THE DEAD ZONE - The Last Goodbye

If only they'd thrown in a backward masking gag...

By Jason Davis     July 29, 2005

A dash of "Paul is dead" mystique, a hint of ALMOST FAMOUS, and some great performances by the regular and guest cast combine to make "The Last Goodbye" every bit as good as last week's wonderful episode. This season's taken its time in hitting its stride, but the stories are really coming together as we lap into the season's second half.

After an overlong absence, lengthened by a Fourth of July break, the delightful Nicole de Boer is back for a Sarah-centric episode that more than makes up for her time away. As always, congratulations are in order for de Boer and Chris Bruno, who continue to breathe life into one of the most unusual marriages on television. Any other actor could play his character as a metaphorical cuckold, but Bruno brings a strange, but real, understanding to Walt Bannerman that assures the audience that he respects his wife's relationship to Johnny Smith without allowing it to dampen his love for her. De Boer, particularly in light of a late revelation in this episode, continues to turn a nuanced performance tinged with bittersweet love, but rooted in friendship.

Other stand out performances come courtesy of Ben Foster, Derek Hamilton, and Andrew Airlie. Foster, whose memorable turn on SIX FEET UNDER prefigured the emotional disaster of Darren Foldes, captures the indescribable angst of living in a larger than life shadow. Doubtless folks like Julian Lennon, Jacob Dylan, and others of similarly auspicious lineage find it hard to overcome the iconic nature of their names. The catcalling audience member at the Philadelphia performance adds another layer of celebrity verisimilitude by presenting the ugly side of fandom, the side that thinks they made the celebrity and are therefore owed something more than they are.

While the magazine journalist tailing Smith and Bannerman seems a little forced, his presence is ultimately forgivable. The best moment of the script comes when Sarah walks Johnny through the lyrics of Foldes's song as only a devoted fan would do. De Boer masterfully mumbles the lines with a familiarity that belies the short time the actress could have been familiar with the piece. As Johnny wonders, "How can you remember that stuff?" those in the audience with a beloved artist or band understand the strange transmutation of pop lyric to holy mantra. Maybe that's where this episode gets everything right. It knows, as the character of Burke verbalizes, that fans associate certain singers and their songs with moments in their life. It understands the mystique of celebrity and its delicate nature. Best of all, it recognizes the way in which a human heart fixes on something intangible and ascribes to it a personal dimension unique unto itself. That's where "The Last Goodbye" succeeds.

CHARACTERS WELCOME

Again with the ad campaign? Absolutely. For those who left the room for a loo break, or a scurry through the fridge, do yourselves a favor next week and sit through the commercials. Ignore the rubbish, but enjoy the DEAD ZONE promo with the cat--the promotions department at USA is clearly run by geniuses and these spots, specially shot and devoid of spoilers, are a benchmark for what TV advertising should be. If we're lucky, someone at Lion's Gate will slap these suckers on the season four DVD set...they're simply too cool to vanish into the ether.