Other Doctor Lives: Wired: Episode 2 (2008)

Tody, I’m staying home for Rita Moreno.

I’d say this miniseries has picked up steam quite a bit since the first episode. Things are coming together more and the tension is ramping up. Conclusion next time – I’ll be interested to see how it all shakes out.

Louise is confronted by the consequences/dangers of the type of association Philip is trying to cultivate with her – she’s pulled equally in different directions by Philip’s threats if she doesn’t cooperate, her desire not to get further mixed up in anything dodgy, her fear of going to the police, and the temptation of a big payout. Crawford continues to investigate, but his interest in Louise is both professional and personal, which muddies the waters. Manesh and Philip clash over strategy as the preliminary elements to pull off their scheme start coming into place.

For starters, Crawford is getting up to all kinds of Bad Idea Jeans stuff over here. He was undercover when he met Louise in the first episode, and his attempts to pursue the investigation, maintain his cover, and look out for Louise’s well-being all at the same time are basically a mess. Both he and Louise cross some big boundaries in this episode, and it’s not a good look for either of them.

On the whole, I think this episode feels tighter and more fluid than the first one. I’m not sure to what extent it’s a tangible improvement versus just me getting into the swing of things more. But the minutae of the financial stuff feels easier to follow today – not that it was prohibitively difficult before, but I did have to work to keep track of what was going down, whereas here, it’s relatively straightforward. We’re also seeing more connections between the different sides of the plot, which goes a long way toward helping it feel more cohesive.

Louise continues to be my favorite thing about the story. I like her because she’s very simultaneously unequipped to handle her situation and impressively competent in a pinch. Clearly, she’s in way over her head, and in trying to deal with that, she’s making some spectacularly bad decisions and refusing those who could genuinely help her. I don’t really fault her for it, given the immensity of what she’s going through (this episode particularly puts her through the wringer,) and it’s believable that she would handle things badly plenty of the time. However, in the most crucial moments, she shows herself to be very capable, able to think on her feet to protect herself in dangerous situations. There are a few instances here where she really has to dig deep, and she comes through every time.

I appreciate that. Louise isn’t a superwoman or a damsel. She’s flawed but resourceful, messy but determined. Jodie Whittaker works nicely within that balance, such that, whether Louise is screwing up royally or pulling off an important move in a clinch, it’s believable either way. I look forward to seeing how things turn out for her.