Episode Report Card Erin: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Missing? I'll tell you what's missing.
By Erin | Season 3 | Episode 4 | Aired on 10.18.2003
And now it's time for our regular dose of Marshall and his hilarious hijinks, with the bonus addition of his angrily pregnant -- and possibly former -- girlfriend, Carrie. Yeah, I could recap it all, but what would be the point? It's not nearly as funny in print as it is onscreen, and all we find out from the scene is that A) Marshall invented some device that'll allow Syd to crack the safe she has to crack for the Soymoan gig, and B) Carrie either really, really hates being pregnant or really, really, REALLY hates Marshall.
Just as Marshall's reading from his list of unisex baby names, Dix's secretary enters and tells Syd that Dix wants to see her. Apparently, he wants to see Vaughn too, because he meets Syd on the way to Dix's office. Once there, Dix informs them both that Jack, who's standing right next to Dix, actually showed Dix Syd's Lost Time Murder videotape. Vaughn, sporting a nice centimeter of sexy stubble, just goes, "What videotape?" Syd, growing paler by the minute, shoots a look at her dad that could freeze the sun. Jack just looks back at her like, "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah." He does. Really.
Dix tells Vaughn about the Lazareaoliciuos murder that's on the tape and how Syd's the one pulling the knife. Then Dix goes on to blah blah about how Syd has been conspiring to keep this tape a secret. He asks Vaughn if he knew about any of this. Vaughn's all, uh, no, actually. But it's kind of turning me on. Is that wrong? Dix is all, yes, yes, it is. All we really learn from this scene is that A) Dix has lost almost all of the warmth and tenderness he used to have; B) Syd's not off active duty, nor is she going to prison for the murder, seeing as she has no idea she committed it in the first place; and C) Dix wants Vaughn to withhold this little nugget of tasty information from his wife, who just happens to be with the NSC.
Hmm. This whole scene is screaming, "WRITERS IN ELEVENTH HOUR CONTACT CONTRIVANCE JONES FOR PLOT DEVELOPMENT ADVICE." Like, let's invent some reason to make Vaughn have to lie to his wife, thus driving a wedge between them, while at the same time ensuring that Syd has to go through the mission with that really hot guy who makes Vaughn jealous. Oh, and let's make Spy Daddy a son of a bitch again. He's a lot more fun that way. I mean, Jesus Jones on an Ecstasy-packed pachyderm.
After the meeting, Syd hisses at Jack about the whole "let's keep this a secret from everyone, oh, except for Dixon" thing. Jack's all, dude? I really only wanted to keep it from the NSC, right? Syd's all, whoa! You KNEW Dix would order Vaughn not to tell his wife. I can't be responsible for driving a wedge between Vaughn and Killjoy, okay? "That is a concern I do not share," Jack deadpans. Hee. We don't share it either, Jacky Boy. Syd storms off.