From Zap2It:

Did Kai see God, or the opposite?

Did everybody feel those affects or just the people associated with the Yosts?

I'm very confused but I like it.

Loved the music.

Umm, can somone please tell Rebecca DeMornay to turn her Scream-O-Meter down from 11?

I really want to like this show, but the acting is distractingly bad. I did love the music, though. Does anyone know who sang the cover of "Feelin' Good" that played over the credits?

I am in love with this show. The scene leaving the hospital, the music, the final shot of Shaunie skating. It all makes me want to see more.

Anyone know what kind of implants Butchie has? At first I thought hair implants -- surfing stars shouldn't have bald spots -- but it must be something else.

I loved the doctor's reaction to the miracles.

Will need to rewatch for the stuff that happened after John told Kai to see God. Various people seemed to be steaming. Cool.

Garret Dillahunt is once again, killing (meaning good) his role.

But I don't know how many more episodes I can watch when every 5 minutes I say "WTF??!!"

needsleep I found Rebecca's screaming actually just about right for portraying a woman who thought she had lost her grandson. She is playing this woman as pretty harsh, but honestly, if I had lost my grandson, there would be plenty of rage and terror that I would need to express. I thought it was realistic.

I think this show beautiful, but I cannot make heads or tails of the plot, though the end of this episode makes me wonder if they are making Shaun out to be God. John telling Kai to "Seek out God", and then taking her back to the Yost's, where Shaun is entertaining a crowd on the half-pipe. What does everyone make of Charlie Utter's new persona? I think that he will play a significant roll in episodes to come, but I cannot figure out in which areas he will be best suited. I'd also like to hear some views on Linc's roll. I don't know if his character is supposed to be of greater significance than of a sleazy promoter.

I need to watch again because freaking company were *again* distracting me, but I'm almost positive it was Muse's cover off their 2001 album "Origin of Symmetry." My love for the music picks on this show knows no ends!

I haven't watched the episode yet, but DAMN. How much more can I love this show?

"See God, Kai."

I loved everyone gathering at the Yost house, not just reporters but people, just to see what was happening. So if John's performed miracles, and he's the messenger of God, people will come, because something's going on.

This show is starting to become very cool.

I missed the first half hour, can someone fill me in. Did Mitch sleep with that woman?

John usually repeats what he hears, and then applies it in conversations with others, but where did he get the "I'm going to bone Kai" from? Unless, someone was thinking that somewhere in the episode tonight. This was one wierd fricking show tonight. I will have to watch it again.

No,bchenowith, he didn't sleep with anyone. At least not yet.

And that guy using duct tape on his broken hand--priceless!

No, Mitch didn't sleep with her. But she said "Come to my hotel" and they were on their way. She knew Shaun had left the hospital but she didn't tell Mitch right away. Link called her and told her to take Mitch home, because Shaun was there. Then she told Mitch that Shaun was home. Neither she nor Link knew at that point that Shaunie was okay -- they only knew he was home.

You didn't miss much. Freddie sat in his car outside the hospital talking to himself, and doing what he could to keep reporters away. A buddy of Freddie's showed up, and Freddie broke his fingers as an excuse to go inside the hospital and check on Shaunie. Before they could do that, they saw the Yosts leaving the hospital.

You missed the Greek Chorus supporting Cunningham as he went to shut the door of room 24, and deciding to take food to the Yost family.

You might have missed Cissy screaming at Butchie about building the half-pipe. Man, can that woman scream.

I should've clarified myself a bit more. I thought her reaction was fine. I've interned and worked in various social service settings and I've witnessed various shades of emotions from clients, so her screaming reaction wasn't what bothered me, it was the way RD chose to play the scene. I didn't feel any emotion coming from that scene. All I saw was an actress screaming because the script told her to scream. Oh, and I kept thinking the press was going to go nuts because I just assumed that they would've heard Cissy tearing Butchie a new asshole, but I guess the all went temporarily deaf. Or maybe Bill distracted them by adminstering impromtu polygraphs or something. Heh.

On a side note: I'm only 25, but I feel like a dirty old woman every time I watch this show because I think Shaun is really hot.

ETA: Zippy rules!

In the first episode, right before Butchie and Mitch have their hilarious phonecall argument, just as Butchie is dialing Mitch's number, John tells him "I like Kai". Butchie then says something along the lines of "Yeah, you would. I bet you could bone her if you wanted to.".

So John apparently keeps those things in and repeats them when he thinks it's appropriate (or, well, randomly).

I'm feelin' this show, especially this ep. By the way, Huge Deadwood fan....

Dayton "Charlie Utter" Callie is still great, and, as Freddie, still kinda like Utter (example: the self-reflective monolouge in the car listening to that grand song The Sopranos used a few times). Loved how he and Bill teamed up. Also, Paul Ben-Victor (from Entourage, The Wire (much more prominently), and countless movies as villians) as a bafoon-like flunkie? Great casting.

I real got the whole community vibe this episode- alot like Deadwood. Still not sure what exactly happened with Kia and John. I'll comment more later, but I liked it alot.

I believe the implants Butchie was talking about are a form of body modification. See here. From Butchie's description it sounds like he got a type when he can screw on different types of external ornaments, e.g. spikes or "antennas".

So people who have met John and have metal in their bodies experienced a burning sensation? Butchie and the implants, Vietnam Joe's leg (shrapnel?), Kai's body piercings, and Mitch's knee (I assume that this is what occurred that made Mitch think he caught his leg on a nail).

That's a good theory, but didn't they also show something happening to Ramon, Dickstein, and Cunningham during the "See God, Kai" scene. Did Cunningham have some sort of metal in him due to that incident he had with Butchie?

Thanks for clarifying the implant thing. When John told Kai to "see God" and everyone's metal started burning, I just thought it was because the glory of God was so bright that it caused all of it. No mortal is supposed to be able to look upon God, isn't that right? I don't know, it's late for me and I watched in a hurry. Some things I know, some things I don't. I know I love this show!

{{I really want to like this show, but the acting is distractingly bad. I did love the music, though. Does anyone know who sang the cover of "Feelin' Good" that played over the credits?}}

I believe it's done by Muse.

I thought I saw that Ramon had a large metal cross or crucifix around his neck, and that it heated up and caused him to drop the food he was carrying.

I thought this episode was channeling other HBO shows. Of course they used that song The Sopranos used a few times (the Italy episode among them) and later, they used a Six Feet Under song. Not to mention the episode included a "fade to white to fade to black". Throw in all the Deadwood refuges (Did I see Ellsworth too in this episode or the preview?)
I didn't give the first episode a chance. Too upset by The Sopranos, but this ep kept me interested even though I wasn't following it. Maybe I'll do the 3 ep mini-marathon on Thursday.

Is anyone else picking up a Trixie vibe from Kai? I've read a couple of bad reviews of her acting on this forum, but I'm kind of enjoying her -- and in this ep they've finally given her something to do beyond being protective of the family.

Great call on the metal connection between Butchie, Vietnam Joe, Mitch and Kai, although I wish I knew what Butchie's "implants" actually are (they seem like horns the way he points at them). But the metal makes perfect sense. Didn't catch the Dickstein connect, though, other than the fact that they dropped the soup during the "see god" scene.

Feeling a little bad about Zippy being in Bill's pocket all this time. He lives right down the street, for god's sake. Couldn't he have brought the little guy home by now? And I'm a little bothered by the fact that Bill had to walk past the press, the gawkers and everyone else to start hassling Freddie. It sounded like the speech he was rehearsing inside was for everyone out there, not just the one suspicious looking guy across the street.

Loved the end when Kai and John are standing in the crowd and Kai asks John what's going on. He says "see god" again, and the next scene is Shaunie on the half pipe. The kid looks euphoric.

Kai and Shaunie have been much-discussed as far as acting ability, but their performances in this ep just flat-out did it for me. Guess Milch and I agree that it's always the quiet ones you have to keep your eye on.

Anyways.

Brilliant, Darwin. Thank you.

Where I once and for all bought into this show, was during the hilarious-yet-moving scene of Freddie's listening to the Sarah Brightman "Time to Say Good-bye", and first mumbling to himself that this is supposed to be where it becomes a duet ("with the blind dago"), then first bad-blonde and then furtive-Mitch amble off, one at a time, to their dark assignation in the brilliant sunlight, in perfect time to the music. Followed by the remainder of the Yost clan, high-tailing it out of the hospital with Shaun on Butchie's back and Freddie's sending out his minion to distract the press. Followed by, as the music hits its grand and grandiose peak, the four cars peeling out of the parking lot.

I guess I think that it is Shaun, not John, who is the metaphorical second coming, if this is at all Milch's theme. At 12, Jesus chose to go to the temple and confound the elders, while his parents searched for him in vain and in panic. Jesus took up his father's trade. Jesus was of a famous family, the descendants of David. Jesus was tempted by temporal power, but forsook it, and so was baptised by John. Of course, not to mention, the last line of the show, John to Kai: "See God." And that lovely freeze-frame of Shaun.

That moment bought me, too, Pallas429. I posted the line over in the quotes thread. I came for Milch and the Deadwood bunch, but after tonight, I may just watch for the pleasure of it. And the odd chance that this will come to make sense sometime soon. It took a few Deadwoods to hook me in.

The gaggle of characters in support of the Yosts are fascinating, touching, humorous and so very, very odd. Pea soup. Press interference. Magic parrots. Duct tape. And word to the love for that last shot of Shaun caught in a flash. Which is a lot, considering that last week, I didn't much care if he lived or died.

It looked to me like John told Kai to see God at the exact moment that Butchie was about to shoot up. After Butchie's head stopped smoking, he left the motel with the dope still on the spoon. John is his guardian angel at the very least.

Thanks, darwin and others for the metal connection.

In the next ep, can Butchie PLEASE take a shower?

And how come everyone seems to know that Freddie was in Hawaii. I mean, he's not exactly a family friend, but Cissy and Shaunie both knew he'd been in HI.

That was a lovely callback to last week's mention of how Butchie used to put Shaun on his back and take him out into the waves.

Seriously? I guess I'm really out of it, because that doesn't seem like something common enough that the doctor would understand what Butchie was referring to right away. Is that really common like a piercings and tattoo?

I'm thinking some sort of metal plate in Butchie's head from a skateboarding/surfing accident in his youth. Something that made the news, explaining how the doctor knew what Butchie was talking about.

With Butchie "the Beast" Yost touching his head like he was growing horns, I hope it isn't a sign he'll become jealous of Shaun and turn on him.

I took Cissy and Shaun knowing Freddie was from Hawaii from Butchie not being discreet with his drug buys. Though it is interesting how all these people have such devotion to the Yost clan based on having seen them surf.

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Yup, I completely lost it when Freddy wondered what happened to "the blind dago" in this solo version of the song. I much prefer the duet version myself, but Brightman's solo "Time to Say Goodbye" ain't too shabby.

And to all of you who refer to it as "that song from The Sopranos", I will always identify "Con te Partiro" with the dancing Fountains of Bellagio.

I've been watching-- but sorry to say I'm still firmly in the "this show sucks" camp. Many have kvetched about R. DeMornay's acting (and they are right) but has anyone really paid attention to Shaunie's acting chops? WOW, is he BAD. Flat, expressionless, monotone-- if you close your eyes he sounds like one of those computer-generated weather forcasts (only not quite as human). "Cloudy tonight with lows in the mid 60s, Gram." If he turns out to be our lord and savior we're in a lot of trouble. So.... HE'S really bad, SHE'S bad, and what's with that motel owner--purposely fey and annoying or just really bad? And while I'm flaming the cast, "oh, my piercings feel like they've been in a furnace".... can somebody please ask Mr. Guzman to step away from the craft service table-- one more handful of M&Ms and he just might explode!

I'm sold - I can see where it's going now. I was worried for a bit.

"We are on the precipice of a clusterfuck" -- don't remember who said it, but I'm still laughing... I'm starting to really like this show. Don't care if I 'get' it or not. Well, not 'don't care', exactly, just not worried -- I'm officially along for the ride.

Okay, never done "smack" myself, but why doesn't anyone see that Kai was experiencing the high that Butchie was supposed to be enjoying? I think we've all seen the movies of eyes rolling back in the head and the proverbial sinking back into a coma-like state for however long it takes. Hence why someone who isn't a drug addict (that being Kai) would tell John that she never wanted to see God again if that is what it is like.

Everyone was being given at the exact same moment someone else's experience. How it all works, I don't know.

It may be entirely possible that as a result of some ridiculously obnoxious religious upbringing I would think this, but this is what I see:

Certain people seem like angels that are slowly assembling and converging around Shaun, not John. Some have always been there (Bill, Kai) and some are arriving as needed, now that Shaun is older and experiencing more independence: Vietnam Joe, Steady Freddy, Dr Smith. It made me think so even more when Freddy says "I flew a long way to be here; don't get in my way". I am aware that he was in Hawaii, but metaphor is redheaded stepchild of this schizophrenic series.

I thought that the implants to which Butchie was referring were implants that might have been from an injury that he sustained as a pro surfer/drug addict that caused him to become a drug addict/ex-pro-surfer. Perhaps some sort of brain damage. Any thoughts?

God help me, I thought Butchie was talking about implants in the X Files sense. A plate in his head makes much more sense. Though now it's reminding me of the mom in the Adventures of Pete and Pete, who had a metal plate in her head that could pick up the police scanner and distant radio stations.

Unlike the last two episodes, this one ended with me smiling and not sort of upset that I'd wasted an hour. I think the tipping point was the scene of the Yosts making a break for it in time with Freddie's CD of Sarah Brightman. That was genius.

And shampoo, rinse and repeat with his damn hair.

This show grows more awesome with every episode. I love everybody except All About Me Mitch who couldn't even go in to see his grandson who like, almost DIED today. Everybody else is good, even Cissy. She did indeed sound like a crazy woman when she was screaming at Butchie, but after her day, I'll give her a pass.

Okay, so what if Shaun is like a Jesus figure and John is actually his adversary? I mean, so far John has helped Butchie feed his addiction and alcoholism, caused the earthquake that broke Shaun's neck, and gave people grief by overheating metal. He could be a fallen angel or devil that's been mindwiped. I dunno, I'm getting a headache.

While I'm thinking about it, how fucked up must these peoples lives be where a stranger-savant can with magic pockets can show up, a man's bird can bring people back to life, and a lottery winner can show up to buy a shitty old hotel, and all anyone is concerned about is whether or not a kid competes at a surfing competition? I would have much bigger questions. It all makes me think that Butchie has it right, being completely twisted on drugs 24/7.

I think the implants were from the accident that Butchie received the injury settlement from. I saw in one of these threads or on the HBO site (or something) that he got run over by a sandsweeper while passed out on the beach.

See God? Or Sea God? (Yes, I know the cc has the former, I'm just having some homophonic fun.) I agree that we seem to be setting up Shaunie as our messiah, not John, the latter being only the messenger.

I do so love Dayton Callie. His scenes with Ed O'Neill were teh best.

I generally like Paul Ben Victor, and am happy to see him. He so infrequently plays smart guys; I wonder if he'd like to?

That's right - he just got the insurance settlement check for that accident. I'm hoping the implants are from that rather than from horn attachment bases, which is just kind of creepy to me.

I'm happy to see some folks in the show finally connecting the dots regarding all the strange happenings and John's sudden unexplained appearance. It kind of reminds me of when Granny showed up out of nowhere on Farscape, except that we never got the back story on her. Hopefully that won't be the case here.

In fact, I loved everything about this ep except for Mitch, who is such an asshole that I find myself actively wishing he would get run over by a truck and die. Really, I think the whole family would be way better off if he was out of the picture. Even Cissy would probably become tolerable, though after she reamed out Butchie for being a bad father, I actually said out loud "No wonder he's a junkie with a harpie like that for a mother". But then she later noted that she was a jerk to her son, which puts her in the harsh but at least self-aware category, unlike her completely self-absorbed dick of a husband.

I will give Cissy a bit of a pass for her screeching at Butchie.

It really sounds like Butchie was nothing but a neglectful father for most of Shaunie's life. And it seems like the Mitch and Cissy have not had good contact with Butchie for a while. And so- with her feelings raw about almost losing Shanie- I can see why she took that time to be mad at Butchie for essentially being a drugged up deadbeat of a dad. We have seen him have contact with Shanie these past two (sober for him) days but it really does seem like for a long time- he was never there.

I do think that Butchie is realizing how important Shanie is too him though- nice to see.

Am I the only one who wished that someone would have given Shanie a hug at some point? It may not be the family way- but the kid almost died- sheesh.

Are we supposed to feel sympathy for Mitch in any way shape or form? Because all I can think is he is a self-absorbed jerk.

Loved the scene between the doctor and Butchie on the half pipe. Still getting used to Garrett without facial hair- and have decided that he is one of those rare guys who looks improve with a bear.

Yeah, I don't mean to sound like I have no sympathy for Cissy - I could totally understand why she went off on Butchie. He was there (while Mitch was hiding from reality) and she has some legitimage complaints regarding him. Still, you could see Butchie just fold in on himself and withdraw as she screamed at him and that broke my heart a little. Also, having Shaunie listen to the whole thing. Yikes. I agree - the poor kid needs a hug.

I was yearning for someone to hug him. On the other hand, with his family as they are, he probably would be surprised if anyone had.

I am now at the point where I kinda love the show and am really pleased that I stuck with it the cluster WTF fest ep 1 was. I still have no idea what's going on regarding half the show, but am enjoying it. Sometimes I think I've got it, but then, like sand thru fingers, it disappears. For a while there I was sure John was one of the Seraphim, but now I'm not so sure. Are they they voice of God, or am I confusing actual theology with the Fabulous Kevin Smith and his Dogma?

Anyhow, great music, great photography, mostly very good acting. I am drawn into the story and really want to know what's happening next, which seriously? 3 weeks ago? Not really.

And I'm totally digging the fact that thus far, to "See God" ain't exactly a fun time.

Dialogue wise, Milch is definitely back. I don't know how I feel about the language in such a beachy kinda place, but I wasn't exactly expecting it in the old west and it worked out just fine.

I must go and watch again.

Loved it. Again. I don't think I love this show as much as Six Feet Under, but it's the closest to my taste in the last couple of years.

I do agree that little Shaunie needed a hug, but to be fair, I think everyone was in too much shock to give him one. While everyone was thrilled that Shaun was alive, they were still reeling from the fact that they almost lost Shaun. Meanwhile, I do agree that Mitch is a self centered asshole, but the filmmaker is even worse. I was livid that neither she, nor Linc, told Mitch that Shaun was home. These people are like vultures after this little boy. It's sick. I'm almost afraid of what they'll be planning in the future.

I felt for Cissy, but I didn't approve of her calling Butchie a 'fucking idiot" in front of her grandson. "Fucking idiot" or not, that's Shaun's father. He only has one, and no kid should have to hear that, even if it's true.

Forgive me, but I didn't make the metal connection until I read it here. (Left for a drink of water, came back, and suddenly people are screaming, holding themselves, or dropping pea soup? Ack.)

I laughed when Zippy crapped in Bill's pocket. Twice. It's like he's saying, "Christ old man! Take me home!"