TV Review: Pan Am 1.12, 'New Frontiers'
Episode takes place toward the end of November in 1963, so you know what that means (Yes, Doctor Who is about to air for the first time!).
rating: 3
Advertisement
Well, here we are at episode twelve of Pan Am. It takes place toward the end of November in 1963, so you know what that means. Yes, Doctor Who is about to air for the first time! Our episode begins with Kate (Kelli Garner), finally receiving some CIA training. It seems that they want her to go to Rome and pickpocket some scientist for some rocket information or something. I wasnt too clear on it because I was so stunned to see them actually show her how to do a job. It only took twelve episodes, too! Interesting thing: shes using the old bump into someone and steal their wallet thing. I could never figure out how that was supposed to work unless youre carrying your wallet in your coat pocket or something. Even more odd is when someone gets their back pocket picked. Id like to think Id notice someone digging around back there. But I digress. We go from Kates training to Maggies (Christina Ricci) apartment where shes hanging out doing stuff and Teds (Michael Mosley) fiancée, Amanda. You may recall that last week Amanda stole a kiss from Maggie. Maggie certainly remembers this. The two chat for a bit, and all appears well, though Maggie is now convinced that shes sending out some sort of signal thats pining other womens gaydars. Speaking of Ted, it turns out hes going forward with his plans to marry Amanda. Is it just me, or does their whole relationship have a suddenness that makes Don Drapers most recent marriage look thoughtful and well-planned? I know it gets hand-waved a bit, but still. Back in New York, Captain Dean (Mike Vogel) and Collette (Karine Vanasse), are trying to sort out exactly how they feel about each other and where they want to go with their relationship. Well, Dean is, anyhow. Collette is somewhat ignoring him and spends most of the flight to Rome flirting with a passenger who happens to be hiding a major secret. But wait, we arent done yet! No, theres two more plots to cover. One involves Captain Boyle, the sky god who was in last weeks episode smuggling cigarettes to Moscow, trying to recruit Maggie into his smuggling ring. The other involves Laura (Margot Robbie), trying to buy back the nude photos of her taken in an earlier episode which have since been sold to a gallery that has a potential buyer for them. If you are now scratching your head and going What? you arent alone. That episode wasnt aired, but apparently will be airing next week. Because when your show is having ratings issues, what solves that problem better than airing episodes out of order? Just ask Joss Whedon how that turned out. At any rate, this was a good episode. Not a great one. But it was good. I liked most of the stories and it was nice to see Kate actually getting some CIA training for a change. I also liked the way that Collette seems quite content to move on away from Dean. I also really liked the way that Maggie handled the smuggling recruitment. What didnt I like? Well, the eventual identity of Collettes new friend was more than a little twee, and I thought the identity of the person who bought Lauras photos was really eye-rolling. I also felt the episode in general was in danger of capsizing under its own weight, which is no surprise when you count up the number of plots and subplots. One last word: theres a major historical event that happens at the end of the episode. For the record, Mad Men handled it way better, and I thought the use of CBS coverage of that event in a show that airs on ABC was more than a little amusing. I guess everyone just needs Uncle Walter.