Army Wives "Would You Know My Name" 6/8/2008

[phrelin]

Did anyone see that coming? My wife and/or I see the shocker coming, particularly on a typical Lifetime show or movie. But this one caught us completely off guard.

[Supramom2000]

I just got to watch this today. I admit I did not see the death of that character coming at all. I thought Roxy's husband Trevor was going to bite the dust. They did a great job in keeping up the suspense and actually not leaving you angry that you were misled.

Having been in the exact same situation as these wives, I can totally relate to how everything is being played out. Except Roxy's yelling at everyone to tell her where her husband was drove me nuts - that is not how any one of my acquaintance behaved. But it is typical of her character.

[phrelin]

I was beginning to worry that my wife and I were the only ones watching the show.

The reviews of this episode were incredibly positive as no one anticipated that ending. It's rare that the death of what would be considered a tertiary character could have such an impact on the show and the audience. It sets the season up for some strong drama, as the family's characters cope. It's the kind of death that is rarely used in a TV series. Frankly, it had us in shock, both my wife and I. And male reviewers are writing about tears. I haven't been hit that hard by a fictonal TV show episode since the last episode of season 3 of M*A*S*H.

Yes, Roxy's character is out there. But for me it is consistent with the fact that she had an adult life before getting hitched to PFC LeBlanc (and to the Army). It's a useful storyline to show how difficult the adjustment would be (and is for some). Plus she too had a loss - her job and boss/mentor in a traumatic event - so it made her intensity more believable.

Kim Delaney is one of our favorite actresses (it's interesting the military shows in the cast background, she in Tour of Duty and Catherine Bell in Jag). She was incredibly strong as the lead in Philly. I hope they write well for her character Claudia Joy in the upcoming episodes. Given the situation, trite would be all too easy for poor writers.

[Supramom2000]

I agree completely with your entire assessment. So far, nothing the writer's have done would lead me to believe that they won't handle the death in a poignant and character growing way.

I saw the original book the series was based on, but did not pick it up. I want to buy it and see how close the two are.