"LIAR'S POKER" Throw Away January 29, 2000

by
Gordon Hom

So Nash goes undercover in this episode, in the guise of a hitman, as a favor to an FBI agent. The FBI agent is presented as something of a cowboy, in a rogue investigation of a nebulous industrialist who is described as a "bad guy." We never get to know how "bad." Does he kick his dog, or is he some kind if drug importer, or what? Then in the alphabet soup of nebulous federal agencies, the DEA comes in as buffoons posturing about, but essentially powerless to do anything about an assassin going about his business in the United States.

The story is all fluff ala James Bond (was it THUNDERBALL, when Bond walks in on a woman in his bath?). Like when Nash comes into a hotel room and finds a girl showering in his bathroom. And of course, this girl is completely blasé about being nude in front of hitmen. Nash plays kissy face with her, before sending her out into the hall. How likely is that, healthy males? Whenever Nash is illicitly sexual, he falls back on his alter ego, Teddy Malone. Teddy is the wild man that indulges, then reverts back to dull man Nash for Caitlin and playing cribbage with daddy Nick.

This is a throw away script, with the only substantial thing happening in the continuing slide of Evan. There is no way back for Evan, and he seems destined to be out of NASH BRIDGES. Presumably jobless Evan has sold his Ram truck, and now he sells his engagement ring for much needed income. This throw away episode is mere build-up for the February sweeps month, in which we should learn the fate of Evan. It looks like suicide, as we see Cassidy hugging Evan for presumably the last time. Tears stream down her face in lost love. There is no mercy here from Nash's daughter, as Nick re-affirms that Evan is wrong for her. Surely there is a better way, something more positive - it's up to Nash to save Evan now...

For more, see synopsis for Episode 91

Copyright © 1996-2022 Gordon Hom. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy