Episode 14: The Boy in the Box

[longislanditalian2]

coldcasegirl- No problem, this episode had me analyzing everything

[boxman]

That jackrabbit in the opening scene is almost definitely an allusion to the white rabbit at the start of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland". Meredith Stiehm undoubtedly holds literature, reading, and writing in high regard, so a reference to the British children's story is very likely. This allusion seems to be an indication for viewers that the storyline will enter a very strange and paradoxical world, and that the story that is unfolding is not a typical one.

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A White Rose, the flower placed at the site where the "Boy in the Box" was discovered, symbolizes secrecy and silence. A white rose also represents Eternal Love, Innocence, and Heavenly qualities.

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There is a very strange juxtapositioning of elements in the opening scene. Scotty is talking on his cell phone, and a poster that says "One split-second decision" passes between the camera and him. The poster has three visual elements on it: an uncomprehendible picture in a box, a gun, and a gavel being struck. What does this mean?? We know from "The Hitchhiker" and many other episodes that Scotty is quick to make judgements over people. This could be the significance of the gun and the gavel. If so, then what is that figure in the box?? A second poster that says "Vanished" also passes between the camera and Scotty. It is obviously a poster for VCA, an organization for missing children. Is there any significance to this beyond the obvious??

[longislanditalian2]

Boxman, I picked up some but how do you come up with all of these things???

[coldcasegirl]

I know...you must have like a functional brain...lol, unlike me...

[longislanditalian2]

Boxman's making me want to start to analize every cold case episode... I did notice something when Sister Vivian hit arnold why didn't sister Grace register any emotion, after all he is her son.

[coldcasegirl]

longislanditalian2 said:

Boxman's making me want to start to analize every cold case episode... I did notice something when Sister Vivian hit arnold why didn't sister Grace register any emotion, after all he is her son.

I totally agree with you about why she didn't do anything when Vivian hit him...but after all, she IS the one who put him through the ECT, and that is A LOT worse than a slap

[longislanditalian2]

I think Sister Grace realized that ECT, wasn't the best thing for him as he was dying. I think in the end as Arnold was dying he knew Grace was his mother, that's why he said " me you and the horses". She had carried this guilt until she died, that's the reason for leaving the suitcase on the church steps. Grace knew that arnold need the closure too...

[coldcasegirl]

sounds perfectly reasonable to me

[longislanditalian2]

I think Lilly didn't like that sound of radiation testing being done on orphans. It does sound cruel that the gov't would test on innocent childremlike that..

[boxman]

This episode's portrayal of Nuns and orphanages is seemingly critical of Christianity. Therefore, it is interesting that the Wanamaker's department store of Philadelphia is mentioned. John Wanamaker was a devoted Christian, and his beliefs greatly influenced ethical practices in retailing that is now common today.

[coldcasegirl]

I know, me either...she had the most shocked and sad look on her face...like she wished she had lived and known back then, and wished she could have stopped it...that's one of the first times in the series we see her get really 'emotionally touched' by a case (if you know what I mean...? It confuses me a little too )

(***I didn't realize boxman had replied before I did, this 'me either' was meant as a reply for LLI2, incase I confused anyone!)

[longislanditalian2]

very interesting Boxman, maybe the writers took some references from the bible?

I just think the whole thing about Gov't sponsered testing on innocent civilians is really cruel, especially children. I know about the whole Cold war thing , but that wasn't really logical thinking. One thing that bugs me if Clayton knew about that ECT wasn't for children why did he do it, was it to earn Grace's love or something else?

[coldcasegirl]

I wonder if after Arnold died, did Grace and Clayton get/stay together? I don't remember if Sister Vivian said anything about that or not...
B/c I mean, I know Grace decided to give him the treatment, but Clayton did it, and she could have said something about "Well you shouldn't have went along with me!" I very seriously doubt she would have said that, but you get what I mean by like making Arnold's death Clayton's fault...but like I said I doubt she did that...so please don't argue with me or something like that... (just making a point..still learnin here...)

[longislanditalian2]

I not going to argue with that , but as the doctor said at the time ECT was considered a cure. Sister vivian stated that Grace was in love with Clayton until she died. I doubt they married because she was a nun and they are not allowed to be married. He might have thought ECT was going to cure arnold but maybe something went wrong there that Grace never told anyone about.
One thing, the amount of radiation given to the boys was horrible. Just b/c they are orphans doesn't mean that they should be treated like lab rats.

Sorry for if i'm rant a little too much

[coldcasegirl]

longislanditalian2 said:

I not going to argue with that , but as the doctor said at the time ECT was considered a cure. Sister vivian stated that Grace was in love with Clayton until she died. I doubt they married because she was a nun and they are not allowed to be married. He might have thought ECT was going to cure arnold but maybe something went wrong there that Grace never told anyone about.
One thing, the amount of radiation given to the boys was horrible. Just b/c they are orphans doesn't mean that they should be treated like lab rats.

Sorry for if i'm rant a little too much

nah, you're not...you have very good opinions/and facts thanks for helpin me out...man I think this is the most complicated episode I have seen yet...lol

[longislanditalian2]

Don't you think it's a human right violation that the gov't did the radiation tests on the orphans? Poor kids, why would a nun take them there, they are supposed to be women of god .

[coldcasegirl]

yeah I totally agree

[mikencelia]

longislanditalian2 said:

Don't you think it's a human right violation that the gov't did the radiation tests on the orphans? Poor kids, why would a nun take them there, they are supposed to be women of god .

Because it was 1958 and it was perfectly acceptable. The doctor in the show said, "We were we working within the parameters of what we knew. It was even considered patriotic."

People were paid money for testing. A lot of people made money that way. People are still being paid to be tests subjects for drug companies and hospitals even today. Every hospital and drug manufacturer advertises or recruits for testing. My brother-in-law was paid for two years to be a test subject for a new cholesterol drug.

No one knew the effects of many things back then. For example, as a pregnant mother....until the 1970s, no one knew that what the mother ate and drank and inhaled affected her unborn baby. They thought that the placenta prtected itself. Then they did testing and realized that if the mother drinks, smokes or takes drugs, that these were going to be passed into her inborn baby and that the baby would suffer the consequences. Now we know - through testing.

What about Thalidomide? For years it was given to women to prevent early miscarriage. Then it was discovered to cause horrible birth defects. Do you hold those women and doctors liable for something they didn't know? When they found out, Thalidomide was banned.

You are judging a 1958 situation by a 2006 experience.

[longislanditalian2]

mikencelia- I'm sorry I didn't realize that, I just was thinking about about those kids. I understand now.

[mikencelia]

boxman said:

This episode's portrayal of Nuns and orphanages is seemingly critical of Christianity. .

I think it is critical of nuns and the Catholic Church because it plays on old stereotypes without knowledge of or attention to the facts of religious life.