The Colin Hart arc continues in "Vegetative State." His rehabilitation went better than any doctors expected; ditto his progress. The rehab doctor describes the surgery as a miracle to Andy but he's dubious; nonetheless, he clears Colin to return home. County High's a-buzz with the news. Amy plans a quasi-homecoming parade as well as a party for her resurrected boyfriend. Bright warns his sister to chill because of the situation but she ignores him. Boyfriend and girlfriend have their reunion on a park bench. Colin shifts uncomfortably throughout the conversation and refers to a list of facts that caters to Amy's expectations. She sees the list, though, and realizes that Colin doesn't remember anything or anyone, including her. Amy wasn't ready for that.
The sympathetic figure in the story is Colin, of course. Amy's the antagonist throughout the episode with regards to what's best for Colin. Colin's a large part of the heart of the first season (by heart, I just mean the core). The show's about Andy Brown, his relationship with his son and his attempt to become a family doctor but Colin pulled him back into a world that he tried to escape. Everwood's much smaller than Manhattan, as we've learned this season. I digress. Colin doesn't need the weight of the town's expectations for who he should be post-surgery nor the constant flow of memories of he and his classmates because he can't remember those times. He's frustrated, sad, lonely and as out-of-place as Ephram. Amy, meanwhile, wants to bolt and forgot about the boy she spent six months of her life praying for.
Ephram, of course, talks some sense into his friend after an enlightening conversation with his father about the duties of friendship. Ephram went to the party to offer support. He and Amy run into one another outside where she opens up about her emotions and thoughts. Ephram's surprised that she's willing to walk with him into town, away from Colin. Amy explains that he doesn't remember her, that she didn't know how hard it'd be. She feels like Colin she knew truly died in the accident that day, and she cries. Ephram refuses to pity her. Instead, he reminds her what devotion means ("You don't [give up]"), reminds her that she's been loyal to Colin since day one, "and when you're loyal to someone, you can't help it." Again, Ephram used what his father told him to help Amy. Ephram declares he isn't smart because he's telling his crush to return to her boyfriend; however, Ephram's empathetic because he sees something of himself in Colin--the lonely, frustrated, sad and out-of-place person that he's become after waking up.
Amy starts fresh with Colin the next day. The couple will start all over and learn about each other, and hopefully they'll love each other like six months ago. She adapts to the change after burying her head in snow for the majority of the story. The change she experienced was cataclysmic yet she adapted as Colin needed her to.
The same cannot be said for the town of Everwood as they vote on the fate of a large cannabis garden, following the death of the town gardener. We learn that she grew the marijuana for medicinal purposes (like her cancer-ridden husband and then for a company). Medical marijuana continues to be a controversial topic in 2011 and the controversies more intense in conservative small town Colorado in 2003. The liberal contrarian, Dr. Brown, argues that medical marijuana's less dangerous than the curative prescriptions parents give their young children (like Ritalin). Harold argues that any doctor could make a case for ANY drug but a fine line exists when it comes to drugs. Abbott wants it gone, and the town wants it gone. They vote to burn the marijuana even after a tertiary character gives a speech about how marijuana's made his last weeks on earth bearable. Harold's particularly affected because he failed this man as his doctor and never realized it. So, Harold apologizes to the man outside of his home for his failure and hands him a bottle full of joints so that his last days will be peaceful.
The medical cases of the week have, thus far, asked questions without giving any answers. This case, however, gives the audience a glimpse into how frustrating small-town thinking and politics can be. Andy's arguments are flawless. In one fell swoop, the writer's commented on two large medical issues without bias and with solid facts; however, that refusal to adapt to change damns those that need it in Everwood and the surrounding communities. The show's too smart to condemn the residents, though, because it’s a family-drama with dignity and intelligence.
"Vegetative State" is a tremendous episode of TV. The A, B, and C stories are flawless. Any episode that advances the Colin arc is terrific because it's such a damn fine arc. The beats hit the audience in the heart. The episode's thought-provoking and moving. John E. Pogue wrote the episode, and he wrote some other gems during his time on Everwood.
Some other thoughts:
--The C story with Sam's great. I love the scene when Andy talks with Sam about his father and concludes that the little boy just misses his dad.
--Ephram and Andy continue to get along in the episode. They play pinball together and have a heart-to-heart about Amy and friendships.
--Tom Amandes is terrific during the town hall meeting, especially when his patient gives the speech about marijuana and his pancreatic cancer. The change in his expression conveys everything Harold feels. How he never received a nomination for his work is insane.
--Bright reminds Colin that his being alive is huge. Colin responds, "That’s what everyone keeps saying." Mirri Maaz Duur might differ with Bright but she is crazy. Anyone who figures out the reference, please comment.
--Lev L. Spiro directed the episode--no doubt the best name of all the Everwood directors.
UP NEXT: "The Price of Fame"--Ephram becomes the coolest guy in school when Colin befriends him. Elsewhere, a production of The King and I is in turmoil because of Edna's direction and Andy's poor acting. Watch it here.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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