Night Shift 2 - - Episode 13 - - Past & Presence (part 2)

I just had to start this week's review with a sobbing emoticon - - I am genuinely disappointed that Night Shift is over. 

This week's conclusion was a fitting end to a lovely 14-week run - - the episode tied up all of the loose ends in a satisfying manner, but left room for storyline continuation later, if there ends up being a Season 3.  Three cheers for Sri Rao - - a man who knows how not to write himself (or any future writers of the show) into an inescapable corner.

We start with the aftermath of last week's cliff-hanging explosion - - I was on the edge of my seat, and not because I was reaching for another vodka collins, but because I was genuinely engrossed in what was happening.  See Kyle suddenly remember that Claire is his bestest friend and search frantically to find her in the rubble.  See Patrick hotly barking orders and organizing hospital personnel to handle the injured.  See Leo frantically attempt to save Saira from a burning car only to set his own arm on fire and need a rescue from Jagger.  See Jagger and his bulging biceps pull Saira from the car, mere moments before it explodes!     

By the time the opening credits rolled, I was breathless.  I also have to give kudos to the great editing team - - the way the scenes of Patrick and Jagger disarming the bomb and Saira flat-lining in the ER were cut together, was simply fabulous!  The relationship between Jagger and Patrick has been one of my favorites this season - - funny, witty, slightly adversarial - - and now they're disarming bombs together like Batman and Robin, what a dynamic duo!

One Week Later:

Robin and Anna give Robert the good news - - he's getting better, the infection is clearing up, and Anna has found him a cutting-edge treatment in Switzerland.  Poor Eric, he really got shafted with Portland, I mean, the Swiss have world-famous chocolate.     

Robin vigils at Saira's bedside - - she's in a coma.  Leo comes to sit by Saira's bedside and prays for her recovery with (believable) tears in his eyes   - - Saira wakes up.

Kyle and Claire run into each other at the hospital - - mutual apologies, she says she might be coming back to work at GH since the coffee shop wouldn't hire her.  Um, yeah, I wouldn't hire her either.

Anna tells Robert that she intends to see him through his treatment - - she's going with him to Switzerland.

Leo wants Saira to spend another week in the hospital - - Saira is ready to be released now, Robin agrees with Leo.  Leo tells Saira that Jagger pulled her from the burning car - - Leo leaves out the part where he set himself ablaze trying to rescue her first.

Patrick has been fired as Chief of Staff by the board.  As he and Robin share cuddly after-glow, Patrick thanks her for sticking by him .Patrick admits that he failed as chief of staff, but for once, he's okay with not winning.  Patrick intends to go back to what he does best - - surgeoning.   This was a great scene, it really shows the growth and development of the character of Patrick that Sri has been working on throughout the season.

Toussaint and Piph share a touching scene where he reveals that he has a son who's life he hasn't been a part of.  Epiphany relates her desire for even one more day with Stanford.   I love that Sri Rao remembers Epiphany had a son, unlike that dip Guza who set-up and then dropped Stan's murder storyline on regular GH.  Toussaint allowed the boy's mother to keep them apart in the past, but he vows not to make the same mistake twice.  I guess this means Billy Dee's out for season 3, or maybe his son is "in"?  In any event, I like that they are foreshadowing it here.

Jagger tells Robin that he and Stone are moving back to San Francisco due to the impending custody battle .  Awww, I really wish Jagger was staying, but at least this is the sort of exit that allows for a plausible return.  Robin makes Jagger promise to return to Port Charles when the fight is over.  Jagger apologizes for any tension he may have caused with Patrick.  Is he kidding?  That was one of the best parts of the season - - the believable, organic tension Jagger created within the Scrubs storyline as opposed to the contrived, forced tension cough*Leyla*cough that we've seen previously.

Robert and Patrick bond as Patrick tells Robert what to expect from his treatment in Switzerland and Robert tells Patrick that he did a good job as both chief of staff and as his doctor.  Robert urges Patrick to be a better father to his little girl than Robert was to Robin.  Patrick assures Robert that he was a great father and that Robin loves him very much.  Great dialogue - - true to both characters, great acting, by the time Robert called Patrick "son", I was totally gone - a puddle on the floor .

Speaking of totally gone - - Ethan Rains had me feeling genuinely sorry for Leo as he cried at Saira's bedside and apologized for hurting her by sleeping with Claire.  Saira forgave him, but wouldn't get back together with him because she can't respect herself within their relationship.  There have been brief moments of me liking these two over the course of the season, and this was another one - - Ethan Rains touches me when they write Leo like a wounded puppy instead of like an arrogant prick.  Plus, more planning-ahead by the writers - - they're definitely leaving the door open for this relationship to continue next season.

Robert and Anna discuss the trip to Switzerland - - he doesn't want her to miss Robin's wedding, but Anna meant what she said - - she always thought they'd end up together on a beach somewhere drinking mai-tais once their respective missions were complete.  Robert and Anna share a kiss!

Jagger brings Saira flowers - - he tells her he's going back to San Francisco - - they share a goodbye kiss after he thanks her for all her help with Stone .

Robert and Robin say goodbye as she packs his things into brand-new luggage she got him, instead of his trusty old duffle bag.  Robert promises Robin that he's going to be fine, he's going to get better and he's going to come home and change his granddaughter's diapers .  Awwww.

Leo is sitting on a bench in the locker room looking pitiful.  Kyle says he heard from Eric in Portland - - it turns out that Leo had made a few calls to get him into the trial.  Brotherly bonding ensues - - they joke about going to a gay bar - - Leo says he makes an excellent wing-man, Kyle teases that Leo's just keeping his options open since he can't get any women to go out with him .  Good, fun, brotherly-dynamic on display here.

Patrick and Stone say goodbye (just when I think Jason Thompson couldn't possibly be any more attractive, he shares a scene with a child and it's just too cute for words).  Epiphany practically "hops" by, to hysterically provide Jagger with her e-mail address in case he has any questions about Stone (or anything else).  Toussaint asks if Piph is giving him a hard time - - Jagger replies that Toussaint is a lucky guy.     

Robin, Stone and Jagger share a touching good bye - - Jagger promises to return, he meant what he said about raising their kids together. Awww.

Robert leaves his cane and the new luggage on his hospital bed and walks out of the hospital under his own steam - - just him and his duffel bag.  I feel like Frank Sinatra's My Way should have been playing in the background.   Anna arrives too late to catch him and realizes that Robert needs to "fix" himself.  Robert leave a note promising to see her on the beach one day with those mai-tais once he's back to his old self.  It really was the perfect ending for this chapter of their story - - true to both characters, while still leaving the door open for the future.

Patrick packs up his office, ready to leave behind his duties as chief of staff.  Robin arrives to see if he needs any help - - they are both going to miss the privacy of his office as they start to make-out.  The season ends with Patrick and Robin kissing happily.   Sigh.

I've gotta hand it to Sri Rao - - he may have single-handedly restored my faith in the genre.