My Advance Review of Saving Grace: Do You Believe in Second Chances?

Saving Grace

Saving Grace has an episode entitled Do You Believe in Second Chances? that will premiere on Monday, March 9th at 10 p.m. From the very start, the title of the episode is being used to make you determine your answer to the question. You see, they start the show by talking about the death penalty (which, of course, is uber pertinent since inmate Leon Cooly is a main fixture in Grace’s life – much to her eternal dismay).

This episode wasn’t specifically about the death penalty, though. No, it starts off when we learn that Grace’s niece, Sayre (played by a familiar-looking actress who was on Veronica Mars), was arrested for bringing drugs to a ‘Scavenger Party’. A Scavenger Party is described as essentially being like a key party of the 70’s, only with drugs in the bowl instead of keys. Yikes.

When a girl who was put into a coma from the party ends up dying, well, the situation proves worse for Sayre. Instead of simply thinking she was going to have fun, Sayre’s officially become a drug trafficker in technical terms. In these very technical terms she’s also become a murderer. And is that fair? But if it’s not, then who is to blame? Just the girl who took the drugs? Couldn’t Sayre have been the one dead, too? There’s plenty of questions you can ask, and I think there’s no ‘true’ answer – except what’s true for you. I guess the law would disagree… I won’t tell you what happens with Sayre, but things actually do snowball from there, if you can believe it. And if you can’t believe it – why are you such a doubter? Psh.

Other plot points explored in the episode include the tension between the two sets of temporary new partners (Ham & Butch, Grace & Abby – played by Christina Ricci),  and Ham’s feelings in general (what a mushy and mixed up guy!). Through each of these plot devices the idea of second chances are explored. In fact, it seems wherever you look you can see this theme.

Another important event in Do You Believe in Second Chances? is when someone from Grace’s life finally meets Leon Cooly, and by default, learns a bit about Earl. It’s not every day you hear about a last chance angel, is it? Consider this person sufficiently freaked.

Speaking of, Earl’s been one busy guy – er, angel. He’s been trying to give Cooly hope, but just like a lot of religious talk you’ve probably before – the advice he gives him is vague, mysterious, and ultimately more frustrating than anything else. I feel for him. Sometimes holding onto the idea of hope is more terrifying than simply giving up on it.

The last ten minutes of this episode are sensationally suspenseful. I felt very ‘in the moment’ which is difficult for me to do when it’s an action type of scene, since I, ironically, find those kind of boring. (I know, I’m terrifically weird. I don’t find period pieces boring, but a Kung Fu movie has me asleep in minutes!)

When episode finished I was left thinking how truly human cops are. (No, I didn’t think they were robots!) For all of the TV shows there are  about cops, it’s rare I feel a connection to any of the characters as they always seem out of reach and inaccessible. This episode of Saving Grace is an excellent example of showing the opposite. I’m constantly learning in my own life that things will be okay even if they’re not perfect, and that even so much as aiming for perfection is a doomed mission. The only way to get through life is to be flawed. And you can do it artfully, whether you win or fail your endgame. I believe there are second chances. In fact, I’d say there’s hundreds of them.

Saving Grace - Do You Believe in Second Chances?

P.S. The unnecessary quote blog makes me laugh.  The Office reference is for Kerstin.

Popularity: 3% [?]