Kate, the girl from "Moonlight Sonata" who had a sexual relationship with Matt, is pregnant. Her father, portrayed by Kevin Tighe, approached Andy about the abortion because he didn't share the town's "backward idealism." The situation's simple: perform the abortion and let no one know. During their first appointment, Andy lays out every option for the girl; however, the abortion's going to happen, regardless of what Kate wants. Everwood wasn't interested in exploring the morality of abortion because it'd be a lose-lose situation but, rather, a doctor's responsibilities in such a situation. When does a doctor's oath conflict with his personal beliefs? The question is, which doctor performs the abortion and why?
Everwood's a small town with conservative-minded individuals. In past episodes, we've seen how the town reacts to a controversial issue. When Andy and Harold discuss the issue initially, Harold advises Andy against performing the abortion in town because the town would drive him out or even kill him. Harold doesn't suggest so much as implore Andy to send the girl to Denver, to let Denver perform the abortion, to keep his hands clean. Andy's bothered, though. Since his wife's death, he's transformed as a doctor. The value of life's something he's pondered heavily in the last 12 months. In a conversation with Edna, Andy tells her about an operation he performed on a pregnant woman. The fetus hadn't formed into a person but the vital organs existed, and he saw the possibility of a person. Andy opines that he nor any scientist should determine when life begins but he knows when life ends. Edna listens carefully and suggests he consult Harold once more.
Dr. Abbott became one of the great fictional characters in "Episode 20." His conservative beliefs and seemingly black-and-white view on things made him a humorous character but with the shades of grey he's painted with was one of the best decisions by the writers. Andy and Harold met once more after hours. Harold told Andy about his father who used to perform abortions, in the dark of night, for women who needed it. If not for Harold Sr., women attempted to perform the abortions themselves and they emerged from the experience scarred, bruised, traumatized or sterile because abortions were illegal. Harold joined the practice and made an oath to his father to take up the torch for the sake of women. Andy's speechless and attempts to compliment the doctor until Harold interrupts him, saying, "Don't ascribe some altruistic, grand political motives to me. I made an oath, not to politics, but to my father."
Harold performs the abortion after business hours. Afterwards, he goes to confession to ask for forgiveness. The man wears a pained expression of deep remorse, with the burdens of his father's business strapped to his shoulder blades. One doesn't know how many abortions Harold performed following the death of his father but he's bothered each time he foreswear his beliefs for the oath he took many years ago. The revelation about Dr. Abbott's interesting to the viewers because it shows the character's many depths, and it's interesting for the writers because he possesses many layers and, thus, possibilities for more complicated stories.
The abortion storyline could be perceived as a cop-out. The writers never defend a particular side. Instead, they cater to both side's. Andy's representative of the pro-choice people, the left-wing reactionary who now feels differently after the death of his wife. Andy's in an interesting place, philosophically, because he's grappling with life and death issues. Specifically, as a doctor, what right does he truly have to end a life before it's begun? He'd never eliminate a woman's right to choose because of his wife's belief in that choice (Julia believed it was the most important thing a woman had). Kate receives the abortion, pro-choice in action, though the girl's been bullied into the choice by her father, but she owns the choice before her and Andy move to Dr. Abbott's office. Dr. Abbott's remorse at the end caters towards the pro-life people because he displays what TWoP defined as "Catholic guilt." The story's powerful regardless of whether it's pro-choice or pro-life. The insights into two doctors' conflicted feelings about a controversial act's moving and effective.
Other Thoughts:
--In the B story, Delia found a penthouse magazine and looked at some photographs. Nina explained that men consume the magazine because they appreciate a woman's beauty. Delia gave Arnie the magazine for his birthday, which blindsided Andy and forced him to face the future--his daughter will grow into a woman and he isn't ready to confront that inevitably. He tries to discuss puberty with his daughter but fails. In their last scene, he explains that she'll experience things that she won't feel comfortable discussing with her father but he'll do his best to help her. Delia confirms that he's doing a good job already (except for the braids). It's a sweet story--nothing more, nothing less.
-For the second week in a row, Amy's an awesome character. Ephram took Gemma's cousin to the dance only to find out that he was used so that the cousin could see the boyfriend she's banned from seeing. Amy feels bad. Colin threatens to dump her if she consoles Ephram. Finally, she defends herself by offering the truth to Colin about how many people's she walked over or hurt for his sake. She tells him about Ephram's insistence that she not give up on Colin and admits Ephram's importance in her life. I do love Amy when she's awesome.
--Speaking of Colin, he isn't getting any better. He returned home from school, tried to fill his glass with milk then collapsed into a seizure. Two episodes remain in season one and Colin's the central focus henceforth.
--Treat Williams and Tom Amandes were spectacular. Kevin Tighe portrayed yet another reprehensible father in a series. I'll have to research whether Tighe always portrayed reprehensible fathers throughout his acting career.
--Greg Berlanti & Vanessa Taylor wrote the episode. David Petrarca directed.
UP NEXT: "Fear Itself"--Resentful at being forced to accompany Andy and Irv to a remote lake cabin, Ephram takes a small boat out alone and his inexperience leads to a serious accident and a night of terror for Andy. Meanwhile, Colin and his parents must decide whether to allow Dr. Brown to perform a second dangerous surgery; and Nina confronts her husband Carl after she accidentally discovers he is having an affair.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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