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A Merry Little Christmas, December 12, 2003 |
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By Michele Blackburn A new relationship, a special Christmas
present for Harm and Harriet, and a poem let the members of JAG have A
Merry Little Christmas. previous episode review//next episode review
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As Harm and Mattie's day in court grows very close, Harm is subjected to a
routine visit from Mattie's guardian ad lim and a home inspector. Both
don't leave him feeling very encouraged. 
When he needs a character witness to vouch for him he turns to his best
friend, Mac. She gets upset because Harm always comes to her when he needs
her and not any other time. Hearing this, I remember a time a few years
ago when Mac mentioned to Harm that they don't go to the dentist without
telling the other person. I guess things have changed. 
Having no character witness is only one of Harm's problems. Late one
night, Mattie's father returns to claim Mattie. The judge (Kay Lenz,
Reasonable Doubts) listens to both sides. When Harm thinks the case is all
over, Mac is announced. 
Mac gives a very compelling testimony in favor of Harm as a father
(Quotes). The part when she got emotional made me believe she knew that
with Harm being the guardian of a teenage girl the five year baby deal
wasn't going to happen as planned. That may have been what made her so
sad. She wants kids, but she wants Harm's kids. 
Mattie goes to the Christmas Eve service with Harm where everyone is
gathered. This is the first time in three years it hasn't shown Bud and
Harriet's Christmas Eve dinner. Both Harm and Mattie look sad as they
listen to Matthew Turner give his sermon. It was the shortest sermon I
have ever heard, but his sermons are always full of meaning. As they leave
the church, Mac overhears Mattie talking to Harm. Both still look very
sad. 
As Mattie gets into her dad's truck to go to the foster home, Mac talks to
the father as 'one alcoholic to another'. The next thing we see is Harm
visiting his dad. There are no words spoken. He touches his dad's name and
then goes to walk off. When he turns around, he sees Mattie. This is like
deja vu for him because two years ago he turned around and saw Sergei. Mac
explains that she talked Mattie's dad into letting Harm have guardianship
until he straightens himself out completely or until Mattie is ready to
live with him again. 
Meanwhile, the hunt for the perfect present is on for the Admiral and Jen.
After his first present burnt in an accident, Jen helps him pick out a new
one. When nothing appeals to him, Jen writes a poem including the story of
the presents that didn't get to her. It was a beautiful poem (Quotes). The
poem will be read to Meredith at Bologna after the Romeo and Juliet play.
However, who isn't speechless in this episode is Sturgis. It seems that
the Grinch had his heart warmed by a beautiful woman (Erica Gimpel;
Profiler). He even had his father encouraging him to see her again, but
Sturgis didn't need the encouragement. He was already planning on seeing
her again. 
Jen wasn't finished spreading Christmas joy though. The last person she
spread it to was Harriet. Using the Admiral's name, Jen was able to get
the USO show on TV for them all to watch. It was a bittersweet sight to
watch as one woman's singing to a group of homesick men and women brought
them so much joy and her message of love from home brought tears to my
eyes.