Lamenting an old show of mine

[grimorie]

I decided to re-watch ‘Find Your Happy Place’ 2x01 again and then I decided to read the Sides for the casting call in the episode and boy did I not expect how angry I feel re-reading what we could have gotten and the story we got.

The change I’m really annoyed with is that every side indicated that Reese had a much larger focus than what’s aired, and that in the first episode they already had Charlie bringing Dani into his off the books investigation:

INT. HELDER INVESTMENT BANK - ELEVATOR - DAY

Crews and Reese alone in the elevator again

Reese
Does everyone have a secret?

Crews
You want to know mine?

Reese
Which one…?

Crews
You know which one.

Reese
The one about my father?
(Off his nod yes)
The one about my father having
something to do with you going to
prison for twelve years?

Crews
Reese… I’m pretty sure he did.

She tries to maintain her composure. The elevator door opens.

——

In the broadcast version, it took Dani twelve episodes to ask this question! And I’m just annoyed that somewhere in the writer’s room they decided to back track and keep Dani both in the dark and in denial for 12 episodes (even though she asked this question in episode 3!) just so they can keep the convoluted mystery going, when a better and efficient story is Charlie bringing Dani into the investigation earlier, instead of Charlie walking around showing pictures of a decade’s old photo trying to identify each one, when it turned out Dani probably knew everyone in the photo.

She knew Rayborn, she’s bound to know EVERYONE. She’s a legacy cop. She’s been around cop culture, she *knew* the people Charlie was investigating.

(Also, now we will never know why Dani was on Rayborn’s boat, dammit)

Crews
Excuse me, there something special about this fountain?

Forty Year Old Son
It’s supposed to be good luck to
get your picture taken in front of
it before you begin a journey.

Crews
…before you begin a journey…

Forty Year Old Son
You two want me to take your
picture?

Crews and Reese look at each other. Then… Reese looks away
but Crews reaches out and GIVES HER A HUG as…

SNAP, the guy takes their picture and

END OF EPISODE

---

I want to punch the writers and the network guys in the face. I'm just glad they were able to end in a beautiful grace note therefore salvaging the whole show for me. But man, imagine all the missed opportunities!