was it that Harrison left the room without being able to see the victim ask for Tru’s help? He wouldn’t have remembered it, but we would have remembered his reaction.
– Sibling bonding at its finest.
Tru: Let me get this straight. You convinced your girlfriend to make you a judge in order to rig the voting so the daughter of your loan shark will finish first.
Harrison: That is a very poorly constructed sentence. I hardly know what you’re talking about.
