The 2011 Summer Re-Watch: Everwood "Fear Itself" Review

Books, TV, film, and art are littered with depictions or portrayals of relationships between child and parent. Since mankind learned how to read and write, men and women have written about their parents or their children. The subject's universal, and endless as a storytelling device. The death of a child's a parent's worst fear in life. The thought's overwhelming, unbearable, and incomprehensible. Shakespeare's finest tragedy, in the opinion of literary critics, deals with a father whose tragic flaw leads to his daughter's death as well as his own. I'd cite more examples but I have an episode to write about.

"Fear Itself" is about the relationship between a parent and a child; how the child's brought into this world, how a parent worries and loves the child, hoping that the child never grows, never hurts, never dies. Children grow. Sometimes the child loses contact with his or her mother or father. Sometimes, a child becomes sick and the parents can't control the fate of the person they brought into the world. Other times, a child's involved in an accident, reminding the parent what's important. Irv lost touch with her daughter many years ago when his first marriage ended. The Harts find themselves in that helpless place when Andy informs them about the options for their son. And Andy's reminded of what's important after Ephram's boat accident. The thought of Ephram living in New York for a summer paralyzed him until he was confronted by the thought of Ephram leaving him forever if not for that life jacket he wore.

Andy gains valuable perspective and wisdom from the boating scare. Andy and Ephram accompanied Irv on a weekend outing to a cabin in the middle of nowhere for peace and quiet. Father and son argued over Ephram's study habits. Andy freaked when Ephram proposed his idea for 'Summer in New York." In short, Ephram took the boat out, nearly died, and Andy promised to give his son the freedom he needed. The boating scare gave Andy a chance to place himself in the shoes of the Harts. For many parents, the dreadful thoughts about the death of a child can be easily forgotten--it exists as a distant 'that could never happen to us' thought. However, Colin's death is a possibility. The Harts can't close their eyes or shake the thought from their heads. Andy's the only one with the ability to fix what's wrong in Colin's head. Until Ephram's scare, Andy doesn't get it. He doesn't understand what he's asking of Colin and the Harts nor their fear, which is, how scary it is to place your life or son's life in the hands of one man. And then Andy understands, and finds Mr. Hart in a bar. He pleads with the man to allow him to operate on his son because he believes he'll fix him again. Mr. Hart doesn't answer but the Harts, and Colin, will relent because they have to--it's a matter of life and death.

The episode doesn't dwell much on Colin's disposition. It opens as Andy observes Colin's brain. Inside of the coffin-like medical machine, Colin stares with fear in his features. Irv, in his narration, ruminates on the proverb about patience and hesitation, and wonders which applies to the golden boy of Everwood. Colin's not hot-tempered at all but, rather, thoughtful, quiet, and alone. He pushes Amy out of his life for her sake until his conscience drives him toward an apology and a confession. Colin wants to free his girlfriend from his burdens because he knows his future will be messy. Amy, though, promises she'll never feel burdened and states she'll never leave him. The scene ends on the image of Colin resting his head on Amy's shoulder as she caresses his hair (it's one of the best and most underrated shots in the series because it represents the totality of their relationship from where it was in the pilot to where it is presently). The season finale, "Home," belongs to Colin, so I'll refrain from writing much more about Colin's disposition. "Fear Itself" presents a Colin Hart who accepts his sickness, who doesn't hide from it.

The episode's pensive and refrained. The emotions aren't hysterical but, rather, very human. There's a scene when Amy breaks down in front of her father. She slowly breaks down as she tells her dad about what's happened between her and Colin. First, her face reddens, then her eyes fill up, then tears paint her face until Harold embraces his daughter and comforts her. Andy doesn't speak with the Harts in the same tone he spoke to the man ridden with cancer in the pilot. He learned not to run away. Instead, he sits with them and listens to them. When he speaks with Mr. Hart in the bar, he's not a doctor in pursuit of statistics or acclaim for the miracle of Colin Hart. He's a father who can't bear the thought of losing a son, who doesn't want another family to lose theirs. And that's what makes Everwood special as well as the arc of Colin Hart. If you're still watching or reading, the next two episodes are outstanding and unforgettable.

Other thoughts:

--Irv, at least, finds some triumph in the episode. Andy tags along because Edna refused her husband a weekend alone in the country (the mild heart attack he suffered still scares her). Irv swims several feet to save Ephram's life. Of course, Edna would explode if she heard, so the secret remains between the three men.

--Nina and her husband separate in the B story. Initially, his return signaled the beginning of everything she wanted. Unfortunately, she found a condom. She agrees to give her husband one last chance until she discovers the gender of the person he cheated on her with--a male. Nina delivered one hell of a monologue about how she'd been deceived and how she recognizes that Carl's always been someone else. She can't live with that man. Nina emerges from the story an even stronger woman.

--John E. Pogue wrote the episode. Michael Katleman directed it. Katleman's direction during the boat sequences was tremendous.

UP NEXT: "Home"--Amy and Bright spend all their time with Colin in the days and nights leading up to Colin's operation. Colin visits Andy and tells him that if his operation goes bad he doesn't want Andy to keep trying to save his life if it means that he will be mentally or physically disabled. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002SLN542

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK