Rogue



Okay, another episode. Remember, I am writing these because I like Jim and Blair together, not because I like cop shows. Therefore, there are many worthless references to their physical appearance and interaction with each other instead of the story line, which is mostly irrelevant. As always, plenty of spoilers.

Rogue is a very good, underrated episode. It rarely shows up on most people's list of favs, but there are a lot of important scenes in this episode. Lee Brackett is actually one of the best bad guys in the series. He is cool and calm about his crimes. He is totally amoral. He is handsome and suave. Not the typical bad guy. In fact, it's quite easy to like him by the end of this episode.

The first scene opens in the loft. This priceless scene shows Blair conducting experiments on Jim's sense of taste. Blair has put three cups of a consumable substance in front of Jim and has blindfolded (slashy!!)  him with instructions to taste and identify each item. Jim agrees reluctantly, as usual. Jim has a smart mouth today because when Blair tests the blindfold and asks Jim how many fingers he's holding up, Jim mouths off telling Blair he's going to show him one of his fingers if Blair doesn't hurry. Blair laughs nicely at that remark. Then the phone rings. Blair leaves the room.

Jim tastes the items, identifying the salt, sugar and vanilla, quipping that the "kid's making a cake." Then he accidentally tastes a fourth cup containing sour milk. Needless to say, Sentinel tastebuds are not happy. I like when Jim drinks out of the faucet in the kitchen sink.

This is when Blair asks for a favor, would Jim please come and give a lecture about Peru? Jim says he would rather have a root canal, but in the next scene where is our Jimmy? Giving the lecture for his Guide. Jim's all bark, you know.

At the lecture hall, Blair has on a nice brownish plaid coat and the old glasses. I like the newer glasses he wears in later episodes, but these will do. When Jim finally shows up, Blair makes an extremely slashy comment and Jim proceeds to start his lecture.

The story proceeds as the ebola is stolen and the lecture hall is dowsed in gas. Great scene in the hallway when Jim is evacuating everyone. Blair is coughing and Jim wraps his arm around him to help him get away. Very nice Jim.

Both show up in the lab with teary eyes from the gas. The BOTW tells the guys that the virus is gone. Cut to the scene when Blair and Jim go back to the loft and Brackett is waiting. He shocks Blair and Jim by telling them he wants both of them to help him steal something or else he'll release the virus. He tells Jim that his Sentinel abilities are the reason. Then he says a very important line to Blair when Blair asks why him. "You're his guide, so to speak." Brackett is the first person to refer to Blair as Jim's Guide.

The hand signals between Jim and Blair are great. Blair understands what Jim is saying without any words. They make a good effort to overpower the bad guy, but he foils their attempts again with a fake bomb.

Blair has an idea and he brings in his friend, Jack Kelso. We see Jack in a couple of episodes. He is an ex-CIA guy and has lots of government and computer knowledge. Blair is sitting on Jim's desk in a black leather coat. He looks very nice in this scene. BTW, Jim is wearing a shoulder holster in this episode, something he does only rarely.

Then we're back at the loft and Jim is standing, eating out of a pan at the counter. I can't figure that Jim wouldn't eat out of a plate, but maybe he's tired of doing dishes. And Blair isn't eating at all. Anyway, Blair tells Jim to use his sense of smell to go over the loft and find a clue to help them find Bracket. Jim objects, of course, saying that forensics has already been over the loft. Blair has to remind Jim he's a Sentinel. Jim finds a tiny piece of a toothpick between the floor boards that will help them find Brackett. Jim also uses Blair's Swiss Army knife in this scene.

The shot when Jim licks the piece of evidence makes Blair grimace in disgust. Cute shot. Then the call comes in for Jim and they take off, with Jim reminding Blair to get his keys. Jim is always looking out for his Guide.

Oh, and at the music hall, when Jim's going up the stairs, why does he pull his gun from his leg holdster instead of using the one under his shoulder? Just wondering.

There is a good scene at the conference table in Simon's office when they're trying to pinpoint Brackett's whereabouts. When Blair mentions the metallic taste, Carolyn says, you tasted it? Blair is trapped so he says yes while Jim just drinks his coffee casually. Jim is such a chicken!

I like when Carolyn gives the guys the tracking devices and when Blair opens the box, he smells them. Like they'll actually have a smell.

Then we have the slashy scene in the cafe. Blair looks particularly upset when Brackett smashes his necklace. And then when Brackett tells Jim to put the one from his pants on the table or he'll have Mr. Sandburg retrieve it. Oh heavens. Brackett finds all the homing devices.

We move onto the scene in front of the facility where Brackett has directed Blair, who is driving. Blair shouts at Jim when Brackett is going to kill the guard. Jim knocks the guy out and tells Brackett that there will be no killing. Brackett doesn't share that sentiment, it seems.

The bridge scene is really the best scene in this episode. Jim is focusing his senses on the mine field. Blair is talking him through it when Jim zones. Very good scene when Blair holds Jim up as he teeters backwards. I like the way they show Jim's eyes zoning. Then he does that little head shake and comes back to earth. Blair is holding Jim up while Jim is holding Blair's hands and they steady each other. I like the way Jim holds onto Blair and makes sure they get to the other side in one piece.

Oh, and the remark Brackett makes to Jim before they start across. He tells Jim that if Jim touches him again, Blair will never need a hair cut again as Brackett points the gun into Blair's neck.

Blair directs Jim's sense of touch nicely through the scene where they're opening the combination door to the plane hanger.

I like the scene when Blair goes to warn the cops that the mine field is still active and can't be overriden. They don't believe him until he throws his shoe onto the field and it explodes. Smart Blair. But then the police officer has the gaul to manhandle our Guide and push him to his knees and threaten to shoot him if he moves.

The scene when Jim and Brackett disarm the bomb is pretty good and I like when Jim whacks Brackett a good one at the end of it. Brackett deserves a heck of a lot worse than that.

The final scene has Jim looking very yummie in a dark blue shirt with a black t shirt under it. Jim is talking to the woman doctor and he's about ready to ask her out when Blair walks in. The woman abandons Jimmy for Blair, who leaves with the BOTW. Darn. But don't worry, Blair always comes home to Jim.

The End, until the next episode...

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