Eli Stone: Something to Save

"Something to Save" should have been a fantastic episode. This should have been Eli Stone's most memorable episode of the season. This should have been the episode fans of the series would talk about for years to come. Because this was the episode where Eli's condition became public and changed the way his colleagues view him. Instead, it was more of the same mediocre storytelling from that "quirky" show that airs after Lost. (I'm convinced that most of the ratings points Eli receives come from people who leave their TV on while discussing what just happened on the island.)

This episode started with a good idea by having Eli facing disbarment for his odd behavior. It was about time that somebody, anybody, called Eli out for his ridiculous antics. Unfortunately, Eli can't find anyone to represent him. In the series' most inspired moment of the season, one of the attorneys who refused the case was played by Alan Rachins and was alluded to be his character Douglas Brackman, a lawyer from the classic series L.A. Law. The reference to a series that's been off the air for 14 years was very telling for the show. Clearly the program is skewing towards an older audience. The type of audience that finds it amusing every time Eli is caught singing a song that only he can hear, even though it happens the same way every time in every episode. And if that's what they're shooting for, they're succeeding.

"Something to Save" was just as banal and repetitive as the episodes that came before it. The idea of Eli facing disbarment should have added some much needed conflict, but at no time did I ever feel like anything was actually going to happen to my hero. Even when doctor brother Nate became involved and was ready to lie for his sibling, I never once thought Eli would actually let that happen. If I can guess what's going to happen, what's the point in watching?

A big reveal in this episode was the reason why Patti absolutely hates Taylor. This has been bugging me so much in the series that when the moment came where Patti was going to share her reason, I literally leaned forward and thought, "This better be good." It wasn't. Turns out Patti didn't like the man Eli became after his engagement to Taylor. I guess that's all well and good, except I as a viewer am only familiar with Eli post-engagement, and so far he's been a pretty decent person. It didn't make any sense.

And speaking of not making sense, was I really supposed to believe the Assistant District Attorney would seriously prosecute a baseball player for hitting a foul ball that killed the third base coach… for premeditated murder? Quirky court cases can be fun, but there has to be at least some sense of reality involved.

If anything saved the episode, it was the fine performance turned in by Tom Cavanagh in the flashbacks with Eli's father. It's this dark backstory to Eli's upbringing and the history of the aneurysms in the family that give the series it's only interesting dynamic. In the flashback, I learned that Eli's father could see visions of the future. This led to Dr. Chen revealing his association with Eli was no coincidence. Clearly, the father's visions were far more powerful (and likely more interesting) than the songs and dances Eli's been suffering. And in this episode, Eli's vision didn't even lead him to change anything. The people around him did all the work. In the end, "Something to Save" did nothing to help Eli Stone.