Anna Fricke on “Sea Change”

Airdate: 11/23/07

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

So, here we are, finally caught up. It was a little confusing for us for a while, what with writing a new episode to go between what were supposed to be episodes 16 and 17 of last season. But for the writers anyway, this episode means that our timeline is back on track. And so, just to be clear, it’s spring, a few days after Patrick and Annie’s would-have-been wedding. Patrick is coming home from the hospital… and nothing will ever be the same again. With so many things in flux – Jack out to sea, Patrick’s memory erased – we wanted to pose the question, “how do you know when you’ve made an impact?” Marin Frist is an intelligent, sage soul. But even the most level headed of women eventually finds herself asking the guy she’s with “are we dating or not?” Jack took off before they could actually have that talk. Ship to shore communications being what they are, can you blame the woman for being a little insecure?

Coming into this episode, we wondered how we would keep the relationship with Jack alive with no Jack in Elmo. We knew that Marin would be watering his plants, etc. And then, of course the discussion of snooping came up. This seems to be a universal thing at some point in every relationship (although I have made it a point of not snooping through my husband’s stuff, I swear). Across the board, everyone had a story of something they had found that they wished they hadn’t. And how horrible to come across a piece of loose, dubious “evidence” when the one person you want to question is out of reach? And chatting with a very likeable marine biologist? Please do not hate Julia: she is a nice married lady. Still, it’s frustrating when the man you wish to speak “relationship” with is talking whale migration to another woman.

And it’s incredibly frustrating for Annie to be looking at the Patrick she knows and loves… and yet she doesn’t know him at all. Or, rather, he doesn’t know her. We had many discussions with Derek Richardson, the actor who plays Patrick, about how to approach this whole amnesia thing. He wondered, “so am I just a jerk now?” No. New Patrick (as we call him) is not a jerk. He just doesn’t know any better. And all of this information that’s being thrown at him is simply overwhelming. Annie, good soul that she is, does her best to be a good friend to him. But how can she stop herself from trying to be more? After all, this was the man she was going to marry. But when she sees the lack of impact she’s made on Patrick, at least in this early stage of his recovery, Annie needs to protect herself.

Her mother Mary Alice, meanwhile, is putting herself out there. In a big way. I love Mai and her brainstorms; what makes sense in Mai’s makeshift beauty parlor swiftly goes south in the real world. But as funny as Jerome and Mary Alice are, in the end they’re playing a very sweet love story. These are two people who haven’t put themselves out there in quite a while. To bare your soul and be rejected; what’s worse than that? We all want to ensure that we’ll make an impact.

Some things you might be wondering… what’s up with that crazy wave that turned Jack’s boat topsy-turvy? Where is Cash and why was he in the hospital? Stay tuned!

Anna

Comments

[jen]

Just wanted to say that i love the show and i appreciate everyone involved! the cast, the crew, the writers. without ALL of you, men in trees wouldn't be the fantastic piece of television that it is. i will stay a loyal fan and I wish you all the best!!

[C]

Anna,

Thank you again for the recap. We all hope your Holiday was great! And we are thankful that you are keeping up with the blog.
Keep up the great job, love the show. And Jack better not start anything up with that married woman on the boat. Her name escapes me at the moment.

[FC]

This episode was so emotional. Even a tad more so than we are used to seeing on MIT. But it was amazing.

I loved how despite Marin's insecurities, there seemed to be no doubt in Jack's mind that they were together. Must be a guy thing. We even got the feeling that he was maybe reading her mind a little when he seemed anxious to reconnect the call that left them hanging.

New Patrick and Annie's storyline was heartbreaking. Kudos to both actors. Can't wait to see where this goes but there seem to be so many possibilities.

Definitely don't hate Julia. It seems pretty clear she's not meant to be a foil for Jack and Marin. And that ending is not a good sign of things to come! Yikes. The Bering Sea must be near freezing and they are all soaked to the skin. Can't wait to see how they survive this!

Thanks for another great episode. My husband and I watch the show together after the kids are in bed. It's better than date night!

[Kay]

I understand patience is a virtue but I am having a "Cash withdrawal" and it has nothing to do with my bank account......

[rose]

Whatever you do, "PLEASE" do "NOT" kill Cash off the show, that would be a huge mistake!

[Mrs. Tricia]

My husband and I love "Men in Trees" and have watched the show since its debut. The best part is James Tupper's Jack and his relationship with Marin. We can't wait for them to get back together. The cast and characters are great. Thanks for such a fun show.

[mitkid, CA]

Hi Anna,
This was a great episode. A real cliffhanger at the end. I can't wait for the next episode.

You and all of the other writers are doing a great job with this show. And, if my memory is correct, Cash being hospitalized was foreshadowed back in the first episode. Right!?

[Betty B.]

No mention of Theresa and Ben in the above story, but I thought writing Theresa's name on the Zamboni was beautiful!

[Robyn from Whitby]

Keep hope afloat,,please!Jack is living the rough waters physically, not just emotionally. We just don't want to lose Jack and Marin in the storm. May blue skies and hope spring eternal soon. A little brightness in this season of early darkness, is just what we all need... That and a roaring log fire with a cup of something warm in hand.

[c]

So your not on this Friday...
The movie they put in your spot would have done just fine on Saturday or Sunday.
Now we have to wait until 12/7 to see what happens next. ABC your killing me.
You should put it on (Polar Express) on Sunday in place of Extream Home for god sakes.

[Loretta in Michigan]

WOW. So much in this episode. I don't know how you guys come up with such a wonderful story line. Every episode leaves me wanting more and more. KEEP IT UP. Is it Friday yet?????

[Denise from MA]

Anna, Fantastic Episode. Keep up the good work. I can't come up with better and better compliments each week that the show gets better and better. Keep up the GREAT work!

Peace & Love,
Denise

[Lucy In Missouri]

Hello Anna, I hope you had a wonderful Holiday! Mine was Great, lots of food, family,and special time with my new nephew,baby Dawson! And his big sissy Gabi! BUT, I must admit, I kept checking to see if any of you had written about last Friday's episode! I'm sooo hooked! I LOVED IT as always, except, I am very sad about Annie and Patrick! I know WE don't know what the future holds for them, but, I'm still sad... I hope Jack gets ONE good conversation with Marin while "Out to sea", If not, where's CASH?! We all want to know! Love Mai, she cracks me up! I'm happy Ben and Teresa are warming back up to each other! MEN IN TREES is still my favorite TV show, I just really appreciate your great writing, you guys ROCK! See you in 4 days! YEA! the Chieftain has reopened!*!* CHEERS!

[Colorado Mtn. Gal]

Hi There, I just returned from the Holidays and I did not miss my MIT fix. Still my favorite show but please don't let Patrick continue much longer in this condition. And please bring Jack back safely to Marin. These two couple just have to make it for the sake of the show.

[Shussy]

Anna, thanks for the blog and for writing another spectacular episode.This Treehugger can’t get enough MIT!

It was great to laugh so much after all the emotional turmoil from
the previous week.

The look on Marin’s face when Donna left the message on Jack’s answering machine was perfect. The comment that Jack made about her mind working in overdrive certainly is true. Of course, you can’t blame her for being a little insecure.The postcard from Jack was a nice touch.

I loved the advice Mai and Buzz were giving Mary Alice and Jerome. The scene at the bar between Buzz and Jerome was hilarious.

I’m so happy for Jane and Sam. I can’t wait to see what happens with them next.

I feel really bad for Annie, but the “New Patrick” looks interesting.
I just hope his memory returns soon.

So glad that Ben is back and behaving like a good husband again.

The only thing missing from this episode was Cash.

How will I wait two weeks for the next episode!!!!
Thanks again for MIT!! I wish ABC would appreciate it as much as we do.

[Jen E]

Wow - Jane and the plow guy! Surprise :)

Loved the part about Marin snooping. So true in real life. My husband and I laughed so hard to the Mary Alice/Jerome story line this week. Buzz was so funny!

Keep up the good work - the writing and acting are wonderful. Great chemistry!

[sunspotbaby35]

Anna: Thanks so much for blogging. We were missing you guys!!! Also, thanks for another great episode of MIT. What can I say that hasn't already been said? I loved the scenes with Buzz and Jerome and Mai and Mary Alice. I really love it that this show has brought in some oldies, but goodies into this show, e.g., Annie Potts, and John Amos. I know Jack and Marin will be fine, but I have to confess, that I too have done my share of snooping. It's human nature!! I can't believe you've never snooped in you're husband's things. You are a saint! Jane's announcement about she and Plow Guy was a shock! I'm glad Marin didn't get all bent out of shape about not being the "informed best friend". She took it all in stride and was supportive like a true best friend would be. (I've had mine for 28+ years and that's how we are. No worries). Dick and Celia are the cutest. I just love Cynthia Peterson. She's an absolute hoot . . . especially drunk. Not too happy with the Patrick/Annie situation. I need Patrick to be Patrick. I hope he returns soon. And Cash? Well, I just can't get enough of him, and if you ever venture over to the message boards, you'll see just how much I adore him. I hope he's coming back soon and there's nothing devastatingly wrong with him. That would just break my heart (as well as many other Cash fans). Mr. Scott Elrod has burst onto the acting scene like the 4th of July and I'm sure he knows he has you all to thank for it. Looking forward to seeing the next episode, and the next, and the next, . . . . Sunspot

[Diane]

Best show on television -- best hour every week. Please ABC make this one week without MIT an anomoly. I don't think I can make it many Fridays without my weekly Elmo fix. Thanks.

[Fran]

OK..I'm nervous. Why does the main MIT site say NEXT EPISODE: "Take it Like A Man" Thu Feb 1?

Is this a cruel joke? Please tell me I'm wrong and the next episode will air in 2 weeks. After having to endure....and I do mean ENDURE going most of 2007 without new episodes of MIT, ABC needs to let us MIT fans see our beloved show each week!

[Leslie - NL, Canada]

Just when you think this show can't get any better...it does! I love Elmo and it's peeps.
-Jane & Sam make me smile, I love them together
-Jack in the storm is making me nervous...
-Marin finding out who Donna is was so funny
-Jerome and Mary Alice were hilarious and very sweet all at the same time.
-I hope when Patrick gets his memory back he is a combo of both old and new Patrick.

Thanks for keeping us Felmos informed! I can't wait for the next episode!

~Les

[MITFan]

Keep up the GREAT WORK! I'm loving this season. Loved last season, but am even more impressed with the writing this season (or what was actually the latter half of the first season that we saw this season...is that confusing?) and the character development. All great stuff. Keep the romance, passion and tension between Jack and Marin going. Am loving the storyline about Jerome and Mary Alice. What a nice treat. And Sarah and the pastor. So many nice suprises. This is what makes this show so great. And please tell your folks over at ABC to do a better job of promoting this show and consider moving it to another night. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! We treehuggers are devoted diehard fans.

[Shannon]

Anna, thank you for the blog, just as the new Mom wrote earlier, I too was checking the blog to see when it was gonna be updated. I am so overwhelmed with this episode. It was so beautiful, funny, scary, and sad all at once. Whew, I needed a nap afterwards! I actually really loved the storyline with Ben and Theresa as well. That relationship finally got it's 15 minutes. And of course we all know that you can't possibly write something about every single reltionship in one hour..but you are brilliantly keeping us wanting more! I am so thrilled that MIT is doing so well...starting to see it on the website a litle more, but I don't really watch that much TV on network channels to see if it is being advertised in commercials, but I sure do hope I will see it more. I watch a lot of Lifeime...as I am sure that alot of our fellow treehuggers do because of the sappy love stories there, so I think a commercial or 2 on Lifetime might be something for ABC to consider. Let's all write them and say so! You guys just get better each week. Falling in love with you more and more Elmo! My husband said we should take a vacation to Canada or Alaska sometime and although I know that Elmo is not a real town, I said "Oh, I know the perfect place to go!" LOL Love to you all!

[Bonnie]

Hi, Anna. I was so happy to see your blog today. These blogs are becoming a very special part of the whole MITs experience for me because there are so many layers to this show, and you writers are great at helping me look a little closer when I watch the show again. The characters on MITs are all so touchingly vulnerable and human, they tug at our heartstrings... no more so than in this last episode in which so much happened in the lives of so many of the characters. Lightening really did strike and not just Patrick. But that is just one part of the Elmo experience.... this show is hilarious as well as touching... a lot like life is. What amazing writers you all are.

Now... I have to ask about Cash. I do wonder about him, and I am so looking forward to having him back, hopefully as Marin's roomie. He has done more to more her out of her NYC box than any other character on the show. I love the fun they have. There are many different kinds of love stories (which you have shown over and over on this show), and I hope this one between them continues in one way or another, and come what may I hope Cash will always be a part of Elmo.

[Sally,OH]

I was a little concerned about what was ahead for MIT after reading Anne Heche's blog from last week. It sounded like a lot of drama coming up and the best part of MIT is that there is just a little drama and a good bit of lightness and comedy. I would be really, really disappointed if this show started to have a lot of angst. (The Patrick/Annie story is about all the bad drama I can take. This week's show made me feel more comfortable that the writer's will be able to balance the drama with the quirkiness we have come to love. The Mary Alice/Jerome story line was terrific. I LOVE Annie Potts, what a great addition to MIT. Keep up the great work writers and good luck to your bargaining team.

[shari in ohio]

Thanks for another great episode. I'm so bumbed that you aren't on this week. I love this show!!!! Great acting once again by all, Patrick...come back to us. Jane and Plowguy getting married was a big surprise. Maybe since the ship goes down it will force Jack to have to come back to Elmo sooner than expected. That would be good! ABC - PLEASE give us MIT on DVD!! Also, you should be "promo"ing MIT much more then you do. Don't you love this show as much as we all do? Looking forward to Dec.7th