Ready or Not, November 12, 2002

By Michele Blackburn

A war game gone bad, two bitter rivalries, a cowardly SEAL and an awkward housewarming party make up for this episode of JAG entitled READY or NOT.

A war game goes beyond just games and JAG is brought in to find the culprit of the soured games. Harm defends, Sturgis prosecutes and Mac is made judge.

Okay, was I the only one that got lost in the war game storyline. I couldn't keep up with who was who. Thankfully, the names and jobs of the witnesses were put up on the screen. Thank goodness. As for Harm, did anyone else see green? Boy, was he jealous of Mac getting to be judge and the Admiral knew it. He even asked the Admiral about it. Talk about being a baby.

I loved the scene with Harriet talking to Mac about her judgeship. As I was watching it and listening to Harriet list all the things that could go wrong, she reminded me of Bud and made Mac even more nervous. I could hear Bud saying those same things.

All through the trial, Harm showed his disdain of Mac's judgeship and rulings by making sarcastic remarks. What a jerk? This was as bad as Harm making the 'dead people' remark to Sturgis about Mac in front of her in JagAThon. At one point he even made a comment under his breath that got the attention of his defendant. I was surprised the Admiral wasn't brought in to talk to Harm.

In the end, it was found that General Lucas was set up to fail. I'm sorry I don't know remember the general that set him up. As Harm, Sturgis and Mac left the courtroom at the same time, Mac invited both men out to dinner. When it was suggested by Sturgis that he should look into being a judge for the money, both Harm and Mac in tandem said no.

Wait until Harm becomes a judge and he gets to see Mac act the same way he did.

Meanwhile, Bud gets to use his prosthesis leg at home. Everyone is thrilled to see him walking so well as they enjoy the housewarming party. Well, almost everyone enjoys the housewarming party. It seems Bud's ex-roommate doesn't like the music and Harm and Mac don't like each other. It also seems that Bud is ready to get back to work and tells the Admiral who informs him that it is up to his doctors and a physical he has to pass. Later, the Admiral informs the others that very few recovering officers pass the physical test to return to work.

As for the on-going romance between AJ and Meredith, several hilarious moments are yet again served to the audience. I don't know about all of you, but I am really enjoying the Admiral's love life in this season instead of the back and forth romances of Harm and Mac and Sturgis. In this one, Tiner wants to pick up the Admiral from getting his car serviced because he's afraid Meredith (who is horrible at everything she tries) will kill him. The Admiral tells Tiner that Meredith is taking him. The Admiral clings to the car as Meredith flies into the JAG driveway at top speed. He looks so happy to be on solid ground again and tells Meredith, Tiner will give him a ride home. I don't blame the man. He loves his life. Meredith even gets yelled at from someone as she screeches out of the parking lot. The Admiral seems scared to death to tell Meredith that she isn't very good at the things she does. I guess she's going to have to kill him before she realizes that she's not very good at things, but then who will be left to tell her?

VCR ALERT: Don't miss next week's episode when Singer's 'sea sickness' is discovered as something more than sea sickness.

BEST QUOTES OF THE SHOW:

"Did I choose the Colonel over you because she's senior?"~Admiral
"By barely two months."~Harm

"You've got to be kidding me----your honor."~Harm

"Tiner's brew has reached a new octane level."~Mac

"After everything I've heard about Miss Cavanaugh, sir, I just thought you wouldn't want to get into a car with her."~Tiner

"I hope you're not dissapointed."~Meredith
"Oh, no, a good meal is a change."~AJ

"Can we bury the hatchet?"~Mac
"As soon as I get it out of my client's head where you buried it."~Harm

"How did he sound?"~Harriet (about Admiral)
"Like he always does."~Bud
"Gruff."~Harriet
"Ill-tempered."~Bud
"Impatient."~Harriet
"Pretty much all that."~Bud

"I promise you won't taste the poison."~Harm (to Mac as he pours her a cup of coffee)

"I'm the hanging judge. The source of all your problems."~Mac (to Harm)

"Objection overruled."~Mac
"Unbelievable."~Harm (under his breath)

"As much as it pains me to admit it, you're good."~Harm( to Mac).

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