Season 4: Episode 2: Jo Ellen’s big day

When we open on an ambulance racing to the Eureka Hospital, and my first thought was, “Oh, they had an emergency at the clinic.” But nope, it’s Brady! I am shocked the prison medivac’d him with such speed given their lack of response to fights in the yard.

Even more impressive is that they took the time to notify some of Brady’s closest friends so they could race over and not be able to see him.

Jack is feeling particularly bad for Brady now that his memory has come back. If only he had trusted Brady! But his FBI pal is there to remind him that evidence NEVER lies.

I’m starting to think this guy only wants Brady to stay in jail so he can get with Brie. Also, isn’t it sorta a conflict of interest for him to be a part of this investigation???

Jack doesn’t have time to focus on his guilt for too long, because his girlfriend is about to get some important news via this episode’s main character!

Hmm… why did Jo Ellen call Mel? What’s the news she needs to share with her?

Okay, what??? Seems like Jo Ellen is really going above and beyond if she’s taking the time to notify guests’ next of kin that they’ve checked in. Do her guest have no right to privacy? Also, why’d she call Mel? This isn’t urgent. Also, Jack has a cell phone… HE IS LITERALLY HOLDING IT IN HIS HAND AT THIS MOMENT!!

In fact, Jack is about to use said cell phone to call his sister so they can divide and conquer on this whole dad’s-in-town-but-our-murderous-mutual-friend-also-needs-attention situation. And Brie is up to the challenge!

Luckily, she and Jack both know that the best way to resolve situations in this town is to threaten someone with calling the local news.

(I’m imagining one elderly guy coming out with a lawn chair, an umbrella, and a reporter’s notebook.)

Anyway, when the guard doesn’t cower at this threat, Brie results to a classic lady lawyer technique: being annoying.

Meanwhile, back at the diner, Jack waits for his dad to show up, giving Preacher an opportunity to ask the question that’s been on everyone’s mind…

You know, for a man who’s both working full-time and trying to investigate a kidnapping, this guy seems to have A LOT of time on his hands. Let’s not forget that just yesterday, he was kicking back talking about racoons.

And today, he’s got time to both chat with Jack about his personal life and check out a new workout class. Uh… okay. I guess he’s got better work/life balance than I do.

Someone with no work life balance apparently: Jack’s dad!

#humblebrag

And though he has never once visited Jack’s bar, he delivers the ultimate dad burn.

Dad doesn’t have long to focus on aesthetics since there’s some other news to focus on.

He tries to convince Jack to marry Charmaine because…

And then he leaves. In the middle of the conversation.

Unlike Jack, Vern is fairing a little better with his surprise visitor. Though he seems a lot more interested in his ex- than in his grandson. Rather than, I don’t know, Googling “Rose Miller” and getting her phone number, he just pesters Denny with questions.

Luckily Denny and Vernon seem to have one thing in common: going to totally inappropriate sources for information.

Uh… what?! The hospital disclosed that to you? I have some serious questions about their patient privacy policies! Vern’s not even mad about this. In fact, as a show of gratitude, he tries to set him up with his surrogate granddaughter Lizzie. No matter that Lizzie is in THE MIDDLE OF WORK (it’s appropriate that she later reveals just how bad she is at her job). And Denny has just a thrilling date in mind! Pedal boating! He also woes Lizzie with some scintillating conversation.

Also doing something thrilling today: Preacher! He shows up for aikido and we INSTANTLY sense there will be a love connection with the instructor because they have the same skin color – of course — but also because she does some shameless flirting.

But the star really shining in this scene is Henry, who is making the absolutely MOST of his five seconds on screen.

Also, he drops Preacher WITH A SINGLE HAND.

This is the same man who once told Paige…

Apparently the US Military has NOTHING on Henry.

Speaking of the military, they decide to drop by and see how Ricky’s doing.

Is this how recruiting works???

Eh, the specifics don’t matter. All I know is the military seems to be the reason everybody’s upset. Lizzie’s mad at Ricky, and Sam is mad at Jack, which is why he’s leaving town.