jediwands

Quick Thoughts While Watching

- Hannah being a writer and details about Hannah's writing (or very close) is based on Rina as a child/teenager. Rina mentioned in an interview Hannah was literally extracted from her childhood.

- Ephram looks so relaxed, mature, peaceful and content with Amy. What a difference a year makes when you're in the wrong relationship with the wrong person versus being in the right relationship with your ideal/soulmate person. We are seeing it!

- During the identification of the medical case, I wanted to cry. What a horrible situation. All I thought about is how so many people deal with an actively dying loved one. My mother died suddenly, right in front of me, and while it messed me up for several years even (I am finally getting through all the bad anxiety like panic attacks and PTSD, and depression it caused) I couldn't imagine knowing she was dying within 6 weeks and would have to spend that time with her and how tough it would be. My mental health would suffer even worse with such a lingering but end result being the same type of scenario. I am sorry for anyone who has to deal with such heartbreaking circumstances.

- Treat Williams in comedic mode (as well as dramatic mode) is worth the price of admission every, single, time.

- No Edna or Irv in this one. Not that we see a lot of Irv (I miss the narrating, Irv!) but given Edna's big 3.3 storyline, I definitely looked around wondering when she was going to appear (even if I already knew she wouldn't, hee).

- Harold saying "Booyah" is legitimately one of the funniest lines of the series.

- I really wanted to hear Ephram or Amy read out loud the love letter Ephram wrote for Amy!

- Chris Pratt did a terrific job as Bright approached Harold in the last scene during the bedroom fight. His screen presence was amazing and so... very... present.

- I appreciate how Ephram is so laid back and just accepts Hannah. I really like how natural he is with her. I really love this. It shows what an accepting loving heart Ephram has. He certainly has voiced to Amy that she's super closed-off and different but with Hannah he is so sweet, kind and accepting. I like their intellectual conversations and of course, anything he tells her about his love for Amy.

- Andy and Nina are literally PARENTS in that final scene with Delia. I loved it so much, along with Delia's real and Everwood-like questions and answers.

Thoughts After Watching

I thought this episode was quite heartwarming and emotionally moving as it stressed the importance of a loving bond between two people, whether we are talking romantic love or friendship love, but the bonding is special and should be nursed and cherished because at any moment it can all be taken away (in a human way, that is). It also emphasized the importance of needing others after you suffer loss of some kind (Andy losing Julia and now has Nina, and Amy losing Laynie due to distance and now has Hannah). Survival and strength are key elements to this episode.

It was amusing when Delia found the vibrator under Nina’s bed, along with Nina's embarrassing response to what it was. Andy to Nina: “What is it about your house, Penthouses, foot massagers, it’s like living next door to Larry Flynt,” and it got even more hilarious when her and Andy attempted to cover up their conversation when Delia walked in the room, and Delia wasn’t buying any of it. Vivien's expressions were so bang on. What a good little actress. I thought that Andy’s later argument with Nina after Brittany's stepmother yelled at him (since, of course she did) revealed his classic ability to say confusing, inappropriate things when he's flustered and angered. But he later apologized for his insensitive behavior, and like I said, it was literally like Andy and Nina were parents talking to Delia about the questions that she had. I also loved Nina's reaction when Andy said she was pretty. She glowed and it was awesome.

Here is my take on why Andy was acting so strangely with Nina. It went above and beyond just realizing Julia isn't around anymore (which, I love how that was brought up again) or even nervous over Delia's questions on sex. This was my take years ago and it remains in the present:

Psych 101: So much of what Andy said to Nina in S3 and part of S4 before he admits his feelings was the complete opposite of what he meant... which is typically how it goes when you are struggling with confusing romantic feelings for someone. It is like saying the words somehow makes the reality untrue... as a result, Andy saying he never thought of Nina like that was his way of trying to convince his mind and heart that he truly didn't have feelings for Nina... it temporarily prevented him from coming to terms with his very real feelings for Nina. Andy did this so much which is why sometimes even if I wanted to strangle Andy for how he would say something stupid to Nina before he admits his feelings, I could never really blame him since he was going through is own little psychological turmoil/denial and he needed it until the time was right and he could finally face the reality that he had fallen deeply for Nina romantically.

I feel conflicted regarding the Harold and Bright situation, to be honest. On one hand, I thought it was great that Bright was taking such pride in the job he had gotten, but on the other hand, Harold did take active interest in helping Bright and quite honestly, a career in Hotel and Hospitality Management could be a good calling for Bright. Harold did take interest, which is something he failed to do at times in the past. Now, Harold was absolutely in the wrong for going to Bright's boss and arranging it so he could go on an interview. That was completely crossing the line and totally embarrassing for Bright, no doubt about it. But I think Harold had his heart in the right place and I love that he actively tried to help Bright. I could understand his fears due to Bright's past history. How could he not be concerned that Bright would be content and maybe give up on college? I like that Harold also reminded Bright once again that he still has many college options ahead of him even if his dream route failed because he started it way too late during his senior year. I also love that Rose told Harold that they were in this together, and I especially loved it when Harold kissed Rose's hand in such a tender way. What a beautiful scene and so different from when Harold tried to control Rose during the horrible way they both handled Amy's S2 depression.

I still do not like Jake and find him so clownish during the comedic scenes as he's trying to be funny while sticking a knife in one of their backs. I guess the hug between Jake and Andy was somewhat funny because I loved Andy's reaction, and Jake did have a point that their main duty as doctors is to save lives, but as usual, he simply didn’t want to listen concerning why Andy had to take a passive approach with Mr. Hoover. The scene between Andy and Mr. Hoover created tears, and I could totally understand what Mr. Hoover told Andy: “I know that life will go on when she’s gone, but it won’t be the same. It won’t mean what it meant when she was in it,” along with “We’ve been partners for every bump along the road and every mountain and molehill alike. When she’s gone, I’m gonna need a new heart anyway, because this one will be broken to bits.” I could relate to this so much due to my mother's passing. My mom died of a cardiac arrest I actively witnessed and it was the worst moment of my entire life by far. I remember my heart shriveling up and not functioning properly for years after her death until I got the anxiety and depression under control. But also, for many, when you lose someone your heart literally can break medically speaking and you can eventually develop heart-related issues. This has happened so many times to others which can only mean there's a very strong spiritual element to death and loss and how it affects you as a human trying to accept it. Bringing it back to Everwood... the medical case made Andy think about how and when Julia died, and his later conversation with Nina about that loss was so moving. When he mentioned how they were a team, as Nina emphasized and acknowledged this reality... it was so powerful. I love watching Stephanie's nonverbal communication in this scene as Nina's taking in what Andy is saying, as she was there with her friend and soon to be romantic partner, every step of the way.

I really enjoyed all the scenes between Ephram and Amy and Hannah and once again, we see Hannah shipping Ephram and Amy as she beautifully came up with a way to open up to her friend, Amy, as well as help out Ephram and Ephram and Amy at the same time. It was such a gorgeous moment. I wanted to jump through the screen and thank Hannah for being so sweet and helpful and I found myself very happy that Amy and Hannah would continue on that journey of becoming best friends and not just casual or mildly good friends. I mentioned above how much I appreciate Ephram just allowing Hannah to be Hannah too. I love that scene between Hannah and Ephram when she shows him the evidence of her journals and how much she writes. That was such a sweet, natural, peaceful, intellectual scene. Ephram's response to Hannah when he realized what she did with her writing was so heart-warming as well.

I have a completely different take on Amy and Hannah during this watch. I actually really like this friendship during this rewatching in a way that I never have in the other watches: Think about it... the developing friendship between Amy and Hannah. How often do you actually see a female friendship on either the small or large screen actually evolving/developing, showing the ups and downs and entire evolution? This is not something you typically see in the least. But Everwood did this with Bright and Ephram in S2 (and it started in S1) and now we are seeing a beautiful example of two older teenagers who are girls go through a realistic process of developing a bond of friendship. Everwood does it all.

I love that Ephram was writing Amy a love letter. I loved how he sort of fumbled and questioned Hannah about Amy's responses to their ILY's. So sweet. It was so sweet how he wanted to set up a time and place where he could be the one to say "I Love You" first. Adorable. I also love that Amy shared the ILY's with Hannah as it shows how joyous Amy was that they reached this point in their relationship.

Love how Ephram said this to Amy...

"Did I mention how good you look today?" That was so sweet, as well as the flirty dialogue when Amy tells Ephram that she has been sharing personal stuff with Hannah to which Ephram acknowledges that he knows and gives her a cute smile, while she then looks at him in a loving and flirty way. Their looks/exchanges are too perfect for words.

Amy's line to Ephram..

"You're the guy that I talk to my girlfriends about. It's a very crucial role, trust me." Also, the flirty smile exchanges between Ephram and Amy during this scene was so cute.

At the anniversary dinner I LOVED the friendly "SMACK" Amy gives Ephram at the beginning. It is this kind of stuff that makes this couple have those added extras.

I loved that it was established at this point, they have been together for four and a half months. Also, I loved their ILY's at the dinner even though Ephram was bummed that he couldn't say it first. The way that Amy looks at Ephram when she says it is so perfect.

Loved their end scene (as I mentioned above) where Hannah brilliantly writes a story about Ephram's love for Amy. The exchange between Ephram and Hannah was perfect. You could tell at first Amy was concerned as to why Ephram wrote her a love letter but never gave it to her. Then when Ephram explains, I love her response and how she said name. These two are so cute, I want to poke my eyes out sometimes. LOL. I love how Amy has to cover her mouth in trying to stop herself from telling Ephram she loves him. The realness of the Ephram and Amy relationship amazes me. Just noticing how different Ephram is with Amy versus Madison is quite telling. Not that there was EVER any comparison, but the transformation of Ephram alone tells a beautiful story. He was in hell to put it mildly in S2. His dreams have come true in S3 with Amy. What they have together is massive and so spiritual. It seems like every scene they have together is just a small but significant piece to the puzzle of their love story. Greg and Emily have this ever present and captivating chemistry together that just IS.

I really liked this episode very much. S3 has a very different energy than S2 as we all know. It feels so crisp, light, and beautiful.

I want to end this review quoting the one and only, Alan, and a small piece of his sage wisdom regarding this episode:

So well said, my very close friend, who is with me always.