THE LAST SHIP Season 2 - discussion, spoilers and general mayhem

[Admiral2]

That was a really good episode. It was great to see the crew of Nathan James on mission instead of just playing army men against a bunch of assholes. (Of course, that's for next week...)

Interestingly, when they briefed the pilots and started launching the cure planes, the first thing I thought of was the transport evacuation scene in Empire Strikes Back. ("The first transport is away!" YAAAYYY!)

Beautiful and touching and tragic family moments all throughout. And a nice moment between Tex and Rhona.

My one complaint is that they should have killed Carrier Doc and burned his body when they had the chance. Now the douchebag is riling up the other douchebags he's finding.

Episode grade: A

 

[The Wormhole]

Yeah, I enjoyed this week's. Character drama, but really engaging. Hell, at one point I actually believed Chandler might actually be serious about resigning even though I know damn well Eric Dane isn't leaving the show. The episode had a lot of small moments that really stand out, like the airplanes launching, and the characters learning the fates of their families. I also really like the scene between Chandler and Slattery at the end where it starts off seeming like it'll be heavy emotional stuff but then it lightens up into a nice buddy moment. "You saying I could have had my first command?"

There's a lot that's still left unanswered, though I'll presume that's going to be addressed throughout the season. In particular, who is running the US civilian government now that the president we saw in the pilot is gone and Mama Granderson has been taken care of? For that matter, who is running the US military? Presumably, those SEALs standing guard at Norfolk are reporting to someone, yet we see no indication of anyone outranking Chandler. We see some other Navy ships docked at Norfolk. Now obviously there's a severe personnel shortage and not enough fuel and supplies for the ships, but if those obstacles were overcome, those ships should be able to sail, should they not? In which case, the Nathan James is no longer the Last Ship.

Nothing's mentioned about what they did with the state troopers who boarded the Nathan James who were taken alive. Are we just supposed to assume they were left behind at Baltimore to face whatever justice Thorwald's gang had in mind?

Who are the guys Sorenson ended up with? Presumably he's still in America (he washed up in Florida in the opening scene) but they talk with what sounds like Irish accents. And what the hell is up with Sorenson always chewing on that tooth pick? That character quirk is just getting silly and ridiculous.

And what is with Lt. Greene always giving a dirty look every time Foster gets close to someone else. He did it when her and the chief engineer finished their talk off with a brief hand holding, and he did it when she hugged her own mother. Really, that guy needs to chill out.

 

[Admiral2]

Yeah, I enjoyed this week's. Character drama, but really engaging. Hell, at one point I actually believed Chandler might actually be serious about resigning even though I know damn well Eric Dane isn't leaving the show. The episode had a lot of small moments that really stand out, like the airplanes launching, and the characters learning the fates of their families. I also really like the scene between Chandler and Slattery at the end where it starts off seeming like it'll be heavy emotional stuff but then it lightens up into a nice buddy moment. "You saying I could have had my first command?"

Yeah, that was good...

There's a lot that's still left unanswered, though I'll presume that's going to be addressed throughout the season. In particular, who is running the US civilian government now that the president we saw in the pilot is gone and Mama Granderson has been taken care of?

Actually, Mama Granderson's fiefdom is a pretty good indicator that there is no US Government as we know it anymore. Power has devolved to local authorities or anyone with a following, which makes sense, given the totality of the plague's effects.

For that matter, who is running the US military? Presumably, those SEALs standing guard at Norfolk are reporting to someone, yet we see no indication of anyone outranking Chandler.

No central civilian control means no central military control, so all commands are local. It's entirely possible that there was no one who outranked Chandler in the area. (Full Commander in the Navy is equal to Lt. Colonel in land ranks.)

We see some other Navy ships docked at Norfolk. Now obviously there's a severe personnel shortage and not enough fuel and supplies for the ships, but if those obstacles were overcome, those ships should be able to sail, should they not? In which case, the Nathan James is no longer the Last Ship.

Yes, IF. There's absolutely no indication that those personnel obstacles will be overcome anytime soon.

Nothing's mentioned about what they did with the state troopers who boarded the Nathan James who were taken alive. Are we just supposed to assume they were left behind at Baltimore to face whatever justice Thorwald's gang had in mind?

Again, local control. Thorwald's gang is better than nothing, and Nathan James has bigger problems to take care of.

Who are the guys Sorenson ended up with? Presumably he's still in America (he washed up in Florida in the opening scene)

It said Port St. Lucie on the screen, so yeah, still Florida.

but they talk with what sounds like Irish accents.

There can't be Irish people in Florida? Besides, it was one guy with an Irish accent.

And what the hell is up with Sorenson always chewing on that tooth pick? That character quirk is just getting silly and ridiculous.

And what is with Lt. Greene always giving a dirty look every time Foster gets close to someone else. He did it when her and the chief engineer finished their talk off with a brief hand holding, and he did it when she hugged her own mother. Really, that guy needs to chill out.

Or, you're misinterpreting the looks... and thinking way too hard about what you're seeing.

 

[sojourner]

That was a really good episode. It was great to see the crew of Nathan James on mission instead of just playing army men against a bunch of assholes. (Of course, that's for next week...)

Interestingly, when they briefed the pilots and started launching the cure planes, the first thing I thought of was the transport evacuation scene in Empire Strikes Back. ("The first transport is away!" YAAAYYY!)

Beautiful and touching and tragic family moments all throughout. And a nice moment between Tex and Rhona.


Episode grade: A

Funny, the scene between Tex and Rhona reminded me of Han and Leia in ESB.

 

[TheSeeker]

I couldn't help but notice that when they were resupplying the ship they were moving a case of Tom Hortons coffee. As a Canadian I thought it was kind of funny since it's a big coffee chain in Canada but not widely known outside of the country.

 

[The Wormhole]

There can't be Irish people in Florida? Besides, it was one guy with an Irish accent.

I thought there was two, the guy delivering the rousing speech, and the guy hanging out with Sorenson during the speech. I guess they could easily be Irish people who either moved to America or were stuck there when the plague broke out.

I couldn't help but notice that when they were resupplying the ship they were moving a case of Tom Hortons coffee. As a Canadian I thought it was kind of funny since it's a big coffee chain in Canada but not widely known outside of the country.

Tim Hortons coffee has actually been seen quite a bit in season 1. We see a stack of cases of it in the warehouse at Guantanamo and the Nathan James officers wardroom has a Keurig dispenser with a Tim Hortons sign above it. Unfortunately, the best picture I can find at the moment is blurred, but that is it, here, just over Slattery's shoulder.

 

[Admiral2]

That was a really good episode. It was great to see the crew of Nathan James on mission instead of just playing army men against a bunch of assholes. (Of course, that's for next week...)

Interestingly, when they briefed the pilots and started launching the cure planes, the first thing I thought of was the transport evacuation scene in Empire Strikes Back. ("The first transport is away!" YAAAYYY!)

Beautiful and touching and tragic family moments all throughout. And a nice moment between Tex and Rhona.


Episode grade: A

Funny, the scene between Tex and Rhona reminded me of Han and Leia in ESB.

Obviously, the creators have exchanged Trek substitution for Star Wars substitution.

I thought there was two, the guy delivering the rousing speech, and the guy hanging out with Sorenson during the speech. I guess they could easily be Irish people who either moved to America or were stuck there when the plague broke out.

No the guy with Sorenson had an American English accent

 

[TheSeeker]

Tim Hortons coffee has actually been seen quite a bit in season 1. We see a stack of cases of it in the warehouse at Guantanamo and the Nathan James officers wardroom has a Keurig dispenser with a Tim Hortons sign above it. Unfortunately, the best picture I can find at the moment is blurred, but that is it, here, just over Slattery's shoulder.

That's hilarious! Last night was the first time I've noticed it.

 

[Tom]

Another good episode!

 

[The Wormhole]

Tim Hortons coffee has actually been seen quite a bit in season 1. We see a stack of cases of it in the warehouse at Guantanamo and the Nathan James officers wardroom has a Keurig dispenser with a Tim Hortons sign above it. Unfortunately, the best picture I can find at the moment is blurred, but that is it, here, just over Slattery's shoulder.

That's hilarious! Last night was the first time I've noticed it.

Me and a friend have been busy speculating how Tim Hortons coffee became popular among the Nathan James crew. Perhaps there have been enough joint military operations between US and Canada that the US military has acquired a taste for Tim Hortons coffee.

Furthermore, Tim Hortons needs to work this into their advertising: our coffee survives the apocalypse!

 

[Aragorn]

In the two-hour season premiere, they made a point to give a name to one of the crew members who died. Did we lose a recurring character or was that just an extra? There are so many of them it's hard to keep track of them all.

 

[The Wormhole]

^^Lt. Commander Barker, the TAO aboard Nathan James was seen frequently throughout season 1, most prominently when search and rescue was being conducted to find Chandler and Tex when they were adrift. He was killed in the premiere, and is mentioned this week briefly when Chandler discusses making Foster the new TAO.

Which I wonder if that would mean she'd be promoted to Lt. Commander? Certainly would explain how there was room to promote Granderson to full Lt.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

UGH so mad that person is still alive, that awful toothpick man.

All caught up now and enjoying the show. Baldwin is great!

 

[propita]

I'm enjoying the show more than I thought I would.

But as for "Under the Dome...." I was going to watch it, dvr'd it, but something went wrong with the recording. So I figured...skip it. Not a fan of Helgenberger anyway.

 

[Admiral2]

And we're back to Cap'n Kirk and the tactical away team. But at least we've got some new players, and they're international, so fur'ners can stop bitching about imperialistic Americans.

Looks like someone on the writing staff was missing Ziva David from NCIS and cloned her for the show.

I saw that corner shooting machine pistol on an episode of Future Weapons some years back. Nice to see it in action... sorry the bad guys had it.

And yay! Next week... actual naval combat!

 

[sojourner]

Think they got some new red shirts thiis week as well.

 

[FPAlpha]

Given that they control the biggest US naval base i think they have ample supply of Redshirts

Nice episode and good setup for the villain of this season.. will enjoy seeing the Sub blow up in one of the later episodes

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Typhoid Swedey and the "we're the chosen ones" death cult need to die, pronto. I was not expecting the sub storyline to link up with theirs when they introduced it at the start of the episode, but it at least gives me hope that they will drown or implode in the near future.

Great episode this week, with a lot of intense action scenes. They did a good job building up the Merchant Marine chief in such a short time so that we'd feel bad when he was killed. I really liked that guy and had hoped he might stick around as a recurring character, although he'd be kind of redundant on the Nathan James. Maybe if they had managed to revisit the hospital ship again he could have been running it. Oh well.

The new doctor seems dedicated and competent, but didn't make a huge impression, but I really like the addition of the Australian guy and the Israeli woman to the tactical team. That first hand-to-hand fight they got into was brutal.

 

[FPAlpha]

Typhoid Swedey and the "we're the chosen ones" death cult need to die, pronto. I was not expecting the sub storyline to link up with theirs when they introduced it at the start of the episode, but it at least gives me hope that they will drown or implode in the near future.

Great episode this week, with a lot of intense action scenes. They did a good job building up the Merchant Marine chief in such a short time so that we'd feel bad when he was killed. I really liked that guy and had hoped he might stick around as a recurring character, although he'd be kind of redundant on the Nathan James. Maybe if they had managed to revisit the hospital ship again he could have been running it. Oh well.

The new doctor seems dedicated and competent, but didn't make a huge impression, but I really like the addition of the Australian guy and the Israeli woman to the tactical team. That first hand-to-hand fight they got into was brutal.

Which reminds me how realistic the stabbing was (as childish as that may sound). In Hollywood whenever we see a knifefight it's usually like a dog fight.. people circling each other, some fancy attack and defense moves before someone makes that crucial mistake.

Real knife fight apparently looks like that (so i've been told).. no fuss, no big moves, just a series of quick stabs until the other guy is done.

That leads me to another thing i noticed.. they must have a heck of a advisor on the show because the combat, for the most part, is really pro level. The way the guys move and coordinate, trigger and muzzle discipline, all very well done. I guess since the Navy is supporting the show (at least i think so, didn't bother to check) they must have lent some CQB experts as advisors too and for once the filming crew is listening to them.

 

[Scout101]

They HAVE to be supporting it. They seem to have great access, and there's tons of clips that just scream 'promotional material'. For example, that montage right at the beginning last night where everyone on the ship is just doing a nice competent job without any dialog. Checking off gauges and writing it on clipboards, baking bread, just having a fine Navy day.

Enjoying the show, but it's definitely also being supported as a giant recruitment video!

This has also led to some great shots, realistic settings (if not outright access in some cases), and generally competent and professional sailors instead of sexed up insubordinate morons, so it's a nice change of pace. They look like they've actually had a little training and remember how the military works, not what you normally see in these sorts of settings.