Episode Report Card Aaron: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Dead Man Running
By Aaron | Season 2 | Episode 2 | Aired on 03.09.2002
And now we return to the Formaldehyde Fortress's Sun Room Of Dramatic Revelations About Life And Death, where Number 22 is still sobbing and imploring Nate to "look at [him]." Again Nate tries to ignore the annoying dead guy, but 22 is persistent. He appears right in front of Nate's face, and solemnly intones, "Look at me," like some sort of zombified version of Chili Palmer. And I have to say, any time you've got a scene that would be improved by the presence of John Travolta, you've got problems. And hell, Kathy Bates was in Primary Colors, so she really should have known that by now. Anyway, Nate finally manages to make eye contact with the DGDJ, and the swelling soundtrack seems to indicate that we should be learning something here. So, do you get it? Do you? How Nate has to "look at" his own mortality? Are you sure? Because I could do a whole thing here about how the only catch is Catch-22, and how that symbolizes the inevitability of death. Or, if you'd prefer, we could talk some more about The Omnipresent Alan Ball Oracle Of Oppressed Ethnic Minority Wisdom. Either way, all I can say is that with ham hands like that, I sure hope this kid wasn't planning to play wide receiver.
And now that the talking corpse has tidily wrapped up all of this week's extant plot points, Nate comes downstairs to talk to his brother. They take a seat on a window ledge, and as both the picture and sound fade out, Nate begins explaining about his AVM. He cries, and David holds his hand, and then the credits roll. Aww. Sniff.
Mike Binder Hey, you know what would make these credits better?
Alan Ball: More shots of roses?
Aaron: Making them shorter so my TiVo doesn't always cut off the previews?
Mike Binder: Well, yeah, but I was thinking blowjob shots. You know, we could make them all arty and European and stuff.
Aaron: Yeah. I've got just three little words for you, my friend.
Mike Binder: Happy endings rule?
Alan Ball: Death before dishonor?
Aaron: Get out. Now.