TV Review: Pan Am 1.13, 'Romance Languages'
“Romance Languages” is an episode with a serious problem; it’s airing out of sequence.
rating: 2.5
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Romance Languages is an episode with a serious problem; its airing out of sequence. In a serial program like this, thats a major drawback. This episode should have aired, if I remember correctly, seventh. Instead its episode thirteen. This means that were seeing the mid-part of plot threads that have already been resolved, an end to a plot thread we didnt know was finished, and the start of one we saw the finish to recently. To say its a bit confusing is something of an understatement, especially since those of us in the audience arent told whats going on. We arent told that this is airing out of sequence. But never mind, lets just move on. We start by seeing Laura (Margot Robbie) looking over photos in gallery. Yes, this is where we meet her mystery photographer. The two of them chat a bit and then wander off together. It is then heavily implied that she lost her virginity to him, something that Maggie (Christina Ricci) wont shut up about. Meantime, across town, we see Captain Dean (Mike Vogel) breaking up with Ginny. For those of you who, like me, didnt remember Ginny because her plot thread was mysteriously dropped several episodes ago, shes the mistress of a Pan Am vice president. She doesnt take Deans breakup attempt well and starts throwing heavy things at him. We also find out that Kate (Kelli Garner) is still in a relationship with the Yugoslavian diplomat the CIA black-bagged a few episodes ago. Only that hasnt happened yet, so theyre still a couple. This is good to a point because it adds some material to their relationship and adds some weight to its eventual fate. Its bad because, well, again, this is something that was tied up some time ago. Our last major plot thread has Collette (Karine Vanasse) meeting a twelve-year-old boy named Charlie whose parents are in the middle of a custody fight over who doesnt have to have him (or so it seems to me). Hes a rather precious scamp who steals watches and bottles of booze, orders fancy wine in restaurants and has plans to cross Collettes Maginot Line, if you get my drift. Hes played by an actor who bears a passing resemblance to a young Hayden Christensen, which makes some of his scenes even creepier than they already are. Everyone flies off to Rome on a plane thats carrying clergy for Vatican 2 (this takes place in the 60s, you say? I had no idea!). While there a number of things happen, including the true story of Laura and her photographer, Kate gets knocked down by a Yugoslavian man who warns her away from his countryman (which leads to a wonderfully tense scene with her talking to her controller on a payphone), Deans would-be girlfriend smashes her face through a window, and young Charlie steals first base before showing up at Collettes bedside in the middle of the night. Its very hard to rate this episode. All the important points had no suspense for me because I already knew what the outcome was. It was nice to have the origin story for Lauras photographs, but we kind of already knew what that was thanks to the previously on Pan Am bit before the previous episode. I did enjoy what I saw, I suppose, but ABCs baffling decision to air this out of sequence really wrecked it for me. I have to deduct at least a star from the total because of this. I feel that at this point its pretty clear the writing is on the wall for the series. Ill bet you dollars to doughnuts that within two weeks of the airing of the finale, well get an announcement that its been cancelled. I assume the only reason we havent had one yet is because they dont want the ratings to crater for the finale. Which is next week. Soyeah. Got that to look forward to.