Painkiller Jane - 1x06 - Breakdown

[fembuck]

Oh, PKJ! *shakes head* I just don't know what to do with you.

Everyone on this team is a complete moron.
Jane is less of a moron than the others, but it cannot be denied that she too, is uncommonly slow. I mean, honestly how did it take her like a day to realize that brandy Dr. Lewis gave her was drugged after Mohinder told her that she had been dosed with a slow-acting tranquilizer? Slow.

And when they were waiting outside of the motel, why did they just stand around for like 15 minutes waiting for Dr. Lewis to come out. I'm sorry, he should have been out of the room about a minute after he went in. The fact that Jane kept on muttering, "something isn't right, this is taking too long" does not make things better. It makes them worse because she KNEW something wasn't right and still kept out standing out there doing nothing like a moron.

Also, how is it surprising that Jane could possibly be neuro or neuro-like? You know that she can heal almost instantaneously. What did they think it was, magic beans? A fairy godmother? The effects of diligently taking Flintstones chewables? Idiots!

I liked that there was more Jane/Mo interaction this week.
It wasn't very meaningful, but at least they got to be partners. And also, Mo was standing beside Jane when she was droning on in her voice-over at the end about the power of love and people standing by you or whatever, which was kind of subtexty.

Lokinator gives good scream.
And considering that Jane spent most of the episode looking traumatized, rolling around on the ground, waking up from nightmares and pretending to drown, I guess that's a good thing.

Moral Ambiguity
I like my characters moral ambigous (Irina Derevko, Chase, Faith, Atia of the Julii, Captain Tightpants, etc. *swoon*) and Jane being a spectrum of gray would be totally cool with me. But her lie to Dr. Lewis about how they would be able to cure Elyse wasn't cool moral ambiguity it just sucked. Especially with the Jane-is-probably-a-neuro "reveal" at the end, it's becoming more and more distasteful that she's working for these people and now lying for them as well.

Going along with that, the teams belief that they are beyond the law or really human fucking decency is really really chaffing. They're just a unit of big, stupid thugs.

Really, that's enough to make you crazy?
I'm sorry, maybe this point will show that I have led an incredibly trauma-free life and don't understand the depths of PAIN, but is what Elyse went through really enough to keep someone in a nearly vegetative state for over a decade? I mean, with therapy and a proper regime of medicine shouldn't she have been at least functional? Like isn't that the whole point of therapy? I just feel like the entire episode could have been avoided if Elyse had been treated by a decent psychiatrist. I mean, if I had seen my parents murdered in front of me and nearly drowned to death when I was nine would I be traumatized and haunted? Yeah, probably. Would I need to be restrained in a straight-jacket in an empty cell where I muttered to myself for the rest of my life? Probably not.

Annoying non-continuity issue.
In the pilot Jane goes on about how she hates high heels when she and Mo are going undercover in the club. Yet the last shot clearly showed Jane just strolling around in like 3 inch heels, and I've seen her just casually wearing them before. Now, I'm sorry, if you want her to be no-nonsense type of girl who wears her hair in ponytails, shoves people in the street if they're in her way, and doesn't give a rats ass about the latest fashion tips in Cosmo or Jimmy Chos and Kate Spade hand bags, then DO NOT HAVE HER WALKING AROUND IN 3 INCH HEELS ON THE JOB!

And finally...
Jane needs to never ever make a comment that could be construed as sexually flirty to McBride again. The "How am I good to you?" line and him checking out her ass as she walked away made me throw up a little in my mouth.

And I hope that Loken wearing that red jacket and having her hair up while fighting a giant of a man was an intentional homage to T3, because I just giggled and kept on muttering "I like your car" in a Loken-esque growl the whole time she was in that outfit.

edited because Mo chipping Elyse actually did make sense in the context of the show and is probably the one action taken by a character this episode that SHOULDN'T be picked on

Comments

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

And I hope that Loken wearing that red jacket and having her hair up while fighting a giant of a man was an intentional homage to T3, because I just giggled and kept on muttering "I like your car" in a Loken-esque growl the whole time she was in that outfit.

I think someone must've told Loken that she had aged a bunch since T3, so she was just "Oh yeah?" That would explain a lot.

Mo and Jane are hetero bi life partners.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I think someone must've told Loken that she had aged a bunch since T3, so she was just "Oh yeah?" That would explain a lot.

You're right. This is the only logical explanation that doesn't involve everyone connected to the episode being borderline retarded.

Mo and Jane are hetero bi life partners.

Just like Xena and Gabrielle, and Krista and Chase! Jane showers enough on screen that statistically we HAVE to get an episode where Mo walks in on her!

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

Jane showers enough on screen that statistically we HAVE to get an episode where Mo walks in on her!

Statistically, Jane monologues about herself so much that she has to drop veiled hints about her sexuality sooner or later. "Boyfriend's gone, Maureen's still here..."

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Statistically, Jane monologues about herself so much that she has to drop veiled hints about her sexuality sooner or later. "Boyfriend's gone, Maureen's still here..."

Heh! I caught that too. Mo is so her rebound girl right now. Hopefully Jane will realize that she doesn't need to breakup with some guy before she can some rebound sex from Mo, she can just have 'we're totally gay for each other' sex ALL THE TIME.

But then again, like I said before everyone on this team is a dim bulb so it'll probably take Jane a while to realize this.

Until then, I hope that Mo continues to 'stand by her genetically enhanced partner ... or should that be "partner", and let her know that she supports her in most a mostly platonic way ... or is it?'

[teh-no.livejournal.com]

Hopefully Jane will realize that she doesn't need to breakup with some guy before she can some rebound sex from Mo

No, she can breakup with Amanda to have rebound sex with Mo. It's a genre show with enough women to have an all-gay love triangle. That's gotta be worth some points.

let her know that she supports her in most a mostly platonic way ... or is it?'

Mo supports Jane in the "lifts and separates" sense: She touches the boobies. A lot.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

No, she can breakup with Amanda

*sigh* I didn't think I would say this after the second episode but ... I miss Amanda. Jane actually had a real conversation with her, and through Amanda we also got to find out a little bit about the world that the show takes in and about Jane's feelings. Things we haven't seen since her disappearance.

Hell, I'd take Amanda over pretty much the entire cast right now.

She touches the boobies. A lot.

Well, golly! Have you seen those juicy mango's? WHO WOULDN'T?

[anomalys.livejournal.com]

Last night was the first time that I actually came to dislike Jane. That lie was so very wrong. Cruel even... to try to prey on someone's hope. My poor Maureen was just as confused, what with her 'can we do that' and 'shouldn't someone tell her' questions. Oh Mo, I love you... I don't care if you're even slower than the rest of the turnips.

I must have wandered off and missed a few key bits of this ep. I get how Gigantor and Jane were given the nightmare, but how did all those other people end up with it? Did they all pass through the hospital, or what?

Jane needs to never ever make a comment that could be construed as sexually flirty to McBride again.

Amen. And no more calling McBride after a bad dream... even if it's because Jane's figured something out... at least, not until after she's called Mo first.

It was great to see Jane & Mo working side by side for much of this one. But, if I was turning PKJ on for the first time, I still wouldn't have gotten any sense of them having been partnered for years. Well, except for Jane's narration about Mo outlasting her boyfriends. Why, oh why, is all the best subtext in the voiceovers?

And I wish they'd give Maureen more purpose... besides lusting after Jane. A little backstory would be nice. I think her best line in this ep was the one about only sending 7 guys to help if Gigantor broke loose.

Despite all the pretty, this show just has no heart. Which I could possibly overlook if it would only distract me with Jane & Mo kissing.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Last night was the first time that I actually came to dislike Jane. That lie was so very wrong. Cruel even... to try to prey on someone's hope.

Word. I mean I know they had to catch her, but really they could have accomplished the same thing if they'd just used some detective work instead of lying to the guy. Also, it made Jane look stupid again since the doctor totally saw through her. Also, admitting your power to someone who the team then would have let go was pretty stupid.

I must have wandered off and missed a few key bits of this ep. I get how Gigantor and Jane were given the nightmare, but how did all those other people end up with it? Did they all pass through the hospital, or what?

No, you didn't miss anything. They never explained it. Because PKJ sucks like that. I guess the fanwank would be that Dr. Lewis took Elyse outside sometimes under some pretense or after hours or something, but they never explained it. Basically I think the whole "outside people get nightmares" thing was there so that we would think it was Dr. Lewis and not guess the "surprising twist" at the end. Instead it just proved to be a huge plot hole.

at least, not until after she's called Mo first.

So true. Since they showed Jane with Mo this episode I was hoping she was calling her, but no. *sigh*

It was great to see Jane & Mo working side by side for much of this one. But, if I was turning PKJ on for the first time, I still wouldn't have gotten any sense of them having been partnered for years. Well, except for Jane's narration about Mo outlasting her boyfriends. Why, oh why, is all the best subtext in the voiceovers?

I know. I can't say "Show don't tell" to the writers of this show enough. They keep telling us that Mo is like Jane's rock, but they never actually show it. Like how hard would it have been for them to include Mo in the scene at Jane's apartment after the nightmare, just like sitting beside her on the couch. Or even tiding her stuff up, putting them back in the place she knew they should go because they've been friends that long. *sigh*

And I wish they'd give Maureen more purpose... besides lusting after Jane. A little backstory would be nice. I think her best line in this ep was the one about only sending 7 guys to help if Gigantor broke loose.

So true. That line was like one of the few times since the pilot that they felt like old friends. Mo totally had her back with that line. Plus it was badass "I'll be in there, send 7". Rowr Mo, very rowr!

Really I think the writers are afraid of Jane and Mo seeming gay so they won't let them have any meaningful interaction, but they're just screwing the show over. Because ...

Despite all the pretty, this show just has no heart.

Which is so true. There's just no one or anything to really care about with this show. Jane isn't struggling enough with her powers to be compelling, instead she just makes glib comments in voice-overs. There's no emotional relationship to get attached to, or relate to. By not showing Amanda again they've removed that 'normal' element from Jane's live so we don't see how she feels about being such a freak. And Team McBride isn't idealistic and fighting for good, they're a bunch of stupid, xenophobic, lying a-holes.

Jane's glibbness is actually really starting to bug. It's like you can have characters that are stoic and enigmatic to the people in their world but they shouldn't be unknowable to the audience. Like could you imagine if Xena behaved with Gabrielle like how she behaved with random people she met? The show would have been horrible, because Xena would have just been this angry, silent, unknowable brute. But instead of letting us see Jane's more emotional side and get to know her, we just get her idiotic voice overs. *sigh*

Which I could possibly overlook if it would only distract me with Jane & Mo kissing.

Heh! So true.

Man, I never thought I'd say this after the first episode, but I really miss Amanda. She actually got Jane to talk, and I'd like to see some more of that.

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

No, you didn't miss anything. They never explained it.

I thought they did. In that the Dr. 'doctored' the records to make it look like he was someone where else when he passed on the nightmares to the other victims.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but Dr. Lewis wasn't the neuro. When he said that he was confessing to something he didn't do. He still would have needed to find a way to get Elyse into contact with the people outside the hospital to pass the nightmares on to them, and they didn't address that specifically though I guess that he must have just smuggled her out with him (though considering that psych wards are psych wards and thus have pretty tight security it would have been interesting to know how he got her out. After all, to escape with her during this ep. he had to unlock all of the patients doors so that they would create a distraction, so how did he do it the other times?)

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. See, I thought it was a case where, by touching him, he was able to take a 'piece' of her nightmare and pass it to others through transference. But that just opens up another can of worms. Dammit, am I going to have to watch this *again*?

On another tangent, here's what I didn't understand about Jane's 'lie'. They're like a covert goverment agency, right? We've seen them hold people without reading them any rights, chip people without permission, hack into every computer database imaginable but suddenly they're stonewalled by Doctor/Patient privilege? When the Doctor's all but admitted to infecting other innocent people to save said patient? The fuh!?!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Dammit, am I going to have to watch this *again*?

Brave, brave soul. My thoughts are with you. Let me know if that scene where Jane goes, "Brandy!" and Mo responds "Don't you think it's a bit early for that?" is as funny the second time around!

We've seen them hold people without reading them any rights, chip people without permission, hack into every computer database imaginable but suddenly they're stonewalled by Doctor/Patient privilege? When the Doctor's all but admitted to infecting other innocent people to save said patient? The fuh!?!

Yeah, that scene all falls apart when given like ANY thought.

I mean Elyse has been in a nuthouse drawing butterflies for the better part of a decade, and she's a fragile little soul. If they'd just put him in a cell for 24 hours he'd have been begging to get to her to help her, and likely she wouldn't have been a danger to anyone else because she hasn't done anything that wasn't regimented for her since she was a child, and probably wouldn't have left the room.

Besides that, if Riley is such a fucking genius then why couldn't he just trace the doctors credit card records or whatever. They were on the run so I doubt he had time to stop by a bank so she was probably using his plastic to pay for that motel room.

Also, considering that he wasn't a neuro and they aren't an acknowledged organization, what were they planning on doing with him afterwards. Jane just revealed her huge ass secret to him like she was reveal that she could touch her nose with her tongue. If he didn't go crazy, he would then have been in possession of knowledge that could have potentially been dangerous to Jane and the team.

Seriously, Lt. Van Buren bitched out Cassidy for being a smartass but Jane reveals governmental secrets and no one has anything to say to her about that?

*sigh*

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

I actually thought this was the best ep so far. Not great.. just better. There was a neuro who was an actual menace to society without making her a two-dimensional psycho. A couple red herrings. Some background info on Jane (did we know her Mom was assaulted?) and semi-decent Jane/Mo interaction.

I mean Mo just walked in the room that chipped that chick in the brain without explaining the procedure to her or even giving her a chance to agree to it.

I actually agreed with this action. When they walked into the room, the patient was giving the doctor her nightmares. The team had no idea that it was voluntary on the Doctor's part nor the time to sort out the details. She had no real control over her powers and it made her a danger to others around her and herself.

But yeah, Team McBride continue to be some of the stupidest people on the face of the planet. I'm getting a bit tired of everyone being character archetypes with the depth of a puddle. But, not as much as Connor's constant sexual harrassment of Jane. Do TPTB really think it's funny and/or cute? It's not. It's annoying, sexist and creepy. And while Jane may be a 'tough girl' that still doesn't mean she should have to put up with bullshit like that. What a great message to send to young women - you too can be the biggest, baddest mofo on the planet, but if you're a women you're still gonna get hit on by slimeballs.. and have to put up with it because your boss won't do a goddamn thing about it.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I actually agreed with this action. When they walked into the room, the patient was giving the doctor her nightmares. The team had no idea that it was voluntary on the Doctor's part nor the time to sort out the details. She had no real control over her powers and it made her a danger to others around her and herself.

Well, when you put it that way, lol. Thinking about it from that perspective they didn't know that Dr. Lewis was on to them, and it probably seemed like the delay came from her attacking him or something. So, Mo's off the hook.

I actually thought this was the best ep so far. Not great.. just better.

I agree with this. I find the show suitably entertaining, and really most of what I complain about is the same from week to week (ex. Team McBride being morons, Jane and Mo not having any meaningful interaction, half-developed plots, etc.) and I'm beginning to think I'm just gonna have to deal with the fact that this is a show that's just always gonna be 'alright' but never really 'good'. It's "Mutant X" self, not "Heroes" accept that.

But, not as much as Connor's constant sexual harrassment of Jane. Do TPTB really think it's funny and/or cute? It's not. It's annoying, sexist and creepy. And while Jane may be a 'tough girl' that still doesn't mean she should have to put up with bullshit like that. What a great message to send to young women - you too can be the biggest, baddest mofo on the planet, but if you're a women you're still gonna get hit on by slimeballs.. and have to put up with it because your boss won't do a goddamn thing about it.

So much word. Connor was even worse tonight than usual. And I hate that Jane's reaction to it is always a fond little smile and 'oh, you' head shake. It's not funny, it doesn't show team bonding, and its offensive. And while some people really are 'smash now, talk later' Connor suggestion every episode of violating random peoples rights doesn't make me brash and manly, it makes him an asshole and it's annoying. I mean, former criminal doesn't need to mean dumb. You can show his different set of ethics without making him a sexiest, idiot, asshole.

And it's far too late for him to even get started on McBride and the increasingly annoying Riley.

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

I'm just gonna have to deal with the fact that this is a show that's just always gonna be 'alright' but never really 'good'.

The sad part is, looking at Exec Prod Gil Grant's resume and judging by the show, you'd never realize this guy is a 30-year vet in the industry. Because it really does feel like these people have *never* worked in series television before.

It's not funny, it doesn't show team bonding, and its offensive.

I probably wouldn't be so ticked off if this were just one character on one show. But, I've been watching too many series these days where this exact same situation keeps cropping up. And passed off as 'cute'. There's a character on the UK's Primeval that I just want to bludgeon with a mallet!

And it's far too late for him to even get started on McBride and the increasingly annoying Riley.

*groan* At least McBride is consistently an asshole. Riley? *shudder* It's like they took everything I hate about Stargate Atlantis' Rodney McKay and NCIS's Tony DiNozzo and turned it into one obnoxious character... who needs a bath!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Because it really does feel like these people have *never* worked in series television before.

30 + years. Wow. I really would have thought that it was a newbie operation with all of the silly mistakes that are being made with this show. I shudder to think what he was like at the beginning of his career.

It's like they took everything I hate about Stargate Atlantis' Rodney McKay and NCIS's Tony DiNozzo and turned it into one obnoxious character... who needs a bath!

BWAH! That is SO true. In fact, that's my favorite description of Riley ever. So grating and unfunny.

[runetraverse.livejournal.com]

*dies laughing at the description of Riley* They need to have Blade's sidekick Shen come in. Now THERE was a computer geek who could kick ass. And be snarky, and have genuine depth. And let's not forget the attractiveness comparison there - Riley versus Shen is like Barney and Friends versus Gladiators.

I mean, sheeeeit, his one shining moment is the "Jane brushing her teeth" scene in like episode three. And even THAT went down the crapper in the next half of the ep.

[runetraverse.livejournal.com]

Gawd, I had to turn the ep off, seriously - the whole thing just keeps getting more annoying the longer I watch it. *grumbles* I mean, they have the whole Mo / Jane dynamic, a semi-interesting premise, and the mystery of Jane's abilities, and what do they do? Screw everything over, play the characters off as dumb-as-a-frigging-doorknob, ignore the possibilities (morality / past / secrecy / heroic / identity issues, etc.) AND the subtext, then dangle plot holes big enough to drive a truck through.

And for the love of god, show SOMETHING about their security precautions already!!! An alley with a frigging door at the end that somehow connects to a train / subway station is NOT a secret command base, it's an invitation for someone to come in and beat the shit out of you.

*grumble* Screw this crap. I'mma go watch Xena - at least THAT show knew how to do subtext. And battle scenes. And characters that weren't dumber than a sack of hair.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Gawd, I had to turn the ep off, seriously - the whole thing just keeps getting more annoying the longer I watch it.

lol. Lokinator is really the only thing that's keeping me watching regularly. The scary thing is that the show is getting better, it's just if you're used to watching things that don't suck you'd never be able to tell. This episode was practically genius compared to the first three.

*grumbles* I mean, they have the whole Mo / Jane dynamic, a semi-interesting premise, and the mystery of Jane's abilities, and what do they do? Screw everything over, play the characters off as dumb-as-a-frigging-doorknob, ignore the possibilities (morality / past / secrecy / heroic / identity issues, etc.) AND the subtext, then dangle plot holes big enough to drive a truck through.

Of course, because of all of that, the show will never really be "good", even though it has risen from complete mediocrity. BTW, I totally agree with everything you said there, and those are the things that continue to bother me every episode. It has the potential to be a good show, they've just done pretty much EVERYTHING wrong (except for casting Lokinator).

And for the love of god, show SOMETHING about their security precautions already!!! An alley with a frigging door at the end that somehow connects to a train / subway station is NOT a secret command base, it's an invitation for someone to come in and beat the shit out of you.

Oh, someone already did come in and pwn them all. Then he proceeded to make them his bitches for the rest of the episode. And as punishment they ... let him go home.

And none of that response was a joke.

Security measures would imply competence and this team is in no way, shape or form competent. Besides, the plots pretty much revolve around contrivance and the idiocy of the team so I'm not sure the writers are actually capable of producing something mildly intelligent that makes sense.

[runetraverse.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's right - the dude that could steal people's knowledge, right? *shudders* That one made my brain hurt. Again, so much promise, but then nothing.

It's like they have this brilliant concept guy that came up with the show and certain ideas, but that's it. The series premise was interesting, parts of the pilot - like her falling out of the building - and certain lines are interesting. A guy that can take people's knowledge and twist the team around like toys? Yeah, that's interesting, though it would have been more impressive if the team wasn't frigging retarded. Even the kid that could re-animate people was cool. But then they hand it off to some utter idiots to flesh things out, and the interesting part gets thrown out the window.

*sighs* I could write better stuff when bored. At four in the morning. After being up for more than twenty hours, no caffine and a killer headache.

[stefaneus.livejournal.com]

Lurker here, I came here sometime ago for the slash and stayed for the recommendations of tv series to download, because they might never even come to us in Europe.

Well, I'm posting just to ask if you've seen the new first issue of PKJ comics. I'm getting the idea that you might like it. It's not with Maureen, but still... ;-)