153 replies to this topic

[Princess Aldrea]

From TVguide.com:

Sloan subs for Elliot during the Japanese nuclear crisis following the March 2011 earthquake, but her harsh questioning of a Tokyo power-company representative could damage her credibility. Meanwhile, Will has a bout of insomnia that leads him to therapy, and he learns a lesson about bullying after his rude behavior in an interview.

[meg67]

I was just about ready to give up on this show and then this episode happened. It was really good. Even Maggie didn't annoy me all that much.

[Colonel Green]

Anyone who moves toward the centre of this show seems to get whacked on the head with the stupid hammer. That said, Olivia Munn is still proving to be by far the best actress on this show (both in drama and comedy), and I still like her character.

Sorkin Reuse Watch: The black gay Republican is a more extended, hostile version of Josh's meeting with that gay Republican congressman in the The West Wing season 2.

Edit: And Terry Crews' character was actually a lot of fun.

Edited by Colonel Green, Jul 29, 2012 @ 10:25 PM.

[Princess Aldrea]

I...actually really liked this episode. That is a first for this show.

I'm glad that Will hadn't really randomly kept that ring in his desk for years. That would have been really creepy and stupid. Of course, what he actually did is only slightly less so.

[PRgal]

How in the world could Maggie NOT know what LOL means in this day and age? Hasn't it been around since 1996?

[Colonel Green]

How in the world could Maggie NOT know what LOL means in this day and age? Hasn't it been around since 1996?

We at least got Jim asking the obvious question of why she hasn't been fired (though Jim himself is one of the worst offenders there).

[murrrrr]

How in the world could Maggie NOT know what LOL means in this day and age? Hasn't it been around since 1996?

Especially a 26 year old!

[Pallas429]

For a twenty-something like Maggie (and let's not try filling in that "something", and, there is no "like Maggie") not to know the meaning of LOL is...well, something-something. Impossible, for starters. And just as i began to love the ep, there she is and then comes Sloan salivating for Gucci, casting aside her concern fo her reputation.

And we're off. Will apparently browbeats Sloan -- though all I saw was a more typical lecture -- and Charlie dresses her (Gucci) down, and gets to call her "girl" until she puts on a baseball cap and agrees to lie...

But at least that scene between Sloan and Charlie was what I want to call a Sorkin scene, a shoot-em-up between two passionate, smart characters about something that matters, as well as matters to them. What I would have given for it to have been the same conflict between Sloan and Mac! So easy for it to have happened: Sloan subs for Will, not Elliot, and Will could still have browbeat her from his sickbed, or assignment, or wherever, beforehand. Mac is the producer, and she and Sloan have it out in the bullpen: two women engage in a fight about ethics, not cupcakes. And no one gets called "girl".

Of course the entire story with the shrink was a re-done West Wing Noel, with Will as Josh and Krumholz as Arkin. Down to the quick turnaround at the beginning, when the shrink calls the reluctant patient's bluff, to the patient's reluctantly admiring the shrink's ability to diagnose him in (X) minutes, to the shrink's abrupt yet nonchalant wrap-up at the end: even Krumholz dropping the bomb about bacon where Arkin dropped the bomb about adrenaline.

Still, he writes it so well.

Yes, I liked the show tonight. Now go talk to someone, Sorkin.

[dubiousegg]

Ahahah, I just read the blurb. . ."he learns a lesson about bullying," totally sounds like it comes out of a book for third-graders. Next we can learn about eating vegetables and keeping our desks tidy.

I know Sorkin loves him some therapy/story unfolding in reverse scenes (Noel!), but since this whole series has been on fast-forward so none of the relationships or characters have really been developed, I didn't find it all that compelling. (And why exactly is David Krumholtz supposed to be 29? What was the point of that?) But really, he thinks of Sloan as a little sister? Besides NYE, have we seen a full scene between the two of them?

All the name-calling was a nice? touch. Because surely Charlie didn't learn not to call female employees "girl," until they earn the right to their names, nor Will not to call Neal "Tonto." (Gag me.) So being condescending, arguably bigoted, and manipulative isn't any kind of bullying, as long as you aren't yelling? And the threats of violence they normally sling around, also totally non-problematic in the workplace.

LOL at Will calling himself a populist (and not "lots of love," Maggie, WTF. Why would you write that in a condolence card anyway? Condolence cards are not the place for netspeak.) And lol at Sorkin wanting to know everyone's level of education before we can complain about his bad writing and sexism.

That said, it was probably the most tolerable episode so far for me--I'm guessing the relative lack of Maggie and MacKenzie had a lot to do with that. Sloan and Dr. Habib are a lot less annoying.

I can think of plenty of words for how not normal the ring "prank," was, though. And what was MacKenzie on about how "good and pure" she is? What a weird turn of phrase. She makes no sense.

[nodepth]

Sloan, what's the actresses name? Olivia Munn? She deserves a Emmy nomination for this eppy. That Japanese was great, IMO. She had to pull off lines in English and pretend she speaks fluent Japanese, I'm impressed. I love this character. She must really love journalism because clearly she could be doing any number of things with that brain of hers.

Does the actress speak Japanese? Again, impressive.

I generally enjoy this show and this eppy was great IMO.

Edited by nodepth, Jul 29, 2012 @ 11:25 PM.

[thuganomics85]

Well, they finally gave Will a conservative/Republican view, by having him say something along the lines of how he was fine with the current healthcare system and not a fan of Obama's plan. That's a start, I guess, although he still comes off liberal to me, but whatever, Sorkin.

I doubt the show wanted me to feel this way, but frankly I'm all for Jim and Maggie hooking up now, and Don and Sloan should try dating. I really liked those two together tonight and thought both Thomas Sadoski and Olivia Munn worked well together. It helps that Don and Sloan are the only characters I kind of like (along with Neal, when he isn't in "Bigfoot his real!!" mode) Of course, knowing this show, they would probably make both of them suck if they ever tried anything romantic, so maybe I should take that back.

So, of course, it's Sloan's turn to be an idiot tonight, now that they put her more front and center. Thankfully, I could handle it better since Munn is easily the best out of the lead actresses (wow, I don't think I'll ever get use to that), and at least their was some kind of flimsy excuse for what she did. I mean, being insecure and nervous about being a lead anchor and getting bad advice from Will is still cliched and silly, but I can at least understand it somewhat which is a step above over half the stuff Mackenzie or Maggie have said/done, that was just plain baffling.

Charlie is a dick. Way to refer to your female employee as a "girl", in front of the entire newsroom no less, asshole. While it probably should have gotten her fired (then again, all she have to do his point at all the times Maggie has disrespected her bosses and say "Come on, guys), I was glad Sloan fought back and Don finally made everyone just shut the fuck up. And sadly, Sam Waterston was back in over-acting mode. I miss Law & Order.

Loved Terry Crews' character. I hope he sticks around. David Krumholz was good too; liked the way he and Jeff Daniels played off one another.

OK, the ring thing was beyond childish and kind of creepy, Will. You need help, sir. And Mackenzie? Maybe you should stop trying to find ways to rationalize you cheating on him. Making excuses isn't flattering.

Seriously, I now have to believe Maggie either has a lot of dirt or incriminating photos of Will, or she's actually secretly his daughter or relative. No fucking way she should be working at this job.

Neal was back to being in the background but providing awesome reaction shots. I imagine he, Tess, and Gary Cooper probably all have interesting stories to tell their relatives and friends outside the newsroom about the people they work for. They should think about collaborating on a tell-all book.

Edited by thuganomics85, Jul 30, 2012 @ 2:49 AM.

[jessied112]

Wow, I actually think this has been the best episode out of the six. And a large part of that was less emphasis on the weaker characters of Maggie and Mackenzie (although I noted that even in her few scenes, Mackenzie wasn't as annoying).

Sloan was absolutely terrific. I liked seeing that she listened to Will, no matter what misdirections he had given her. Even when they both fucked up, she still needed to hear what he wanted her to do. Yes, a bit weak for a woman to listen to a man for decisions, but I think it worked rather well in this case, because it allowed Will some insight on the situation and allowed both of them to correct their mistakes.

I thought I would be disappointed in less Jim because I thought that I really liked him a lot, but I barely noticed his absence. To go even further, I almost cheered when I saw Don come onscreen. I guess the tables have turned.

Those few minutes without the central main characters (Mackenzie, Will, Jim, Neal, Maggie) were probably some of my favourite moments. I like Will (as I just discovered this episode) but seeing Sloan try to run a news program, taking Will's advice and fucking up and having Charlie yell at her while Sloan trying to savour herself was pretty good acting. And having Don finally break it up was also good. I understood that he had to stay out of the way and try to let Sloan explain herself before stepping in.

Seriously, though, can't we just have one news program consisting of Will, Sloan, Don, Neal, Tess and maybe Jim and have Mackenzie come on occasion? I could deal with that.

Lastly, what was the deal with the ring? I mean, at first, when I thought he had it in his desk all these years, I was majorly creeped out. Like, who in their right mind would keep an engagement ring in their desk for over 3 years? But did he actually say that he recently bought it? I really need some clarification.

David Krumholtz! I knew he looked familiar! I just couldn't place him. I would love for his character to come back. Having Will go to therapy for season 2 would be great. He really needs it and it seemed to have helped him a lot.

[Princess Aldrea]

they finally gave Will a conservative/Republican view

I do not understand why everyone was so shocked about Will being a Republican this episode since everyone was so shocked about him being a Republican in the second episode. Yes, people can't be expected to remember everything but big news about their super-liberal boss being Republican should probably stick with them.

it's Sloan's turn to be an idiot tonight, now that they put her more front and center.

I don't have a problem with this. Yeah, she messed up but I think that was completely understandable of her. She was so frustrated because no one else was listening to her and she was right and people might have been in danger. But she acknowledged her mistake and didn't make excuses. She was horrified by the consequences (which she also took responsibility for) and wanted to fix it. And in the end, she sacrificed her ideals to do what was necessary to fix the situation and you can't ask for more than that.

I don't understand the point of her contact resigning, though. If the Japanese position is that Sloan was making crap up then wouldn't the guy resigning make it seem like he did something bad (like leak the info) and lend credence to her claims? Honor before reason, I guess.

And I did like calling MacKenzie on her advice being terrible when she randomly butted into Sloan asking Will for his advice by claiming to have advice, too. Although I still don't know why Sloan loves "Kenzie." Stockholm Syndrome, probably.

Although, seriously, what is the point of clearing the room so that they could speak privately if they were both speaking in Japanese and Sloan was the only one in the room who could understand the language?

And Mackenzie? Maybe you should stop trying to find ways to rationalize you cheating on him. Making excuses isn't flattering.

I don't quite understand what Will meant when he said that Fox wasn't really offering him anything but he was playing along for some reason. What was that about?

But even if he had been planning on moving to LA and thus breaking up with MacKenzie, what's up with her being so outraged that he never planned on marrying her? Were they engaged to be engaged or something? Because last time I checked, you don't have to promise to marry someone to make cheating not okay and, unless you say otherwise, not planning to marry your girlfriend or boyfriend isn't living a lie.

ETA:

But did he actually say that he recently bought it? I really need some clarification.

The therapist called him on it and he admitted it. He also rripped up the receipt at the end so he couldn't return it.

Edited by Princess Aldrea, Jul 29, 2012 @ 11:47 PM.

[reggiejax]

Sloan, what's the actresses name? Olivia Munn? She deserves a Emmy nomination for this eppy. That Japanese was great, IMO. She had to pull off lines in English and pretend she speaks fluent Japanese, I'm impressed. I love this character. She must really love journalism because clearly she could be doing any number of things with that brain of hers.

Does the actress speak Japanese? Again, impressive

I knew Olivia Munn was Asian on her mother's side, but I wasn't sure if she was Japanese. Looking it up, it turns out Munn's mother is Chinese. However, Munn spent much of her youth living in Tokyo. So her Japanese language skills are real.

Edited by reggiejax, Jul 29, 2012 @ 11:48 PM.

[lovinbob]

My favorite thing about the episode was the exchange with the Santorum rep. I have the same questions as Will—how can a person support a candidate (and a party) whose platform denigrates essential aspects of that person's personhood? I appreciated the rep offering a strong argument and standing up to Will vehemently. I hated that Will ended up with the last word and that the rep conceded. Though in the end I agree with Will, he was a dick in the argument, and he showed little respect even as he was berating the man to demand to be treated as a full person.

I try to ignore potential misogyny in the writing, but Sloan drooling over Gucci bugged me to no end. I have to believe that if she felt that strongly about Gucci, she wouldn't need the show to furnish it for her.

I still don't believe that Don would really give a shit about Maggie and whether or not he's losing her. Please show me, show, what it is about Maggie that makes the two most charming guys on the show so interested in her!

And Jim, clearly you think Maggie is an idiot. Why do you like her?

Mackenzie annoyed me as much as ever. The Groucho thing? Gag.

[Anthony W]

Sorkin should dump the Will and Mac characters and make Sloan and Don the new leads.

[Princess Aldrea]

Where does Maggie get off for making anyone feel like an idiot after not realizing that Georgia was a country when it was invaded? I hadn't heard of the country but once it was invaded I realized that it must be because a freaking state is not going to be invaded. If the state of Georgia is invaded, the news will be "US Invaded." And the LOL thing would only be plausible if she were a luddite or at least fifty. But seriously, say it did mean 'lots of love.' How condescending and unprofessoinal and just plain rude is not even bothering to write out 'lots of love' on the sympathy card? How is anyone this stupid?

At least Jim called her on the not being fired bit. I think he's as baffled by his own attraction to her as I am.

I'm annoyed that Maggie returned to her second episode persona and refused to answer important work-related questions to Jim because she doesn't respect him as her boss. If someone's filing complaints on her behalf (which means they are some pretty serious charges because filing complaints on your own behalf sounds like such a hassle) and someone else is digging up every bit of dirty laundry then why she was yelled at does matter. Although whatever Will said (and he proved this episode he can be a bigger asshole than I thought when he practically made his guest cry and why do people still come on his show?), she deserved it.

And what's with everyone sharing embarrassing stories about the person they're attracted to? Nobody had any pigtails to pull? Why do these people tell each other anything? They're just going to announce it to the world at large.

And while the first syllable of seven sounds like the one syllable of four, I still have to agree with Sloan that it doesn't make sense for people to have mixed them up. And I have to agree with MacKenzie that saying "I'm sorry that I wrongly reported that it was a seven when it was actually a four. I'm bad at Japanese. Breaking news: It's actually seven" is really stupid and I'm not comfortable agreeing with Mac. Why did anyone need to save face or honor or whatever since the truth came out only a few hours later? Why not just say something about how the government was looking into claims that it was actually a seven and Sloan just jumped the gun on announcing it before they were sure?

I want to like Charlie but he's pretty terrible at his job. He should stop trying to do stuff.

Edited by Princess Aldrea, Jul 30, 2012 @ 10:18 AM.

[OptimisticCynic]

I don't understand how they could put Maggie on the opposition research team. Even if they think Maggie would never complain, which is probably true, that doesn't mean the reason wasn't without merit and it's a conflict of interest to have her involved. Even if she said it wasn't true (which in this case would have been to Human Resources, not her direct superiors), it could still have been since being questioned in the open newsroom would make anyone uncomfortable and an employee would be likely to lie. Such a stupid plot point, but it was transparent - it provided that Don see Jim and Maggie working together in the conference room.

The comments section on the website - I don't know why they just didn't force people to comment through facebook which many sites use anyway.

I can't look past the sexism in this show. It's blatant. Even in a story line like Sloan's tonight, I can't get over how none of these women can appear smart or do anything right, and such asinine mistakes they make! LOL - lots of love? Really?! Georgia being invaded? That was a mistake Sarah Palin made in "Game Change." Maggie shooting a target on top of a propane tank? Sloane not remembering that their conversation was off the record?

And of course since MacKenzie is already a screw up, the only saviors of the day are the men: Will, Charlie, and Don.

I did like when Sloane stood up for herself and said "Don't call me girl!" At least there was that.

Despite the slight improvements of the show, I still had to ask myself "why am I watching this?" I don't care about any of the characters. The plot points are stupid and lack realism. It was to support some actors I really like but they can't even hold my interest anymore.

[Princess Aldrea]

I don't understand how they could put Maggie on the opposition research team.

It didn't matter as apparently the whole thing was actually just because MacKenzie doesn't know everything about Will's life and needs more things to harass him about. She called off the opposition research when she found out that Will might not have wanted to marry her while he didn't know she was cheating on him.

Sloane not remembering that their conversation was off the record?

I don't think she forgot it, exactly. She was just caught up in indignation that they were lying to her and she knew that they were lying to her but she couldn't get them to admit it like Will urged her to do. This was her big chance at proving herself and she was just trying to get him to admit to what he told her earlier. And it wasn't some stupid little detail but it was something that was really important and she had really been invested in. I think she made a bad decision in impulsively going 'screw it, I'm getting the truth out there' and it was only afterwards she had time to think about the consequences and admit why she shouldn't have said it.

[gpgurl50]

But did he actually say that he recently bought it? I really need some clarification.

The therapist called him on it and he admitted it. He also rripped up the receipt at the end so he couldn't return it.

He bought it when he found out that Mac was doing research on him and would find out he was meeting in LA while they were dating. He wanted to keep the upper hand so it wouldn't look like he was trying to get out of the relationship while she was cheating on him, he probably wasn't anyway, but instead of saying that, he went out and bought a huge ring. When she liked it, he decided to keep it, further showing he's not over her.

[Breaker]

Outstanding episode. Sorkin is hitting his stride, and there are fewer and fewer wtf moments, probably because Mackenzie and Maggie have been in the background.

That scene with Sloan and Charlie was brilliant, as was everything leading up to it. I had no idea Olivia Munn had it in her. She just kicked ass left, right, and center, from nerdy to Japanese-fluent to righteous to remorseful to playful, when she touched Terry Crews's chest.

I also thought it was pretty funny when Maggie was dodging bullets. I have no idea what her purpose is on this show, but she can't be disappeared fast enough.

And the scene with Will and the gay Republican was also well done. This episode really showed that Sorkin is aware of how some of the characters might be perceived as strident/bullying (in Will's case) or incompetent (in Maggie's case).

The few wtf moments had to do with technology. I can't fathom how anyone under the age of thirty would not know what lol meant. And there are still way too many echoes and deja vu moments from past Sorkin shows. I find them really jarring.

But on the whole, a very welcome return to good Sorkin. I am pumped for the rest of the season!

[ThatPoshGirl]

there she is and then comes Sloan salivating for Gucci, casting aside her concern fo her reputation.

Weird, I guess I read her reaction different from everyone else. I thought she was annoyed by it.

[Zycron]

This was the first episode I mostly enjoyed. Love the fluently Japanese Sloan and how she held her own with "the men". Her stand off with Charlie was great. She's the only female character who does not make me cringe! They should make her the female lead. And dump Maggie ASAP. Every week I wonder the same thing... why is Maggie here? How does she still have a job? I find her character SO painful to watch, excruciating actually. I hate all the "wacky hijinks" stuff with Maggie & Jim. It's unbearable and beyond stupid. Also, the less Mackenzie, the better. I'm sick of hearing about the cheating and the break up. MOVE ON, already!

[Pallas429]

And kudos to Milburn Stone for pointing out, from the pilot episode on, that it's possible not all of Will's stridency was meant to be taken as heroic. The harkenng back to his badgering "Sorority Girl" as an example. To that Sorkin here added layers that at least acknowledge and address Will's White Knight reflex.

Though the shrink's pointing out to Will that Will's father was a drunk and a bully is yer another crib from Sorkin's own notes -- Mrs. Landingham's "ghost" to the President: "Your father was a prick and a bully..." And would it have killed Sorkin to make the younger Dr. Habib a woman, or to ever explore a female character's inner life? Does he think our inner lives come with designer labels?

[oddlittlesmurf]

This episode wasn't awful.

More Elliot please! When he's not the grumpy bad guy boyfriend (i.e. when he's just grumpy...), he's wonderful. The actor who plays him is one of the few who consistently carries off the dialogue, doesn't give the impression that his character is just careening around the place, and actually manages to bring a bit of spark. Jim and Maggie are basically the same poorly developed person anyway - maybe they can just hook up and we can get rid of this tired triangle? Their kids would have adorably odd little faces.

That ring was all kinds of messed up. I liked it.

[TwizzWhizz11]

Color me super impressed with this episode. I really enjoyed it - probably, as most have said before me, the majority of the relationship stuff was hidden under the actual news reporting. Huge shocker on a show called 'The Newsroom'.

I really enjoyed Sloan's storyline. I've always kind of been on the fence about Olivia Munn but she killed it. I can imagine it being frustrating knowing that the information is being misrepresented right in front of you. While I understand she 'needed' to lie to save the man's honor, in the end, what did it really gain? The man was clearly telling the truth (the radiation levels did reach a 7) and I would hope he wouldn't feel too ashamed about releasing that information where it could help a lot of people.

Will's storyline was also very strong. I did like the representative speaking up for himself - I do hate when people get pigeon-holed into a specific belief just because of one or two characteristics. I hope we see some character growth from Will because of his 'lesson' - not that he gives up on uncovering the truth, but that he doesn't recklessly do so.

I feel like most everyone in Maggie's possible age range would know what 'lol' means, but it didn't bother me much because it fits in with her extremely ditzy, over-the-top persona. I don't really get Don's emotional realization to Sloan either, because he's clearly demonstrated in the past that he knows there is something between Maggie and Jim (specifically last episode).

Two awesome lines this episode - the one with Jim remarking that the Deep South could have used Maggie's excellent shot when Russia invaded (or something to that effect) and Don's "And now we're doing the broadcast in Japanese!"

Edited by TwizzWhizz11, Jul 30, 2012 @ 6:51 AM.

[pleonasm]

Is the appeal of Olivia Mumm that she isn't constantly flailing her arms and giving death stares to the camera (unlike Mackenenzie and Maggie)? Cause I don't get it. Yeah, she is cute in a ballcap, but her lack of facial expressions and lifeless line delivery is unsettling.

The writing, as always, was dreadful. Was Sorkin always this inept? I don't recall anything as clunky and unbelievable in the West Wing as Maggie's use of LOL on the sympathy card. I thought the show was set in 2011 and not 1999.

[BeetFarmGirl]

Maybe the best episode so far-- but that bar isn't very high. I still say Sorkin needs to work through his romantic issues some other way.
We have the brilliant and sensitive Will who was so very very in love and perfect and the most wonderfullest boyfriend ever-- and it was Mac's emotional immaturity and fear of committment that ended that relationship.

Plus, every conversation they have ultimately ends with her apologizing for cheating on him, and taking full responsibility for ruining the Greatest Love of All Time.

We get it Aaron, some woman done you wrong. Get over it.

[catrina]

This episode wasn't awful.

That's how I feel. Mostly because for the first time we got to see a character truly kick-ass doing something because they are good at it and we got to see WHY they are good at it. (and it was a woman!) It's always so frustrating on Sorkin shows when we are told a character is really great at something and we never see it, or when we do see it, we wonder how they could have been called "great" at it. But Munn talking Japanese was kind of awesome, although that's really more a credit to her than Sorkin.

But because I'm King of Hating-Aaron-Sorkin-Mountain, some points:

• David Krumholtz also graduated college as a teenager, Will also "graduated college at age 18." So no one can just be a college grad anymore? They have to have TWO ph.ds or graduated college earlier than all us dweebs? Why? How did it serve the character? He could have easily played 31 or 32, old enough to have his degree.
• Maggie doesn't know what LOL means which is centerpiece of a comedy bit. Can Sorkin literally not think up better ways for Maggie to screw up? I don't mind the concept but the screw-up hinges on something unbelievable which takes us out of the show.
• The staff didn't know Will was a Republican but knew he was a speechwriter for Bush 41?! There is no way Jim Halper wouldn't have at least grasped the idea that the speechwriter for a president is usually someone of the same party. "He did it as public service..." Wha? How? So are they now newbies to the American Political system?

[jessied112]

I don't really get Don's emotional realization to Sloan either, because he's clearly demonstrated in the past that he knows there is something between Maggie and Jim (specifically last episode).

Here's my interpretation of it: I think Don, on some level, realizes that Maggie is attracted to Jim. That's probably why he decided to set up Jim with Lisa, so he could get Maggie back to focus on him and not Jim. He also exposes Jim's lies to Maggie so she can see that he's not as honest as she thinks, probably hoping that Maggie will pay more attention to him, and it seems to work. Last week's episode had Maggie practically throwing Jim at Lisa so she and Don could have a proper Valentine's Day without interruptions. Maybe, at that point, Don thought/hoped that he 'won', or at least had Maggie staying clear of Jim. We don't quite know what's happened from February to April, but I guess it's safe to presume that Don thought that things were going quite well between the two of them. Maybe he thought that Maggie's crush had finally gone away. But seeing Maggie and Jim together in the conference room may have just snapped him out of his denial that maybe Maggie isn't into him anymore.

So I totally get Don's emotional realization. I don't think he's ever expressed the fact that he's seen Maggie and Jim grow closer. He's probably realized that he was losing Maggie but he refused to accept it or didn't admit it out loud until this episode. But now that he is realizing that Maggie actually likes Jim, he'll either have to do something about it or he'll have to break up with her for both of their sakes. Either way, I'd rather have a Don/Sloan and Jim/Maggie romance than see Don and Maggie together and not really being happy. I think they both deserve it. Don deserves better and Maggie shouldn't lie to herself anymore.