‘Army Wives’ 2.16 Review: Transitions
Original Air Date: October 12, 2008
The latest episode of Army Wives is a more traditional installment mixing a couple of sentimental yet ultimately uplifting storylines with a couple that promise more drama down the road.
In the first case, we have Joan and Roland enjoying some time at home with their newborn Sarah Elizabeth and Roland’s mother (Donna Biscoe). It soon becomes clear they’ll need someone to look after the infant when they both return to work, but interviews with a series of downright scary candidates results in no potential nannies. After a chat with the tribe, however, Roland decides to become a stay-at-home dad for awhile after his mother declines the nanny position.
Considering what a tense relationship Roland and his mother have at times, it takes a lot of effort for him to even ask. The payoff is the realization at the end of the episode that his mother doesn’t disapprove of him for being ashamed of her cafeteria position when he was a child. Not only did that job help her be at home with her kids, but, like all good mothers, she wants her children to achieve more than she has.
Then, we have Pamela and her family in a situation that’s initially sad but improves by the end of the episode. It’s Lucas’ eighth birthday, and when Chase is deployed after promising to set up something special for the event, the little boy gets very depressed.
Of course, he has a difficult time understanding why his father is never around for important stuff in his life, but Chase’s mission is canceled and he arrives back on post just in time for the pool party Pamela arranges. The best part of this simple plot is the look of happiness on Pamela’s face as she watches her husband and son connect in a really important way.
At the Holden household, Emmalin is pretty happy, too, when she finally meets her pen pal, a 19-year-old soldier named Logan Atwater (Paul Wesley). Although she’s only 16, how can she not develop feelings for the guy, and that’s exactly what has Claudia Joy worried.
Eventually Emmalin’s mother will learn there’s even more cause for concern because Evan Connor’s wife Jennifer (Mayte Garcia), clearly dead set on undermining Claudia Joy, is working double time to encourage Emmalin to pursue a relationship with Logan, no doubt because she knows how hard that would hit her “rival.”
Jennifer’s tactic seems to be working by the end of the episode when Emmalin and Logan meet and hold hands, but Jennifer had better be careful. I don’t know how she could miss it, but when you take on one member of Claudia Joy’s group of friends, you take on all of them. Sure, Jennifer repeatedly scores small jabs with minor things like her Casino Night interference — she suggests higher bets to raise more money, although such bets are too expensive for many military families — and the calendar before it; yet, I expect everything will catch up with her soon.
Next is the Le Blancs, Roxy giving up her insistence on remaining in South Carolina near her adopted home and Trevor preparing for his military fate as determined by the condition of his wounded shoulder. The latter development is the episode’s cliffhanger, but after a bit of resistance, Roxy calls Betty to let her know the situation: if Trevor isn’t approved for active duty, he wants to pack up and move out West to Wyoming.
Few wiser words have been spoken than Betty’s response: if she had had the opportunity to choose between a man she loves and the bar on post, she would have burned the bar to the ground. Absolutely!
Unfortunately, Roxy’s call reveals to viewers that Betty is in far worse shape than Roxy imagines, especially since Betty lies that she’s by the pool and about to get a massage when in reality she’s bald from chemotherapy and looks tired and nearly broken. I hope her destiny is better than what this episode suggests. I’m not looking forward to another season-ending death during the November 2nd finale.
Finally, Denise has the most discussed storyline, simply because Rumer Willis, daughter of Bruce and Demi Moore, guest stars as young army wife Renee Talbott. When the episode opens, her husband is in a medically induced coma to help his recent combat injuries heal. A potential side effect is blindness, but his sight begins to come back when he’s brought out of the coma.
Before then, however, Renee spends a great deal of time worrying about every possible negative scenario, from her ability to take care of an injured ex-soldier, to his ability to cope with life as a civilian. Renee’s troubles ultimately inspire Denise, who serves as the young woman’s confidant during her time of need, to petition Michael for funds to start a new group similar to Warriors in Transition. Yet, instead of focusing on soldiers, the group will help wives survive military-related tragedy.
The group’s establishment also allows Michael to apologize to Denise for his reaction to her and Frank’s marital problems, an outcome I enjoyed seeing since Michael and Denise are two of my favorite characters on the show.
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POSTED IN: Army Wives, Recaps
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