Stark Raving Bland: The Racialicious Roundtable For FlashForward 1.13
Hosted by Special Correspondent Arturo R. García
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
When ABC executives reportedly addressed FlashForward’s objectives during its’ extended hiatus, it’s (hopefully) doubtful that one of the network’s missives was, “Y’know what? People need more of Aaron Stark.” So seeing him become a focal point of “Blowback” was a classic example of trying too hard with a character who doesn’t deserve it.
Here you had a character that went from mopey sidekick (and looking mopey compared to Mark Bedford is as impressive as wearing the douchiest Ed Hardy shirt at a UFC show) to, this week, Ex-Marine Hardened Ex-Con Amateur Hacker. What, he’s not a ninja on the weekends? His character isn’t worth a spit in the scope of what should be the show’s driving plot – the GBO and the efforts to find the people behind it before it happens again. His only connection to anything important going on is the chance that his daughter, who exists as nothing more than a plot device for him, has been abducted by those same culprits. And somehow, this suddenly-brilliant tactician records a phone-call that proves his suspicions, if not a bigger conspiracy behind it, yet he neither records the call, nor hands it over to his buddy and his FBI co-workers?
But maybe I’m being too hard on the guy. Let’s see what the Roundtable thinks of his antics.
Mahsino: I kept on thinking what a jerk of a friend Mark is. That guy never seems to return Aaron’s calls and be like: dude, you may wanna hold off on traveling to a war torn country to rescue your daughter single-handedly from a band of mercenaries. But then again, Mark probably wouldn’t have talked him down. And didn’t Tracy have a mom that was introduced. Why was she not let in on the whole fiasco?
Diana: At first I was mad at Stark for being so callous in admitting that his daughter was alive when he knew people were after her. That didn’t seem in line with his character, but I recognize it was necessary to move the story along. But I did kind of enjoy him turning all bad-ass and stringing that guy up by his feet. Oh, and how awesome is it that James Remar has been added as a baddie? I’ve loved him ever since The Warriors. Now if they just got rid of Mark, that would make this show perfect for me. Who needs his returned phone calls, anyway?
jen*: So…is it wrong that I kinda fast-forwarded through most of this storyline? I mean, I saw the important stuff, like the unrequited phone call and the ‘Happy Birthday’ scare, but I still can’t bring myself to care about this corner of the FF-verse. It was all a bit ho-hum for me. I did get the foreshadowing about Mark’s drinking tho – as his sponsor won’t be around to prop him up in the future, perhaps this is how he ends up back on the bottle.
Andrea: Aaron, Tracy, more inconsequential to FF than Mark, blah blah blah. Next question.
On the bright side, we had Zoey stepping up, and calling Demetri out on the fact he’d break every rule for her, too. But really, nobody’s considered the possibility of Mark accidentally shooting Dem?
jen*: I’m loving more screentime for Zoey, and also for the couple – but I want more kissy-kissy. Sorry, y’all, I just think this pair is too hot not to warrant a tad bit of makeout when they can sneak it in. I think Gabrielle is being awesome in her lawyerly role, flexing on the terror-girl with her “were you in jail in your FF?” line. It was leaning a bit on the too much side they way she served the FOIA papers on Dem’s boss in the middle of the office, though. Discretion being the better part of valor, and all.
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