Army Wives: Episode Nine Discussion Thread
July 30, 2007|
Episode nine was hopping.
Joan comes home early a changed woman, determined to put her marriage before the Army and says to Roland, "I want to be there for you the way you've been there for me." Ouch. Talk about a line designed to produce remorse and guilt, not that it isn't due... And what about the scene where Roland is counseling a soldier who suspects his wife has had an affair? The big question - is Roland going to confess to Joan, or take his own advice to be less concerned with a confession and more concerned with repairing the marriage?
Lenore is back with a vengeance, barking orders, turning her nose up at everyone and looking ridiculous. I loved the scene where Lenore is talking to Denise and Claudia Joy about the big Hail and Farewell she's hosting, and mentions the invitation to the event. Roxy adds that she didn't receive her invitation and asks what a Hail and Farewell is. Lenore responds in typical Lenore fashion, "Sadly the party is for officers and their wives only." Humph!
Lenore enlists (no pun intended) Marilyn to be her assistant. A match made in heaven if I've ever seen one.
In this episode, we meet what surely must be the better half of the Baker marriage, General Baker. We also learn that he likes Lenore about as much as the rest of us do when he says to Lenore, "I can barely stand the sight of you." Is it any wonder?
Ever notice that the writers tend to make monsters out of the male characters and later soften their image? First it was Chase, then Jeremy and now Frank.
Frank acted like a jerk and an insufferable human being with respect to Denise's decision to go back to work. Until, that is, he saw her in action at the hospital and realized that perhaps other people needed her as much as he did, and in some cases, more so. Thankfully, Denise is gaining some confidence in herself and growing a spine.
General Baker is rushed to the hospital with an aneurysm. Claudia Joy puts her rift with Lenore on ice and in the spirit of the moment offers her genuine support to Lenore. Lenore responds by recoiling and snaps, "This is not your opportunity to replace me, Claudia Joy," which says it all. In Lenore's world, it's all about Lenore and her "status." As we witnessed, her status, which incidentally is a result of her husband's rank and little more, seems to be all that Lenore Baker has to cling to. What a sad existence.
Claudia Joy killed someone with her vehicle as a result of getting behind the wheel when she was too sleepy to be driving. This happened when Claudia Joy was in her early-twenties. Thanks to Lenore, and the gossip-mongers who were all-too-happy to help her spread the word, the entire post now knows (or will soon know) something that is irrelevant to the Army, the post, Michael's career or anything else for that matter. Furthermore, all they know, presumably, is that Claudia Joy killed someone. No context offered. Claudia Joy committed a crime, paid her legal debt and will have to live with those demons for the rest of her life. "Outing" Claudia Joy was a malicious act on Lenore's part, but wallowing in the gutter seems to be where Lenore is most comfortable. I'm still waiting for the day when everything catches up to Lenore, and I'm quite sure it will.
Army Wives is a fictional show. It's entertainment. All the same, I love that it portrays the manner-challenged among us as over-the-top. I'm hoping that the Lenore Bakers of the world (I've met exactly two of them in 10+ years), and the Marilyn's of the world (sadly, I've met many more than two in 10+ years) squirm a bit when they watch Army Wives. Behavior such as theirs is never acceptable, but now that we have a war raging, now, more than ever, their behavior has a corrosive effect on family morale and readiness. We need to be a team right now.
Next week, Denise releases her inner goddess, Joan goes back to work, the fallout, if any, from Claudia Joy's secret will be known and it looks like Michael Holden will be replacing General Baker. Will Lenore be more worried about her husband, or the fact that her social duties may fall to Claudia Joy? Two guesses, and the first one doesn't count.
Previous Discussion Threads:
Army Wives: Episode One Discussion Thread
Army Wives: Episode Two Discussion Thread
Army Wives: Episode Three Discussion Thread
Army Wives: Episode Four Discussion Thread
Army Wives: Episode Five Discussion Thread
The most touching part of the show to me was when Chase came home and surprised Pamela. And, the fact that he sent the flowers, not Scott, helped Pamela realize why she fell in love with Chase in the first place and why she still loves him now.
Secretly, I'm hoping that Gen. Baker dies and Lenore has six months to move off post. I know it's wrong but I'm quite tired of her. If that happened, I'm sure she would go out with a bang and turn the post upside down. It probably won't happen though because she is a main source of drama.
Posted by: AFWife_Niki | 07/30/2007 at 09:35
You're right, Niki. I left off the Chase/Pamela story, which was very nice.
As for Lenore, I don't think she's going anywhere anytime soon. I'm sure the writers want to keep a character we love to hate around. While I find most of Lenore's antics despicable, I also laugh when she comes in the picture. That funky music they play when she appears is amusing. The actress who plays Lenore does an excellent job with her role.
Posted by: Andi | 07/30/2007 at 09:57
I keep waiting for Lenore to cackle "i'll get you, my pretty, you and your little dog"...
I agree that she is a caricature. So was Frank, until last night. I think a light went on for him.
I loved the Roxy/Trevor questions. so sweet. and Chase/Pammy finally understanding what their marriage is supposed to be about! What a fun day they had with the family.
Lenore - yes, I have seen a few of them, more in the State Dept side of my life. They are a plague on all of us, and they make life pretty lousy for those around them. Without their husband's rank (and they wear it better than the soldier!) they have no life at all. So they make sure we all know that their husband outranks ours.
LAW
Posted by: liberal army wife | 07/30/2007 at 10:12
I LOVED the Chase/Pamela storyline this week. He has been one of my least favorite characters, but totally redeemed himself this time. The storyline really touched me since I often worry about my husband and I growing apart while he's deployed for so long. It was nice to see them find each other again.
As for Joan, I think they shortchanged this storyline by simplifying her decision to take the XO job. She was so conflicted about taking her command back, yet jumped at this one. Granted, she may have felt she didn't have a choice, but they should have shown that. And I think Roland was far too quick to accept her decision.
Can't wait for next week ...
We're taking ideas for your "Dream Script" over at http://blogs.tampabay.com/standingby/
E-mail your ideas and we're going to compile them into a list to send to the producers. Have some good ones so far!
Posted by: Jan Wesner | 07/30/2007 at 13:18
When the roses didn't have a card, I suspected they were from Chase. I like how he is appreciating Pam and what she does for him and their family more and more. I think Frank is also moving in that direction, but much more slowly (like a glacier). I really couldn't stand him in this episode (until the last minute).
Now the Hail & Farewell... 1st, it was just crass for Lenore to bring it up in front of someone she knew wasn't invited. 2nd, maybe the Army does it differently, but I have never been to one with a reception line. While I can imagine situations where that one might be officers-only, I can't remember going to one like that.
Anyone else notice that although Roland had the affair, Pam is the one getting talked about?
Posted by: Marine Wife | 07/30/2007 at 20:10
Why is Joan never in uniform for anything official? She was discussing going back to work with the CO of the base in a dress...that would never have happened! She's a an Officer..a high ranking Officer at that but her role is the least "military like"
Posted by: mismysailor | 07/31/2007 at 00:18
mismy- I asked DH that (since he was sitting right here, figured I'd use him) He said that since she was on leave, it was OK, but.... he didn't think anyone, man or woman, would have gone to see the CO about future plans, in civies.
LAW
Posted by: liberal army wife | 07/31/2007 at 08:57
Marine Wife- I noticed that too. But of course no one is really going to talk about Roland because he's not as invested in the female spouse community as Pam is. Marilyn and her little already definitley have it out for Pamela. Since that other gossipy lady, Marilyn's best friend it seems, works with the art teacher I knew she was going to start spreading stuff about Pamela. I'm really scared for her and I hope that false little rumor doesn't go any further but it probably is since they mentioned it.
Posted by: AFWife_Niki | 07/31/2007 at 10:51
Lenore Baker would be considered the quintessential "Imperial Officers Wife" (see the chapter in my book on that topic!) Besides, as someone noted, she looks older than Moses.
Interesting that Lenore selected Marilyn to be her "aide-de-camp." THAT wouldn't happen on post and it would even be frowned on. And that hail and farewell was WAY too formal. Those things are informal socials.
Marna K.
Posted by: Marna Krajeski | 07/31/2007 at 22:07
Marna - I thought exactly the same thing about Lenore from the first time she appeared. You're right, Lenore is the perfect example of the term, "Imperial Officers Wife."
Posted by: Andi | 08/01/2007 at 08:47
Please allow me to introduce the fine work that we at U.S. Vets do for our returning Troops and the Veterans of all wars past. I came to U.S. Vets 11 years ago as a Homeless Alcoholic Veteran of the Viet Nam era who could not even get a job, all my family had disowned me, and I had given up all hope.
Thru the intense program U.S. Vets has designed I was able to remove my barriers to success, get employed, stay sober, and return to college for a degree in Psychology. Best of all though is my family is now back in my life.
We do the same thing for over 2,000 Veterans Nationwide everyday in our 11 locations and have been since 1993. We are now gearing up to handle the Troops that are going to be returning soon.
We need to get word out that U.S. Vets is here for those coming home. This way no soldier will fall between the cracks and not get the help we are here to give them. I have a mission that I am hoping you may be able to assist me with, Letting all Soldiers know about the availability of our services prior to them coming home and having things fall apart in their lives. There is no reason for their lives to ever get as bad as mine did.
Thank you for your patriotism and supporting our Troops!
George Smith
Case Manger /Fixed Income
U.S. Vets
www.usvetsinc.org
Posted by: George Smith | 08/01/2007 at 18:40
Episode 10 Discussion?!!! I'm dyin here.....tonight is episode 11 and I've not seen the "official" discussion on 10 yet! I love your discussions (and the recap is nice too)!
Hope everyone is doing ok!
Posted by: Ramie | 08/12/2007 at 06:58
Does anyone know the name of the song that was playing when Pamela said goodbye to Chase. I can't seem to find it anywhere. Thanks... Jayme
Posted by: Jayme | 05/14/2008 at 23:54