Newsletter Editor: Nancy P.

Asst. Editor: Jenni M.

Happy Holidays to All!

A "GHOST SHIP" COMES ALIVE!

By Sylvia Mohr

Just before Halloween, two JAG fans met in Oakland for the adventure of a lifetime! We (Sandy Martinez and I) were about to see the USS Hornet (Ghost Ship from last season’s opener) come back to life. I won’t reiterate the story of that episode, but rather I will share briefly what that episode led me to do.

When I was young, my father realized early that there was no way he was keeping his 5th child away from the ‘Boob tube," so instead he threw down a gauntlet. "Don’t just sit there and ‘be entertained.’ Do something useful, learn something new. If it’s Marcus Welby, go to the library and check out a medical book about the disease of the week. Find out its real causes, symptoms, warning signs and treatment."

This child learned that lesson well, which is why JAG has had such an interesting effect on my reading habits of late. So when we heard (thanks to the show insiders) that Ghost Ship was filmed aboard the real USS Hornet in Alameda, I did a net search to find any information on the real effort to save her. And I got involved. I wrote letters of support and I donated towards the cause, thereby becoming a proud PLANKOWNER and honorary Crewmember of the USS Hornet.

When I got my invitation to the "Recommissioning and Dedication Ceremony," I planned on taking my husband, and I also asked Sandy Martinez (she of Steven Clup # 1 fandom) if she could join me. At first it looked like Randy would be with me that day and Sandy could not make it because of work, but fate conspired, and on Friday the 16th of October, I picked Sandy (Randy was the no show. His mom. Don’t ask.) up at the Oakland Airport, and we prepared for the event the next day by doing what? Staying up most of the night talking about our lives, loves and JAG and JAG and JAG…. Well, you get the picture.

Fast forward to the next morning……. We arrived at the Hornet's parking area shortly after 10 am on the 17th of October. I really didn't know quite what to expect from a 'recommissioning and dedication ceremony.' The invitation had specified Military: Dress Blues Civilian: Business Casual. We were "VIPs" with preferred seating and parking, but we still had a pretty long hike from the parking area. Sandy and I had big grins on our faces the whole way! The 'Ghost Ship' had a brand new paint job and was festooned with red, white and blue bunting, flags and banners proclaiming U.S.S. Hornet. We found our way to seats we liked midway down the pier alongside the ship. We were towards the front of the VIP seating. There was a kiosk near the main gangplank where they were selling souvenirs of the day. Sandy and I took turns saving our seats while each of us took a turn raiding the kiosk!

(U.S.S. Hornet is ready for Recommissioning!)

At 1030 hours, the "Rich Martini Band' which was up on the hangar deck of the ship struck up with Glenn Miller's "In the Mood." Let's see. A live band playing music we both loved, a beautiful clear day, and more fun to ensue. I couldn’t believe Sandy loved WW II time frame music as much as I did! What are the odds? That a girl who was born in Venezuela would love Big Band Music as much as me? As I told Sandy at the time, my husband would never have appreciated how great hearing that music by a live band was to me. Sandy and I agreed we were in hog heaven! The band played for about 30 minutes, playing music from the World War II era, military tunes and patriotic melodies, winding up with the Marine Corps Hymn, Anchors Aweigh and the Navy Hymn.

At 1100 the ceremony officially began with the "Parade of the Colors" by the 14th Marines from San Bruno, CA. A woman pilot from a major airline accompanied by the band led us in the National Anthem. I'm not ashamed to admit that I always get a bit choked up singing the National Anthem, but the gentleman to my immediate right in his dress blues (earlier an enlisted man had stopped by to greet him and called him 'Commander', but I don't know if he was a Lt. Commander like Harm or a full Commander) and something about standing there next to him as he saluted the flag while Sandy and I stood with our hands to our breasts in the civilian version of a salute so completely overwhelmed me, so that when the song was over, I had to wipe tears off my cheeks.

We remained standing while a retired Navy Chaplain led us in a prayer of Invocation. Once that was over, we took our seats,and the ceremony moved to its next level. Speeches. We had various dignitaries who were to make 'brief remarks'. The first speaker was the Delegate to the US House of Representatives from Guam. From his remarks, I gather the Hornet played an important part in their liberation from the Japanese forces in World War II. He invited those who had served aboard Hornet then to come see Guam now. He also placed strong emphasis on the fact that "Guam is America, too."

Next up was Congresswoman B (-- No, Not Bobbie Latham! --) Barbara Lee who spoke about the base closings. One suggestion? Don't try to put a positive spin on base closures at a gathering predominately composed of military, retired military, their families and friends and their supporters. Didn't go over real well.

One of the later speakers took a hard swipe at Ms Lee during his remarks when he stated that every time in U S history when our defense spending dropped to less that 6% we have had a war. He pointed out that we are at about 4% now. (HINT! HINT!)

The Mayor of Alameda talked about all the work that had gone in to making this day possible. The effort to save the Hornet and raise enough money to open the museum. He stated that Alameda was proud to have the Hornet located here. Jerry Brown, the Mayor-elect of Oakland, spoke next. While General Richard Hearney, VP for Domestic Business Development for the Boeing Company, spoke, a vintage DC-3 aircraft passed overhead (Boeing was the sponsor of the mini-airshow-parade of aviation history we would watch from the flight deck later that day).

The final dignitary to speak was RADM Robert Chaplin - Superintendent Naval Post Graduate School in Monterrey Ca. We had reached the end of this segment.

Now our principal speaker was introduced. This was Dr Buzz Aldrin - Apollo 11 crewmember and one of the elite few who have walked on the surface of the moon. His speech was a rambling walk through the history of aviation as it crisscrossed his family tree. I found it interesting, but I would have shown respect and considered it an honor to listen, if all he done was read the Alameda phone book! This man walked on the moon! What an achievement! Made even more poignant by the close approaching date of another elder statesman of the Space Age, John Glenn, returning to space on the Shuttle.

At the conclusions of his remarks, the MC, Steven Karalekas asked those who had served on board the U S S Hornet during her active commission to stand and be recognized. We applauded them. These men served during World War II, Korea, Viet Nam, and recovery of both Apollo 11 and 12.

Now it was my turn. The MC asked the Plankowners/Crewmembers to stand and be acknowledged. As we were applauded, I stood, overwhelmed - ashamed at how little I had done, but proud to have been a part, however small, of something so grand - saving this ship from the scrapper's torch and turning her into a museum to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain present and future generations. I also resolved that I will continue to be a part of this endeavor, by donating funds (museums take money to run and maintain) and also by donating my time, by raising awareness in the area where I live to encourage schools to make the Hornet a place to go on field trips and by encouraging other fans of JAG to visit the Hornet when they are in the Bay area. I also plan to try and organize some sort of ongoing fund raising activity for the ship with an honor role of JAG fans who have donated to the Hornet foundation.

Two former crewmembers officially transferred responsibility for the Hornet to Gerald Lutz, CEO of the Hornet Foundation, by presenting him with the ceremonial ship's log and glasses. Mr Lutz made a few remarks and then ordered "Chief Signalman hoist commission pennant. Ship's jack (hey, don't ask me what that means!) hoist at the same time."

Immediately following the hoisting of the pennant Gerald Lutz ordered Naval Sea Cadets, Naval Reservists and HORNET volunteers to man the ship. This was followed by the amazing sea of black (okay, it was probably a very deep Navy blue, but it looked black to me!) uniforms racing up the forward brow and afterbrows (Help? Is this what a civilian ship would call 'gangplanks'?) <Hey! Cut me some slack here. My Dad was Army Air Corp/Air Force, two of my older brothers were Air Force and one (the black sheep of the family) was enlisted Army during Nam. Navy is a whole new world to me. I told Sandy my Dad was probably turning in his grave - but quickly amended that to jostling in his urn when I realized the normal quote didn't work as he was cremated. I know. Strange how my mind works. Blame my Dad. But that's another story.> It was really nothing short of remarkable to see this host of people race aboard and come and stand facing us, side by side at every opening of the hangar deck, all along the flight deck and on all the outside stairs and catwalks about the various bridges. Wow. Impressive. [Ed. Note: I can attest to the impressiveness of this event. I was privileged to attend the commissioning of the U.S.S. John S. McCain. When the order was given to "Bring the ship to life," and all the crewmembers came running down the aisles and up the gangplanks to line the decks of the ship facing the audience, it sent chills up and down my spine.]

((The Hornet is "manned and ready.")

Once Chief Engineer Pete Clayton declared the HORNET manned and ready, Father Ed Murray, CHC, USNR pronounced the benediction, everyone joined in singing first the Navy Hymn and last of all GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Now one of the grandest moments of all. A full squadron of F/A Hornets (the plane which is carrying the grand name Hornet into the Navy's ship and named that as a tribute to this ship!) screamed overhead in salute and kicked in the afterburners above us. Yes! All that was missing were some Tomcats and a certain Naval Aviator turned JAG lawyer we all know! What a Day!

We mounted the brow and then stairs inside until we reached the flight deck. It seemed a huge expanse until you stopped and thought what a small, moving target amidst a vast ocean this ship was for the aviators who flew off her. We walked around for a while taking in the view (and check a few sixes along the way!), then found our way to the VIP seating to watch the Air Parade/Air show. One of the highlights of this time was when a yellow winged bi-plane passed overhead, and both Sandy and I turned, looked at each other and exclaimed, in unison, "SARAH!" I really cracked up when the Air Show Narrator, Gordon Bowman-Jones, declared it was a Stearman!

I have decided that the absolute best place to view the skyline of San Francisco, including both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate, is on a clear, blue-skied day from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. The USS HORNET is a ghost ship no more! What A Day!

(Thanks to Sylvia for sharing this with us. If anyone else ever attends a JAG-related event of any kind, please feel free to share your experiences with the rest of us. We will edit your story if necessary. Send to admiralslady@oocities.com. )

On behalf of the officers and directors of the John M. Jackson Admiration Society and the staff of The Jackson Journal, we hope whichever holiday you celebrate during this season is joy-filled! See you next year.

(JMJ at CB's Birthday Party from In Style Magazine)

Welcome New Members

We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following members who joined the fan club during the month of November:

• Karen Duff

• Paula Mackey

• Robyn Grumbles

• Carol Preflatish

• Carol Burgess

• Nena Grissom

• Ithildin

• Judith Nogle

• Priscilla Ball

Welcome aboard! We're glad to have you join our (not-so) little family.

December Birthdays!

We would like to wish a Very Happy Birthday and a joy-filled year to the following members with December birthdays:

Vicki Hsu - December 5

Pam Inman - December 5

Lynn Lawrance - December 8

Ami Ballard - December 20

Meet Our Members

Hi, my name is Wendy and I live in the Washington, D.C. area. I'm into English history, literature, and theatre. I like British actors too, most notably a very obscure one named Guy Henry. I was born and raised in Baltimore County, but moved to DC to work in ‘81. I'll read almost anything and am trying to write a little. I also am nursing an interest in photography. I love odd movies, TV shows, and bald character actors. I am in recovery from a very dysfunctional family and have made substantial progress. If anyone out there would like to talk about a similar situation, I will always listen and try to help.

My name is Ami, I am 18, single, love to watch JAG, love to dream about JAG, love to drool over DJE, love to swim, hike, and sky dive. I have a pest younger brother, who loves JAG.

Hi-Ho! Just wanted to add my bio to the list. Kathy Scranton, formerly Kathy Clements, formerly Kathy McNee. I’m 36 and live in Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Just got married for the second time on July 4^th! Husband is Dave. and my cats are Friskie, Millie and Luckie. We have two kids from Dave’s first marriage: Katie is 16 and Matt is 13. I just started watching JAG this season, mainly because of JMJ. I help run the official U.S. fan club for Patrick Stewart called PSN. Running a fan club is a lot of work. I give the gang a lot of credit. If you guys ever need anything, don’t call me! I already learned my lesson about volunteering! (Only kidding! <g>) I’m also a big Skinner fan from the X-Files. Note the pattern! I also like camping, fly fishing, and surfing the ‘net.

If you would like to introduce yourself to the group, please send a one-paragraph bio to Jenni at gypsy77@home.com. We'd love to get to know you.

Trivia Corner

Here are the answers to last month's three-part question: AJ lead SEAL Team 3 in Vietnam; he was a Lieutenant at the time; and he is the only member of his SEAL Team who is still alive.

A final two-part SEAL question, and we'll move on to something else next month. What SEAL tradition did AJ start (worth 2 points) and what was his rank at the time he started the tradition (worth 2 points).

To play our trivia game, e-mail your answers to admiralslady@oocities.com by Dec. 31. Answers will be in the next issue of The Journal.

Web Site of the Month

After all the computer crashes, technical glitches and people’s houses blowing away, this month’s site is a perfect site to ease frazzled nerves. The site was created by Janna and is located at www.oocities.org/hollywood/location/7273. Next to having the John M. Jackson Admiration Society’s web site memorized (got to always get in my brownie points with Mrs. Chegs), you should have this site stored away for quick reference.

Janna created the site as her main project in a web page development class she took at an area college. We all know Janna’s creative talents as a storyteller and food connoisseur; this site showcases her new talent of html scripting – that’s web page authoring.

The site’s main focus is making available links to other sites. So if you have trouble remembering other sites web addresses or don’t want to have a long list of bookmarks – Janna’s site is for you. She has used a variety of pictures of our favorite Admiral and friends to lead you to the appropriate sites. The sites available range in topic from John M. Jackson-exclusive sites to general JAG sites as well as to other JAG stars fan sites. All the biggies are here. You really should visit the site at least weekly to keep up with the JAG happenings found on the other sites.

So next time you lose your bookmarks – who’s site are you going to hook up? Janna’s at www.oocities.org/hollywood/location/7273.

PATTYOS@aol.com is our website feature editor. She will be scouting out JMJ (and JAG) websites and reviewing them so you'll know the best places on the web to go for your JMJ fix! If you know of a good JMJ site or if you yourself have a JMJ site, please let Patty know - yours may be next to be our Website of the Month.

SEAL Merchandise

As a MEMBER-ONLY benefit, you can place an order through the JMJAS for selected SEAL merchandise. Merchandise available includes bumper stickers, SEAL Team 3 patches, baseball caps, and a variety of t-shirts. The JMJAS makes no profit on this merchandise - prices quoted are what we pay. Please allow 6-8 weeks to receive merchandise. To order SEAL Merchandise, please print out the order form you'll find at that link, fill it out completely, and mail it with your check or money order to the address given. Be sure to include your e-mail address or phone number (we will call collect) so we can contact you in case of a question or problem with your order. Again, this is a member-only benefit, so if you do not already belong to the JMJAS, please join before placing an order. Thank you.

(From a Navy SEAL Teams website - picture from BUDS training)

FanFic Forum

Identity Crisis

Author: Barbara Moore

Rating: PG

Classification: SAR (AJ/Mac)

Summary: AJ and Mac each believes the other lacks a sense of humor and each determines to rectify the situation.

This is probably one of the best stories that has been written in the humor category. This is a great Mac/AJ story... Yes, I will review a non Mac/AJ story next month. This story is a great example of a pratical joke that backfires. There is not a lot of the other characters but it is great. This is a must read if you are a Mac/AJ shipper, a lover of humor fiction, or if you are in need of a good laugh (trust me on this, I was laughing right out of my chair). Barb demonstrates her talent in this one remarkably. I could actually see this happening... well mostly... but I am a hopeless romantic. This one definitely gets my approval.

You’ll find this story in the FanFic Archives on this site.

About the Author

Name: Barb Moore

Where are you from: East Peoria, Illinois

How long have I been watching JAG? Off and on since the beginning. Got hooked about half way through the 3rd season.

How long have you been writing? I could do letters and numbers as early as first grade. :-) I've always liked to write. Did some newspaper reporting when I was a teenager, mostly sports and commentary columns in the local paper. Most of my writing has been of a professional or academic nature and pretty boring. These stories (Identity Crisis and Making of Sweet Pea) were my first attempts at fiction.

Who is your favorite character? Who else? Admiral AJ Chegwidden

Why? I never have been impressed with the pretty guys. Even when I was young and stupid, I went for the guys with character. Now that I'm old and smart, I still go for the guys with character. I used to say (before Bumblebee came along) that this was the only show on TV where I liked all the characters. Now I like almost all of the characters.

Favorite quote: There are so many good ones, it's hard to select just one. These 3 are my favorites, I think. (Remember I haven't seen all the episodes)

"You know there is something I've always wanted to do."

"What's that?"

Mac kisses the Admiral on the cheek

"You're not gonna do that a lot are you, Major?"

"No, Sir."

Mac and Admiral

 

"Back in the old days it was considered bad luck to bring a woman on board, if you ask me it still is."

" In the old days it was considered acceptable to castrate the village pervert, if you ask me it still is."

Mac and Master Chief Sullivan

 

"Sir, if you ever get tired of the Navy, you can make a fortune as a wedding planner."

"Don't spread that around. I'd hate to have to kill you."

Harriet and The Admiral

What inspired you to write fanfic? Ever since I was a kid I imagined different endings for movies and TV shows. I thought I was crazy until I found out about 3 months ago that it's a common mental disorder called fanfic writing. I had never heard of fanfic before September ‘98. It combines several of my favorite things: writing, humor, neat characters and the power to make things happen the way I want them to happen. I wish I had known about this 25 years ago. (Was there fanfic 25 years ago?) It's definitely a real kick to do this.

Favorite Quote:

Here’s another good quote from "Black Ops." The Admiral orders Harm to he-lo jump with SEAL Team 2 and bring back a plane.

Congresswoman: "Under what authority does he do that?"

Admiral: "Authority?"

Meg: "That of a JAG officer conducting an investigation, ma'am."

Admiral: "There you go."

Congresswoman: "Washington will have your stars for this."

Admiral: "Well, if anything goes wrong, Lt. Austin was my point of authority. I’ll just give ‘em her bars."

The Admiral walks off laughing softly, and Meg is left standing with this "he’s kidding, right?" look on her face.

 

"SEALs: They Earn the Claim - Sleep, Eat, And Live It Up"

By: Virginia F. Badeaux

The men who proudly bear the "Budweiser" of Navy Special Warfare have completed the toughest Special Forces boot camp in the United States, if not the entire world. Basic Underwater Demolitions/SEAL (BUD/S) Training, described as "a six-month kick in the balls" by Commander (Ret.) Richard "Dick" Marcincko, is held at the Naval Amphibious Base at Coronado, California (affectionately known as the Silver Strand). The training consists of three phases: Basic Conditioning, Diving, and Land Warfare. In addition to the intensive physical training they endure, they also have to pass numerous mental tests as well.

The First Phase, Basic Conditioning, lasts a total of nine weeks. The students participate in continuous physical conditioning in running, swimming, and calisthenics that increases in difficulty as the weeks progress. The men participate weekly in timed four-mile runs in boots, timed obstacle courses, ocean swimming in fins at distances up to two miles, and courses in small boat seamanship.

The first five weeks of Phase One are spent preparing for the sixth week - Hell Week - it is designed as the ultimate test of one's physical and mental motivation while in the first phase. The candidates participate in continuous training for 5 ½ days, with a maximum of four hours sleep. Hell Week proves, to those who make it, that the human body can do ten times the amount of work that the average person thinks possible. Students learn the value of cool-headedness, perseverance, and, above all else, teamwork (the staple of the success of SEAL Teams). Weeks seven through nine concentrate on teaching methods of conducting hydrographic surveys and how to conduct a hydrographic chart.

The Diving Phase is seven weeks long; during this phase the times for the continuous training are lowered for the obstacle courses, two mile swims, and four mile runs. The main concentration in this phase is on Combat SCUBA (Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus). The Students are taught two types of SCUBA in this phase: Open Circuit (compressed air) and Closed Circuit (100% Oxygen).

The skills taught in this phase separate SEALs from all other Special Operations Forces. Phase Two emphasizes long-distance underwater dives to make basic combat divers out of the students, by teaching swimming and diving techniques as a means of transportation from their launch point to the combat directive.

Reconnaissance, demolitions, and land warfare are the main concepts of the nine-week Third Phase. The physical training continues to become more strenuous as run distances increase and times are lowered. This phase concentrates on land navigation, small-unit tactics, patrolling techniques, rapelling, infantry tactics, and military explosives. The final five weeks of the Land Warfare Phase are spent on San Clemente Island, where the candidates apply the techniques they learned throughout BUD/S in a practical environment.

After BUD/S, graduates receive three weeks of basic parachute training at the Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, prior to receiving assignment to their first Naval Special Warfare Command. Navy corpsmen who graduate BUD/S and Basic Airborne Training also attend two weeks of Special Operations Technician Training at Coronado Naval Special Warfare Center. They participate in an intense course of instruction in Diving Medicine and medical skills called 18-D (Special Operations Medical Sergeant Training Course - a 30 week course where students are trained to treat burns, gunshot wounds, and trauma.

After assignment to a Team and successful completion of a six-month probationary period, qualified personnel are awarded a SEAL NEC (Naval Enlisted Classification) Code and the Naval Special Warfare Insignias. The men serve the remainder of their tour with an SDV or SEAL Team. Upon reenlistment they may be ordered to additional training and another SDV or SEAL Command, where they will spend the remainder of a five-year sea tour.

Advanced courses include SDV training, Diving Supervisor, language training, and NAVSPECWAR Communication. Shore duty opportunities are available in Research & Development, Instructor Duty, and overseas assistants.

SEALs work harder than other SPEC WAR groups to gain the right to wear the Trident proudly on their breast. These men push their minds and bodies to the limits of human capacity and still perform to top quality; they deserve the respect that their hard work has paid for. Just remember if you would like to join AJ's band of Merry Marauders you have to be in the Navy, and have a classification, and you have to be male; ladies aren't able to train as SEALs at this time, because of their continuous combat ready status.

For more information you can contact the BUD/S Recruiter:

Naval Special Warfare Center

2466 Trident Way

San Diego, CA 92155-5495

(619) 437-3641

DSN 577-3641

(Special thanks to Virginia for taking over writing duties for me on this. If anyone else has a particular interest and would like to submit an article for publication, please e-mail the editor at admiralslady@oocities.com.)

JMJAS Shirts!

We are pleased to offer to you the first official "unofficial fan club" merchandise - got that? We have JMJAS shirts that you can purchase for yourself or as a gift for a friend. The shirt is a Navy blue, medium-weight, polo shirt - very nice and very sturdy. Our source will purchase the shirt and then embroider the SEAL trident with "JMJAS" above it on the left chest area. Your name will go on the left sleeve.

The cost is $35/shirt, which includes shipping. Please send a money order only - no checks, please. You may send cash at your own risk! Each shirt is made to order, so please allow 6-8 weeks to receive your shirt. As with the SEAL merchandise, the JMJAS makes no money from the sale of this shirt - we have simply found a supplier. If you would like to order a shirt or would like more information about this shirt, please e-mail chris45@jaguarsystems.com Or print out this newsletter and drop it in front of your "significant other" as a helpful hint for Christmas shopping!

From the Admiral's Desk

This feature is our new book review section. We will let you know about interesting JAG-related books, both fiction and nonfiction. This review was submitted by Kausandra@aol.com.

Since we've been talking about The Wall and various other memorials, I thought I'd mention an excellent children’s book about it for anyone who is interested.

Its called "The Wall," and it was written by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ronald Himler. The story is about a little boy and his father visiting the Vietnam Memorial and looking up the name of the boy's grandfather. The boy and his father make a charcoal rubbing of the grandfather's name and look at the offerings left behind at the site.

It's an extremely touching book, and it deals with the topic in a very sensitive way. I'd recommend it for children ages 5 and up, although some of the 4 year-olds in my class understood it.

I purchased my copy at the gift shop at Arlington, I think, but it's probably available through Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. The book was featured on Reading Rainbow, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

If you have read a JAG-related (in one way or another) book that you think others might like, please send your review to us at moviesii@aol.com.

In this feature, you - the viewer - get to be the critic. We invite you to review the JAG episodes and give them two ratings - one for the overall episode and one for the episode as a showcase for JMJ. Please rank them based on a system of 1-10 where 10 is the best. You can review every episode or just your favorites. You can write two sentences or two paragraphs or two pages. You can write about the plot (although you do not need to summarize the plot as we will have seen the episodes ourselves), the special effects, the acting, "bloopers," whatever aspect appeals to you. But do write! This is truly a case of "the more the merrier." This column is being compiled by HughesFan so send your reviews to HughesFan@aol.com. The subject line should read "JAG/JMJ Review." Please do not put anything else in the reference line. Send your reviews in as early as possible, but the deadline is the 20th of each month. So for January, you may review the Nov. 24 and Dec. 15 episodes - the other December episodes are repeats and so have already been reviewed.

Ratings: JAG: 9 AJ: 10

There was so much to love about this episode, I don't know where to start. Larry Moskowitz, who wrote "Act of Terror," has already fast become my favorite JAG writer, and he certainly did not disappoint here. The plot was intriguing from the very beginning: While the trial of Corporal Barry seemed open and shut, I still wanted to know who the mysterious man in the car was. The little smirk on his face implied that he wanted the terrorists to get caught, and that in itself was curious. In retrospect, he was almost a red herring of sorts. I was so fixated on learning his identity that it didn't occur to me that he might just be a puppet instead of the puppet-master. The later revelations that the FBI had faked Nassin's death and that Percival Bertram's money had been used for the bombing that killed forty people helped turn this into a wonderfully multi-layered plot. With the many webs of deception going on here, it was hard to get a grip on who was doing what to whom, and I love that aspect of the script. Ultimately, I have to come to the conclusion that Bert knew exactly what his money was being used for, and only had Faizzad (sp.) killed when he was afraid the FBI would be able to prove it. The self-satisfied smile on his face in the closing scene portrayed a man who had gotten exactly what he wanted: He'd reinforced the perception that terrorism is such a threat against the U.S. that the only way to combat it is to fight fire with fire. I have to compliment Larry Moskowitz on providing us with Percival Bertram, the first worthy adversary for Harm since Colonel Parlovsky bit the dust in "Gypsy Eyes."

The issue of terrorism and how to combat it was also dealt with very nicely here, I thought. There was no simplistic solution, no clear and easy answers--just as there are none in real life. Trying to fight back against terrorists is a lot like trying to swat mosquitoes: they don't provide us with an easy target for retaliation. Hence, when Bert went off on a tirade about how ineffectual the U.S. is when all we do is lob a few bombs into Afghanistan or target "pill factories," it was hard not to agree with him. But it was also nearly impossible to agree that Corporal Barry’s actions were justified. In the end, I kept returning to the fact that he shot an unarmed man who was already in custody. So, in terms of plot, this episode provided me with a great deal of food for thought; and that, in turn, leaves me a very satisfied viewer.

My only complaint with the story line would have to be the redemption of Corporal Barry. Why is it that every time a member of the U.S. military is accused of a crime against another country or someone of another nationality, they wind up being innocent or somehow redeem themselves? (I refer you to "Clipped Wings" and "Innocence" in addition to this episode.) This is becoming obnoxiously nationalistic. Are the writers of JAG afraid of a backlash if they should portray a U.S. soldier in a negative light in a case involving acts against another country? That seems likely, but not rational: Why should we feel threatened if one person is portrayed as being wrong in one instance? It doesn't mean the whole U.S. military is "bad" or "wrong" or "evil." I can't think of another reason why they consistently feel the need to redeem the U.S. soldier. In any case, I thought AJ's point was valid: It was only by chance that Barry didn't commit murder. So why did they drop all charges against him? I think he still should have been charged with attempted murder, or at the very least, assault with a deadly weapon.

Since characterization is his strong suit, it's no surprise that Moskowitz gifted us here with some delightful character-driven scenes for Mac and AJ. (My thoughts about Mac can be found in my review for the December Catherine Bell Newsletter.) I'm pleased with the visual detail of AJ being portrayed with the aftereffects--limping and using a cane--of his shooting in "Going After Francesca." Nice detail. I enjoyed AJ's method of goading Harm into taking Barry's case, even though it was practically indefensible, and his jab at Harm about it being the first time he'd been fired. But for me, the three one-on-one Mac/AJ scenes in this episode were the most fun to watch, because they portrayed the evolution of their relationship, which we don't often get to see. Since their relationship is what I enjoy the most about the show, I was quite pleased to get some new insights here.

For instance, in "Act of Terror," AJ betrayed an inclination to believe that Harm is the better lawyer and so showed some concern for Mac's strategy, even though she seemingly had an open-and-shut case. Clearly, that irked her a little, though she managed to remain poised. Thankfully, AJ had enough respect for her abilities to allow her to make her own decisions about what tack to take, rather than trying to dictate it to her. Later in the episode, Mac showed how much confidence she has built up over the past two years when she stood up to the Admiral about the ethics of dropping the case against Corporal Barry. She's done this before (in "Defenseless") but she does so sparingly, which is an excellent strategy, because when she does stand up to him, he really listens to her. He knows she's not just being a loose cannon or a hothead. Still, when Mac hesitantly asked the Admiral if he'd known that Nassin was alive, I expected him to explode. But he's been doing an excellent job this season of reining in his anger. He obviously understood why she would think so (because of his secret conversation with the SECNAV), and so didn't take it amiss. It was a good thing he hadn't known: I got the distinct impression from the look in her eyes that if she had learned that he had known, she'd have lost quite a bit of respect for him.

Speaking of the SECNAV, I found his scene with Mac and AJ fascinating. There were an awful lot of glances exchanged that had me wondering what everyone was thinking. The SECNAV seemed to have some thoughts about Mac's "vacation to Russia," but wasn't sharing them. Both Mac and AJ looked unhappy about the fact that the SECNAV dismissed her so abruptly. AJ, in particular, looked like he had just been reprimanded somehow. Or perhaps he just doesn't like having his authority usurped in front of his junior officers? And Mac, instead of automatically saying "Yes, sir" when she received the order from the SECNAV, first looked sideways at AJ as if seeking verification that she should leave. Is that protocol? Did Mac and AJ suspect even then that the SECNAV had something to say about the case that wasn't entirely above-board, and that therefore, the prosecutor shouldn't hear?

My favorite scene was, of course, the kitchen scene with Mac and AJ, since that dealt most directly with their personal interactions. Poor AJ looked like a deer caught in headlights from the minute Mac walked into the room. I have to confess that the first time I watched the episode, I was out of the room during the tail end of Mac's conversation with Harm, and I didn't hear her say to Bud that "We don't (know if anything fishy is going on with the case), but I think I know someone who might." So I had no idea that Mac was fishing for information about the case! I thought she was purposely trying to throw AJ off-balance regarding his feelings for her in order to gain the upper hand with him. I thought to myself: "Mac! You wicked thing, you! I love it!" :-) Of course, at the end, when she said "But in the kitchen, you--" I realized I'd misinterpreted the kitchen scene and went back to watch it again.

It was even funnier knowing that she and AJ had completely different interpretations of her remarks! But it was such a natural mistake; everything she said sounded like a double-entendre! Pot roast, indeed. Heh heh heh. (Was it just me, or did anyone else think AJ really was looking at the front of her blouse when they were standing toe-to-toe and then had to cover himself by asking about the pot roast? <EG>) John M. Jackson was just terrific in this scene, from the nervous crossing and uncrossing of his arms, to the stammering, to the sweaty-eyed expression on his face when she said that she got the feeling he was thinking something but not telling her. I was just about rolling on the ground laughing. These two are so fabulous together, it's a crying shame we don't see more scenes like this. It's great fun to see AJ off-balance and not in control for a change; it's always a treat to get a glimpse of his human side.

To be filed under the Pointless-But-Amusing category: When Harm walked into Agent Novak's office and said "Show me the body. Show me the body," I started giggling. I half-expected him to do a Jerry Maguire imitation: "SHOW ME THE BOD-Y!" :-) I think I was still giddy from the kitchen scene.

Favorite quotes (in addition to the entire kitchen scene, which is too long to quote here):

AJ: At least there's one less terrorist in the world.

Harm: Yes, sir, and one more murderer.

Review by HughesFan:

Ratings: JAG: 8 AJ: 10

I have to admit that this was the first episode this season that I REALLY liked. Don't get me wrong. It's not that I hated the earlier episodes or even that I didn't like them--indeed, I enjoyed most of them. It's just that given the quality of some of last season's episodes, I have been disappointed that none of the JAG installments this season have even begun to approach that standard. Maybe all we needed was a script by Larry Moskowitz, who, along with Bellisario himself, is my favorite JAG writer. While I can't say this episode will make my all time favorites list, there was plenty to enjoy and some scenes that definitely will.

Before I proceed any further, let me first admit that my favorite parts of JAG almost always fall into one of three categories--character moments, legal drama, or thought-provoking examinations of issues. A lot of the reason I liked this episode as much as I did is that it provided all three. It was strongest, however, on the character moments. There are far too many highlights to list them all here, but I have to mention a few of them: Judge Admiral Morris flinching when Harm picked up the weapon in the courtroom;

Harm's compliment for Mac and her reaction to it; the SecNav's comment to Mac about her trip to Russia and then his dismissal of her; and Mac's anger and resentment towards her former law professor and her determination to beat her in court.

The best of the best, however, has to be the series of three Mac/AJ scenes. The "misunderstanding" between the two of them in the kitchen will almost certainly go down as one of my favorite scenes of the season. Mac was so focused on the information she was trying to attain and the Admiral on his own feelings and the awkwardness of the situation that it was almost painful to watch (of course, I've gone back and rewatched the scene several times since <G>). But equally enjoyable were the simple "professional" scenes between the pair at the beginning and end of the episode. The two have such a great rapport that it is nice to see them just discussing a case without the added baggage of the impossible attraction between them. Personally, since their chemistry is one of the many elements that keep me tuned into the show, I'll take any type of scene between just the two of them and be perfectly content. Anyway, given that Moskowitz wrote The Stalker, it is no great surprise to see him handling the pair so well here.

The courtroom action of this episode was also well-done--and long overdue. I've always felt that JAG handles the legal action better than the action-adventure elements which have a tendency in far too many instances to dissolve into the cartoonish (this year's Embassy being a prime example). Thus another disappointment this season has been the lack of courtroom-based drama. Yes, we saw snippets in earlier episodes and Innocence did revolve around a court case (though not one either Mac or Harm got to try themselves), but this was the first real legal episode of the season. For me, after the long summer of reruns, it had been too long of a wait. My patience was definitely wearing thin.

Still, I do have a few small complaints. I really wanted to hear the verdict in the case. Yeah, I know it wouldn't have counted, but I would like Mac to have had the satisfaction of beating her former professor in court. I guess Ressler's admission that her insult had been meant to provoke Mac into staying in law school rather than chase her out of it was satisfaction enough. I also hate that Harm--no longer even the lawyer of record on the case--was the only one who could figure out what was going on. Yeah, I know he is the show's lead, but for once I would like to see someone else get to the truth before he does. Finally, as with far too many JAG episodes, a little poking beneath the surface reveals a huge logical error at its heart (no, not the whitewash of Corporal Barry's actions at the end--I understand why the government had to dismiss all charges after their fraudulent prosecution, but a little reminder that we should never sink to the same level as the terrorists would have been nice). No, what bothered me was the fact that this case went to court-martial so fast that the terrorist was still in bandages. Not bloody likely. But of course, if the case had taken the usual amount of time to wind its way through the system, the FBI would have had time to trace the money before a court-martial would have started. Ah well. I can look the other way as usual.

I wasn't quite as thrilled with the issue-oriented aspects of this episode (which is why I only gave it an 8). The Percival Bertram character and his culpability in everything that was going on was fascinating and complex. That part I loved and I sure hope he is a character we will be seeing again. No, where the show failed for me was on its examination of Corporal Barry's actions. Perhaps because it focused so much on Harm's attempted defense at the beginning and then the government's malfeasance (which superseded Barry's guilt) later on, the moral and ethical ramifications of the shooting seemed to get lost a little in this episode. It's not a major complaint. I just wish the subject had been explored in a little more interesting and challenging way. Still, as mentioned before, Bertram, the return to the courtroom, and all of the character moments made this a very worthwhile episode and made up for all the minor quibbles I had.

Review by Lyn:

JAG: 9 AJ: 9

I thought overall this was an excellent episode - a few minor quibbles, but no major bones of contention. It rates a 9 because, while I enjoyed it very much, it won’t make my all-time favorites list (those are the 10s). It rates a 9 for AJ only because he wasn’t in it enough to make it a 10 for him. But as usual, he was excellent. And (big surprise) many of my favorite moments revolved around him. Loved the kitchen scene—JMJ does such a great job that I actually felt sorry for him. He had not a clue what was going on. And Mac was so focused on getting the information she wanted, that she didn’t really see what she was doing to the poor man. My next favorite scene was when she’s asking him if he knew the terrorist was still alive. You could see he was ready to let her have it for daring to ask a question like that; you could see him visibly regain control and recognize it was a fair (although hurtful - how could she even think that?) question. Also loved his scene with Corporal Barry when he offers him a chance at redemption. I would imagine that technically he could have ordered Corporal Barry to go along with their plan, but instead he showed him the respect of letting him make up his own mind. Very classy!

I am looking forward to seeing Percival Bertram again. I can’t believe that’s all we’re going to get of him. Excellent villain - and I must admit they had me fooled on him. I didn’t care much for the other lady lawyer, but did love her line about seeing who’s was bigger! <g>

Minor quibble - why did it take so long for Harm to figure out there was very little blood from several bullets at close range? Why did AJ, a former SEAL with combat experience, not see it himself when he watched the tape? Logically, I would have expected him to pick it up long before Harm, but then again, Harm’s the star, so we don’t always have to be logical, I guess.

Ratings: JAG: 8 AJ: 5

Since AJ wasn't involved in the main story line at all, I won't remark upon that in this review. For the most part, I really enjoyed the interactions between AJ and Harriet in this episode. First of all, they've developed a nice rapport, and his fatherly interest in her tends to bring out a softer, more humorous side to his character that is a joy to watch. From their very first scene in this episode, I was left thinking that AJ is probably going to spend the rest of Harriet's pregnancy being a mother hen--making sure she gets enough rest, making sure she eats right, etc. It's good that someone is looking after her while the three most obvious choices--Bud, Mac, and Harm--are on the road, which is most of the time. She's in good hands with the Admiral.

It's also pretty clear that the writers were using the AJ/Harriet interactions here for comic relief, which worked fairly well, though I agree with some of the criticisms of fans on the Internet that the writers are buying into too many pregnancy cliches--especially all at once. Note to TPTB: This could get old very fast, so please use the pregnancy-as-comic-relief shtick sparingly. In particular, the middle scene--where AJ walks in on Harriet preparing a god awful looking (and apparently, smelling) sandwich for breakfast--was weaker than the other two scenes.

The last scene was especially effective, though, because of AJ's personality. This is a man who has cultivated a reputation as a hardass. So when Harriet began to cry and everyone in the outer office stopped to stare at them, it was pretty apparent they were probably all thinking: "That bastard! He made a pregnant woman cry!" And what was particularly funny about that was that he seemed to realize that's what they were thinking. Poor AJ! Who else could make an Admiral say "Please?" but a crying, pregnant woman? :-)

Finally, I greatly enjoyed AJ's story about the scars on his head: "You see this? VC tried to cut my head off with a machete. Thirty-nine stitches. I didn't even know I was bleeding for about two days. But now this. . .electric can opener. Knocked me cold for six hours. Compliments of my ex-wife in her second trimester." Ow! I suspected Marcella had a temper, but man, that's extreme. I don't know anyone who has ever assaulted someone else with a major kitchen appliance.

Favorite quote:

Harriet: I think I'm nesting.

AJ: There's no nesting in JAG Ops. (Harriet starts to cry.) There also is no crying.

Review by HughesFan:

Ratings: JAG: 8 AJ: 4

Things are definitely beginning to look up this season. While definitely not among my all-time favorite episodes, this was an enjoyable and entertaining outing of JAG. It really kicked into high gear for me in the second half as Mac and Harm tried to find a logical explanation for the voices Kharma heard (how would you like that assignment?) and especially during the flight sequences and midair rescue. Now normally I'm not a huge fan of the Harm saves the day with his flying skills episodes and/or sequences as they get a little too rah, rah heroic for my tastes (don't get me wrong, it's not that I hate such sequences per se, but the fact that there are a half dozen or so of them a year and Harm always manages to save the day without even breaking a sweat that has a tendency to evoke the gag reflex in me). But I absolutely loved the flying sequences here and Harm's efforts to save Kharma and his RIO—perhaps precisely because it seemed so impossible and Harm did seem to have to break a sweat to do it. It probably didn't hurt my opinion either that Mac got to play a role for once (yeah!). Certainly only a non-flyer would be so naive as to suggest the solution she did. And yet they found a way to make it work. And the shots of the rescue attempt were extremely well-done--far more seamless than the flying sequences often are. Kudos all around from me.

I also was pleased with the way TPTB handled the religious issues in this episode. Religion is such a personal and emotional topic, it can be very difficult to address without alienating a large section of the audience. But it seems to me that the resolution of this story--and the lack of definitive answers--nicely allows each of us to insert our own personal beliefs in explanation. Was it the voice of God, Kharma's conscience, or something else that he heard? The answer doesn't matter--only how each of us chooses to explain what logic and evidence can not. Beautiful. And thank you, TPTB, for not feeling it necessary to provide an answer of your own.

Since this is the Jackson Journal, I can't review this episode without mentioning the scenes between the Admiral and Harriet. While Mac is my favorite character, it is rare for AJ's scenes to be my least favorite thing about an episode, but that was definitely the case here. While I've always enjoyed the AJ/Harriet interactions, I think there was a little too much of it here, and that it relied way too much on stereotypes of pregnancy, for my tastes. I like to see the softer personal sides of the Admiral and I certainly don't want to discourage TPTB from finding things for AJ to do when he is not involved in the main action (as is inevitable in certain episodes), but I do hope they find different solutions in the future.

Review by Lyn:

JAG: 6 AJ: 9

I missed the very beginning of this episode - thanks to election coverage. So I didn’t see the very opening scene between Harriet and AJ - I’m still waiting for a copy of the tape from a friend. It also means I didn’t see the setup, so it was a little hard for me to figure out at first what was happening. So that had a little effect on my rating for this episode. Basically, I thought it was fairly well done. I was a little uncomfortable during the scene where Mac and Harm were talking to the priest. Mac’s comments seemed a little, I don’t know, disrepectful almost. I know she was meant to be joking with him, and I have nothing against that at all—it was something in the tone of voice and the look on her face that didn’t quite jive with what she was saying. But since I have not had a chance to watch this episode a second time (I hope that tape gets here soon!), there may have been something there I didn’t catch the first time.

I absolutely loved the two scenes between AJ and Harriet that I did see. The one in the kitchen had me hysterical - the look on his face when he looked at her sandwich, and then his comment about having eaten bugs and toads but he wouldn’t eat that was priceless. And the way he beat it out of the kitchen when she said there were sardines on it - just delightful. The later scene about the food and Harriet’s obsession to clean out the refrigerator was also wonderful. Poor AJ - he’s supposed to be so tough, but he does have a soft spot in his heart for Harriet, doesn’t he? Anyone else wish we could have seen the scene in his office??

So, it will now probably sound strange that the scenes between AJ and Harriet were also the thing I disliked most about this episode. As a woman who has had 2 children, I am well aware of the humorous aspects of pregnancy. I just don’t want to see all of them stereotyped and thrown at me in one episode! We had Harriet as pregnant woman with voracious appetite, Harriet as pregnant woman with bizarre cravings, Harriet as pregnant woman who *must* clean everything, and Harriet as pregnant woman who cries uncontrollably. Most of the women I know who’ve been pregnant never got all of those symptoms during any one pregnancy and they certainly never experienced them all at once! It is much too early in Harriet’s pregnancy for her to be having cravings; she might be experiencing an increased appetite, especially if her morning sickness has now passed and she could have the crying, although that also usually appears later in pregnancy; "nesting" is definitely a late-third-trimester symptom. So while I absolutely loved the interaction between those two, at the same time it annoyed me that we got so many cliches thrown in there. I think the only saving grace was that they chose to play those scenes off the Admiral - if she’d been interacting with Bud, I might have been tempted to turn off the set. It’s much funnier, in my humble opinion, when they play it subtly rather than hit us over the head with it.

Ratings: JAG: 6 AJ: 6

This was an interesting episode, but not quite the powerhouse I expected from all the media hype it received. I've already expressed my feelings about the way the media creates news instead of reporting it and how less-than-truthful portrayals of events on the news can destroy people's lives in my review for the third season episode, "Father's Day," so I won't repeat myself here, except to say I agree with Donald Bellisario's stance on this issue wholeheartedly. That said, I was less interested in the A story line of this episode than the B story line. Primarily, this is because I prefer character-driven drama over plot-driven drama; but also, I found myself glazing over during the Congressional hearings because of all the political and military jargon. And, at the risk of sounding callous, who cares if Force Recon did kill the three American scientists? They were traitors. By going to work for Saddam Hussein, they were taking their chances. I feel no outrage over their deaths.

Kudos to director Jeannot Szwarc, whom I believe is new to the JAG team, since I've never seen the name before. The on-site location shooting in DC really paid off. Nothing compares to the real thing. I also loved the way the teaser was shot; there were a few moments when I really did feel like I was watching a news program. Other pluses: I appreciated seeing Dale Dye lend some authenticity to the episode as Colonel Cobb. I thought the character of Bobbi Latham was used especially well in this episode, and as always, Anne-Marie Johnson was fabulous. She and David James Elliott do act well off each other--although, frankly, she acts well off everyone. I found the interactions between Harm and Bobbi most interesting in this episode, especially because Harm stood up to her very well. My take on Bobbi has always been that she would eat him alive--chew him up and spit him out. But he really held his ground with her and didn't allow her the upper hand. I was impressed. I like the idea that she's running for the Senate (something tells me she'll win) and that she now owes AJ a favor. Can't wait to see how he collects.

As always, I enjoyed the scenes with AJ. Usually when he is in "full Admiral mode," it means he's barking commands and threatening people (either overtly or covertly), but in this case, we got to see a different side of his leadership abilities. With Bobbi, he displayed his diplomacy skills (including admirable restraint in his reaction to the news report); with Brumby and Mac, he displayed team leadership tactics, welcoming Brumby to the team in an informal manner before putting him to work, and allowing Mac to take the lead by giving her the task of showing Brumby the ropes; and with Mac, he showed his concern about her emotional and mental well-being when he came to her office (rather than calling her in to his office--a wise move) to see what was wrong with her after noticing she was distracted. (Obviously, said "distraction" happened off-screen. My initial reaction was: "What do you mean, you noticed she was distracted? When?")

I enjoy all scenes between Mac and AJ; it seems like every time they're alone together, we get to see different dimensions of their often awkward and yet touching relationship. And after Mac's offer to AJ in "Going After Francesca" of "a shoulder to cry on," his reciprocal concern for her now should reassure her that she did not make a fool of herself with her offer. It's easier for him to give emotional support to her than to receive it from her, because of their rank difference. Mac looked as though she was about to relent and confess everything to him, if they hadn't been interrupted by Bud. The scene was short, but sweet.

Why did Mac seem surprised that AJ was able to decipher Brumby's remark about his uncle dying in a car accident? Even I figured it out, and I don't know any Australians.

Anyway, my response to this episode is mostly one of ambivalence, but I'm intrigued enough by all the story elements which were set up in this episode that I look forward to seeing their resolution in "The People v. Mac." I doubt I'm spoiling it for anyone to say that, now that we know that Mac and Farrow were indeed lovers when she was in his chain of command, I'll be very intrigued to see what AJ's reaction to this news is (not to mention the fact that she has a husband). Given his own feelings for Mac and his inaction on those feelings, it should be very, very interesting--if there's time during the episode for TPTB to explore his reaction. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Favorite quote:

Bobbi: Harm, I don't like fighting with you.

Harm: Sure you do. You just don't like losing.

Review by HughesFan:

Ratings: JAG: 5 AJ: 7

I have to admit that I was very disappointed in this episode. Having been involved in two "incidents" that made national news and knowing the truth behind two other articles in major newspapers, the questions of press responsibility, accuracy, and objectivity are very important issues to me. I know how inaccurate articles can be. I know how the biases of sources and/or reporters can skew the news we read. I know how the search for "stories" to tell rather than "news" to impart can distort what gets reported and how it gets reported. I know how reporters can ignore facts that are contradictory to the underlying theme of their piece (though my knowledge of that practice is limited to the celebrity press). I am even aware of some of the historical trends that have created the current state of journalism in this country. If JAG had chosen to explore any of those themes, this episode could have been very interesting and opened up some needed debate about an issue that I feel is of great importance in a democratic society based on a free and open press that investigates and challenges every area of our society--except itself.

Unfortunately, TPTB were too mad about the CNN piece to be objective themselves. They saw the story as nothing more than a slap at the military based on the fact that the press is quick to believe the worst of our men in uniform. So they slapped back with a similar disdain for the integrity of the press. That's a street brawl, not a serious examination of a serious issue. There are reasons that the press is distrustful of the military, some of which have to do with the military itself (the lies told to the country and the press during the Vietnam War, the military's need for secrecy for national security reasons), but most of which have to do with the press (the distrust of all authority and all institutions of government and the resulting willingness to believe those who criticize above those who defend/speak for/"spin for" those institutions; the "gotcha" attitude of a press corps inspired by Woodward and Bernstein; the fact that many journalists grew up during or came of age as reporters during the anti-Establishment 60s, Vietnam, and Watergate; the current trend to tell stories rather than report news; the twenty-four hour news cycle; the competition from the tabloid press and resultant tabloidization of the mainstream press; etc, etc.).

By choosing a scenario where a reporter--and an award-winning one at that--knowingly ignored the truth to create a negative story about the military, however, TPTB sidestepped all of the legitimate issues and chose one that is peripheral at best (much reporting is skewed and inaccurate, very little of it is manufactured out of thin air like this one--indeed, the producers of the CNN story still believe that what they reported was accurate). Ironically, it also even undercut its own arguments about general mistrust of the military. Delaporte didn't tell the story he did because he disbelieved military sources and believed other ones--he knew the truth and chose to ignore it--but because he was trying to make a splash and "compete." And people like Bobbi Latham didn't believe the story because they mistrust the military so much as because they trust the press implicitly.

And that's where the most interesting and profound story lay, in my opinion--in that very fragile chain of information that our democracy depends on but which has become very badly distorted in recent years. We have to be able to trust the press because we require the information it delivers in order to make reasonable and appropriate decisions about issues, but when that information is flawed or biased, it does all of us a disservice. And I, for one, was very sorry TPTB couldn't get beyond their anger about the CNN story to those far more interesting and important issues. Or even beyond their anger to any kind of statement more profound than "it is bad to manufacture news stories" and "why are we so quick to disbelieve the military?" And let's be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. We do need the press to investigate all private and public institutions--including the military—but it must do so objectively, accurately, and responsibly.

I hope you will forgive my little tirade here, but I have been very disappointed in JAG's recent attempts at "ripped-from-the-headlines" stories (Clipped Wings, Innocence, and this episode) and think they have done a great disservice to the issues they pretend to address and to the intelligence of their audience. If they aren't going to explore the issues in meaningful and honest ways (as they did in earlier years with, among others, Crossing the Line, The Court-Martial of Sandra Gilbert, and Chains of Command), they really shouldn't bother to at all, IMHO.

I will step off my soap box now and say a few positive things about this episode. <G> I definitely enjoyed the B-plot involving the return of Mac's husband more than the main plot. Mac and Brumby's first meeting was a little too "cute" for my tastes, but certainly confirms TPTB's future romantic plans for the pair. I also enjoyed the romantic scenes between Harm and Bobbi. They seem an unlikely couple (and we all knew it wouldn't last), but the scenes were sweet. My favorite scene of the whole episode, however, was the one between Mac and AJ in her office. It confirmed AJ's skills as CO and his concern for his people and it reinforced Mac's tendency to hold things in and want to solve her problems herself (though it did seem she was about to tell AJ about Chris when Bud interrupted). If only the episode had focused more on these elements, I might have liked it better.

Review by Lyn:

JAG: 5 AJ: 6

With all the buildup for this episode, I was a little let down. I liked it, but I would have liked it more, I think, had I not heard constantly on the JAG List about how "fabulous" it was going to be. There can be such a thing as too-much hype.

I loved the beginning especially. It really did look as if we were watching a real news report. I loved the scene with Bobbi and AJ - is it just my imagination or does anyone else get the feeling there’s more going on there than we know about? I felt the same way when she was in his office in Clipped Wings. Loved his comment that he’d collect on the favor she’d owe him. Also thought his first meeting with Mic Brumby was handled well - since Mic is basically a visitor, it made sense that AJ would initially greet him differently than any normal JAG lawyer being assigned to his office, but it was clear by the time he left, that he was back to business as usual. Also liked the fact that he could tell that Mac was distracted and that he wanted to help. Nice parallel to GAF, when Mac was the only one who realized that AJ might need a friend. Maybe a subtle hint that these two are more attuned to each other than the Harm/Mac ’shippers might like?

I thought the story line about Harm and the Congressional hearings was well done and interesting. Also thought the development of the relationship between Harm and Bobbi was played out well. The Mac/Chris thing was less well-done, in my opinion. Right from the first scene where he’s waiting in a dark office - that struck me as weird. And, of course, the big question about why she never divorced him. That she "never got around to the paperwork" seems unbelievable, given the turn her life had taken after Chris went to prison—she sobered up, joined the Marines, became a lawyer—why keep herself tied to a loser she claims she no longer loves and who she acknowledges is no good for her. So the logical conclusion is that the writers thought it made for a better story for them to be still married than for them to be divorced, and I really resent that kind of lame excuse. If it makes for a better story, fine - but at least make it also be reasonable and plausible. Maybe the next episode will tell us more.

Ratings: JAG: 8.5 AJ: 9

Wow. There certainly was a lot going on in this episode. I enjoyed it tremendously. So far, it's one of my favorite episodes this season. As usual, my reaction is based not on the plot itself (which fell apart significantly in the end), but the character interactions, which Larry Moskowitz writes very well. "People v. Mac" was like a family reunion with all the familiar faces turning up: Bobbi, Imes, Mattoni, Farrow, Lindsey, Admiral Morris. First let me get the non-AJ stuff out of the way: Once again, I loved Bobbi Latham in this episode. This was a totally different side of her I never expected to see: vulnerable. Not only had she just politically embarrassed herself in front of the entire country, but her relationship with Harm fell apart about two days after it started. Ouch. I suspect she cared a great deal more for him than he did for her. She seemed on the verge of tears throughout their conversation, and I believe her comment about "not looking for a commitment right now" was just her way of salvaging what pride she had left.

I really enjoyed seeing Harm get his comeuppance (finally!) in this episode, first by seeing how easily Brumby usurped his place in the office during his absence, and then by getting stuck with a case of mooning instead of the more prestigious murder case. I chuckled with glee as he held out his hand for the case file of the murder, just assuming he would be given the case, only to have AJ give it to Brumby instead. That was a great moment. I was less enamored with his behavior toward Brumby. Even before he had a reason to dislike him, he was so snotty to him. Purposely getting Brumby's name wrong all the time? Please. How juvenile. (Although I did sort of like his last nickname: "Commander Bug-me." Heh heh.) After seeing Harm and Brumby go toe-to-toe like a couple of junkyard dogs in this episode, it's pretty clear we're in for more of the same in the future. If it's the more humorous kind of competition we saw earlier in the episode, and not the mean-spirited ugliness we saw later, it could be fun, I suppose. I LOVED the elevator scene when Brumby led Bud and Imes in a humming chorus of "Moon River"--what a scream! Which was immediately followed by Bud's "I have to go write some briefs--no pun intended, sir." :-)

I was really surprised, though, when Mac asked Harm: "Do you want to know if I killed him?" and he replied, "As your friend, yeah, as your lawyer, no." Huh??? I could understand why Brumby would end up concluding that she killed him--he doesn't know her very well yet--but Harm should know her well enough to know she couldn't have killed Chris in cold blood. AJ seemed pretty damn sure she didn't do it (until she confessed to the crime in the courtroom!).

I know I'm probably in the minority at this point in time, but I really love the character of Brumby. He is an outstanding lawyer! I was really impressed with his method of showing the jury that Mac and Farrow hadn't conspired to murder Chris, and I admired the fact that he stood up to the others about his conviction that Mac was guilty. He did what any good criminal defense attorney would do: He tried to create reasonable doubt to save his client by incriminating someone else. Now, understandably, anyone who cares about Mac is going to be upset by that; but keep in mind that at the time, he genuinely believed she was guilty, so he wasn't trying to implicate an innocent person--just save one (Farrow). He was doing his job. I also understand why he didn't tell Harm ahead of time. He knew very well that Harm--and everyone else around him, including AJ, Farrow, and Bud--were all "a little in love with Mac." If Harm (or AJ or Farrow, for that matter) knew ahead of time what he was going to do, he wouldn't have gotten a chance to do it; Harm would have made a preemptive strike, or AJ or Farrow would have ordered him to find another tack. Anyway, I think the slap that Mac gave him was exactly what he deserved--no more, and no less. Once she'd done that, they were even.

I know I say this all the time, but God, John M. Jackson really is the best actor on this show. He didn't get nearly the same air time as the others, yet his expressions were so eloquent that AJ didn't need to say anything for the viewer to know what he was feeling. Wow. First, he looked shell-shocked by the news about Mac's husband and the murder. (Patrick Labyorteux was also good in this scene; when AJ announced that they were going to be bringing charges of murder and conspiracy against Mac and Farrow, Bud looked like he was going to cry.) Poor AJ--imagine being the one who has to bring murder charges against a woman you have romantic feelings for. That's got to suck. And later, in the courtroom, the devastated look on his face after Mac confessed to shooting Chris was heartbreaking. I think Harm was more prepared for the confession. He thought it was possible Mac might have killed Chris--whereas AJ had briefly considered, then dismissed, the possibility. This must have really shaken his faith, not just in Mac, but in his own judgment.

The scene in AJ's office with Harm, Brumby, Bud, and Lindsey was fantastic. I can't rave enough about this scene. The emotions were so raw all around, I just wanted to stand and applaud. AJ's anger about Brumby's tactics was very natural and a pleasure to watch. I was a little surprised that he didn't chew Brumby out for his behavior, which bordered on insubordination, but I think the reason he didn't was because he knew there was a lot of truth in what Brumby was saying, not just about the fact that their feelings for Mac clouded their judgment, but that Brumby was doing exactly what he was assigned to do: Defend his client the best way he saw fit.

Aside from the all-too-easy ending explaining that the shooting was accidental, a number of questions are left hanging at the end of this episode: Why did Mac and Farrow feel the need to lie in the first place? What will happen to them now that they have perjured themselves in court? What, if anything, will happen to Mac now that the military knows she committed adultery with her former CO? I'm guessing at the very least that this means Mac's meteoric rise through the ranks has just come to a screeching halt. But how will it impact her relationship with AJ? Will she be in his doghouse again? Will he ever be able to trust her again? And how on earth can she continue to be a JAG lawyer when she's committed so many crimes against the UCMJ? Kind of shoots her credibility all to hell, doesn't it?

I'm left feeling drained after this episode. Lots of great stuff going on here, but maybe a little too much. Much as I loved it, I really wish they'd tried to do less in this episode and taken more time to explore people's reactions to all of the revelations about Mac. Everything was wrapped up a little too quickly, a little too tidily, for me. There has to be some fallout from all this, yet, from the looks of next week's episode, it doesn't look like we'll be getting any.

Favorite quotes:

Brumby: All you lot--Rabb, Roberts, even you, Admiral, sir--you're all Mac's friends, but you're all a little in love with her, too. Not that I blame you. But it clouds your judgment, sir. Have you considered the possibility that maybe she is guilty?

AJ: Yes, I have.

Brumby: And what? You dismissed the idea. Well, I can't dismiss the idea, sir. It's my job to investigate that very possibility.

 

Lindsey: Well, things certainly have gotten interesting around here since I've been away, Admiral.

AJ: You don't know the half of it.

Review by HughesFan:

Ratings: JAG: 10 AJ: 9

As many of you already know from my posts online, I loved this episode. I loved it the first time I saw it when I, like everyone else, was still wondering why Mac lied on the stand when she knew the truth. And I loved it even more when I rewatched the episode and saw how beautifully and carefully each and every scene was constructed (and especially when I finally figured out what was going on and why Mac might choose to lie). Yes, this episode has some faults--very few JAG episodes don't unfortunately--but overall I was very happy. This was the episode I was waiting for during the early, disappointing weeks of this season.

I know this episode is very controversial with some people on the lists. Many seem to be disappointed or surprised by what Mac did or to feel that she was acting out of character. I didn't have either of those problems. To start with, I didn't think Mac was acting out of character. Yes, she is a by-the-book Marine, but she has also shown us in the past that when her personal life intersects with her professional one, she has a tendency to lose her way a little (Rendezvous, Impact, Chains of Command, and The Stalker come immediately to mind). Likewise, at least twice before she has shown that she is willing to throw her own career away to protect and defend those that she cares about most (that's one of the first things we learned about Mac in We the People and we saw it to a lesser extent again in To Russia With Love). And as far as her affair with Farrow is concerned, I had suspected it since the first time we saw him (in fact, it was pretty well implied in that episode given that they called each other by their first names in private), so that was hardly surprising to me.

As for being disappointed in Mac's choice not to tell the truth under oath, my answer is not so simple. Yes, Mac should have either told the truth or not gone on the stand at all. Yes, she and Farrow should have chosen to tell the truth from the beginning. That's obvious--especially after their biggest secret, their affair when he was her CO, was revealed so early on. But for me, at least, that's a separate issue from whether she might make that decision (I believe yes), whether she had legitimate and understandable reasons for doing so (because the money was missing and because of her desire to keep Farrow out of it), and whether or not the result makes for good drama (a resounding yes, especially if we see the fallout her actions would certainly entail). People do stupid, illogical things in real life and in stories. In real life, we don't always get to know why. In drama, we must. And here, we did. That's why I had no trouble accepting that aspect of the episode.

I also have to admit that I am profoundly interested in ethical and moral dilemmas. I love television shows that aren't afraid to address them on a regular basis (is it any wonder that Law & Order and Deep Space Nine are among my favorite series?). I was proud of JAG for not blinking for once. I had been so sure they wouldn't sully either Farrow or Mac, that I was completely stunned that they were even accidentally involved in Ragle's death, let alone that they would then choose to lie about what happened. I know that part of the reason I loved this episode so much is that TPTB were willing to take those chances, to let one of their main characters make a mistake--a doozy of a mistake, in fact. My only hope is that they do the fallout better justice than they have so far. And for that reason, I hope that Larry Moskowitz writes the episode dealing with Mac's Article 32 hearing. He is, after all, apparently the designated writer of Mac stories--he wrote The Stalker, Act of Terror, and this episode, among others, as well as introduced Farrow in For the Good of the Service--and episodes where our heroes go on trial--he also wrote The People vs. Rabb. In his capable hands, I think the episode could give us greater insight into Mac and the reasons she did what she did.

Anyway, since I'm tired of defending this episode, let me quickly just make some additional general comments about it. First, I loved seeing Farrow again and though much more of his story was resolved here than had been the case after For the Good of the Service, I still hope we see him again. He is a great character and definitely a favorite of mine.

Second, I can not say enough about JMJ and CB's acting in this episode. Neither, ironically, had a whole lot to say, but they both made great use—as always--of facial expressions to convey a great amount of emotion. The Admiral never told us what he was thinking at various points during the episode, but JMJ left us with little doubt during the initial briefing about Ragle's murder, during his confrontation with Brumby in his office, and while watching Mac on the stand. Likewise, CB did an incredible job, especially when Ragle told Mac that he would kill everyone she loved and then after he was shot, but also more subtly in some of the courtroom scenes (like when Farrow was asked whether they had had an affair). Given that both JMJ and CB play characters who are slow to share their thoughts and feelings with others, it is an even greater testament to their acting abilities that they are able to convey so much to us.

Third, I am quite enjoying the character of Brumby. When TPTB said he would stir things up in the JAG office, they weren't kidding! The highlight here, of course, was the scene where he accused everybody of being a little in love with Mac and really stood up to the Admiral. I loved that! And I also enjoyed the scene between him and Mac by her car. I only wish that TPTB hadn't felt the necessity to tack on that silly ending scene where everything was fine and dandy and Mac was considering a dinner invite from him (and laughing with Harm). I'm not saying that Mac and Brumby can never get together now, only that that was not the right moment to play romance.

Fourth, as always, Moskowitz is the master of the character scene. But here he played a little twist on that by revealing information by having characters do things we aren't used to seeing them do. I'm referring specifically to Mac's inability to tell what time it was when Harm asked her during her late-night phone call and Harm's refusal--not once, but twice--to let Mac tell her story (ie: to hear the truth). Given that Harm's search for truth and justice is so fundamental to who he is, the fact that he didn't want to know whether Mac had killed her husband (and then couldn't bring himself to ask her when she was on the stand) is very telling.

Fifth, my biggest disappointment with this episode was that it was too short to really do justice to the story that TPTB were trying to tell. The story would have been better served by more time to explore character motivations, the quality of the case against Mac and Farrow, and the ramifications of Mac's actions (thankfully, that will apparently be addressed in a future episode). Moskowitz made up for that by making double and triple use of so many of his scenes. (Case in point: the scene between Mac and Farrow at Quantico not only established their relationship and protectiveness of each other as well as brought Farrow into Mac's dilemma regarding her husband, but also foreshadowed what they would do on the stand when they talked about whether they would be willing to perjure themselves to cover up their affair.) Still an extra hour or half hour would have helped tremendously. Even just incorporating more of the Ragle story into the previous episode so that this one could have started with the murder would have been helpful. Ah well. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

Anyway, I'm sure there is plenty more I could write, but I will wrap this up for now. I could go on forever about what this episode, but I have decided that when I have a little more time (and after I get Love, Honor, and Glory back on track) that I am going to write a new fanfic that I call the unedited version of The People v Mac. It seems like a far more constructive way of examining the episode and trying to explain my feelings about it. Until then, I look forward to Mac's Article 32 hearing and hope the show can do some of the issues raised here--and the Mac character--justice.

Review by Lyn:

JAG: 7 AJ: 8

I have some really mixed feelings about this episode. I loved it - right up until the point where Mac took the stand and lied. And make no mistake about it, she did lie: a lie is defined as "something intended or serving to convey a false impression." Mac wanted to create the impression she killed Chris in cold blood and that simply was not the truth. So that really bugged me and temporarily anyway made me go back and question a lot of other things that I’d gone along for the ride on earlier. After much discussion on the list, I still can accept almost everything up to Mac’s testimony. Why she wasn’t covered with blood and how a forensics test under those circumstances could be inconclusive are beyond me, but this is television and sometimes you have to suspend disbelief - so I do that on those two points. But I will probably never understand what a smart woman like Mac thought she was possibly going to accomplish with her testimony. Farrow had already lied for her once—what made her think he would just sit still and let her implicate herself in first-degree murder? Of course, he wouldn’t. And what made her think the prosecutor would blithely accept her story? And even if he did, he could still get Farrow on counts of being an accessory to murder after the fact, obstruction of justice and perjury. So what she did just did not make any sense to me at all. And I guess I’ve discovered that I’m only willing to suspend disbelief so many times in the same episode before I say "enough already." Add to the fact that they did nothing to clarify why Mac did not divorce Chris - her comment to Farrow that "she could get a divorce any time" just reminded me so strongly of the alcoholic who says he can stop drinking any time or the smoker who says they can quit any time they want to - it rang so false to me. So what the heck was up there?? I still want to know. Things were further confused by a recent newspaper article that stated that Mac "fell out of love" with the loser Chris was. So that statement just makes her oversight about the divorce even more confusing; not to mention the fact that she sure wasn’t acting like she had no feelings for him. (Which brings me to another thing that bugged me - where are they going with Mac’s character? In this one episode, we see her caressing Farrow’s face, kissing Chris, and flirting with Brumby—it was a bit much. For my money, she should stick with Farrow (since AJ’s not a realistic possibility)—he’s more than proven his love for her.) As I said last week, maybe we’ll find out more next week! Hope springs eternal in TV Land.

I still like the character of Brumby. As one who likes the character of Sarah MacKenzie, I certainly didn’t appreciate his attempt to pin the murder on her. Neither do I resent him for it or think that makes him evil. It makes him a good lawyer. And he was right about many things in this episode - Harm really was too emotionally involved to be defending Mac, they are all a little in love with her, and it was his job to consider that Mac did it. I thought he was pushing it a little by asking her out right after the trial, but again, it seems in character for him - he’s kind of a brash, breezy, aggressive-type.

Another quibble - and perhaps it is because they just did not have time to properly develop it - but I hated the fact that there appeared to be no fallout from Mac’s revelations. Here everyone thought of Mac as a friend, and they find out she’s been keeping secrets of that magnitude from them; in real life, they might not have abandoned her but they would definitely be looking at her a little differently and wondering what *else* they didn’t know about her. Also it would be natural for them to be hurt that she had not trusted them enough to confide in them. But there appeared to be none of that - except with the Admiral. I think we got more of a reaction from him than anyone else - all done mostly through his very expressive face and eyes. Although he was not in this episode all that much, it rates high on the AJ Scale because of the wonderful work he does in those scenes. Much better ending would have been AJ standing outside the courtroom to read Mac the riot act. Hated, hated, hated (can you tell I really didn’t like it) the false happy, cutesy ending. Ho, hum, just another day at JAG - not! If I’m being honest with myself, I think had we seen more of the personal stuff that should have been going on around her and a more realistic ending, I could have forgiven all the other inconsistencies. But those, coupled with this "teflon" image that she’s just fallen face first in the mud but none of it stuck, made this episode less than satisfactory. As some one suggested on the list, maybe a case of trying to do too much in too little time - this one probably should have been a two-parter to have been developed properly.