"Portrait
of Mrs. Campbell"
A review by Jenni:
What I love about this
episode:
I think
this
episode has a pretty solid plot. In fact, most of my gripes
(below) only highlight how well done I think the plot is.
While I
don't like making excuses for bad behavior, I do find it
interesting to
examine what in the past has made a person turn to less than
acceptable
modes of behavior. So linking Marian's tragedy (losing her
son)
to her poor behavior in light of April's triumph (a healthy
pregnancy)
made this episode for me.
April being a military wife parted from her husband really made
this
episode seem more current to me than it actually is.
I really admire April's ability to empathize with Marian's
loneliness
even after being bullied by her. That's amazing to me. 
Especially because I struggle with empathizing with
loneliness.
I like examining moral dilemmas when no one's going to actually
suffer
(like with fictional characters). So I got sucked into
April's
struggle to determine whether she should donate bone marrow and
risk
her baby or not and risk Marian. Wow. I can't imagine
really being in such a place. Actually, I think I just liked
the
character of April a lot.
The conversation between April and the then unborn Jennifer/Marian
really gets to me. When she tells the baby to "hang in
there"
because she needs her... so beautiful and sad.
I love this quote from Monica to April: "God has many names, you
know. Jehovah, Almighty, Everlasting Father, Alpha and
Omega... But do you know what He calls Himself? 'I
Am.' Ask God who He is, and that is what He'll tell
you. 'I
Am.' Not 'I was' or 'I'm going to be.' But "I
am.' 'I
am here for you now because that's where you need Me.' And
if God
is here, right here, right now, what is there to fear?"
I thought it was rather novel to have a character leading a double
life
that was actually positive. Not an affair or being a serial
killer but being a benefactor to a facility for the
disabled.
I admire TBAA taking a stand against people being judgmental about
children out of wedlock. I think this is shown particularly
in
Tess using the word "mistake" in place of "sin" which is what
Marian no
doubt heard repeatedly. I like that they stressed that God
doesn't punish people like Marian thought she was being punished.
In another lovely mother/child moment, Marian tells Tommy
"Everything
you've ever done has mattered." Wow. Everyone should
hear
that at some point in their life.
What I didn't love about
this
episode:
It sounds naive to say I was astounded by Marian's overbearingness
but... sheesh. Insisting on driving her son to the base over
his
wife, banning photos, intruding on April's alone time, and then
the two
acts that just appalled me! First, when she makes that dig
about
Neil not wanting a portrait of April looking like she was (in
other
words: pregnant). That's way too tasteless, especially
considering the fact that it was such a blessing April was so far
along
with the pregnancy. Then hanging up before April could
finish her
conversation with Neil on the submarine... Wow...
Definitely NOT a likable character although TBAA does let us see
why
she became that way. I spose I might cling to a son if I'd
had
the other snatched away from me, too. So while I liked the
plot
aspect, on her own this character just makes me cringe for most of
this
episode.
Monica's "Poof!"
thing with
getting April and Marian to realize they
share a love for Neil reminds me of why I sometimes really, really
don't like Monica. She does tend to see the easiest and
simplest
route and want to take it even when it makes no sense. And,
yes,
sometimes when it's not particularly sensitive to the people
concerned. I debate with myself whether Monica's just that
much
of an optimist (thus making this forgivable) or just plain
careless at
times (less forgivable). I dislike that part because I
dislike
that aspect of Monica. But, again, plot wise it's good
because it
seems very much in line with her character for me.
We didn't get to see Andrew holding the baby. ;-)
April in the portrait so does NOT look like April to me.
Lingering questions:
Did Tess ever utter the words "I love you" directly to
Andrew? I
don't mean "I love you, babies." I mean directly to and
solely to
Andrew. Because she says it here to Monica and it's so sweet
but
it made me wonder about that. It's possible she does and I'm
just
blanking.
Parts that made me feel
swoony:
I am so glad Andrew eventually went into caseworker mode,
too.
Cause I get excited when he shows up and I have a feeling that had
he
stayed strictly AOD then that could have gotten weird for
me.
"Someone might die! Yay! Andrew's coming!"
Eeek...
Andrew looks darn good in that olive shirt and lab coat.
Maybe
I'd go to the doctor more often if a doc like him was
around...
But I wouldn't want him to be my doctor. Too weird and far
too
much like a Robert Palmer song...
I love his cute, funny lil knock when he enters Marian's hospital
room. And his facial expression when he says of Monica's
painting
"It's coming along, isn't it?" So cute and diplomatic!
Every time Andrew put his hand on April's shoulder I thought it
was so
sweet. He's lovely and caring and attentive...
Because I'm a sap I'd have to get angsty at some point during this
so... When Tess is talking to Monica about there being more
at
stake than lives but, in fact, multiple souls; I wondered how such
a
hierarchy might apply to Andrew. Like I know sometimes
Andrew is
devastated by not being able to save someone's life and
intervene. But maybe a person could assure him then that the
person's soul is their true being and he *is* without fail there
ministering to their soul. So he shouldn't get that cloudy
look
on his face. Sigh...
Onto happier things! I love watching his eye brows
when
he's talking to April about fear. And that lil smile.
I'm not quite sure what I think about Andrew's hair style in this
as
it's a bit different. But I was just psyched to be watching
an
episode with him in it.
Andrew's cute when he pokes his head in between Tess' and Monica's
to
deliver the painting. I love this guy!
Random thoughts:
I so wish I had Monica's magical stenciling ability. I do
think
stenciling is a cool look but I have zero patience or talent for
it. I envied Monica's ability to paint quickly, too, after I
first moved into my house!
A Word from Travis:
This episode is my second favorite of season 2, with such
great actors (Linda Gray from “Dallas” and Gabrielle Carteris from
“Beverly Hills 90210”). I didn’t see the part regarding the secret
coming at all. This episode had great plots, great surprises.
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