24 replies to this topic

[Trini Girl]

Now owner and operator of the Stowaway, and still crushing on Little Amanda Clarke.

[sacreseries]

I must admit that Nick Wechsler is the main reason I start to watch this show. I'm shallow.

I really like him even if he is not the most interesting of the bunch, he is a big part of the show by just being a relic (the last one) of Emily's happy lifetime. And I appreciate his position. In a way, he is Revenge's Mercedes.

I also really like how Nolan seems to like him and I enjoy his scene with Jack as much as his scenes with Emily.

Edited by sacreseries, Jan 19, 2012 @ 1:00 PM.

[varcinie]

I enjoyed how amused (and not scandalized/disgusted/anything else) he seemed to be about the Nolan/Tyler/Ashley revelation. It was pretty cute. As cute as the Emanda/Nolan friendship is, I really enjoy it when Nolan and Jack hang out, too, and I wish we'd get more of them. Maybe now that Amily has been shipped off, there can be some bromantic comforting.

[FurryFury]

I guess I got used to him a little, mainly because the show's gone much lighter on pushing his epic love for Emanda, and because most of his scenes aren't with her anymore. Though this will probably change after Amily's departure. But I'll never buy him with Emanda. Being hung up on a childhood friend for so many years is just creepy, and I don't see much chemistry between them.

Still, he's almost tolerable with Nolan - this guy can make almost anybody tolerable, really - and at least Jack's nice towards him.
But the fact that he's not involved with the Grayson storylines is a huge minus. However, this will probably change after the shooting.

[angelita100]

I love Jack. I don't think he's hung up on Amanda because she's his childhood friend because he doesn't know that she is his childhood friend. And I don't think he's HUNG UP as in obsessed, can't live without her type of thing. He's one of the few with normal human emotions on this show and one of the few I can relate to. I think he liked Emily before he thought she was "Amanda" so he'll be devastated from this little betrayal of both women. I don't think he was devastated by RealAmanda's gently letting him down. Sad maybe, but not devasated.

He's a bit of a stick in the mud but he has the ability to laugh at himself and also try to change. No he's not in the main story and that's ok for now. I like what we've seen of him. And I know he'll be more involved as the storyline progresses.

I also like the Nolan/Jack bromance. Glad to see it back last episode.

I don't think Amanda and Jack will get together any time soon if ever because she's too focused on her revenge. I have enjoyed their scenes together. It's important for her to have something, someone, in her life that could be a draw for her to give up that revenge. Nolan is kinda sorta that person as well but he's too involved. He's willing to do things up to a certain extent and too eager to do Amanda's bidding so that's why I think Jack is better in that regard. But I need to be shown every now and then that Amanda is human and her scenes with Jack always seem to accomplish that.

Edited by angelita100, Jan 19, 2012 @ 11:45 PM.

[doram]

Count me also as someone who likes Jack, and enjoys what he contributes to the story. He doesn't seem peripheral or irrelevant to the plot, constantly being drawn in (against his will!) by first Nolan, then his brother via Charlotte, then Amily. From that moment in the Pilot when we find him dragging the body out of the shore, it was clear that his was a pivotal role in the story.

Going into speculation mode - what's the deal with Jack's and Declan's mother? I can't remember how old Declan said he was when she ran out on them (I think 2) but I remember speculation from the old thread that it was around the time of the David Clark trial. Even if it was shortly after, could there be a link between Mrs. Porter's disappearance and the David Clark/Grayson cover-up?

Also, since Jack is the Porter son that would best remember his mother (assuming, of course, that Jack and Declan are not half-brothers from different moms), his mother's abandoning him, at the same time - or at least close on the heels of what happened to Amanda and David Clark, would definitely have left its mark on him and shaped the "as serious as a heart attack" character that we have now.

[BBDi]

To me Jack is not stalkerish, just intensely loyal and a bit of a dreamer. He's kind of a human stand-in for Sammy, in a way.

Poor guy. I don't think he'll come out of this well.

[tina roars]

Sneaking in to say that I like Jack too and I find his, ahem, "devotion" towards young Amanda Clarke kinda endearing. This show needs someone who's a straight-up good guy, and Nick Welchser does a serviceable job in this role. He's also not bad to look at, so that's a huge plus. His brother as portrayed by Connor Paolo is the only casting miss on this show so far. I see his thread still has zero comments. Hee! Completely fitting for a waste of a character and storyline.

[doram]

I've never got the creepy vibe from Jack nor the "Jack is hung up on little Amanda Clark" vibe. He knew the little girl and they had a lovely summer together, only for her to be suddenly ripped from him via an O.J. Simpson-size national scandal that he would be hard-pressed to forget about even he wanted to. Then there's his dog, Sam, a gift from Amanda before she was taken away in a truly heart-rending moment. I see him naming his boat "Amanda" more as a "in memory of that poor little girl" than as a show of undying passion. I mean, regardless of what Jack was eventually led to believe about David Clark, Amanda got a really raw deal. Somebody had to remember that little girl.

I think pre-Amily, his feelings for little!Amanda were less romantic and more nostalgic and, well, sympathetic. The show established that he was attracted to Emanda without knowing that she's Amanda Clark and that he was attracted to/ wanted to date Amily before knowing that she was Amanda Clark.

I mean, it's not like we see him opening a scrap-book, poring over pictures of little!Jack-and-Amanda-and-Sam (unlike Emanda, by the way) or a collection of newspaper articles about David Clark.

I also wonder if the sudden disappearance of his mom around the time or shortly after the David Clark Scandal, could also have impressed Amanda more firmly in his memory.

On the other hand, Emanda sneaking into his flat to stare at his bandaged biceps while he's sleeping smacks of Stalkerish. Now, that is creepy.

Edited by doram, Jan 21, 2012 @ 2:26 PM.

[sacreseries]

I also wonder if the sudden disappearance of his mom around the time or shortly after the David Clark Scandal, could also have impressed Amanda more firmly in his memory.

His mother leaving shortly after or during the scandal should be adressed in a way. I really hope his familly is, in a way, part of this more than just : he likes Amily, he is friend with Nolan and his brother sees Charlotte. I remember an episode where he said that his childhood stop around the same time as the scandal. I'm curious. There's a lot of potentiel with him and his familly maybe something Amily doesn't know at all!

and Nick Welchser does a serviceable job in this role. He's also not bad to look at,

I think he is doing a great job. This kind of character are not the easiest because in the end, they are often boring or false.
Time will tell us but the end of the pilot showed us that Jack will be a (huge) part of the mess.

[angelita100]

In the words of the immortal John McClane -- Welcome to the party pal!!!

[Bkwrm]

I can't really sympathize with Jack. I just got the feeling he'd have "fallen in love" with any pretty girl who called herself "Amanda Clarke". His entire speech over the suffering of Amanda was sad and sick - because he's putting it all on Fake Amanda - who never went through that. His feelings are for someone who never existed.

[angelita100]

I didn't feel sorry for HIM either. Do you think we were supposed to? It was fun for me watching all the build up finally explode into an episode where he was the catalyst of practically everything. And it was a fantastic episode. But I don't think his speech was about either grown up woman but the child that was his friend. She did exist. That was still her in the video.

[bahamut1987]

It's not like the name Amanda Clarke is a lightswitch for Jack. Remember that he was interested in Emily as soon as he saw her, even as she was brushing off all of his attempts to get to know her better or see her again. He also liked Amanda a lot, and was even making out with her while sailing his boat, all before she claimed to be Amanda Clarke. His feelings were accelerated by her confession, and he may even have thought it was kismet, but they didn't materialize out of nothing.

And I agree that it was seeing his friend, just as he remembered her looking, suffering alone with no adults lifting a finger to help or comfort her, that set him off this episode, whether he was in love with her as a boy or not.

[Peekay]

His entire speech over the suffering of Amanda was sad and sick - because he's putting it all on Fake Amanda - who never went through that.

Not necessarily. He felt bad for that little girl in the video, the girl who'd been his friend, the girl who's been so wronged. Just because he thinks Amily is actually Amanda Clarke, it doesn't change how he feels about what happened to his childhood friend in that video, and I thought that was why Emanda wouldn't bear to listen Jack on the phone--because her childhood friend Jack Porter felt so much for her terrible childhood.

I really liked Jack in this episode. Nick Welchser does an exellent job with this role, which, honestly, is quite thankless at times. In many ways, Jack is set up to be a damsel in distress, for the heroes (Emanda, Nolan) of the show to protect. And he has to symbolize everything good and decent that Emanda lost, that she lacks right now, and that's really a handicap to the character because it puts him on this one true lurve pedestal that makes any character half as interesting as others. But Nick Welchser really does milk out his scenes quite well--his confrontation scenes with Amily and QV in this episode reminded me once again he's definitely one of the better actors.

[angelita100]

And even if he doesn't know which gal is Amanda, that doesn't lessen the fact that he has a profound empathy for that person. If he found out tomorrow that Emily is amanda, I don't think his feelings would be more less on that particular thing. Although I'm sure he will feel super betrayed by the deception by both women.

[ribboninthesky1]

I really liked Jack in this episode. Nick Welchser does an exellent job with this role, which, honestly, is quite thankless at times. In many ways, Jack is set up to be a damsel in distress, for the heroes (Emanda, Nolan) of the show to protect. And he has to symbolize everything good and decent that Emanda lost, that she lacks right now, and that's really a handicap to the character because it puts him on this one true lurve pedestal that makes any character half as interesting as others. But Nick Welchser really does milk out his scenes quite well--his confrontation scenes with Amily and QV in this episode reminded me once again he's definitely one of the better actors.

I agree. I have no issues with Jack, or his past relationship with young Amanda. As you stated, it's very possible to parse his feelings about a childhood friend, and his relationships with Emily and Amanda. Nick did a damn good job with the range of emotions, especially the simmering anger about his childhood friend. It could have been over the top (side-eye to Gabriel Mann), but Nick was pitch perfect throughout the entire episode.

[angelita100]

I have to say that the actor that plays nice guy Jack did a great job the last couple of episodes. He showed a lot of new emotions and he did burning intensity rather well. He was even a little scary in places but it was all understandable. And I never thought anyone was in real danger..well maybe Victoria. I hope they will continue to involve him in the action.

So how does he really feel about FauxAmanda. I know he cares about her but is it love. He didn't reciprocate the I Love You to her.

I really like them together so hope she survives.

[Tweeky]

Overall I like Jack as he's clearly got a good sense of morals as in having a strong moral-compass, I also hope that things work out for good between him and Amily as those two have great chemistry together and Jack without even really trying swept her off of her feet. Anyway when I first saw I thought i've seen that guy before then I realised he was Kyle Valenti from Roswell (heh! it makes wonder if Tess Harding and/or his father Sheriff Porno will turn up:)).

[cubbie5150]

I wish he'd quit being so demonstrative w/ his hands during dialogue. It's super distracting to me.

[doram]

I've never noticed his hands moving during dialogue. Gabriel Mann on the other hand is straddling the line between gesticulations and over-acting.

[QueenoftheDucks]

Overall I like Jack as he's clearly got a good sense of morals as in having a strong moral-compass, I also hope that things work out for good between him and Amily as those two have great chemistry together and Jack without even really trying swept her off of her feet. Anyway when I first saw I thought i've seen that guy before then I realised he was Kyle Valenti from Roswell (heh! it makes wonder if Tess Harding and/or his father Sheriff Porno will turn up:)).

I can't believe I never realised the Roswell connection. I am not sure how I feel about Amily/Jack. They did have great chemistry but at the same time, Jack obsessing about finding her at the expense of everything else (like his brother losing his girlfriend to protect him) has detracted from her character

[Tweeky]

I have to say it was rather off-putting to see Jack with his "2002" hairdo, ack, was that a mullet he was sporting? I thought those things had died out c1990-1991. Anyway "Grief" showed why he was initially a bit cold towards Nolan when they met again 10 years later. Poor guy and his family were basically forced out their house because his selfish mother came back, wanted a divorce (taking half of everything) and didn't give a shit about him or Declan.

Edited by Tweeky, May 11, 2012 @ 1:28 AM.

[Spartan Girl]

Poor guy and his family were basically forced out their house because his selfish mother came back, wanted a divorce (taking half of everything) and didn't give a shit about him or Declan.

Ugh, I know. Maybe mommy issues are why he has such horrible taste in women

[clairedawn]

Why does Jack have to act like such a wuss. Even when Emily called about Amanda, he mutters to the bad-robbed-guy "It's my girlfriend, I gotta go." Like not even about the baby or that there was an emergency....just "it's my girlfriend" - we know what Emily really told him, but he came off so whipped!