Forever, “Dead Men Tell Long Tales,” was written by the team of Chris Fedak and Matt Kester and was directed by Peter Lauer. Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr guest starred as Isaac Monroe, and while those who want to see Henry (Ioan Gruffudd) and Jo (Alana De La Garza) together may object, I hope we see a lot more of him as he fit in perfectly with the cast. While I had some minor logical quibbles with this episode, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable episode that seamlessly wove it’s themes through multiple storylines in past and present.
The main murder of Rick Rasmussen (Arthur Gerunda) over a recently salvaged ship has important implications for Henry when he discovers the ship is the Empress of Africa – the very ship on which he first died. The case also introduces Isaac as a love interest with Jo and an interesting connection to Henry.
As always, let’s start with the opening voiceover: “Every person who has lived long enough has something in their past that must be forgotten. A moment when they failed or when they simply went right instead of left and that simple choice changed their life for the worse. So we cover it up and forget. But deep down, we know it will come back to haunt us.” At first blush, this would seem to simply refer to Henry himself. He tried to save the slaves on the ship, only to be killed before he could deliver the key which would allow them to escape and take the ship. He’s lived for 200 years believing he’d been responsible for the deaths of 300 people and that he was cursed because of it.
The voiceover could also be seen to apply to Jo. The loss of her husband resulted in her cutting herself off. I particularly loved how Hanson (Donnie Keshawarz) encouraged her to go on the date and was then so protective of interrupting her on it. The other person the voiceover could apply to is Adam (Burn Gorman). Does he feel badly for what he’s don’t to Henry in the past? He does seem to be attempting to atone for it. He gives Henry the gun that killed him, telling Henry that he believes that the only thing that can truly kill them is the weapon that gave them immortality to begin with.
The final voiceover tells us: “A great alienist once told me that we must face those moments we chose to forget. Only by confronting our fears are we able to grow to change and to be able to face our next.” Must Henry now face that he is not cursed? Or, now that he has the gun, must he fact that he can die? It seems that Adam is facing his choice to hurt Henry in the past and to make up for it in the present. He tells Henry that “the great curse for the immortal is that time ceases to exist.” Adam’s dagger has been lost forever, but Henry may now have the means of his own death in his hand. He could choose when to die. Adam has given Henry a great gift – the gift of time’s meaning. I would think that Abe’s (Judd Hirsch) as well as Abigail’s mortality might have also given him a sense of that, but here we see Henry suddenly notice the ticking of a clock.
Jo, of course, must confront her fear to let someone back into her life. She opens herself to further loss as well as possible happiness. It’s nicely symbolic – as well as funny – that she takes her gun along on the date with her. I adored Henry’s reaction to finding she’d taken it along.
As the episode opens, Abe is examining some new maps he’s just acquired. I have to admit that I don’t think I noticed before that the Antique shop sign incorporates a ship in its signage. Perfect, of course! One of the great joys of this series is the chemistry between Hirsch and Gruffudd, and they have several lovely scenes together in this episode. Here, Abe is a bit exasperated with hearing his father’s stories over and over again – like any child. For his own part, Henry is disappointed that Abe seems to find him boring. It’s wonderful to watch how much more expression there is on Gruffudd’s face in these most recent episodes as Henry fully joins the land of the living. It’s easy to imagine how Abe must feel, having seen his parents together and then witnessed Henry locking so much of himself away.
The nautical theme runs throughout the episode with even Jo suggesting the case might “float your boat” to Henry. Lucas (Joel David Moore) delights in using “pirate-speak” whenever possible. Lucas is also preoccupied with Henry and he being partners after Hanson suggests it. I thought it funny that Henry seemed to know who Starsky and Hutch were but not Riggs and Murtaugh from
Lethal Weapon. Lucas also obsesses over them being Sherlock and Watson – of course, in their case Henry is both the doctor and the eccentric genius.
Henry’s infamous powers of deduction stand him in good stead in this episode and he picks up and runs with a number of clues. He links the divers together through their manifesting decompression sickness and sharing jellyfish stings. Henry links Margo (Kate Rogal) to her father through their shared, rare genetic anomaly of heterochromia – I also loved that Lt Reece (Lorraine Toussaint) knew what it was.
It’s telling, of course, that the one death that Abe knows so little about is Henry’s first. Gruffudd’s face when Henry realizes the ship is his ship tells an entire story. The flashbacks take us back to the events immediately preceding Henry being shot. He talks to a slave with sharpened teeth and promises to deliver the key that will unlock the shackles and doors. Henry then tells him where the armory is and tells him to make a break for it as soon as he gets them the key – but then Henry is shot before being able to carry out his plan to ruin the slavery business his father had built.
Henry has earned his place enough with the team that Reece allows him to sit in on the questioning of Margo, Davy (Luke Robertson), and Chappy (James Andre O’Connor). Unfortunately, for once, Reece’s confidence is misplaced. Henry only wants information on the ship rather than the murder. I loved Henry clearing his thoat and the non-verbal conversation he has with Jo. She raises her eyebrows and nods. Meanwhile, we see Reece alone in the observation room becoming increasingly puzzled by Henry’s questions. She tells him that they are conducting a murder investigation and dismisses him. I loved how Henry literally turns on his heel and leaves, looking rather sheepish.
It’s Abe who points out that they have an entire warehouse of clues at their disposal. I love it when Abe helps Henry in the field. In this instance, they find the body of the slave Henry was talking to in the flashback – the pointed teeth give it away. The two aren’t alone inside the warehouse and even less so outside as Jo, Hanson, and numerous officers surround the warehouse to apprehend George (Don McManus) who has broken in. Jo is shocked to also find Henry and Abe.
Jo covers for the two but is concerned about Henry being obsessive about the ship. Henry tells her he prefers passionate to obsessive. He also explains himself by saying that 300 souls lost their lives when the ship went down, so that in itself is a crime. Jo points out they are only interested in the crime in the present.
George’s interrogation leads them to Isaac Monroe – a hotelier who financed the $1.7 million renovations for deep sea diving to Rick’s boat. Jo and Henry go to the Explorer’s Club where Isaac is giving a speech. I loved how excited Henry gets at the thought of going there – and what a peacock he is about his clothing. It’s hilarious when he thinks he’s being singled out because he’s improperly dressed when in reality there’s a phone call for him. Once again, Gruffudd’s expressive face clearly expresses Henry’s embarrassment.
Jo’s first impression of Isaac is that he’s full of himself as he basically ignores them as he prepares to give his speech. The speech, in fact, demonstrates that he is actually quite humble and self-effacing, describing himself as merely the money guy. He then gives away the $7 million in gold that was his motive for killing Rick. He gives the money to the Walker Institute for History Education. Henry’s face lights up at this. Given Henry’s own relationship with history and his passion for it, this was the perfect place for the money to go.
It’s Henry that points out that Isaac winked at Jo. I really liked the chemistry between Gooding and De La Garza. Both enjoy flirting with each other, but Jo won’t let it go further because she’s a cop and he’s a suspect. Hanson takes great pride in clearing that barrier for her.
Meanwhile the call that Henry is called away for is actually Adam who is at the function himself. He too is a big fan of history and the Explorer’s Club. He tells Henry that history fascinates him – especially Henry’s. In fact, he’s dug up almost everything we know about Henry. He shows Henry the Captain’s flintlock that killed him. He tells Henry that they are both looking for the same thing: “a way out.”
The next day, Jo receives roses and an invitation to dinner from Isaac, and Henry receives the Captain’s flintlock from Adam. They are interestingly parallel gifts from potential suitors. Isaac sends his limo for Jo and then prepares a romantic meal for her at his apartment. I loved it when Isaac says he never makes a move on a first date and then Marvin Gaye comes on – the universal sign for getting it on. Jo excuses herself to the washroom and gives herself a pep talk. I love how much more we are seeing of Jo now too. She, like Henry, is so much more expressive now that she is finally re-entering the world.
Henry determines that the murder was about the diver who died in the initial attempt to reach the Empress of Africa – Margo’s father. The motive is revenge not money. I loved Hanson and Henry at the door to Isaac’s apartment, not wanting to disturb this for Jo. When Marvin Gaye comes on, Hanson’s reaction is hilarious. Henry, doesn’t get the reference until Hanson semi-explains it. Henry looks a little shocked that Jo may be having sex on her first date with Isaac, but Henry asserts that the sounds of fighting are definitely not sex.
In the aftermath, Isaac tells Jo that after saving his life, there’s no way that she can deny him a second date. I loved the way Reece tells Hanson she needs to speak to him in order to leave Jo and Isaac alone in the room – even she is happy to push Jo along.
Henry has already determined that the Empress was Isaac’s obsession, not Rick’s. Isaac tells Henry that he had a map, drawn by a scholar on the ship who everyone thought was merely a slave. Isaac finally fills in the blanks for Henry and answers why the ship which Henry assumed sank in the Caribbean was recovered off the coast of New York. He tells Henry that one of the crew members on the Empress was shot but as he was carried from the ship, a key dropped from the dead man’s hand. The slaves were able to release themselves and take the ship. They made their way north but eventually the ship was too damaged to go further and sank. However, the 300 made it to both safety and freedom in the north. Isaac says to Henry, “And 200 years later, one of their descendant could find that ship and tell their story. Our story.” And how fitting is it that their descendant also tells their savior of the part he played.
In the end, then, Henry is relieved of his guilt. Will having the means of his death in his hands make Henry less desirous of it? It’s unlikely that Henry would want to die before Abe. Would he enter into one more relationship? He seems genuinely supportive of Jo and Isaac, not jealous. I actually really like that they’ve gone in this direction. I’m very much enjoying Cuba Gooding Jr, so I hope we keep him for at least the rest of the season.
What did you think of the episode? Did you like learning more about Henry’s first death? Were you happy to see the return of Adam? I’m continuing to really enjoy Burn Gorman as he’s always fantastic. Did you like the addition of Cuba Gooding Jr? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! We still have no word on a renewal yet, so continue to spread the word! Live tweet #RenewForever and #Forever, DVR, watch live, and
join the fan campaigns here if you want a second season!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
