Review of this week's Vegas episode, Exposure

 

Exposure  Episode 8

Like last week, this was a strong episode. A bit more predictable than last week but some character development.

The episode opens with Dixon in bed with a stewardess while “Don’t Step on My Blue Suede Shoes” on the soundtrack. Some flirting, some kissing, then Dixon hits the door because he’s late for work.

Over at the Sheriff’s Office, Ralph is surprised to see Vincent in his office and Jack is surprised to see Mia. Some flirting, no kissing and Dixon comes in late but not before one of the girls in the office notices he’s both late and handsome.

Vincent brought Ralph a good bottle of scotch which, of course, Ralph doesn’t want. There’s some bantering and then the call comes in, “dead body on the Westside”. Vince says “it wasn’t me.”

At the scene, Ralph notices a big oil stain and a blood trail that’s pretty easy to follow. Why does the Westside of town look like Fremont Street? Dixon stops an African American man from getting away by hitting him with a car- or maybe the guy ran into the car- hard to tell.

Over at the Savoy (on Fremont Street/The Strip), Vince and Johnny Rizzo are talking. Vince is pointing out that killing in town is bad for business. Vince says loosening up the tables and slots will help bring business back. Rizzo says he has an idea but he ain’t telling Vince what it is.  Drink if you know where this is going.

Rizzo, of course, is more worried about the skim than anything else. He hasn’t seen any of the coin since he took over, just last week. Drink if Rizzo sounds like a stupid, whiny hood.

Mayor Bennett (who, remember has no control over these things) still has auditors going over the Savoy’s books with a fine tooth comb. Drink if you just don’t like Rizzo.

Vince has an idea for how to get the skim out of the building without tipping off the auditors.  Mia and one “waiter” and another dressed in a security uniform, perform a very quick slight of hand passing the money from the security cart to room service cart while the elevator is in motion and Mia counts the time down.

When the elevator doors open, it’s business as usual.

Over at the Sheriff’s Office, the young African American has regained consciousness and is being asked questions about what he was doing in the alley at the end of the blood trail. The young man tries to explain that the guy’s wallet was in the car. Ralph says he stole the car and that the young man shot the dead guy and left him to bleed out while he stole a dying man’s car.

The young man is, of course, surprised to hear all of this (are you surprised? I thought not. Me neither. Let’s take a drink to our mutual unsurprisedness). The young man says “I knew this was a set up” which, of course, catches Ralph by surprise. Seems the young man saw the car, saw the keys and saw a cop. Jack asks him “are you sure it was a cop”. Now, gentle readers, you and I both know where this going and at this rate, we’ll be in our cups before the thirty minute mark.

“A White guy on that block at 6 in the morning, had to be” the young man tells Jack. Which just confirms that where ever this crime took place, it didn’t take place on the Westside (across the tracks and beyond the underpass) which was the segregated part of town back in 1960. The young man copes to taking the car but not killing anyone.

The interrogation is interrupted by the arrival of Lt. Norman Kaplan with the Office of Special Investigations out at Nellis AFB. He thinks he knows who the dead man is. Dr. William Dozier, the main doctor on the base who had a weekend pass to come but he didn’t make it back. The Lieutenant is not happy that no one informed him even though the Sheriff’s office had Dozier’s drivers’ license and base id. “It’s been a very fast developing case”, Jack tells him. Kaplan makes a snide comment about nepotism and HOLY CRAP, Dennis Quaid SMILES AGAIN!!!!!! DRINK!!!!!!!

Of course, Ralph and Kaplan aren’t going to get along and the OSI has jurisdiction over the case because the doctor was on the Air Force payroll. Kaplan goes off to interrogate the young man.

Over at the Savoy, Johnny Rizzo is coaxing a young woman we haven’t seen before into trying on a sable coat in the coffee shop of the hotel. Now usually, women try on coats like that in a fur store (which if the Savoy was the uptown swanky Strip hotel it wants us to believe it is- the Fur Shop would be on the premises along with cold storage for storing furs out of season- but this isn’t the real Vegas so I digress).

She and Johnny flirt. The Savinos come into the Coffee Shop and Missus Savino is surprised to see the young chippy, Diane Desmond.  Vince does not look happy to see her at all. Drink, because as any self-respecting tv drama watcher knows, these two have an illicit shared history and we haven’t even gotten to the hellos and we know this.

Vince tries to pretend that he and Diane Desmond have never met. “My reputation must proceed me” he says. Nope, just bad writing.

Seems Diane Desmond has been filling the lounge over at the Stardust. Vince introduces her to the Missus who really likes Miss Desmond’s records. Miss Desmond suggests the Savinos catch her show later that night and afterwards, the four of them can grab a drink. Drink if you already know Vince doesn’t like this idea (or the idea of spending extra time with whiny Johnny Rizzo).

Miss Desmond, it seems, is going to become a regular at the Savoy. Johnny got her out of gig at the Stardust and she opens in the lounge at the Savoy next week. But tonight, she is singing in the piano bar at the Savoy. (Because when you’re singing in the lounge of a hotel on the Strip, you want to give that up to sing at another hotel.)

Rizzo reminds all of them that he is running the show now and who needs loose slots when “we have the best singer in town .”

Coming back from commercial, Ralph is under the dead doctor’s car checking out the oil leak, no doubt. Well, guess what, “this has been way to easy. The oil line, it’s been cut. Whoever killed Dozier cut that oil line and left a good car running in a bad neighborhood.” Ralph and Jack discuss the evidence and deduce a frame job. Lt. Kaplan, of course, has his own ideas and tells the Lamb brothers he won’t be needing their help any further, he’s going to start his own investigation. Smart tv drama viewers should already suspect that the good lieutenant is up to no good. Ralph senses something is not right and reminds the good lieutenant that the body was found in Clark County and “jurisdiction cuts both ways.”

Back at the Savoy, Vinnie is having a drink and trying to figure out how to get rid, no doubt, of both Johnny Rizzo and Miss Desmond. But before he can, Miss Desmond comes flaunting in his office in her new sable coat. Guess what, Miss Desmond and Vince had an affair. Are you surprised? I hope not! Drink! Seems the affair was eight years ago in Havana when Vince and the Missus were going through a rough patch.

Seems Miss Desmond is carrying a torch for Vince. She takes off her coat and is naked underneath.  We cut to someone in the throes of happiness and Vince putting his watch on. But it ain’t Miss Desmond. He and the Missus are finishing up. Mrs. Savino is very happy but suspicious. It’s not like Vince to go in for a little afternoon delight.

Ralph breaks the news to a young woman who knew the doctor. Seems he was a regular at the Fremont Street Photo Shoppe. They were in the desert over the weekend taking pictures. They were supposed to go to the Lake but instead he took her to the desert. Kaplan says “we’re going to need to see those pictures”.  Jenny doesn’t have the photos, “it’s like they just vanished”.

Ralph realizes that shallow Lt. Kaplan is really shallow. Ralph recaps all he knows and wants to go to the base to ask questions of Dozier’s patients.

Mrs. Savino, meantime, is having coffee with Katherine. Katherine congrats Mrs. Savino on a job well done. “You turned a dry cleaner into mayor”.  Mrs. Savino acts modest. She also tells Katherine that she knows that she is the ADA.  No friendship between these two ladies anymore. Are you surprised? Nah, me neither.

Kaplan and Ralph head somewhere. We discover that Ralph was in Special Investigations in the Army after the war. The two spar and start to become friends. A truck tries to run them off the road. Two guys in masks tell them to get out of the ambulance.

After the break, Jack picks them up heading back to town. “Who the hell steals a body?” “They probably realized their two bit frame up job wasn’t going to work” Ralph replies. Luckily, Jack called ahead and got Dozier’s patient schedule for the Friday before he died. Most of the patients were with the 43rd Airborne and were whisked away to Dover before anyone could talk to them. Drink if you smell Atomic Bomb/Radiation in this storyline.

Ralph actually shows some signs of humor. Drink if you like seeing this side of Quaid. I know I do.

Back at the Savoy, a young man approaches Mia. There’s a problem with Craps Table 4. The kid wants to call the Gaming commission. She goes to Vince and Daddy. Mia finally gives up the name of the kid saying she trusts the kid to keep his mouth shut. Daddy Rizzo says that’s enough for him. Yeah, right.

On the base, Ralph and Jack find a patient who saw Dr. Dozier. There was another patient who got mad at the doctor and got into a fight with him. There was a silver box involved. A Geiger counter!!

Ralph and Jack go looking for the missing papers. And Ralph finds them. Seems a patient died of radiation poisoning. There’s missing autopsy photos. Where’s the radiation coming from? Which MP did Dozier tell what he knew?

Over at the Savoy, Miss Desmond is singing. Daddy Rizzo seems to that Miss D is singing to him, but we know better, don’t we. Also, Daddy Rizzo wants to kill the young kid who found the problem with Craps Table 4. Vince tries to talk him out of it. Daddy will hear none of it.

After the commercial break, Ralph and Jack are talking to the patient. A defense company is testing a suit against radiation. Someone died and this guy didn’t do anything to investigate and “now Dozier is dead”. The defense company has a secret bunker on the base. Guess where those missing pics are!  Drink!

At the Savoy, the Savinos are having a drink with Miss Desmond. She mentions being in Havana. Missus Savino suspects. Vince tries to get Miss Desmond to take Rizzo home and put a mickey in his drink. She wants Missus Savino’s necklace in return. Missus Savino walks in and now she knows for sure.

Back at the base, Ralph, Kaplan and Jack are on the hunt for the missing paperwork, photos, etc. Flashlights blazing, they see the door marked Radiation Hazard. It’s where they did the testing.

MPs come with guns drawn. Kaplan pretends to take Ralph prisoner and sends the MPs chasing ghosts.  Dixon and Jack are still trying to find the missing clues. Jack comes up a winner. Missing Autopsy records and photos!  Drinks all around!!!!

After the commercial break, in the car with Vince, the kid and Daddy Rizzo. The kid is probably wishing he had kept his mouth shut and let the gaming board discover the missing original receipts. Vince is trying to keep the kid calm.  Vince, it seems, is sending the kid to Salt Lake in a meat truck and getting him out of town for his own good.

Back at home, he has to contend with the Missus. She wants Miss Desmond gone as much as Vince. But with Daddy Rizzo in charge, that’s not going to happen. He implores Missus to trust him. She’s not happy. Vince isn’t happy. Holding the necklace, we cut to the Sheriff’s office.

There, an almost criminally under-utilized Katherine is explaining that the Base is on federal land and they have no jurisdiction.  But Kaplan does. But Ralph doesn’t believe that anyone will get any justice. Ralph suggests a stampede. Jack goes for bolt cutters.

On the base, Ralph tells the defense guy he’s going to the papers. “We’re at war, sheriff”. Ralph, of course, is not happy and the defense guy threatens him. Ralph drives off with the suits in pursuit. Shooting ensues.

They get Ralph out of the truck. It all looks bad. But Ralph doesn’t have the real pictures or the files. Jack and Kaplan come to help Ralph.  Seems they aren’t on federal land. They are off the res and in Clark County. Someone is going to jail.

Back in town, Missus has asked Katherine to lunch. Seems Clark Gable is dead which pegs this episode as taking place the week of Nov. 16th, 1960 but the Missus didn't ask Katherine to coffee to cry over the loss of the King.  She wants Katherine's help. But while “I will do everything I can to protect my husband, who’s to say we can’t meet somewhere in the middle”. The Missus wants to take out Daddy Rizzo one way or another. And if it means, sending Daddy Rizzo to the pen, so be it. As long as Vince doesn't get his hands dirty.

Vince and Miss Desmond meet. She wants her necklace. Vince snarls, “some things don’t belong to you”. She didn’t drug Daddy Rizzo after all. But she knows that Vince wanted Daddy Rizzo out of the picture for another reason.

The episode ends with Miss Desmond singing, Jack and Mia flirting and Ralph tells his secretary, half smiling, to go paint the town red. The file for his dead wife catches his eye. He struggles with reading it. He drinks. We drink.

What does Ralph hope to discover.  No suspicion of foul play but she was found by Officer Smith.

Is this the season story arc, what really happened to Marilyn Lamb?  How does that relate to the story we are watching?

Hit the comments and let us know what you think!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving- This week's review is up!!!

We hope everyone is having a terrific Thanksgiving!!

Get ready to play the drinking game because here's our review of this week's episode of Vegas!

 

Bad Seeds Episode 7

Opens with a farmer and his son in a corn field. The old man thinks they’ve found a diseased prairie dog den.  He instructs his son to start digging because otherwise the dead prairie dogs will disease the soil and “make us all sick”. Drink now if you know what they are going to find.

And in the best Tony the Ant fashion, they uncover a hand. The rest of the body can’t be far behind. The camera pans up and across the cornfield and we see in the not far distance, The Strip/Downtown, all four buildings, and one of the buildings looks like the Savoy. Dun, Dun, Dunn!

Now, in fairness we did have a Japanese family that grew fresh fruits and veggies that they sold to the locals, the hotels and restaurants. So I can’t bag on them too much for this, it’s just that the farm wasn’t quite that close to either the Strip or Downtown. But, they are in the ball park so I’m going to let this one slide. For now.

We cut to the Savoy where patrons are having a high old time. Frank (or more likely a sound alike) is singing “On Top of the World” on the soundtrack.

The Savinos are dining with Vince’s top lieutenant, Red. The mayor’s race from last week’s episode is neck and neck. Vince and Red argue about the race and Vince reminds him that they need Grady to win the election not just tie. Vince is worried that if Bennett wins, he will be in favor of regulating the Savoy which will cut down on the skim. Mrs. Savino chimes in that they have done all they can. Red says he has spoken to a friend of his who ships the voting machines and “it is all set”. Are you surprised that they plan to win the election with voter fraud. Nah, me neither. Drink.

Speaking of the candidate, Grady joins them. Seems he found a flyer on his windshield, “ Our nation fights communism hard enough overseas, we shouldn’t have to worry about it in our city.” Grady is not happy that the Savinos are playing dirty. “Most voters like that he stands up to crime”, Grady tells them.

There’s talk of the Rocky Marciano fight at the Polo Grounds when Rocky almost lost because his opponent attacked his strength. Mrs. S makes the analogy that Grady should  attack Bennett on his “tough on crime record”. Grady agrees but the election is in two days, “so let’s try to keep this above board” Grady pleads. After he leaves, we discover Mrs. S never saw the fight she described. What a wily minx, you’re probably thinking.

Back at the cornfield, Ralph and Katherine are overseeing the recovery of two bodies. Katherine looks quite fashionable in her purple wool dress, Ralph just looks like his usual stern self. Everyone pulls out bandanas to cover their noses. This way we know the bodies have been there awhile. Dixon pulls the short straw and has to look for identification on the dead bodies. Katherine saves him by identifying them on sight. One of course, is the late Davey Carnera and the other is his body guard. Are you surprised? I thought not. Drink.

Ralph and Katherine are worried that “every thug with a grudge” is going to be on the next plane to Vegas hoping to take out Savino. The farmer, looking a bit like old man Ewell in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, wants to know who is going to pay for the destruction of his crop (thanks to the lye used on the bodies). Ralph says he’ll take care of it.

A plane arrives at McCarran Airport and the scene looks like something out of last year’s retro show, “Pan Am”. The deputies are stopping anyone in a suit. Eyeglasses has a new identity, Lyle Plimpton (nice shout out to author George Plimpton), and is stopped by a deputy. But, of course, because he’s smart, he’s not carrying id that would say he was from Wisconsin. He’s just a business man in town on business. And we all know the kind of business Eyeglasses is in, don’t we. Drink. He says he is in “whole sale butchery”. I’m not joking. Drink again.

Savino is upset because the bodies have been found. He knows trouble is coming. Burley is out having a smoke and Eyeglasses is there in the alley waiting. Burley is worried. He goes for his gun, Eyeglasses beats him to it and Burley goes down. A woman comes out of the back entrance of a market and sees Eyeglasses. He tips his hat and it cuts to a couple of apples rolling away and the sound of a gun shot.

Ralph and Jack are soon on the scene. Ralph barks orders and the mayor comes storming on the scene. He’s worried about the election. Ralph puts him in his place by reminding him that “poor Marjorie Dobbs” wasn’t a mobster. Ralph heads to the Savoy because “it’s a retaliation aimed at Chicago” and that can only mean Savino.

Savino is upset over the loss of Burley who has known since they were kids together. Red reminds him that Milwaukee is going to send someone over the “Carnero deal”. Ralph and Katherine, now in a red wool suit, interrupt them. Ralph and Savino have words. Savino won’t roll on who did the hit on Davey Carnero. Ralph, very stern, speaks into his walkie talkie, “okay boys” and we cut to the casino floor where deputies are entering the Savoy. They are placing deputies at strategic points around the casino. Mia is not happy with Jack because “you’re shutting down the casino I help run. I didn’t expect this of you”, she tells him.

Holy Crap, Dennis Quaid just smiled!!!! Take a long drink!!!! He and Savino have reached a stand-off. The deputies are staying as long as there are customers in the Savoy or until Vince gives up the shooter of Carnero.

Back in Chicago, Angelo and Johnny Rizzo are talking about the Savoy being shuttered. Rizzo is doing all he can to talk Angelo into shelving Savino. Angelo tells him to check flights to Vegas. Rizzo ends with “maybe we don’t need Savino”. Dun, Dun, Dunn!  Drink if you knew Rizzo was a back stabbing snake.  Take another if you’re glad to see Jonathan Banks.

Katherine is talking to the Lambs. They know what gun killed Carnero. A deputy has noticed a car parked on Fremont Street. Ralph tells him to check it out. An elderly gentleman comes in, he’s Marjorie Dobbs’ husband. He hasn’t been able to see his wife’s body. Ralph apologies and Jack takes Mr. Dobbs to his office.

Johnny Rizzo and Angelo are at the Savoy. Savino tries to explain. Angelo doesn’t want to hear it. He knows Savino had Carnero killed. “We need to make peace with Milwaukee now so we don’t lose everything we built here”. Angelo wants to give the Tumbleweed to Milwaukee. Savino is not happy. Angelo reminds him “I’m not just trying to save the Savoy, I’m trying to save you.”

On Fremont Street, Dixon is going through the car. The car belongs to Lyle Plimpton. Ralph wants him picked up. Seems Eyeglasses lives in Vegas. Ralph and Jack take their rifles and go to Plimpton’s. There they almost shoot a large African American who “isn’t as pale as I was expecting”, Says Ralph.

Eyeglasses is back at the Savoy, as a carpet salesman with an appointment to see Vince. He opens his sample case and its got carpet samples. Unfortunately, the deputy doesn’t look any closer.

Savino is unhappy about losing the Tumbleweed.

Eyeglasses gets caught by the deputy and is dispatched. Savino tries to shoot Eyeglasses but he gets away. Savino doesn’t give chase because of the wounded deputy. Ralph and Jack are there quickly. They take Savino and Red’s guns. Dixon is mad at Savino for starting this mess.

Savino finally fingers Eyeglasses. “He’s a pro’s pro. He doesn’t quit.” Ralph handcuffs Savino and takes Savino out as they pass Angelo and Rizzo. Ralph figures Eyeglasses can’t kill Savino if he is in protective custody.

After another round of commercials we come back to find Ralph putting Savino in his truck. He sends Jack and Dixon to find Eyeglasses, who may be wounded. Ralph tells them to check with the vets as well. Jack sends Dixon to the station and he goes to see Mia. He’s surprised to see Mia is still there. He tries to tell her to leave, but Johnny comes out and gets tough with Jack.  Mia says “she’ll be fine”. Jack is not happy. Are you surprised? Drink.

Ralph is splitting wood and Savino is watching. Dennis Quaid smiles again!  Drink!!!!! Ralph is actually stringing barb wire. We see Eyeglasses and his wounded. He calls acting as a county clerk and discovers that Ralph is watching Savino personally. Eyeglasses calls Milwaukee for reinforcements.

Savino and Ralph are back in the ranch house having coffee.  Savino wants to call his wife and “tell her to get out of town”. Ralph gives him the phone. Mrs. Savino wants to know where he is. He wants her to leave town. “I can’t protect you right now”. She understands and says she will leave tonight. He tells her to use the names they did in Tampa and not to go to Chicago.

The deputy tells Jack and Katherine about the phone call. He tells them that Ralph was watching them. Jack realizes that Eyeglasses knows that Vince and Ralph are together. In an homage to Jethro Leroy Gibbs, Ralph fixes steaks for him and Vince.  Quaid smiled again!!!  Drink!!!! Savino suggests that when this mess is over maybe he and the missus can double date with Ralph and Katherine.

Savino asks about what happened to Ralph’s wife but gets stonewalled.

Rizzo is on the phone “We got the okay. It will be over by tonight.”

Savino and Ralph are still talking about Ralph’s time in the service. Savino won’t let the wife thing go and Ralph tells him “she died in a car accident.” Savino is touched but still won’t let it go. He ends up getting slugged. Serves him right. Jack calls to let Ralph know that Eyeglasses is on his way.

Too late, “he’s already here”.

After the commercials, we return to find Ralph loading up and going outside. He pulls the barbed wire and stops the car. “You’re on my land and after my prisoner”. How did these thugs get to Las Vegas so quickly? Ralph dispatches them but Eyeglasses has the draw on Ralph. Luckily for Ralph, Savino has managed to escape the cuffs and comes to Ralph’s rescue. They try to box Eyeglasses in but he gets the drop on Savino, and Ralph saves the day. He gets the draw on Eyeglasses and shoots him in the arm.

The deputies leave the Savoy and Mia and Jack flirt. She asks why “are you so interested in protecting me” to which Jack replies, “I think it might be something I’m good at.” Mrs. Savino didn’t have to leave. Milwaukee wants to work things out. Angelo and Rizzo take Savino for a ride. Even Mrs. S knows what  that means. Red looks anguished.

Out in the desert, the three get out of the car. Angelo apologies for what is coming. “We have to do what is right, I love you like a son.” Angelo has a shovel. “Bury me deep. I don’t want my kids to see me in the papers.” Rizzo surprises (well,not us right) Savino by killing Angelo. “He was getting soft. The old Angelo would have seen that coming.” Seems Rizzo checked it with the big man in Chicago and put the hit on Angelo. Drink if you will miss Jonathan Banks. Rizzo is now in charge. Seems Chicago wasn’t keen on losing the Tumbleweed.

The mayor goes out to the Lamb ranch and tells Ralph that he lost the election. He gives the official returns to Ralph. Mayor Grady is happy. The boys (including Rizzo) at the Savoy are happy. Mrs. Savino is happy to see Vince come through the door. Judy Garland is happily singing on the soundtrack as we fade out.

This was actually the best episode of the series so far. Character development galore. Some actual tension. The return, albeit briefly, of Jonathan Banks. Could things be looking up for the show?  

Guess we will all find out next week!

Hit the comments and tell us what you think!