Post by niecie on Aug 1, 2013 18:04:34 GMT -5
Once upon a time on the previous WWW forum, there was a thread asking for people to rename various episodes of the show. This episode was one of the most renamed on that thread. After all, where exactly in this episode is there a 'torture chamber'? The wine press? The governor's cell? The room with the big catapult thingy? (All right, it's a ballista.)
This is the second appearance of Miss Piecemeal. She was also in the first Loveless episode where she apparently worked for Loveless, and apparently didn't get caught at it since she's still the governor's secretary. Now she's working for a new Bad Guy.
What a teaser! Watching it over, I can see the hat wiggle when Miss Piecemeal removes the cover from the bust of the governor. But when it opens its eyes! This teaser was just full of surprises, well written to make me want to find out what's going on!
Love the banter on the train as the guys get their assignment.
For someone who wants Jim & Artie's help, the governor is very uncooperative. Notice the painting of the governor behind him on the wall; it's a clue.
The Act One fight scene is typical for first season: Artie hits the floor in the first few seconds and only gets back up as the fight is ending. At least this time he gets to help Jim out in those final seconds, by clobbering the bad guy with the gun, though how he knew hitting him wouldn't cause him to pull the trigger before the gun was no longer aimed at Jim, I don't know. (Oh wait, I do -- it was in the script.) Anyway, first Artie's feet are pointed toward the fight and he conveniently rolls around a bit so the fighters don't step on him. But then the camera angle switches and his head is now where his feet were. Ah, continuity!
Exploding watch. Pity the poor guy didn't know what kind of watch he'd been paid with, but it's a good thing Jim & Artie figured it out.
And now we meet the Big Bad: eccentric dude, with his mini-harem if you will, the one girl to massage his back, the other to warm up his rings before he puts them on. He carries around that ugly multibladed knife-thing -- what is that called, anyway? -- and he pays out $25,000 to buy a painting just so he can destroy it, so the public won't have it 'foisted' upon them.
Another first season thing: Bolt says West must die. Not West and Gordon, just West. Gordon very much had sidekick/comic relief status in the first season. Well, he was still often comic relief no matter what later on -- that's just his way -- but he did get a promotion somewhere along the way from sidekick to full partner.
Durant demonstrates the use of the ballista. It always surprises me that Bolt isn't upset by the destruction of the vase nor the fact the the painting on the wall behind it gets pierced by the ballista bolt. On the other hand, his choice of terms in how he declares that he likes this plan are so very artsy.
The Big Bad monologues to the captive governor about his plan to use the state treasury to fund the museum, then let the governor take the rap for it all. Eeeeeevil plan!
I tried to see if there was a hole in that painting before the second bolt from the ballista went into it, but I couldn't tell. Good to know that, according to Jim, that type of vase is very common.
Ew, the ugly knife-thing again -- and this time it winds up quivering in the door after Bolt throws it at his minions!
One thing I wonder about is whether a secretary of that era would have worn a sleeveless dress to work?
Jim starts putting things together -- the attempts on his life instead of on the governor's, the painting over the desk -- and when he mentions these things to Miss Piecemeal, she goes into instant flirt mode.
(It's kind of funny to me that Piecemeal says the governor isn't himself -- I mean beyond the fact that he's an imposter. The governor was played by a different actor the first time Piecemeal showed up, so yeah, he's not himself!)
Jim kisses the girl; that was kind of mandatory, wasn't it? And the 'governor' walks in on them. he he
Jim figures out that the governor is a fake by tossing a coin to him. Good job, Jim! Cue the next fight! (Ok, ok, cue the freeze frame first -- then the fight!)
Well, ok, not exactly a fight, but a nice escape scene. The balcony here looks like the same one in TNOT Big Blast where Artie fights the musketeers.
I always love when Jim trips and it turns out Artie tripped him. The fact that the state militia is being supplemented by guards from Bolt's museum is a big clue. I just wonder how Artie comes up with his disguise when he can't get on the train?
Wonder what tune Artie was bom-bomming in his first scene as the French art expert? And, oo, they gave him a swagger stick! I always love it when Artie has a swagger stick in hand; he comes up with such lovely gestures with it. The pince-nez glasses on the ribbon is a nice touch too. Ok, and the silk scarf. The rakish angle on the hat. The cloak (or maybe it's a coat?). And the goatee. And, well, Artie under it all! *swoon*
Artie, of course, is the distraction so Jim can get in to search the museum for the real governor. Notice the doors he breaks in through, though, as well as the wall he clonks the guard into. Wiggly door, and a visible dent in the wall. My my!
The suit of armor in the basement looks weird, like some of it is forward and some of it backwards.
I like how Artie corrects Bolt on the name of the Mona Lisa. I also like his Gallic laugh and the fact that he pronounces 'Monsieur' right! And it's just lovely how he sets about convincing Bolt that his collection is full of fakes and forgeries.
Meanwhile downstairs, why is Jim looking the wrong direction when he leads the real governor back into the room with the stairs? They get caught, and then Jim does that little falling forward bit and right into the fight scene! Yay!
Watch Artie lean his arm on the marble bust, then smack it liberally with his hand! And I like the 'Lalalalala -- quelle folie!'
And then -- and then! -- he pulls out Great-Aunt Maude! 'To own a priceless treasure, one must first be worthy of it.' *applause*
I love Bolt's laugh when Artie reverts to being Artie -- even though Artie is pressing a pistol of quite large caliber to his side. Bolt is so very relieved to know that Artie was lying about all the art works being fakes! And then Artie's 'Thank you' to know that he was so convincing.
As Artie takes Bolt and Durand downstairs at gunpoint, he keeps control of the guard by use of the swagger stick. Once they're in the room with the wine press, I notice that Artie dumps off the cloak/coat, the scarf, and the hat so he can climb the ladder, but later I think his extra clothes are missing from the floor. (Maid must have come through, yeah?)
As Artie leans on the lid of the wine press, I want to holler at him to look out! Well, we in the audience can see Durand behind him motioning to the other guards to dowse the light. And in the darkness -- thump!
So does anyone know if strips of magnesium would actually do what Jim & Artie use it for? As I was watching just now, it suddenly occurred to me that I've always accepted this -- even put the magnesium strips into my fanfics -- but I don't know if this is real science or just something the WWW writers came up with. (Never base your scientific knowledge on fiction, kiddies.)
Why does Bolt just happen to have a lever behind the ballista that closes and locks the doors, hmm?
I like how Jim figures he can hide behind a Rembrandt and Bolt won't shoot the painting! Jim gets Bolt to shoot and miss, then takes him out quickly; Bolt is no fighter. But the first words out of his mouth once he gets back up off the floor are asking if the painting survived! (It did.)
And so to the tag, in which, true to first season form, the two girl-henchies who aren't Miss Piecemeal get off scot-free (on West's recommendation, no less). Never mind that they were right there in the midst of the plotting and did nothing to stop Bolt's mad plan. Well, the governor may be played by a different actor this time, but he's very much his old self from Wizard. Not only do the pair get off, but he gives them jobs working for him.
And oh -- there are two pretty girls! So Jim & Artie can invite them out on a date -- that's right, isn't it? Secret Service agents take the Bad Girls out on a date? A tour of the Barbary Coast, though -- wasn't that place pretty rough back then?
Artie and his little crick in the neck. Kinda serves him right, that he gets the one with the cold hands. (But she was too tall to be Jim's date.)
This is the second appearance of Miss Piecemeal. She was also in the first Loveless episode where she apparently worked for Loveless, and apparently didn't get caught at it since she's still the governor's secretary. Now she's working for a new Bad Guy.
What a teaser! Watching it over, I can see the hat wiggle when Miss Piecemeal removes the cover from the bust of the governor. But when it opens its eyes! This teaser was just full of surprises, well written to make me want to find out what's going on!
Love the banter on the train as the guys get their assignment.
For someone who wants Jim & Artie's help, the governor is very uncooperative. Notice the painting of the governor behind him on the wall; it's a clue.
The Act One fight scene is typical for first season: Artie hits the floor in the first few seconds and only gets back up as the fight is ending. At least this time he gets to help Jim out in those final seconds, by clobbering the bad guy with the gun, though how he knew hitting him wouldn't cause him to pull the trigger before the gun was no longer aimed at Jim, I don't know. (Oh wait, I do -- it was in the script.) Anyway, first Artie's feet are pointed toward the fight and he conveniently rolls around a bit so the fighters don't step on him. But then the camera angle switches and his head is now where his feet were. Ah, continuity!
Exploding watch. Pity the poor guy didn't know what kind of watch he'd been paid with, but it's a good thing Jim & Artie figured it out.
And now we meet the Big Bad: eccentric dude, with his mini-harem if you will, the one girl to massage his back, the other to warm up his rings before he puts them on. He carries around that ugly multibladed knife-thing -- what is that called, anyway? -- and he pays out $25,000 to buy a painting just so he can destroy it, so the public won't have it 'foisted' upon them.
Another first season thing: Bolt says West must die. Not West and Gordon, just West. Gordon very much had sidekick/comic relief status in the first season. Well, he was still often comic relief no matter what later on -- that's just his way -- but he did get a promotion somewhere along the way from sidekick to full partner.
Durant demonstrates the use of the ballista. It always surprises me that Bolt isn't upset by the destruction of the vase nor the fact the the painting on the wall behind it gets pierced by the ballista bolt. On the other hand, his choice of terms in how he declares that he likes this plan are so very artsy.
The Big Bad monologues to the captive governor about his plan to use the state treasury to fund the museum, then let the governor take the rap for it all. Eeeeeevil plan!
I tried to see if there was a hole in that painting before the second bolt from the ballista went into it, but I couldn't tell. Good to know that, according to Jim, that type of vase is very common.
Ew, the ugly knife-thing again -- and this time it winds up quivering in the door after Bolt throws it at his minions!
One thing I wonder about is whether a secretary of that era would have worn a sleeveless dress to work?
Jim starts putting things together -- the attempts on his life instead of on the governor's, the painting over the desk -- and when he mentions these things to Miss Piecemeal, she goes into instant flirt mode.
(It's kind of funny to me that Piecemeal says the governor isn't himself -- I mean beyond the fact that he's an imposter. The governor was played by a different actor the first time Piecemeal showed up, so yeah, he's not himself!)
Jim kisses the girl; that was kind of mandatory, wasn't it? And the 'governor' walks in on them. he he
Jim figures out that the governor is a fake by tossing a coin to him. Good job, Jim! Cue the next fight! (Ok, ok, cue the freeze frame first -- then the fight!)
Well, ok, not exactly a fight, but a nice escape scene. The balcony here looks like the same one in TNOT Big Blast where Artie fights the musketeers.
I always love when Jim trips and it turns out Artie tripped him. The fact that the state militia is being supplemented by guards from Bolt's museum is a big clue. I just wonder how Artie comes up with his disguise when he can't get on the train?
Wonder what tune Artie was bom-bomming in his first scene as the French art expert? And, oo, they gave him a swagger stick! I always love it when Artie has a swagger stick in hand; he comes up with such lovely gestures with it. The pince-nez glasses on the ribbon is a nice touch too. Ok, and the silk scarf. The rakish angle on the hat. The cloak (or maybe it's a coat?). And the goatee. And, well, Artie under it all! *swoon*
Artie, of course, is the distraction so Jim can get in to search the museum for the real governor. Notice the doors he breaks in through, though, as well as the wall he clonks the guard into. Wiggly door, and a visible dent in the wall. My my!
The suit of armor in the basement looks weird, like some of it is forward and some of it backwards.
I like how Artie corrects Bolt on the name of the Mona Lisa. I also like his Gallic laugh and the fact that he pronounces 'Monsieur' right! And it's just lovely how he sets about convincing Bolt that his collection is full of fakes and forgeries.
Meanwhile downstairs, why is Jim looking the wrong direction when he leads the real governor back into the room with the stairs? They get caught, and then Jim does that little falling forward bit and right into the fight scene! Yay!
Watch Artie lean his arm on the marble bust, then smack it liberally with his hand! And I like the 'Lalalalala -- quelle folie!'
And then -- and then! -- he pulls out Great-Aunt Maude! 'To own a priceless treasure, one must first be worthy of it.' *applause*
I love Bolt's laugh when Artie reverts to being Artie -- even though Artie is pressing a pistol of quite large caliber to his side. Bolt is so very relieved to know that Artie was lying about all the art works being fakes! And then Artie's 'Thank you' to know that he was so convincing.
As Artie takes Bolt and Durand downstairs at gunpoint, he keeps control of the guard by use of the swagger stick. Once they're in the room with the wine press, I notice that Artie dumps off the cloak/coat, the scarf, and the hat so he can climb the ladder, but later I think his extra clothes are missing from the floor. (Maid must have come through, yeah?)
As Artie leans on the lid of the wine press, I want to holler at him to look out! Well, we in the audience can see Durand behind him motioning to the other guards to dowse the light. And in the darkness -- thump!
So does anyone know if strips of magnesium would actually do what Jim & Artie use it for? As I was watching just now, it suddenly occurred to me that I've always accepted this -- even put the magnesium strips into my fanfics -- but I don't know if this is real science or just something the WWW writers came up with. (Never base your scientific knowledge on fiction, kiddies.)
Why does Bolt just happen to have a lever behind the ballista that closes and locks the doors, hmm?
I like how Jim figures he can hide behind a Rembrandt and Bolt won't shoot the painting! Jim gets Bolt to shoot and miss, then takes him out quickly; Bolt is no fighter. But the first words out of his mouth once he gets back up off the floor are asking if the painting survived! (It did.)
And so to the tag, in which, true to first season form, the two girl-henchies who aren't Miss Piecemeal get off scot-free (on West's recommendation, no less). Never mind that they were right there in the midst of the plotting and did nothing to stop Bolt's mad plan. Well, the governor may be played by a different actor this time, but he's very much his old self from Wizard. Not only do the pair get off, but he gives them jobs working for him.
And oh -- there are two pretty girls! So Jim & Artie can invite them out on a date -- that's right, isn't it? Secret Service agents take the Bad Girls out on a date? A tour of the Barbary Coast, though -- wasn't that place pretty rough back then?
Artie and his little crick in the neck. Kinda serves him right, that he gets the one with the cold hands. (But she was too tall to be Jim's date.)