My wife made an interesting observation last night while we were watching the season four finale of Army Wives: this season has been an amalgam of seasons past.
How so? In season one, Frank went down in a helicopter crash, Pamela went into labor, and Chase saved the lives of two members of our group (Roland and Denise). In season three, Denise was at risk for leaving the base, and Claudia Joy experienced a health scare. I’m sure most of that is the preferable kind of drama on an Army base, but can’t the show do better than recycle the same plot threads?
That being said, the (albeit brief) intensity of Michael’s captivity took me by surprise. I was very impressed that the General still had it in him to attempt to subdue his captor. Shame it didn’t work, but still … good for him.
And how awesome was it when Chase pulled the keffiyeh from his face to reveal himself to Michael? It was not only amazing, but it also spoke to just how unpredictable the life of a Delta soldier can be. One minute he’s at home, the next he’s rescuing General Holden from captivity, and the next he’s back on base. And no one’s the wiser. While Pamela was still wrong to make him choose, it’s obvious why it was so difficult for them to make their marriage work.
I wasn’t interested in Jeremy’s love story in the first place, but proposing? Is he out of his mind? And what’s wrong with her for accepting? She’s worried that the guy she falls for will end up on her table, so she accepts a marriage proposal from a soldier still in theater?
It also ignores the countless psychological problems he has, and the fact that he isn’t ready to move on with his life until they’re resolved. His history of violence against women doesn’t help either, and Denise would be wise to warn any woman who enters Jeremy’s life of that.
However, it was really funny when Jeremy ran to tell Frank that Denise had gone into labor while they were on the phone, only to have Frank poke his head back in the room and ask, “You’re gettin’ married?” It was absolutely crazy that Frank could be “in” the delivery room from a tent in Afghanistan. “She can hear you, Sir.” Nice.
I wasn’t surprised to discover that the show runners planned to leave us on a cliffhanger about Pamela over the hiatus while they weigh the success or failure (hint, hint!) of last week’s abominable pilot tester. The fact that she’s being invited to Atlanta to join a special unit is just as ludicrous as her sitting for the detectives exam a few months into her beat patrol.
Chase’s decision to request a transfer out of Delta blew me away. I hope it’s not one of those decisions that, once made, make you resent the person you made it for. But it’s definitely a compelling reason for Pamela to stick around. And Roxy’s concern over Pamela leaving did have me wondering something important — what happens once Roxy’s left to hang in the wind? Does she get better … or, gulp, worse?
Why in the world was everyone at Emmalin’s high school graduation? And why were they all at the hospital while Denise gave birth? It was really nice to see Michael make it in time to watch Emmalin get her diploma (way to stop the ceremony!), but there was just a complete lack of justification for everyone being present for either event.
Am I alone in thinking that this Zach (Josh Caras) guy might be a stalker? My guess is he’s not meant to be one, but try telling that to the character, who screams stalker. Look out!
If I had to evaluate the season as a whole, it would be tough not to see that the show has come back stronger since a season three slump. And yet, many of the individual story threads are rocky, at best. Claudia Joy’s been drifting aimlessly; Denise has been baby focused; Roxy’s been baby focused; Pamela’s lost in her own world, and likely lost to the show; and Roland’s doing who knows what.
While I enjoyed the increased focus on the soldier half of these families, something’s still missing from those first two seasons. I’m not sure what it is, but we’ll just have to wait and see how things go when the show returns for a fifth season with a potentially shaken-up lineup.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Aug 23, 2010 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I LOVED the Chase rescue, and how he shielded Michael with his body. That was great. As I said before, I used to really, really dislike Chase, and I’ve really started to like him because of his development this season.
No comment on the stupidity that is Jeremy and Tonya. They’ve known each other less than two weeks, and we’ve seen absolutely no connection between them. We know Jeremy has issues– now we know that clearly Tonya does, too. This didn’t have the romance of the Roxy/Trevor meet and propose (yet another similarity!), just pure incongruence and stupidity.
*POST AUTHOR*
I never disliked him, but I have enjoyed Chase’s progression this season and last. So what happens to him if Pamela leaves?
I thought it was about time something happened in Jeremy’s life. I do agree that the proposal was a bit much, but it was time for him to find a love interest.
Although what mother would propusely throw their child under the bus. He want to see her son happy. she also has become somewhat close to Jeremy. But that must be akward to meet your future daughter in law, while you son is still away. How else would that happen, would they completely avoid each other? That’s cold.
I think Jeremy is a irrational to begin with. He seems to be very sensitive too. I would be interested to see if his mother talks him out of it…
*POST AUTHOR*
I think Jeremy’s also erratic. He doesn’t think things through … the rushed proposal is a perfect example. I’m also interested to see what happens.