'The Gang:Part Two' Moving/Annoying - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PracTz · 08-07-2005, 01:22 PM

I saw that pivotal episode for the first time in years last night and I couldn't help but be disjointed by how the excellent, flawless real performances by Esther Rolle and John Amos as anguished parents trying to cope with the fact that their child could have been killed- contrasted with the tiresome, hackneyed hypochondriact JJ was putting on (not to mention that Dynomite PJs with Feet). I REALLY wish I had thought to prerecord it instead of watching it so I could have FFWD'ed thru JJ's jive.
I mean, it took TRUE acting integrity on both Miss Rolle's and Mr. Amos' part to continue to keep playing the scenes with the grit, anguish and love required of solid parents over their wounded child IN SPITE of JJ (and Mr. Walker?) taking this serious situation as ONE BIG JOKE

.
I liked the last part in the courtroom in which the snotty, thug Mad Dog blew off the judge and his mother- only to have his VERY long-suffering, martyred mother tell him that this attempted murder was the LAST STRAW- and James' line of 'I wanted to break him in half but. ..' it was his mother who DID it- who'd done her very best to raise him right under trying circumstances but now had to conclude that the only way to save her OTHER children was to wrench him out of their lives forever. It was telling despite knowing exactly what the consequences of her husband's abandonment had reaped on their eldest son- she STILL had enough residual affection for him to SLAP the son for disrespecting his absent father! Lynn Hamilton usually plays resolute and dignified roles (Donna in 'Sanford and Son' as well as 'The Waltons' family friend Verdie Foster) so it was a bit moving to see her play a character who had everything go wrong in her life despite her best intentions and hard work! Also, I couldn't help but see James's understanding that Mad Dog now had NOTHING going for him and, as annoying and sometimes shady JJ could be, he at least was a GOOD person but Mad Dog was what JJ might have been had James not been there for the family. And what a moving final scene between James and Florida as they left the courthouse having glimpsed the Twilight Zone as to what might have been.

Brian Damage · 08-07-2005, 03:38 PM

I think your anology of the episode was excellent. I will play Devil's advocate for the JJ character though. Yes, it was a very serious situation, but in light of that fact it was still a comedy and all the drama in this episode needed to be broken up with some humor. Even though Walker's performance was a bit over the top, some of his scenes did put a smile on my face.

08-07-2005, 01:22 PM	#1
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	'The Gang:Part Two' Moving/Annoying I saw that pivotal episode for the first time in years last night and I couldn't help but be disjointed by how the excellent, flawless real performances by Esther Rolle and John Amos as anguished parents trying to cope with the fact that their child could have been killed- contrasted with the tiresome, hackneyed hypochondriact JJ was putting on (not to mention that Dynomite PJs with Feet). I REALLY wish I had thought to prerecord it instead of watching it so I could have FFWD'ed thru JJ's jive. I mean, it took TRUE acting integrity on both Miss Rolle's and Mr. Amos' part to continue to keep playing the scenes with the grit, anguish and love required of solid parents over their wounded child IN SPITE of JJ (and Mr. Walker?) taking this serious situation as ONE BIG JOKE . I liked the last part in the courtroom in which the snotty, thug Mad Dog blew off the judge and his mother- only to have his VERY long-suffering, martyred mother tell him that this attempted murder was the LAST STRAW- and James' line of 'I wanted to break him in half but. ..' it was his mother who DID it- who'd done her very best to raise him right under trying circumstances but now had to conclude that the only way to save her OTHER children was to wrench him out of their lives forever. It was telling despite knowing exactly what the consequences of her husband's abandonment had reaped on their eldest son- she STILL had enough residual affection for him to SLAP the son for disrespecting his absent father! Lynn Hamilton usually plays resolute and dignified roles (Donna in 'Sanford and Son' as well as 'The Waltons' family friend Verdie Foster) so it was a bit moving to see her play a character who had everything go wrong in her life despite her best intentions and hard work! Also, I couldn't help but see James's understanding that Mad Dog now had NOTHING going for him and, as annoying and sometimes shady JJ could be, he at least was a GOOD person but Mad Dog was what JJ might have been had James not been there for the family. And what a moving final scene between James and Florida as they left the courthouse having glimpsed the Twilight Zone as to what might have been.

08-07-2005, 03:38 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I think your anology of the episode was excellent. I will play Devil's advocate for the JJ character though. Yes, it was a very serious situation, but in light of that fact it was still a comedy and all the drama in this episode needed to be broken up with some humor. Even though Walker's performance was a bit over the top, some of his scenes did put a smile on my face.