Episode Report Card Keckler: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Home Is Where the Snark Is
By Keckler | Season 2 | Episode 20 | Aired on 04.15.2003
Continuing on down the corridor, May-McGargle discovers that he's not going to be installed in guest quarters for his stay. His mother thought he would feel more comfortable in his old room. Mum-Weather even went so far as to put some of his old things in his room -- the Babar Goes to Pern books, erector sets with mini-warp cores, and a few stuffed Gorns. May-McGargle goes right over to a hand-drawn star chart hanging on the wall, and his mother recalls how he stayed up all night every night for a month until he finished mapping all the systems he wanted to visit when he grew up. Sort of a reverse Rip Van Winkle, but with zits. "And I still have a long way to go," May-McGargle comments. Mother and son embrace as they both say they're glad the prodigal son is home. "We're going to get through this, Mom," May-McGargle comforts her. Mum-Weather nods and hustles off to get back to her engineering duties, but not before telling her son that he should come by the engine room to say hello to some people.
In the cargo hold -- or engine room, as this whole ship is probably one big cargo hold -- cargo is held. This scene looks like it could have been either the same set they used for the cargo ship in "Fortunate Son" or the shuttlebay set on Enterprise. And you know what? Continuity has made such a puddle on Mathra's desk that I really don't have time to mop it up and patch in the links -- you know where the recaps are, look them up. "Are you sure you're old enough to drive that thing?" May-Bisbee asks, walking up to some guy who's handing out orders to underlings. May-Bisbee's brother turns around, puts his hands behind his back, and comments good-naturedly, "An ensign oughta salute before addressing a captain." "Acting captain," May-Bisbee corrects him. "Don't let it go to your head." Uh, ouch? Even if it wasn't obvious from the promos that there were going to be sibling issues between these two, that was a fairly impolitic thing to say. Still, Bro-Weather chuckles and dismisses an extra, who gives him a look like, "I was supposed to be in this scene?" The Brothers McMayweather embrace and get serious as May-Bisbee admires how well the captain's jacket looks on Bro-Weather. "Thanks. Didn't think I'd be wearing it this soon," Bro-Weather admits with a catch in his voice. He's only had a few lines at this point, but Corey Mendell Parker has already out-acted Montgomery's ass ten times to Tuesday. The Brothers McMayweather talk cargo shop for awhile, but when May-Bisbee offers to lend a helping hand while he's there, Bro-Weather quickly loses his smile and turns him down like a bedspread. May-Bisbee looks taken aback, so Bro-Weather tempers it a bit by saying, "You're on leave, I'm not going to put you to work." May-Bisbee still looks uncomfortable as he tells his brother he'll see him at dinner and walks out. Before he gets very far, Bro-Weather calls out, "You might want to change into something a little less conspicuous." He is, of course, referring to the Starfleet blues. But damn, that was harsh. Granted, whether he knew it or not, May-Bisbee definitely asked for it with his earlier "acting captain" jibe. I find it pretty funny how easily I can see exactly what Bro-Weather is doing here. Using his seething jealousy to manipulate May-Bisbee into feeling like less of a success is definitely part of A Sibling's Bag Of Tricks. Although, sneaky subtlety is key -- my sister could give him a lesson in that.