Pan Am 1.13: "Romance Languages"

I am SO CONFUSED. Why a ratings-challenged show like Pan Am would opt to air as episode 13 a show whose events occur between episodes six and seven is completely beyond my comprehension. Why, now that Colette and Dean have taken steps toward an on again/off again relationship, when Laura's faced the humiliation of having her nude photographs on public display, WHY when there's been so much progression did the show decide to jump back in time without so much as an on-screen notation or introductory scene of explanation is beyond me. If anyone knows whether or not this episode was bumped for a reason please chime in with a comment, I'd love to know the reasoning behind this!

Anyways -- the Pan Am crew is headed to Rome, and Dean (Mike Vogel) cannot wait to get out of the country. He's tried repeatedly to break up with Ginny (Erin Cummings), the mistress of Pan Am vice president Everett Henson (Scott Cohen), but she's just not taking no for an answer. This chick is a whole lotta crazy -- but clearly Dean has issues thinking with his BRAIN. *sigh* Clearly the episode in the street where she loses it and throws full milk bottles at his head didn't clue him into the fact that she was not going to let him go without a fight, because he's COMPLETELY SURPRISED when she's followed him to Rome (clearly Dean thinks he's above being stalked). Dean finally seems to get a clue when Ginny smashes her head through a WINDOW (that was epic for this show, trust me!). Throughout the course of the episode its revealed that Ginny and Henson fought over Maggie's revelation that she was cheating on him, a desperate attempt on her part to keep her coveted job at the expense of her friendships. When Henson, for some reason STILL in "love" with the crazy arrives in Rome, he and Dean reach an understanding of sorts -- Dean can move on and keep his job as long as he keeps the secret of Henson's affair from becoming public knowledge. Not your best moment, Dean...and given the Colette/Bridget mess of the last few episodes I can't say I think you've learned all that much. *sigh* :P

Speaking of Colette (Karine Vanasse), she's tasked with chaperoning Charlie (Lance Chantiles-Wertz), a young boy shuttling between wealthy divorced parents. Colette's interactions with Charlie are really pretty charming, and she handles his adoration with mostly admirable aplomb and sensitivity. Charlie's a bit fresh and forward clearly because he's desperately lonely, and I think that's a quality Colette recognizes and relates to given her history of losing her parents to World War II. I've also got to say I loved the moment at the end of the episode where she calls Maggie (Christina Ricci) on her crap, confronting her with the knowledge that she's well aware of the lengths Maggie went to in order to keep her job -- something that clearly rattles Maggie, and given her actions in subsequent episodes (i.e. seven on) I think she's shown a degree or two of greater appreciation for her friends and coworkers.

Laura (Margot Robbie) is rather obsessed with losing her virtue to an annoying degree in this episode. She's sick to death of being the baby sister, the one who's always getting taken care of, who can't be trusted to make her own decisions, etc. When she attends a photography exhibit by the Life photographer who made her famous by featuring her in the magazine, she's alternately scandalized and intrigued by his edgy nude portraits. He mistakes her fascination for interest in him, she spends most of the trip to Rome second-guessing herself, ultimately deciding to pose for a set of private portraits (all in the interest of self-expression *sigh*). The best thing to come out of Laura's angst in this episode is that she shares a nice sisterly moment with Kate. You don't have to agree with their morals, but I like the two of them as sisters -- at they're best they are there for each other, and I appreciate that.

The best part of this oddly-inserted episode is Kate's (Kelli Garner) storyline. Since we've jumped back in time we get to revisit her relationship with Niko (Goran Visnjic) at the height of their happiness (any excuse for a Visnjic guest-spot is fine by me). Kate's perfectly happy to enjoy being in love with Niko, and if she can manage to turn him into a CIA asset so much the better. But the latter is more of a vague hope than a concrete possibility -- but all of that changes when Kate's approached in Rome and ordered to stay away from Niko. Understandably rattled by the experience, Kate's concerned her spy cover has been blown. Richard (Jeremy Davidson) reassures her on that front, but pressures her to use this scare to their advantage, hoping Niko's feelings for Kate will force a pivot into their camp. It's interesting, to me, that Kate objects to this but follows through anyway -- she is more serious about the spying gig than I think even she realizes at this point.

I really think if this episode had aired as episode seven as an additional chapter in earlier events this season, the overall season this year would've ended up stronger. Disappointing that this episode was shoe-horned in by all appearances at the last minute -- but what's done is done. (Speaking of what's done is done, this episode features an APPALLING lack of Ted/Michael Mosley. Just sayin'!) Season finale post coming soon!

Pan Am 1.6: "The Genuine Article"

I'm finally getting caught up on episodes of Pan Am, go me! *wink* This week took the crew to Rio sans Kate (Kelli Garner), who was unexpectedly sidelined by her CIA handler Richard (Jeremy Davidson). The fallout from her liason with the handsome Yugoslavian diplomat Niko (Goran Visnjic) is about to get more difficult than she ever expected -- no longer the means to an end, Niko is her new target. And since their romance quickly heated up, Kate's about to discover just how difficult it is juggling her spy life when her heart is deeply and unexpectedly involved.

I'm probably just projecting here (HA!), but I sort of felt like Richard was a bit exasperated with Kate for getting involved with Niko. While I felt like the previous episode's "twist," where Kate slept with Niko on their first "date" was completely unnecessary and out of character (to date), Garner makes it obvious that Kate has fallen and fallen hard for the handsome diplomat. And who wouldn't? When Visnjic delivers that line at the amusement park about his thoughts being "full of her" I could've died. Too perfect. *swoon* And he tops that off by revealing his anti-communist stance -- beliefs that could cost him his freedom at the very least under Tito's regime, well I for one can't blame Kate for falling in love with a potential political martyr. Just sayin'. I'm really looking forwad to seeing how he responds to the revelation that Kate is a spy -- because even though he didn't start out as her target, he's going to assume she's been manipulating him the entire time, surely. The plucky Kate is, I think, about to discover a very personal cost to her spying larks...

Speaking of people acting out of character, it was refreshing to see Dean (Mike Vogel) start to get fed up with Ginny's (Erin Cummings) shenanigans, especially when she has no qualms about playing her lovers against each other -- a fact that Dean doesn't appreciate considering his competition, Mr. Henson (Scott Cohen), is a Pan Am VP. Dean's fling with Ginny has caused me to lose a lot of respect for the character -- she seems like such a FLAKE. And seriously, why is Dean even giving Ginny the time of day when Colette (Karine Vanasse) is around?? Colette is so much classier, and the concerned/wounded looks she casts Dean's way when watching Ginny play her little games just KILLED me. Unfortunately for Dean, his brush with fire is apt to have major consequences...













The Rio trip highlighted Maggie's (Christina Ricci) backstory, and we finally get to see what makes the most unconventional member of the crew tick. Maggie's penchant for flouting convention and authority finally catch up with her prior to this trip, as she's called on the carpet by the Pan Am brass for insubordination. With the job she perhaps didn't realize she valued so much at risk, it is revealed through flashback that Maggie got to where she is today through a lot of fast talk and charm and outright lying -- basically, doing whatever needed to be done to achieve her desired end result. Every time she's been caught in a lie or a situation she didn't want anymore, she simply moved on -- but her job as a stewardess is where she draws the proverbial line in the sand, much to her surprise.

While shopping in Rio Maggie and Laura (Margot Robbie) are hauled in to a police station for questioning after (on Laura's part, unwittingly) purchasing stolen goods. All of Laura's illusions about her erstwhile mentor and friend come crashing down as a stressed-out Maggie reveals (some of) her transgressions. It's a very telling moment for Maggie when, after the girls are "rescued" by Ted (Michael Mosley), she tearfully thanks him for "always showing up" -- a trait she sees lacking in herself? In her desperation to keep her job, Maggie turns in information Mr. Henson about Ginny, his mistress/secretary, and Dean -- and it is glaringly clear she's not proud of herself, perhaps for the first time realizing that she doesn't really like who she's allowed herself to become. I cannot WAIT to see the fallout from this for both Dean and Maggie in future episodes!

The Monte Carlo episode frustrated me because the hookups seemed like a cheap ratings ploy, out of character and out of step with the time period and tone of the show thus far. However, I will say that I like the fact that this episode appears to indicate that the show is going to explore the consequences and emotional toll of the aforementioned hookups -- something many (most?) dramas seem to dismiss as irrelevant.

Thoughts? :)

Pan Am 1.5: "One Coin in a Fountain"

I finally caught up with this week's Pan Am episode, which took the crew to glamorous Monte Carlo where romantic complications positively exploded for many members of the Clipper Majestic crew. The crew's first stop is London, and on the flight a vivacious woman named Ginny (Erin Cummings) makes herself at home in the cockpit, chatting to the pilots and catching Dean's (Mike Vogel) eye, to the surprise of everyone. My first thought here was my oh my, how times have changed -- convenient plot devices aside, it's hard to wrap my head around the fact that anyone could simply waltz into a plane's cockpit!

Dean seems more than willing to put the disappearing Bridget behind him and pursues Ginny with an abandon that borders on uncharacteristic. Colette (Karine Vanasse) has gotten a bit of a short shrift for the last two episodes, but the wordless looks she'd cast Dean's way when he would talk to Ginny where just heartbreaking. I do hope this means that the show will continue to explore the idea of a relationship between the two of them. The crew's jaunt to Paris proved that Dean and Colette have a lot of chemistry, and I love how she seems able to read him with just a look.

There's another intriguing passenger on this slate of European flights -- Niko Lonza (Goran Visnjic), a United Nations attache from Yugoslavia. (Completely superficial moment -- was Visnjic not TO DIE FOR in those suits??) In London Kate (Kelli Garner) meets her British handler Roger (David Harbour), who informs her that Niko was the target of her next assignment. The only problem is, the handsome passenger has caught Maggie's (Christina Ricci) eye. Kate shows a lot of improvement in the spying and confidence departments in this episode (more on the latter in a minute), nicely reflected in how Roger, and later his US counterpart Richard (Jeremy Davidson) treat her. Kate's got moxie when she wants to exhibit it, and that is a must when taking on Maggie -- their romantic rivalry over Niko is HILARIOUS.



Wasn't the dress Kate wears in this episode absolutely FABULOUS?? Oh goodness it was amazing. Garner had some nice chemistry with Visnjic -- but then again, wouldn't you have to be a block of wood not to feel something around him? Just sayin'! *wink* However, I have really mixed feelings about how Kate's mission played out. After leveraging Niko's interest in her into a date, which allowed her to obtain a Russian spy's fingerprints at the casino they visit, the two sleep together (things don't get too explicit). Hooking up with Niko wasn't strictly necessary for the mission, and sleeping with him seemed a bit out of character for Kate -- agree or disagree? Prior to this she's been such a driven straight arrow -- it sort of felt to me that much like her sister, she was testing boundaries. I'm curious to see how this relationship plays out -- by the end of the episode it is abundantly clear that Kate is emotionally invested. But once Niko finds out she was assigned to gain his interest, I predict things will blow up in a spectacular fashion.

Once again Ted (Michael Mosley) proves that he can be a real charmer when he's motivated -- and he's increasingly eager to gain Laura's (Margot Robbie) good opinion. Laura is stressed because she wants to officially end things with her former fiance Greg, and can't do that until she tracks down the engagement ring she pawned -- which was then subsequently sold. A chance encounter with Ted at Pan Am headquarters leads to the two of them tag-teaming through the New York subway system in search of the missing ring. The constant ribbing banter between the two of them cracked me up (they're clearly perfect for each other, no? *wink*). And when Ted FINALLY admits that he traded his prized Rolex for Laura's ring, I could've swooned. The man does have a heart. :)

It seems like Monte Carlo brought out the reckless side of Kate and Dean. Dean's shenanigans with Ginny could in particular have severe repercussions, since Ginny just happens to be the "companion" of Everett Henson (Scott Cohen). Henson is a Pan Am vice president with the power to make or break Dean's career -- and surprisingly, Dean doesn't seem to care. He should be warned, though -- my read on Ginny's character is that she's not principled enough to sacrifice her future and security for an amorous rendezvous.

Looking forward to this weekend's episode!