BAD WATER - season 1

[Kruemi]

Fortnightly Discussion of a Randomly Chosen Episode – 17.01.10



Bad Water – season 2

Although I know this episode by heart, I still watched it last night again, which was a wonderful way to cheer me up .
I am aware that the topic regarding Michaela is similar to The Race (for those who don’t know: that’s the episode we discussed the last time) with her wanting to prove herself (and a lot of you find that annoying), but I love this episode even more. I love it so much that I’m determined to overlook the flaws it has – like the one where the men who spent their life at the frontier had no idea how to follow a river or find the right direction .
Actually, this search party cracks me up all the same every time. It is pure fun right from the start when they challenge each other to participate up to the point when they are wondering why they are following a wolf right before they meet the ones they were supposed to find and keep them away from trouble. (And what terrible pieces of underwear the poor men had to wear back then !!)

Anyway, I remember that I was very reluctantly to turn on the TV when this episode was shown for the very first time (which was in 2005 for me ). The summary in the TV guide said it had to do with a company that poisoned the water and Dr. Quinn fighting against that company. I usually don’t like this kind of topic (and almost missed watching Erin Brockovich because of this prejudice of mine !!!- but I didn’t ), but this was season 1 and I was eager to see more of this show, and so I gave it a chance and I loved it right from the start.

When I watched it last night I realized that Hank obviously had much more sense of responsibility than most of today’s barkeepers have: he didn’t want to sell whiskey to a teenager (well, we know that money always convinced him, but still ).
Although it was sad that Olive was so sick, I had to chuckle about her definition of *the change*: getting old and dried up .
Alright. I just realized that I would have to start most of my following lines with *I loved*, so I will do it this way once again:
All the scenes to love:
- How Michaela concludes that something is wrong with the water
- How close Michaela and Olive are by now – their hug is really heart-felt
- How the entire family plus Sully search the creek for something unusual
- “I took an oath!”
- The almost imperceptible change of Sully’s expression when Harding threatens Michaela in the saloon
- The argument between Michaela and Sully about who would go to find the evidence for Harding’s crime
- The scene with Michaela and Olive in the store
- …

If I go on this way, I will write down all the scenes, so I rather stop now .
I love watching Michaela and Sully out in the woods, how their relationship changes. When Sully is annoyed with her in the beginning and impatient, he respects her in the end, and not only because she saved his life twice. He learned more about her character as does Michaela the other way around so she takes his advice and drops some of her stubbornness.
“Why don’t we call it… even?” she suggests in the end, and both their expressions show that they actually do – they accept the other one as an equal partner.

Don’t worry, I won’t forget that this is the episode with the opening of Grace’s Café – huzzah for that !!!!!!!

Re-reading for typos I have the impression I didn't say anything about the episode - well, I just hope some of you will help me out .

[cooperkids]

Originally Posted by Kruemi

I am aware that the topic regarding Michaela is similar to The Race (for those who don’t know: that’s the episode we discussed the last time) with her wanting to prove herself (and a lot of you find that annoying), but I love this episode even more.

Are you talking about me? LOL! Great introduction, my friend. I love your insights into these episodes.

This is one of my favorite episodes from the earlier seasons, and in this instance, Michaela butting in is exactly where I expect her to be. She is the doctor of CS, and therefore, she has a responsibility to ensure everyone's safety. While it might seem contradictory of me to be okay with Michaela giving Sully a hard time about going with him, again, I have to go back to the fact that this is where her responsibility lies. She’s not trying to prove that women can win a horse race just as easily as men, she knows that she is the one with the knowledge on how to capture the evidence needed to get the authorities involved, and she is looking out for the best way to obtain it, knowing that Sully is biased and that could impact a judge’s decision.

Originally Posted by Kruemi

I love it so much that I’m determined to overlook the flaws it has – like the one where the men who spent their life at the frontier had no idea how to follow a river or find the right.

Yes, this is pretty amazing, but it leads to such good laughs that I can forgive it too, though, I guess one could argue that being townsfolk and running business, they didn’t need to know as much about the wilderness as the others.

Originally Posted by Kruemi

Although it was sad that Olive was so sick, I had to chuckle about her definition of *the change*: getting old and dried up.

I love this line too. It’s surprising in some ways because, for the first time, we really see Olive as a woman, not Loren’s sister, not the cattle rancher, not the strong woman she has always been, but the vulnerable woman who exists in many of us as we age. The other surprise, to me anyway, is that she’s not married at this point in her life, but this gives the impression that she still holds out hope for that or at least that she sees her ability to bear children as an important part of herself.

And do you notice how uncomfortable Olive is when the Reverend wanders in? Even though she is totally clothed, she immediately puts her wrap on.

This scene, the one between Michaela and Olive in the store, and how overjoyed Olive is upon Sully and Dr. Mike’s return, make me miss Olive even more in the later seasons, and wish that Dorothy had never come. Overall, I feel Olive would have been a better friend to Michaela than Dorothy ever was, and I doubt Olive would ever have shared Michaela’s private thoughts shared in confidence with anyone, as Dorothy did.

Originally Posted by Kruemi

I love watching Michaela and Sully out in the woods, how their relationship changes. When Sully is annoyed with her in the beginning and impatient, he respects her in the end, and not only because she saved his life twice. He learned more about her character as does Michaela the other way around so she takes his advice and drops some of her stubbornness.

“Why don’t we call it… even?” she suggests in the end, and both their expressions show that they actually do – they accept the other one as an equal partner.

I 100% agree here. What surprises me the most about these scenes is when they touch hands—as when Sully is buttoning up her shirt and then when Sully finally comes in out of the rain to lay down behind her and he puts his arm over her and she clasps his hand. Actually, the fact that she is the one who grabs his hand, and not the other way around, seems a bit odd to me, since it goes against her proper Boston upbringing. And in later episodes, she’s the one who is uncomfortable with their closeness.

That scene between Olive and Michaela in the store where Olive says that Sully is afraid to be alone with her is also one of those moments when Michaela’s reaction catches me off guard. I would think she would be uncomfortable with the thought of Sully being attracted to her, but all she does is have a good laugh with Olive over it.

The town’s reaction to Sully and Michaela’s return, and how it coincides with the opening of Grace’s Café makes for a great ending to this episode. Even though Sully has been seen as a bit of a strange man, it is nice to see they are happy about his safe return to town. This also shows that Dr. Mike is quickly becoming a respected member of the community.

[Jen]

There are so many things to love about this episode. You both wrote great posts!

I guess one of my absolute favourite scenes of the whole series comes from this episode. And perhaps you guessed what it was already. I just love everything about the scene in which Michaela and Sully are trying to dry their clothes and trying to be discreet while it's so clear there's some tension in the air. Especially when Sully is helping Michaela to get dressed: "Don't look!" "Wouldn't dream of it..." Classic.

Another moment that comes to my mind instantly is the skunk and the search party. When Hank is trying to make a "skunk noise", I find myself laughing uncontrollably. Brilliant humour in this episode.

From a video makers point of view, I also have to say that this episode has some great shots that almost make me gasp (I'm thinking of a certain close up of Sully in the woods giving one of his typical intense looks at Michaela).

[Geertrui]

This is another classic DQ episode. It’s got it all, it’s the perfect combination of adventure, drama, romance, humour. It’s nice to see the relationship between Michaela and Sully developing. At the end I’m totally blown away because of the romance. But also because of the scenery, how beautiful can the nature be!
It isn’t possible to pick a favourite scene, there are too many. I like to share some quotes I love though:

“Ain’t that the same rock?”

Matthew: “ I know enough to still have my clothes on.”

Well, the whole search party and the skunk is hilarious

“Handy piece of junk, eh!”

“Why do you just… call it even?”

“I can’t imagine why ... can you?”

Originally Posted by cooperkids

The town’s reaction to Sully and Michaela’s return, and how it coincides with the opening of Grace’s Café makes for a great ending to this episode

I love it when the townspeople stands together. I can't imagine another place than Grace's Café for their return.

[Lizzie]

Aw good post. With a perfect selection of quotes!

[lrsmith11]

I love, love, LOVE this episode! It is one of my all time favorites and I have to say as annoying ias it is- primarily because of the furthering of the romance, but so subtly. Its episodes like this that make me wish we had another season fill with just looks and touches and no declaration of love. (is that bad?) I love the tension in this episode, how Michael and Sully are on guard with one another (espically Sully). I find it interested that the Reverand later marks this as a change in their relationship. I must confess that I never truly saw as drastic a difference as he implies, but alot does go on and that's what I enjoy. They're dependent on each other, if Sully hadn't been there for michaela when she fell and broke her wrist things would have been bad, just like if MIchael ahadn't been their when Sully passed out in the creek. I love the glances- eye contact while the blouse if being buttoned, Sully watching Michaela as she lugged things here and there. The first time he touches her hair to brush it out- ah.

Also, I've always found Michaela and Olive connection in this episode fascinating. First there is the scene in the clinic and you see two middle aged women who connect in a way that I felt Dorothy never truly achieved. For this reason I missed Olive after she left. Also, I always found interesting the comment that she makes about SUlly being not wanting to be alone with Mike int he woods. It's so adorable, but I always find it interesting considering that Sully was once married to her niece. That was always an issue never trully addressed or brought into conflict- for which I'm partly grateful far. How Sully moving on made Loren and Olive feel. In fact, Olive really never says much about Abagail at all. so anyway, I find it intriguing that she take the conversation as Michaela's friend as opposed to feeling the connection that she would and one point chaired with Sully.


Oh and one last thing- ever read the script for this on Lando's website? There were a few things changed that I sort of wish was left in... just saying.

[Gemma]

Can you give us any clue Lindsay??? About the difference in the script.

I love, love, LOVE this episode! It is one of my all time favorites and I have to say as annoying ias it is- primarily because of the furthering of the romance, but so subtly. Its episodes like this that make me wish we had another season fill with just looks and touches and no declaration of love. (is that bad?)

Hehe, not bad Lindsay. But terrible for my nerves. I think season 4 is so late... Imagine having to wait for another season. I think it wouldn't have been credible because the magnetism between Sully and Michaela is so huge, they wouldn't have been able to manage credibly a "distant" relation for so long.

Bad water is one of my favourite episodes too. Adventures in the woods are always a plus in DQ.

I 100% agree here. What surprises me the most about these scenes is when they touch hands—as when Sully is buttoning up her shirt and then when Sully finally comes in out of the rain to lay down behind her and he puts his arm over her and she clasps his hand. Actually, the fact that she is the one who grabs his hand, and not the other way around, seems a bit odd to me, since it goes against her proper Boston upbringing. And in later episodes, she’s the one who is uncomfortable with their closeness.

You are right Cooperkids, I don't really understand shy she is so bold.

[lrsmith11]

I'll come running back with differences soon, Gemma! Promises!

[Deb]

I LOVE this episode! I'm going to have to watch it today.