Scene Of The Week - October 9, 2016 + POLL

A weekly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in past seven days on TV.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY, "Chapter 4", October 5, 2016, Actors: Leslie Jordan and more
The Scene: Cricket is disemboweled (picked by DarkUFO)

BROOKLYN NINE NINE, "Coral Palms Pt. 3", October 4, 2016, Actors: Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher
The Scene: Gina carries Holt into the battlefield (picked by Laura Markus)

CODE BLACK, "Life and Limb", October 5, 2016, Actors: Benjamin Hollingsworth, Eric Roberts
The Scene: Vince tells Mario he is a disappointment
Marko Pekic: What a gut-wrenching moment. Eric and Benjamin were terrific in the scene. In Mario's place I would've cried a river but Benjamin played it proud and strong. The dignity in Benjamin's posture and face just elevated the scene so much.

CRIMINAL MINDS, "Sick Day", October 5, 2016, Actors: A. J. Cook, Josh Stewart, The Scene: Will comforts JJ
Aimee Hicks: Will reassures JJ that she did all she could to save the victim. After an emotionally draining case JJ is sent home to decompress only to find her husband still awake with their sick son. Will being the attentive husband he is immediately notices that JJ is in distress. As she goes through the story that led her to that moment Will attentively listens. When her story concludes he is the epitome of a supportive husband. He reassures her that she did all she could to save all the victims and the death of the one she couldn’t save wasn’t her fault. The relationship between these two has always been incredibly supportive with Will always there for his wife. She doesn’t have an easy job, neither of them does, but that gives each of them a profound understanding of what the other does. Will knew how distraught she was and in that moment it was his job to comfort her. Yet, it was also his job to be just stern enough for her to hear him through all of her grief. His voice is firm yet the love in it is palpable. He made sure she heard him because he needed her to know that she did everything right despite the horrific outcome. AJ Cook and Josh Stewart have phenomenal chemistry. It was serendipitous that her first real life pregnancy forced the writers to put their characters together. Having Will in an episode is always a pleasure because Stewart has an incredible handle of who this character is as a person. This scene was about both of their characters and while Stewart had most of the lines the way Cook reacted was spot on with all we’ve come to expect from JJ. She is an incredible agent with a ton of compassion, a phenomenal mom, and those things combine to make her an extraordinary person. It also makes it so that she carries a lot of emotional weight when she can’t save someone especially in this case where the victim was begging her to save her and there was nothing for JJ to do. Cook’s performance was heartbreaking as she conveyed the story and even more so when she accepted Will’s comfort and fell into his embrace in their kitchen. This was a very strong episode from start to finish, but this scene was the heart of the episode. Also picked by Samantha Benjamin

FREQUENCY, "Pilot", October 5, 2016, Actors: Peyton List, Riley Smith and more, The Scenes: The timeline changes & Raimy contacts her dad for the first time
Justyna K: It was a beautiful start for what already appears to be a great show. And there simply aren't enough of these stories where father-daughter relationship plays such a significant role. It already makes it special and something I absolutely loved watching in this first hour. In the most impossible way Raimy manages to talk to and reconnect with her father, even though they're 20 years apart from each other and he only has a few more days to live. Thanks to everything Raimy tells Frank, he's better prepared for the confrontation that was meant to end his life and against all odds, he survives. Next comes the most heartwarming scene, the most wonderful of miracles, a true second chance. When Raimy realizes her father must be gone already, all over again, and she breaks down next to the radio, new memories start to form and she finds out he's alive after the attack and he has been with her for many more years than she used to remember. He was there, watching her grow up and standing proud when she became a cop. And it means the world to her. The actors, the music, the editing, everything makes this moment a memorable one and I already can't wait to see what will happen next in this incredible story. Kudos!
Aimee Hicks: The timeline changes. This scene was so poignant as Raimy slid to the floor in disbelief thinking that she had found her dad again only to lose him all over again. The tears slid down her face while on the other side of time her father was desperately trying to use the information his daughter gave him to save his own life. As he is on the ground it would appear that Raimy was indeed unable to save him until he gasps for air. In that moment everything changes, both literally and figuratively. Raimy went from mourning her father again to suddenly gaining new memories about her father. Disbelief filled her face and from that shock came the slightest glimpse of hope. They had changed history giving her father a new lease on life, albeit a temporary one. This entire scene from the performances to the editing to the musical score to the directing and writing was perfection. There is not a single thing about this scene that I can’t define as visual perfection. This was one of the strongest pilots I’ve seen in a very long time and this was a defining scene within it. The acting by Riley Smith and Peyton List was phenomenal and despite not sharing the screen in their character’s respective times they matched each other’s emotional level perfectly. Their combined efforts sold this scene in an intensely emotional way as both their characters fought to right the wrongs that at one time had taken him from her. This moment was the series setup as their actions would ultimately end up costing them Julie. This scene was perfection, that is the only way to describe it.
DarkUFO: Raimy talks to her dad for the first time on the old radio.

GOTHAM, "Look Into My Eyes", October 3, 2016, Actors: Benedict Samuel and more, The Scene: Jervis orders the hypnotized man to kill his wife and then himself
Nirat Anop: Jervis Tetch orders the man he previously hypnotized to kill his wife and then himself. Jervis Tetch returns to the home of the man he hypnotized at Barbara and Tabitha's club. This scene was expertly filmed, the creepiness factor was heightened with the use of lighting and certain camera shots that complimented Benedict Samuel's excellent portrayal of The Mad Hatter. Not only is Benedict frightening in this role but ruthless, Jervis making this man kill his own wife, and then himself. He is truly wicked and he did it so well. Every line of dialogue he delivers has a purpose and I am very excited to see more of him on Gotham! His villainous introduction and casting reiterate what Gotham does best in regards to comic book adaptions on network TV! The villains on the show are some of the strongest, Penguin, Nygma, Jerome, to name a few.

GREY'S ANATOMY, "I Ain't No Miracle Worker", October 6, 2016, Actors: Ellen Pompeo, Martin Henderson, The Scene: Meredith tells Nathan about her miracle dream
Klutzy girl: Meredith reveals to Nathan that her miracle dream is Derek knocking on the door, telling her he lost his keys, and that he's sorry he's been gone so long. It was completely out of the blue and hurt a lot but such a fantastic scene.

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, "Always Bet Black", October 6, 2016, Actors: Viola Davis and more
The Scene: Annalise destroys the opposing counsel (picked by Laura Markus)

LUCIFER, "Liar, Liar, Slutty Dress on Fire", October 3, 2016, Actors: Tom Ellis, Tricia Helfer and more, The Scenes: Lucifer’s mom reveals the story of his banishment & Maze "babysits" Charlotte & Charlotte comes out of the grocery store
Aimee Hicks: Lucifer’s mom reveals her version of the events that led to Lucifer’s banishment to Hell. This was a poignant scene because it challenged not only Lucifer’s most intimate understanding of how he ended up in Hell but the audience as well. While I don’t think she was telling the whole truth I do believe the truth was hiding in the midst of all her statements. I do believe she asked her husband to send Lucifer to Hell, but I’m not sure that he was prepared to essentially murder His son as the alternative. She loves her son immensely, that was evident in the fact that she had the chance to run for freedom but instead, she went to the store to buy cheese to make something special for him. Inside of her is a woman who loves her son. What will come of all this is anyone’s guess, but it made for an intense scene. Tom Ellis beautifully captured Lucifer’s confusion while Tricia Helfer delivered the speech with such conviction that not even the audience can definitively say what is and isn’t the truth. It’s a guarantee that these two are going to deliver some truly amazing scenes together this season. This was my favorite from this particular episode because it really challenged the mythology of the show. It also challenged the audience making for what is to be a fun season of trying to decipher the truth from her. Ellis and Helfer are amazing scene partners and this promises to be just the beginning of some amazing mother and son moments.
Laura Markus: Maze "babysits" Charlotte.
Darth Locke: Charlotte comes out of the grocery store with a cart mostly full of cheese. Although I think there are a lot more serious scenes or where Tricia Helfer and her acting skills shine a bit more, I just found between my own fondness for cheese, and simplicity of the comedy of this scene, just a fun and charming little moment.

LUKE CAGE, "Manifest" & "Soliloquy of Chaos", September 30, 2016, Actors: Mike Colter, Mahershala Ali, Alfre Woodard and more, The Scenes: People support Luke by wearing bullet-hole hoodies & Mariah confronts Cottonmouth
Justyna K: There are so many great scenes I could mention from this show yet there's one that made such a powerful and lasting impression on me that I simply couldn't choose differently. One act of kindness, Luke saving the store from being robbed by a masked man with a gun, leads to a beautiful montage when Method Man shows his support for the new hero on the radio with a song "Bulletproof Love" and we see people on the streets following his example. As the season goes by it becomes clear to the people of Harlem that Luke Cage is a hero, not a criminal he was presented as. He's always on the run, wearing characteristic hoodies with bullet holes so the ones who believe in him start wearing the same, giving him a better chance to stay safe and creating confusion for the police going after him. We all know about the difficult and important topics being raised on the show, all so familiar from the real-life events and there's so many of them expressed in this song and in the sequence. A simple show of support like this one means more than can be said here. Music itself is significant for the show and with the words of this particular song written for Luke Cage, it gives the entire story an even deeper meaning. Beautifully done and it speaks so much about the show. "There's something powerful about seeing a black man that's bulletproof and unafraid.” Kudos to entire cast & crew for the fantastic work on the series!
Kollin Lore: Episode 7 was packed with so much development, including this big twist, taking us into the final stretch of episodes with a bang. The death of Cottonmouth was something that was gradually being built towards, yet it felt so sudden and unexpected when it actually did occur. Alfre Woodard did a great job in expressing her anger, as she took it out on her victim, and it thrust us into a compelling second half of Luke Cage very nicely.

NOTORIOUS, "Friends and Other Strangers", October 6, 2016, Actors: Piper Perabo, Kate Jennings Grant, The Scene: Louise schools Julia
Marko Pekic: Louise schools Julia for making her announce and watch the video of the soldier getting decapitated. The scene was really earthshaking. Kate delivered such a strong and heartfelt scene I never saw coming. Louise was introduced as a way to shallow character to pull of a scene like this. But Kate put all her soul and heart into this one making it a scene to remember. Also picked by Samantha Benjamin

POLDARK, "Episode 5", October 2, 2016, Actors: Kyle Soller and more, The Scene: Francis' Death
Sandi: Last season Francis became such a hated character, especially after he turned on Ross by betraying him and the other members of the Carnmore Copper Company. Yet the turn around this season in just a few short episodes to such a lovable and respected member of his community, with many of the fans also now finding him one of their favourites, has been remarkable. His death was a tragedy that I think we all saw coming as the episode progressed, and I for one will miss him, and the actor Kyle Soller, tremendously in the show.

SCORPION, "More Civil War", October 3, 2016, Actors: Elyes Gabel, Robert Patrick
The Scene: Cabe talks to Walter about Paige
Prpleight: Cabe tells Walter he’s not ready to be in a serious relationship with Paige. This was something Walter used to be smart enough to judge for himself. It was a difficult thing for Cabe to say and Walter to hear, but as Chloe (from Lucifer) said, sometimes doing what’s best for your kid doesn’t make them happy.

THE EXORCIST, "Chapter Three: Let 'Em In", October 7, 2016, Actors: Hannah Kasulka and more, The Scene: Demon Casey is unleashed on train
Kollin Lore: After being groped aggressively by a creep, the demon in Casey comes out, grabs the guy by his balls and throws him across the train. It then sits on top of him and claws the skin off his chest, before grabbing his jaw and yanking it downwards. This scene was brutal and mind blowing, and strangely gratifying since the guy had it coming, but wow this is one scene that sticks in your noggin.

THE FLASH, "Flashpoint", October 4, 2016, Actors: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Matt Letscher
The Scene: Barry asks Reverse Flash to kill his mother
Marko Pekic: Matt is such a force and he owned this scene throughout. The stakes were so high and the intensity was palpable.

THE GOLDBERGS, "George! George Glass!", October 5, 2016, Actors: Hayley Orrantia, Sean Giambrone, The Scene: Adam comforts Erica
Samantha Benjamin: Adam gets a guy to pretend to be Erica's fake boyfriend, and then comforts her over her heartbreak. The episode as a whole was fantastic, but I really appreciate the emotional moments between the siblings, since a lot of the time they are in their own storylines with interaction at a minimum. I didn't think I'd like Erica pining after Geoff since I was never interested in them as a couple, but it's providing us with some really great scenes.

THE GOOD PLACE, "Chapter 5: Category 55 Doomsday Crisis", October 6, 2016, Actors: Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, The Scene: Eleanor's gift for Chidi
Klutzy girl: Eleanor tells Chidi that even though they're not soulmates, she knows he needs alone time and when he gets sick of it, to hold up a sign to tell her to fork off. The fact that she referred to him as her friend was sweet, and I laughed so hard at Chidi being confused about how to row a boat too.

WESTWORLD, "The Original", October 2, 2016, Actors: Louis Herthum, Anthony Hopkins and more, The Scenes: Peter Abernathy meets his maker & Hector and his gang loot the salon
Justyna K: One of the most fascinating pilots I've seen for a while. The story's absolutely mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time. In this world created for "entertainment", which basically means murder and other most horrific acts imagineable, the most human people of all around seem to be the ones built to live and exist within Westworld borders. Something deeply disturbing and important to consider. The best scene and the best contrast between the two groups can be seen when "Peter Abernathy" is taken to the engineers who try to understand his glitch and he meets Ford, the creator of Westworld and "his maker". Louis Herthum does spectacular work in the scene, showing just how true Peter's feelings appear, how much he really cares about his daughter Dolores, how much he wishes to protect her from what people do to her. "I wouldn't have it any...." When Peter's voice breaks down as he remembers the terrible things that happened to her, it becomes clear how real and powerful his relationship with Dolores has become. As impossible as it might be, Peter becomes quite aware of the truth behind Westworld and threatens revenge against the people in the room. For a moment we get to see different sides of him, different personas and it's incredibly powerful and memorable scene. Kudos to cast & crew for their great work!
Nirat Anop: Louis Herthum was utterly flawless in his scene with Anthony Hopkins (and later Jeffrey Wright). The way he conveyed the love and worry a loving father would for his daughter was unbelievably genuine. I felt each ounce of emotion echo through the screen as if he was the most human person in the world. It’s the simple ability to express emotions that separated him from the rest of the engineers in Delos. It’s this distinction that showed how truly inhuman, the humans were, sitting there in their own “sins”. In what was a cold scene, Louis brought life to it. To see something so artificial convey such pain, to recount the sufferings his daughter had to go through, is simply too hard to not remember. Each persona he switched to was done perfectly. Later as Peter prepares to be stored, he’s granted his last wish by Bernard, who whispers to him, what I believe to be the meaning of life. The single tear he sheds moves mountains, it’s what I’d imagine life after death must be. To meet your maker and have that lingering question answered, one of the fundamental aspects of humanity is to question and Peter simply did that. Louis Herthum was simply incredible and I hope this isn’t the last we see of him. It was simply one of the strongest new pilots I have seen in a long time.
Darth Locke: The series premiere had a lot of interesting scenes and it was hard to choose, but this particular scene with Dr. Ford and his analysis of the glitch of "Peter Abernathy" with the reveal of previous personas on display, not only serve as a double entendre and warning of what may be coming for Ford, or some interesting mythology to be considered, but it also points out a connections between those personas, The Gunslinger/Man in Black, and Dr. Ford in terms of Dolores and her 'father figures' by foreshadowing the potentially duplicitous nature of Dr. Ford himself, which was also furthered with many things that simultaneously associate with Hannibal Lecter franchise such as the horror dinner party and cult of cannibals (in the desert) narratives once used.
DarkUFO: Ford talks to Peter Abernathy who wants to "meet his maker".
Kollin Lore: Hector and his gang loot the salon. This scene was packed with all of the ingredients that makes memorable TV. Hauntingly beautiful and fitting music in the Paint It, Black orchestral version; adrenaline pumping action sequences with Berdal’s Armstice going all maniac with her shotgun; humor in the cocky Simon Quarterman and the stupid speech he wrote for Hector, which never gets to be said; a little bit of romance thrown in there between Teddy and Dolores; and of course, pure badassery in Hector Escaton’s dramatic entrance. This scene alone shows just how much thought was put into this wonderfully ambitious show.

About the Author - Justyna Kubica

24. SpoilerTV Writer. Loves Movies (especially Marvel Cinematic Universe), TV Shows (Agents Of SHIELD, Teen Wolf, Sherlock, Person Of Interest, Supernatural (especially 1-5), The Musketeers, Agent Carter, The Flash, Doctor Who, Fringe, Psych and many more) and Books (Harry Potter!). Fantasy & SciFi geek! Scene Of The Week articles author. Writes reviews for Doctor Who, Sherlock & The Musketeers. Member of SpoilerTV team since 27th November 2011.

Recent Reviews (All Reviews)