Somehow while I never disliked this episode it sort of just got kept in the shadows for me but recently it's gotten my attention more and I've come to like it.
It's a relatable story with a well written and performed intensity which complimented Sam's caretaker nature right from that very first scene when he was ushering the girls down the late night streets. There's even some amusement to his urgency considering he'd completely forgotten that he's supposed to be their equal, not an authority figure.
One highlight of the episode was the choice of leapee, one of sadly few attempts to be diverse with the first and only black female. Considering all of the black male leapees there have been this was a good start to attempting to level the playing field but unfortunately they did not continue the trend.
Another was the interesting contrast between Lynelle and Paulette. The way Paulette has that head strong Queen Latifia no nonsense biatch attitude is something that really stands out to me. It would have been nice to learn a little more about Cheree to make a third comparison other than that her parents are apparently home so little that she's practically an emancipated teenager.
The story with Lynelle's mother, or at least the way she viewed it was a little awkward but given the circumstances; her young age at the time of the loss and thus probably lack of a proper explanation it makes some sense that she'd have a warped perspective which made her father the villain. Which reminds me of a conversation I had last year with blue_enigma in
The Great Spontini thread concerning Al. She had suggested that since we know so little about the mother's leaving that perhaps Al could have the wrong perspective of both her and his father(by no fault of his own).
That father/daughter conflict was so very powerfully performed that it was believable as the basis of the central focus of the leap. This is one case where Sam's off track mind which saw the importance being in mending that relationship over preventing the Dovettes' performance which defied Ziggy was good decision making.
Some minor positive elements I'd like to point out is the enjoyable music, Tamara Townson's (Lynelle's) fantastic voice and one minor negative element, how the bee hive was probably one of Scott's worst looking female costume pieces! Especially paired with the sparkly pink dress at the end. XD It very closely rivals every single outfit he had to wear in
Miss Deep South. Though this is probably just me, I am a dress hater (yes even though I'm a gal, so what's it to yah!?).
the ending was inconclusive. Did she sign to Decca instead of that scumbag?
Agreed. This was a problem for me as well, the only problem I had with this episode but it's a flaw that stands out quite a bit. That closure left the episode with almost a cliffhanger feeling. Where the threat which Bobby Lee posed to Lynelle's future went wasn't clarified and we needed that information as it was the central focus of the leap.
One thought crosses my mind; the gentleman whom during the performance told Bobby Lee "You're right she's a star", was that the Dekka Records guy that Sam had found? If so perhaps that was supposed to be the indicator that the Dovettes went with Dekka but it was a poor attempt. There was no clarity there at all.
If that hadn't been the Dekka guy than where was he? Did he even end up showing? There are a lot of unanswered questions there.
Obviously it's easier for Sam to move when he's in a dress
Is that sarcasm? I'm being serious I can't tell and that tongue face is also confusing me.
Honestly I see no difference between his fighting in a dress in pants but I must disagree about the movement in a dress but again dress hater speaking. So I need to stop right there.
