I had stopped caring about all of the core characters on this show, and I was starting to feel like I would stop watching the series at some point this year. Like Elaine Benes on Seinfeld--in the episode where she's eaten 24 crappy sub shop sandwiches in order to get a free (crappy) 25th sub--I felt a bit duped I had stuck it out this long, especially after the whole militia compound ridiculousness from last season). I was sticking it out in the hopes that something would be introduced to make me care about this characters.
Well, the Naomi and John story has hit the reset button for me. This episode was deeply affecting, the most perfect bottle episode you could ask for. It will be no coincidence if the Naojo (or Johnomi?) storryline become a focal point. If I were the show runners, I would push their narrative front and center, though not so much that we resent the characters.I have disliked the Nick Schtick almost immediately in the first season... his character went absolutely nowhere for me. The show runners did us all a big favor by picking him off....(sorry, Frank!)
I urge lapsed fans to watch the current season from the beginning so you can get some backstory on John and Naomi. This episode gives us a huge and beautifully affecting payoff.
