A Tangled Webb, May 20, 2003

By Michele Blackburn

What a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive is a quote from Sir Walter Scott and pretty much defines what happens in this heart stopping episode of JAG which includes an escape plan coordinated by two heroes, the feeling of helplessness from three JAG members, an unexpected kiss between two people, a plane crash and did I forget to mention Harm quitting JAG.

Harm is told by the Admiral that Mac and Webb are missing. Before Harm can even ask to go down there, the Admiral refuses so Harm takes the only recourse he can and quits. When the Admiral asks him what he's willing to risk when he finds Mac, Harm answers that he doesn't know. Isn't this always like Harm? Colonel Farrow faced a court-martial because of his feelings for Mac, Chris died because of his love for Mac, Mic gave up his country and his job for Mac and Webb was tortured several times to protect Mac. Harm quit his job to go down and save her, but can he confess to her how he really feels? Does he know how he really feels?

Mac listens to Webb's screams of pain as he's being tortured. I hated that part. I can't imagine feeling what Mac must have felt while Webb was being tortured. Then after they bring him back in to the room, he tells her he'll continue to be tortured if it means keeping them away from her. I know that Webb would have done that for Mac even if he didn't love her, but I know he does. That's what makes it even sweeter.

Meanwhile, Harm lands in Paraguay only to be waved off by the CIA agent in the city. He meets up with Gunny after coming close to knocking him unconscious. Gunny explains what happened up until that point and how he escaped. It turns out some Mennonites found him in a field and nursed him back to health. He then returned to the city to await help, but he told Harm he didn't expect it from Harm. I figured that would be the first person the Gunny would expect help from. After all, it is Mac's life on the line and Gunny should have known that Harm would have found out any way he could that she was in trouble.

While Harm and Gunny work on an escape plan, Harriet, Jennifer and Bud are all sincerely worried about Harm, Mac and Webb. Bud feels helpless because of his injuries. Jennifer feels sad because she loves Harm and Mac like family. Harriet comforts her and reminds her to trust in God. However, instead of staying back and not doing anything Harriet goes to see the Admiral, who turns down her offer of a person to talk to. She feels helpless and retreats to a corner to break down in tears. I wanted to slap the Admiral for making her cry. I know it was more things than just him that made her cry, but I still felt an urge to slap him. I think even the Admiral felt a little bad about how he dismissed her after the fact.

Webb and Mac are moved into another part of the house where they meet the Robinson's, a missionary couple. The couple help the severely injured Webb. Only when Carla finds out that Mac really isn't pregnant does she turn them in. Sadik stabs Mac's stomach proving that she isn't pregnant. Angry, Mac yells at Carla for betraying them and in turn getting Webb hurt again. Even Carla's husband couldn't believe she turned them in.

BTW, there is a scene where Webb mentions the Balfour Accords. Having never heard of them I did some research. The Balfour Accord was signed in November of 1917 and declared that the Jewish people in Palestine would not be harmed and that non-Jewish communities could live in peace.

Mac turns herself over to Sadik to be tortured so Webb doesn't have to go through anymore pain. However, this only happens after Webb opens up his heart to Mac and vice versa. Mac promises Webb that they won't die and that she won't leave him behind. When Sadik enters the room, Mac goes with them. Webb falls to the floor in pain, screaming for Sadik to not hurt Mac.

Mac watches as Sadik assassinates Carla and her husband for betraying Mac and Webb. Right before he kills them, he refers to Carla as a Judas. Mac argues with Sadik about his beliefs. She matches him word for word in the Koran. Sadik tells her that Webb will start talking when he hears Mac screaming in pain.

Harm and Gunny arrive to see the Robinson's assassinated and Mac taken in to be tortured. They use the Land Rover as a way to get toward the house. Both Harm and Gunny more of Sadik's men. Viewers found out earlier in the show that Webb, Mac and Gunny killed six of his men already.

Harm enters the building just as their about to torture Mac. I was expecting some kind of witty retort from Mac, but both of them just look like their glad Harm arrived on time. While Harm's freeing Mac, Gunny gets Webb.

What happens next is the biggest shocker of the year. This is what I believed Kip meant by viewers screaming NO! NO! NO! and YES! YES! YES!. Mac kisses Webb as they talk in the Land Rover. Webb didn't instigate the kiss. Mac did. Webb told her he liked sleeping in the same bed with her and using her toothbrush. He told her he needed her. In the past three episodes, these two have been the closest they've ever been in the six years they've both been on the show. I can't believe Mac kissed Webb, though. It came as a shock.

Harm didn't like it either. Viewers could tell in his voice that he didn't care to see it. Webb told Harm to take care of Mac and Harm made a comment about how the kiss showed how appreciative Mac was for what he did. Jealousy reared its ugly head that moment. Until Webb's mother mentioned how protective Webb was for the women he loved, I don't think Harm thought about Webb and Mac being any closer than friends so I think the kiss came as a big shock.

Mac used her fake pregnancy to get them a rental plane from an ex-German pilot. I had no clue CB spoke German. She spoke it so fluently it sounded like she had been speaking it for years and not just for this episode. Just when you think you know everything about Catherine Bell she shocks you again.

Mac reminds Harm of how she hates to fly as they go up. Harm tries to help her, but doesn't make her feel any better. It gets even worse when she has to take the stick to fly the plane while Harm drops dynamite on the men with the Stinger missiles. Harm blows up the semi-truck with the 100 Stinger missiles in it just as one of the men shoots off a missile in their direction. It misses them, but they run out of gas.

The show ends for the season with the bi-plane going down and crashing into a tree. This ends the eighth season.

SCRIPT ERROR: Harm and Mac are in the plane when Mac refers to the last time they went flying. She reminds him that he crash landed and she got stabbed by a deranged hillbilly. Okay! What is she talking about? Six years ago, Mac and Harm were in Virginia when SARAH went down. Mac wasn't stabbed she was shot. Also, that wasn't the last time they went flying. The last time they went flying, they crashed in Russia.

How could something as big as that episode be forgotten by the writers? Even though two different writers wrote "A Tangled Webb" and "Full Engagement", "Full Engagement was a huge episode for JAG because a lot about the two characters was brought out. I wonder how many e-mails they're going to get on this slip-up.

NOTES: When this episode aired, everyone was still unsure if David James Elliot was returning to JAG for a ninth season. This is the reason for the plane crash. If the ninth season began without DJE, the show would have started with Harm's funeral. However, DJE did sign a new contract.

Also, due to Navy CIS, JAG will start airing new episodes on Fridays or possibly Saturdays in September. The Tuesday time slot will be filled by Navy CIS as a way to get the new show started with good viewership. JAG hasn't had a Friday or a Saturday timeslot since it began on NBC in 1995. NBC cancelled the show before its last episode.

WHAT WE DIDN'T SEE THIS SEASON: Mac's apartment, Trisha Yearwood, Harm's parents, Jingo, Chloe

Best Quotes of the Show:

"Ya know what worries me?"~Gunny
"Besides oncoming traffic?"~Harm

"If we blend in anymore we'll be smeared all over the landscape."~Harm

"I hope your God is a loving one, Mrs. Robinson, because he's going to have a lot to forgive."~Mac

"I'm self-employed. It's the American way."~Webb (to Sadik)

"How'd it go with the Admiral, ma'am?"~Tiner
"Ducky, just ducky."~Harriet
"Is that good or bad?"~Tiner
"Great if you're a duck."~Harriet

"You're willing to risk your career and possibly your life to go after her?"~Admiral

"What are you willing to risk to keep her?"~Admiral

"What can I do?"~Mac
"What you're doing now feels pretty good."~Webb

"I'll do whatever I can to keep them away from you."~Webb

"I just wish I could die for both of us."~Webb

"There's more than one way to be a hero."~Harriet (to Bud)

"Take care of her, Rabb. It's more than I was able to do for her."~Webb
"Whatever you did, She's obviously very appreciative."~Harm

"I can't wait to not be pregnant."~Mac

"Are you ready?"~Harm
"I'm never ready for this. Last time you took me up we crashed and I got stabbed by a deranged hillbilly. I still have the scar."
"Try closing your eyes this time."~Harm
"It only makes it worse."~Mac

"I can put it down anywhere."~Harm
"That's what I'm afraid of."~Mac

"I can't accept dying here, Clay, I won't and I won't leave you behind."~Mac

"My mother never forgive me if I died before her."~Clay
"Neither would I."~Mac

"I liked having you as a wife."~Webb
"I liked having you as a husband."~Mac

"You used my toothbrush?"~Mac

"Sara. . . .I need you."~Webb
(right before the kiss)

"You knew she was with him?"~Admiral
"I knew he sweet-talked her into going to Paraguay as his pregnant wife. If he got her killed."~Harm
"Then he's probably dead as well and you won't have to track him down."~Admiral

"No!"~Admiral
"I haven't asked yet, sir."~Harm

(after the Admiral refuses Harm's request to help Mac)
"That's unacceptable."~Harm
"Excuse me!"~Admiral
"We're talking about Mac, sir."~Harm

"You could assign me to go TAD to Paraguay, sir."~Harm
"What'd you have in mind?"~Admiral
"International military training and education like I did in Russia."~Harm
"And look how well that turned out."~Admiral

"Oh, no!"~Mac
"Hold on!"~Harm
(the bi-plane skidded down a mountain and hit a tree)

SEE YA IN SEPTEMBER!!!!!

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