jediwands

jediwands

- Delia on skates heading to school is everything.

- Ephram acknowledging Andy being an awesome father once again is so sweet.

- Andy at the club meeting appeared so dry-witted and awkward.

- Kate Mora has an Emily type of talent. She’s good.

- Andy was really wonderful with Kate during their first meeting. He gave her advice every woman deserves.

- Ephram is frosty with Amy while going to see Bright. He was cold. But this is Ephram/Amy... they do take turns upsetting each other while dealing with their feelings during many tough circumstances.

- Harold talking about small town conservatives in Everwood basically capable of killing you if you are too liberal reminds me of present day real life... not a good feeling.

- Andy/Delia table convo is so deliciously awkward.

- I love the Edna/Andy talk when Andy explains why he can’t do the abortion. So powerful. One of the best discussions of the series. Treat and Debra shined together.

- Edna knew if Andy talked to Harold again he would do it. She just knew.

- Ephram/Amy dancing...

- Harold/Andy talk was Treat and Tom at their best. Goosebumps.

- Only Everwood is able to create an episode like this one and present it in an understanding way no matter what your personal beliefs are on these delicate topics. Only Everwood.

- Bright mentioned Colin and the rest of their friends basically ditched him. How ridiculous.

- Colin was such a jerk to Ephram. Colin’s face did convey he understood what Amy was saying about Ephram helping them.

- Andy apologizing to Nina was appropriate. Love how Nina had coffee ready for Andy. Nina said Delia has her as well... total foreshadowing.

- The Colin collapse was very real, and very sad.

- Edna was a hero throughout this episode, helping Andy, understanding her son’s capability, and being there for Kate.

- Harold in church (confirming he’s 100% Catholic) was very powerful.

- Delia reading to Andy was so aww-worthy.

Kate's dad was just... ridiculous. Then her mother was in conservative-land she couldn't even go to her very own mother. Her parents and Matt were all guilty of being creeps and fools. She really was clueless and scared of the wrong things. The very fact that she worried more about her mom finding out about birth control over actually protecting herself from STDs and getting pregnant says it all. She cared more about her parents and their domineering thoughts over taking care of herself. And her horrible so called boyfriend didn't help matters in the least. I'm glad Kate at least had Edna.

I found it profound with Harold at the end and how much he cares for Andy. To give up and sacrifice his deep moral beliefs (yes, he also took his job seriously but there was more to it) in favor of helping out Andy said something very significant about what was happening between Harold and Andy. At the beginning of the season you felt like they couldn't last more than two seconds in a room together without Harold wanting to slap Andy's mouth yet at the end of the season we clearly see how much these two have evolved. They develop a true friendship.

Harold is put in a tough spot, but it wasn’t really Andy or Edna who put him there, it was his father. As we know, the connection to his father Harold carries with him. Harold chooses to keep the tradition of being the doctor to do the abortion, even though there's a clinic in Denver. Circumstances have changed since the time his father had to do it. Harold being the one to do it is one of the best reveals of the series. What a twist.

I also love Andy's reasons for not being able to do it. Which is why Dr. Douglas is right in "Home" that Andy should not do Colin’s surgery. But he still does it.

Amy stepped up to the plate. She stands up to Colin for being a complete jackass. Sorry, but he was, and Amy didn't owe Colin an apology in the least. Colin was so out of line at the dance. He tried to literally control Amy in a very unhealthy way, it was so weird. Not to mention his sick treatment of Ephram. I was so glad that Amy stood up for herself and for Ephram. I didn't see Colin's deteriorating health as the reason why Colin was so horrible at the dance. I think it was just cocky Colin that we viewed in flashbacks. The same one that just had to race those guys due to ego. Now, he did seizure later on. I still don’t think a connection can directly be made. Not when flashback Colin was grating.

Delia seemed to have grown up in this episode alone. Her interaction with both Nina and Andy was great.

Ephram/Amy were remarkable together. They just can’t stay away from each other. They definitely have tension with each other under stress and while dealing with the environment, circumstances, and their feelings constantly circling around each other. That said, they’re always right back together no matter what. Finding each other at the dance, dancing together was magical. The chemistry and meant to be tag was spelled out crystal clear. They are so perfect.

You can consistently see Andy/Nina having some romantic tension... it’s always there, ready to boil over.

Every Andy/Delia scene made me smile widely.

** One issue which I hate to admit since it’s about a later storyline, not this one... I will continue to be annoyed with the fact that while they successfully revisited the Abbott side extremely well in S4, they either forgot or wanted the audience to forget Andy’s reasoning for not being able to perform the abortion in this episode, yet in S4 voluntarily taught the procedure. What about Julia a few years later? I even say this as a Liberal 100% pro-choice. I just wish they would have explained why Andy felt like he did in S1 and then does a complete 180 in S4. Everwood is typically excellent with continuity (and complex meaning) but not in this instance.

Regarding this episode alone... brilliant Everwood.

jediwands

To conclude my thoughts... some of my favorite quotes of the episode:

I love how Ephram blows Amy off here. it was awesome! I love how he told her bluntly he was trying to get rid of her and the jealousy she showed whenever she got a clue that Ephram/Bright were up to something as far as the dance was concerned. Great stuff. Like I mentioned, Ephram was cold but they both have been like this and it's due to romantic/emotional feelings. I am okay with this as a result. Any reminder that these two are meant to be is just fine by me, including tense moments. Maybe even especially tense moments.

Amy was on a roll in this episode. She was awesome.

I could also quote every single Andy/Delia, Andy/Edna, and Andy/Harold scene in this one. Brilliant moments.

Jerry D

This was one of the best and most emotionally powerful episodes of Everwood that I’ve ever seen, and it had a surprising twist as one Doctor who had been looked on as a progressive and liberal outsider from New York couldn’t bring himself to terminate a pregnancy, and another Doctor who had been seen as a mostly unfeeling and Ultra-Conservative traditional small-town doctor was willing to do something that went against his religion and his basic moral code to fulfill a promise that he had made long ago to his deceased father.

It was funny seeing Harold reluctantly take Andy to the Big Horn Lodge at the behest of Joe Morris who apparently had a high position at the Lodge, and it was hilarious when Andy said “Oh my God. Where are we, in Istanbul?” We soon found out why Joe Morris wanted to have Andy join the Big Horn Lodge: because his daughter’s affair with the Piano Teacher from an earlier episode had left her pregnant, and he turned to Andy for help because he saw him as an outsider from New York who would have no issue with performing an abortion to terminate his daughter’s pregnancy, but as we saw in this episode, Andie did have a problem performing that procedure, and we got to learn why in this episode.

Katie and Andie’s initial conversation was so heartbreaking and Kate Mara did an excellent job of conveying the nervousness and anguish of a young girl in a situation she didn’t expect and where the man who had gotten her pregnant was gone and she had no way of contacting him (not that he would really care anyway, because her father was right when he called him a predator). You could tell how overwhelmed and scared she was as Andy tried to let her know that she had choices in this situation, but I also think that Andy was emphasizing that she had other choices because he really didn’t want to be the one to terminate her pregnancy. An unplanned pregnancy in a small and provincial town like Everwood was bound to cause malicious gossip and shame for a young girl like Katie, and that’s why her father was so determined to have her pregnancy terminated, and when Katie told her father what Andy had said, he lashed out at Andy and basically tried to force him to do what he wanted.

This episode really marked a turning point for Andy and Harold’s relationship because Andy got to see a different side of Harold as after initially advising Andy to turn Katie away and go to a clinic in Denver to have her abortion, Andy went to him again after talking to Edna and he asked him for help and advice, and Harold revealed that his father had told him stories of what women had to go through to get an abortion in the days before having an abortion was legal, and how they would have to go out of the state or out of the country to get one, or worse yet go through a botched attempt to do it themselves, so his father was determined to help those women. Tom Amandes did an incredible job of conveying Harold’s very mixed feelings as he told how every town had a secret life and that there was someone that women could go to for help, and his father was that person, and he made Harold promise that he never wanted to see the horrific things that had happened to these women happen again on his watch, and so Harold indicated that he would be willing to perform the necessary procedure in honor of the promise that he made to his father, and for no other reason. At that point Harold still had a very thinly disguised contempt for Andy, but you could see that he was softening his attitude toward him as he called him a “Commie Pinko,” and he respected that Andy, after having performed an in utero surgery on an infant whose mother was close to being as far along in her pregnancy as Katie was, and that it had changed his view about abortion and I got really emotional when Andy said “I don’t know when life begins but I do know when it ends, and after this year, and after losing Julia, I just don’t think I can be the one to end it. I can’t help this girl.”

It was really jarring to see innocent Delia discovering a Penthouse Magazine, and it was funny to see Nina try to explain it away, but I felt so awful for Delia when her attempt to give that magazine away at that birthday party was greeted with horror and revulsion by the mothers at that birthday party, leaving poor Delia hurt and confused. I thought that Andy was wrong to lash out at Nina like he did, but I can’t say that I blame him because Delia was pretty traumatized by what had happened, but Nina was right to call him down on leaving Delia with her all day and not accepting the fact that Delia is growing up, and she told him he was continuing his pattern of neglectful parenting that had gone on when Julia was alive. I thought that scene really did illustrate that at that point, Andy still needed to learn a lot about being a parent, because Julia really had done all the heavy lifting as far as raising their children went and now she was gone. I was glad that Andy later apologized to Nina as he told her that there was so much that he didn’t know about helping a girl become a woman, and I was glad that Nina forgave him and offered her help to guide Delia in that journey. I loved the heart-to-heart conversation that Andy had with Delia, and I loved it when she told him that he was doing okay and she read a book to him at the end of the episode.

I thought that this was a pivotal episode for Ephram and Amy as Amy, after refusing to cave in to Colin’s ultimatum that she ignore Ephram at that dance after he was dumped and humiliated by his date, and she went to him to offer his some support and dance with him, and I loved it when she later refused to apologize to Colin, who demanded an apology from her, and I loved it when she said that she chose Colin over Ephram a thousand times, and that Ephram stuck by her and advised her to go back to Colin when she was having doubts about their relationship, and that Ephram had been a good friend not only to her, but to them. That scene convinced me that if Colin didn’t collapse and later die, Amy would have broken up with him, because she was seeing what a jerk he really was. Yes, Colin had issues, and yes maybe his medical condition affected his mood, but to me, he was a jerk, and I think that Amy was really starting to see that.

I was glad that Andy and Katie were able to have a final conversation and she told him that she felt that she was making the best decision for everyone and for her, and we saw that after Edna kindly offered her a ride home that this decision was not an easy one for her and she was heartbroken about it.

It was so moving to see Harold go to confession after he performed that procedure, saying “Bless me Father, for I have sinned,” because performing that abortion really went against his religion and his moral code, but his love and respect for his father and the promise he had made to him overrode all his convictions.

Overall, I thought that this was one of the best episodes of Everwood that I’ve ever watched, and the writing and acting in this episode was superb.

jediwands

Only Everwood could perfectly pull off such an amazing storyline. I also love how it still leaned pro-choice overall. Even Harold Sr was pro-women which was great. He might have had religious reasoning why he didn't love abortion but was still pro-women. I loved this, same with Harold Jr. Of course I loved how Andy tried to help and empower Kate and her options.

How accurate was the rich and powerful portrayal? Andy immediately questions Harold on why he would remotely be interested in Andy. Typically, with the rich and powerful like Morris, there is always a self-serving reason why they interact with the others "lower" than they are. Same thing, here.

Absolutely. This scene was so well acted and it was just an overall amazing moment. So real to life, and Everwood shined given its portrayal.



I did find it kind of strange Nina didn't immediately take the magazine and make sure Delia didn't grab it again. However, I liked Nina trying to talk to Delia about it. Andy did have a right to be angry/confused. Delia was so perfect in this episode. I love Vivien Cardone's nonverbal communication. Man, is she a good little actress.


Indeed. This was a huge turning point for Amy as a character alone. She was snapping out of fantasyland and wasn't buyingColin's stupid anger and manipulations (not brain-related). She put Ephram and his needs in front of Colin and everyone for that matter in this episode and it was beautiful.

I guess it's tough to say how much of Colin's behavior was connected to his brain deteriorating. I just don't think you can ignore his behavior pre-accident. He was cocky and loved being a leader. When you think about how pre-accident Colin might have reacted to Ephram/Amy... I think he would have had a similar reaction. He wouldn't have tolerated it. Even if Ephram was just her friend. Colin would have made fun of Ephram, to be sure.

Thankfully the decision, in the end, was her own. I disliked how initially it was all about her parents.

Tom as Harold shined. What a scene.

It was an amazing episode.

everwoodfan52

I thought I would like this behavior on the part of Ephram, but I really didn't!
It seems these two take one step forward and one step backward!


- The first of 3 hot dance scenes between these two.

I think he did understand. I have to agree with Colin in that Ephram should have just left the dance and that jerky date of his. Why he sat there holding her purse for the entire thing makes no sense!
I hate the way that Andy overreacts to Nina like this! What business is it of his what Nina has stored in her attic? And...how is it her fault that Delia found it?

Sad but inevitable. They took Colin's character as far as they could and they couldn't make him any more despicable, so they had to kill him!
A lot of sweetness coming from Edna this episode.....even toward her son, which is refreshing.

Yup...he's Catholic!

I loved when she told Andy he was doing a good job except for the braids.
Mom sounds like a loon. How awful that Kate was afraid to be thrown out of the house by her own mom!

It's interesting that I believed that this episode was not only the beginning of a friendship between Andy and Harold, but also between Bright and Ephram. I realized that Bright needed Ephram and used him, but there was some pleasantry there: Bright: "I took a punch for you!" lol

It was about time!! That took guts for Amy to do that, but she finally thought of someone other than Colin for a change! Her tunnel vision finally took a turn.
And regarding Colin and his brain injury.......this behavior toward Ephram had nothing to do with his brain injury. Colin's brain injury caused him to have violent outbursts. Behaving like a prick....being jealous....mocking someone just means that he is a jerk.
I kind of thought Delia was younger than 9.

I know! Brilliant writers, but definitely flawed in the continuity department! They used poetic license very liberally.

everwoodfan52

[QUOTE=Jerry D;104089300]

I can see why Arnie's mom was upset by that gift, but the way those moms treated Delia was just awful! Poor thing was sitting by herself like a pariah. I'm sure there was a better way to handle that situation.
I do wish that Nina had just taken the magazine away from Delia. That would have prevented so many problems!! I wonder what the Bongos were!
Nina was so right in telling Andy off and reminding him that she was with Delia all day and had to deal with day to day issues. Andy was understandably pissed because of Delia's trauma, but there had to be a better way for him to discuss this with Nina. It's seems that this will not be the only time that Andy will lose his temper with Nina! Nina of the house of porn and foot massagers!

jediwands

I don’t know why but I love tension between these two, lol. I think at this point I’m so sick of Amy/Colin crap... I AM Ephram just ready to say enough and do so in a way so Amy feels it.

I also like that no matter what is going on, Berlanti has to remind us of Ephram/Amy being the romantic centerpiece.



I hated that he was holding her purse.

It was kind of out of character for Ephram to even stay there instead of just leaving after seeing his date clearly used him to be with a boyfriend her parents didn’t approve of.

Good points. Agreed. I just think when Delia did discover it she should have taken it away so Delia couldn’t grab it again.

LOL.

Which is why I’ll never understand how some Colin fans are so passionate. In a way, Colin isn’t even a real person. He’s almost like an energetic force that brings two families together as well as a Soulmate pairing. The human form had to be a bit arrogant and nasty in order to successfully complete the mission.

It is very nice.

I remember in the past some people discussed what religion Harold embraced. It couldn’t be more crystal clear he’s Catholic after this episode. Even during the school trip it was obvious. But certainly, this episode. You don’t do what he did at the end of the episode (sign of the cross too) unless you’re Catholic.

So cute.

In Andy’s defense... I’ve never been good at creating braids. LOL.

Awful. Imagine how much this happens in real life.

EXCELLENT point. You are right... definite parallel between Andy/Harold and Ephram/Bright becoming true friends.



Very, very true.

Alexa

Delia seems older than 9 to me. My neice is almost 9 and she seems younger.

This was a really good episode! I loved so much of it.

I really really really love Harold. Even more so than before. He has his own religious beliefs but he was still willing to help Kate. And i adore that this show tackled abortion and they did it so tastefully. His father sounds like such a good guy, and making Harold promise eh would help women in those situations... I love it.

I understood Andy's reasons for not being able to perform an abortion right now, after losing Julia. I think in the future he would be more willing but right hes still struggling with death and doesn't want that responsibility on his shoulders.

Colin was a jerk this episode but I still felt awful for him at the end when he fell to the floor. So sad. And I couldn't help being mad at his parents for ignoring Andy's advice earlier.

Not sure where Amy's sudden urge to stand against Colin came from. To me, it felt a bit out of nowhere based on how shes been acting the entire season. But maybe seeing Ephram alone at the dance really forced her into action becasue she felt so bad for him and didn't want him to be alone. I LOVEEEE that she went to sit with him and dance with him and that she chose him over Colin for once.

Bright wanting to hang out with Ephram was a little strange but i kind of like that dynamic.

Poor Nina. I thought she dealt with the Delia thing decently well but she still should have taken the magazine and told her that it wasn't for kids to look at. She failed there lol. Andy yelling at her wasnt cool but he was going hrough a lot with the Kate case and i think projecting it onto Nina there. I liked their conversation at the end. Finally a decent storyline for Delia. The ending scene with Andy/Delia was so sweet, I loved when she told him he was doing okay lol. AWWW.

Edna's speech was right but I didntt thin she needed to blow up at Andy about it.

Top 5:
1. Harold
2. Amy
3. Nina
4. Andy
5. Delia

honestly all of the characters were great in this episode but these five stood out to me.

jediwands

Harold was outstanding in this episode. He always is, quirks and all, but this episode, he was simply amazing. Yes, this show tackled such a serious topic and hit it out of the park.

You make a good point. Maybe the writers did understand he was okay with it in S4 (a few years later) and it wasn't lack of continuity. He was always pro-choice regardless (thankfully) so it was all about Julia. He was not in as much pain a few years later so it would make sense he'd be in a better place to teach.

What a powerful moment. Yes, his parents... so careless and dumb. I still continue to wonder IF they would have caught his side effects earlier and had another procedure before he had the seizure, would it have improved his chances of survival.



He kind of used him in a way since Colin and the rest of their group had him in the doghouse for sticking up for Ephram and standing up to Colin. But what I liked is he even told Ephram as much. He admitted it. I love how slowly Bright and Ephram are becoming friends.

Exactly. I don't understand why Nina didn't just take it away. Also, she could have stated it was an adult magazine, not for children. I mean, that's true, lol. Andy definitely projected, you are absolutely right.

Good ranking.

everwoodfan52

Delia is definitely very very mature and very wise for her age.

Colin's parents were infuriating throughout! I really believe they were instrumental in Colin's death by not agreeing to have him checked out. I don't know how they can live with themselves after Colin's death.
Amy finally came to her senses and showed her true colors. She is not a cruel person...has a huge heart. She could not allow Ephram to be hurt like this.

jediwands

Regarding Amy sticking up for Ephram and taking a stand against Colin...

Agree with you guys...

Also, the last scene between Ephram and Amy when he was over seeing Bright upset her greatly. She was hurt when Ephram blew her off, basically telling her to leave him alone. So when she saw him at the dance, she wanted to make up with him since they had been fighting. He was on her mind. All the more it’s impressive Amy wanted to be there for him at the dance given how cold Ephram was to her at her house. Of course, Ephram wanted to make things right with her at the dance too. I just think there’s a magnetic attraction between them. It is like they both know intuitively when they need each other.

jediwands

Have any of you listened to the commentary of this episode?

Vanessa Taylor, quite possibly my favorite writer of the series (after Berlanti) did have some self-criticism on the commentary, about her own writing in this one. She stated that Kate feels more hopeful and positive about the abortion and what's going to happen and she wishes it would have been more of a peaceful feeling instead.

Thoughts?

everwoodfan52

I don't understand what Vanessa Taylor means.

jediwands

Remember the scene between Andy and Kate when Andy asked Kate if she was satisfied with her decision (to have an abortion)... Kate’s response is what she’s talking about. She said that scene made it seem like Kate was a little bit too happy with her decision and she wishes it would’ve come across as more peaceful instead.