delga | [Saving Grace.] 1x11-1x12. (spoilers)

Sometimes Grace is so hardcore, I don't know how to take her. Like, logically I know she's messed up somewhat, but I admire her guile a hell of a lot.

This week's episode (1x12) involved a vicious defense attorney who brought up everyone's private issues and turns most of the team against each other. Also, Grace is debating whether or not to go to her nephew Clay's confirmation, and Leon Cooley tricks Rhetta. Also, also: the boys continue to play pranks on one another. I mean, seriously. These guys!

As ever, it's an intense episode, but the winning scene has to be Grace during the deposition where she answers every question that sleazy lawyer throws at her. The others have their woes exposed to one another, but Grace is ultimately the only one truly on record. Her ex-lovers are paraded in front of everyone, and she cracks a joke (whilst Ham - AGAIN - decides to try and kick the crap out of Butch). Bobby is outed as having diabetes. Butch, apparently, is quite rich, and his friend was disabled during a car accident years a go. Rhetta's debt is exposed. Everyone is feeling sore and picking at one another. I felt quite frustrated watching this because I love how together the team usually is, but the scene where everyone is worried about Grace in the deposition (where they all make up) makes the rest of the episode worth it.

Also, the ADA cuts into the deposition when the defense attorney starts asking Grace about her history of sexual abuse, but Grace gets angry - the scene where she tells her that she will take anything the sleazy lawyer throws at her is fantastic because you know, you know that Grace is such a brilliant cop, and that she's right. Nothing will change the fact that the defendant killed his fiancée. (I love the way everyone dresses for the deposition. They're so Southern. All the boys have hats! Rhetta wears a neckerchief! Fabulous.)

Leon Cooley invites Rhetta to give her 'God's Angel's shoelace' which is actually just from prison footwear. Rhetta and Grace get into it over Cooley because Grace wants to protect Rhetta; Rhetta is annoyed at Grace because the latter is considering boycotting Clay's confirmation. In the end - after the intervention of two nuns, one of whom Butch nearly exposes himself to - Grace not only goes to the service, but also sets up a chocolate fondue fountain in her role as godmother. During the scene with the second, older nun (who knew Rhetta and Grace as girls), Rhetta tells the nun that she thinks Grace's sister made Grace a godmother because she (the sister) knew that Grace loves everyone she knows more than she loves herself. It was a wonderful moment, and a mostly funny scene.

In retaliation for knowing that Grace and Butch had slept together recently (i.e. post-Yeehaw Geepaw), Ham fucks the ADA against the wall of the bar. Later he tries to confess to Grace, but she, of course, isn't blind and has already worked it out. She lets him off the hook; he finally tells Grace that he loves her. Those two are so messed up.

And finally: the pranks! Bobby's drawer is filled with peas (because his wife calls him 'sweet pea'), as is his mug; someone told Butch that the first nun was actually a stripper; Ham is still getting flack over the birds; the milk was filled with oil or something. These relationships are strong and real, and I love watching this show for them.

The next episode is the finale; I'm psyched!

OK, let's skip back a week, first. I'm trying to remember the episode (1x11) but nothing is coming to mind. This is ridiculous, though, because there's no way I didn't enjoy it. Ah, okay, a person holding up a store turns out to have a mental disability of some sort, and is killed for his attack. The team tries to find who put the guy up to the heist, with a wooden gun. It's a bittersweet episode. The dead guy and his best friend both have Down's Syndrome, and are quite childlike; they're also obsessed with a children's show featuring a detective who can attack people with almonds, or some such. The scenes between Grace and the best friend are so touching,

Also: Grace meets her next door neighbour's nephew who captivates her with his charm and atheism. It's a quick fling, but she draws it out; they only get together at the end of the episode. I felt like she was maybe flirting with the guy and playing with expectations because Earl was around.

My favourite scene remains the exposition scene near the beginning where the squad are all talking about this kids' programme. It ends with everyone raising their hand to be heard by the Captain, which was funny in a lighthearted way. Nicely put together, but mostly a slow filler episode, with a tragic ending. The best friend's sister is the one who is behind the crimes.

But yeah, the finale! Wow. But I want more.