Episode Report Card Manimal: B | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Truth be told -- over and over again
By Manimal | Season 1 | Episode 1 | Aired on 09.29.2001
A completely unsubtle cut to Danny, in his scrubs, calling Sydney's dad from a pay phone. Danny, in his cute British way, asks for Sydney's dad's approval of his proposal. Victor Garber lays down the sneerage and tells him, "If you feel the need to ask me about this scenario, I have the sense you don't know Sydney at all." Danny's face falls. He stutters, but Sydney's dad continues: "First of all, Danny, the truth is that this is just a courtesy call. Like, when you say to your neighbor, 'We're having a loud party on Saturday night if that's all right with you,' when what you mean is, 'We're having a loud party. On Saturday night.'" Hee! Victor Garber is m-e-a-n!
Dad says that Sydney doesn't give a damn about his opinion. Danny stutters out that it's just a custom to call the father. Dad says fine, but that he won't be used as part of a charming little anecdote to tell their friends at cocktail parties about what an old-fashioned guy Danny really is. WOW. Dad is having PMS, nicotine withdrawal, and a migraine all at once, apparently. He finishes up by saying, "Are we clear?" Danny says, "Yes, sir." Dad: "Good. Then welcome to the family." Dad then takes off his invisible pimp hat and hangs up. I'm surprised he doesn't have to shake out his hand after slapping the poor boy so hard.
BGCF: Spank me, Daddy!
Manimal: You're revolting.
BGCF: I've been bad, but it feels good!
Techno-ish music. Sydney wears a Jaclyn Smith Kmart collection (tm Zoolander) black pantsuit as she walks up to the Credit Dauphine building. "You're in late," the elevator man says to her. A delivery guy tries to get on board, but the elevator man tells him it's an executives-only elevator, and then flashes his gun at him. Jeez, wouldn't a firm "no" work? It does on dogs. Sydney makes some chit-chat as behind her back she works the engagement ring off her finger.
Sydney exits the elevator into a white room with a black circle drawn on the floor. The room goes red as she gets security clearance and then beeps her through into the busy hive of SD6.
Sydney walks over to Dixon, played by Carl Lumbly. I love this guy! He's got such a great face, and he's been around for ages. Frankly, it's spooky how he hasn't aged. Obviously he and Johnny Depp share the same monkey-placenta supplier. He's speaking on a headset in Hebrew. Once the call ends, he complains about his headset. He and Sydney share the always-refreshing pause of expository dialogue as they talk about Decklin going missing in Teheran and Sydney fixes his headset. Okay -- I get it. There's nothing that Sydney can't do. She's Jesus Christ and Martha Stewart, all rolled into one cheap microfiber pantsuit.