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1.3 Quality of Life

Johnny: "I may just be your worst nightmare, people: a substitute teacher with extra sensory perception."

Johnny discovered in this episode that he can't go home again... or in this case, school. So much for his teaching career. Since no one believed his warnings about Todd's heart, and there was no physical evidence to back up his premonition, Johnny basically had to inconvenience everyone and piss everyone off, including the principal, the coach, various doctors, and Todd's parents, and even blow a critical hockey game, in order to save Todd's life. Unlike every other so-called psychic on earth, Johnny is batting a thousand.

Johnny's amazing nightmare at the beginning, with the mob of people smothering him with their needs, was just stunning. Was it also a vision? Was it something that will happen, a metaphor for Johnny's future fame? Or was it meant to be a metaphor for the reporters mobbing him at the end of the episode? The part where he walked down the courthouse steps, getting visions from everyone he inadvertently touched -- excellent. Particularly interesting was seeing himself in bed with Dana.

Dana was making a big, hairy (but pretty) thing of herself with Johnny, and appeared determined to make Johnny famous. What is between Reverend Purdy and Dana? Were there sexual vibes going on there? Is Purdy really concerned about Johnny, or spying on him for more nefarious reasons?

Bits and pieces:

-- The "I had a perfect life" intro is shown for the first time.

-- Johnny got a very cool new cane, black with a silver head. I noticed that, in the nightmare, Johnny wasn't using it, and didn't walk with a limp.

-- Michael Hall looked particularly good in that dark blue-grey jacket and sweater. It brought out those blue eyes. Plus, his hair is noticeably longer. I approve.

-- The scene at the beginning with Bruce and Johnny and the car was a lot of fun. Michael Hall and John L. Adams have wonderful acting chemistry.

-- Johnny's mother Vera appeared as a homeless person who told him to "heed the still, small voice when it comes. When it does, do your duty." (This was a little touch of Johnny's loony mother from the book.) He saw her saying it three times in this episode.

-- Sarah was oddly fluttery and uncomfortable around Johnny. She isn't dealing well with her inadvertent love triangle.

-- Walt genuinely dislikes Dana. He described her as a carnivore.

-- I liked Todd asking Johnny if they can mind meld. I also liked that Johnny told Todd the absolute truth about everything, and treated him like an adult.

-- Did they deliberately pick a hockey-playing teenager (Todd) that looked a little like Johnny, to emphasize what Johnny's coma had taken from him?

Two out of four stars,

Billie





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