Without A Trace - TWoP Forums p.100-101-102 Nov04 discussing Nickeled&Dimed (which, nice title for Sam going to lie in motel and work wage jobs)
-Yes, Martin has a handle on Samantha's soul and he's wonderfully gentle with her.
-Sam/Martin - nice, understated.
--I thought that the scene where Martin breaks the news about Colleen to Sam was great, because it seems like he's still trying to figure out how to handle things with Sam, and because it seems like she was feeling pretty alienated from him (shades of class conflict?) And Danny's jacket cracked me up. I don't remember where he went undercover (or his outfit) but this is funny anyway: Did he walk into the FBI wardrobe and say, "I would like it if I went undercover looking as much like a hipster poseur as possible. Please." or what?
-Great episode and huge kudos to Poppy for a terrific performance. I am so aboard the Sam/Martin relationship. EC and PM have the most amazing chemistry and Martin has turned out to be such a kind and gentle man. His affection for Sam is very apparent.
-Martin was cute in his pizza guy outfit. I liked their interaction. I like how Sam and Jack's relationship has evolved. To me, they act like family.
-You can really see from tonight's episode why Jack and Martin are crazy about Sam and Poppey Montgomery is such a talented actress. Its a wonderful cast.

-In watching the season 1 DVD set, it is interesting to hear the writers/creators/whatevers point out the chemistry between Sam and Martin from the pilot epsiode. I always thought I was seeing it but chalked it up to my imagination/wishful thinking. If I am hearing them right, Sam/Martin was always the intended couple (one of them says that they want to play with the chemistry for a couple of years -actually 5 or 6- before theyhave sex), and the Jack/Sam backstory was more of an afterthought.
-and that Martin is aware of Jack's history with Samantha as well, along with how it all went down with Sam's feelings getting hurt in the end. so, a remaining qstn: what happened btw Jack & Sam??
-and clearly whatever Jack was doing with Sam when they were involved she was broken hearted when it ended. And can you blame her?

-How sad about Colleen. Drug dealers don't play around. What's 750 bucks, ya know? Her freakin' "friend" stole the drugs and Colleen paid with her life. why, why why why wld the drug guys kill her?
-So sad about Colleen. I really liked her in all the flashbacks.
-this episode was saved for me by the other characters and by the (heavy-handed, maybe) but generally cool social message. what was it? how hard life can be if you don't have money? but don't agree to 'deliver a package'? I especially liked that the financial precariousness carried out over both episodes, and while they couldn't save Colleen, at least the might have helped whatsherface with the abusive boyfriend.
-I noticed that even with the lack of makeup, Samantha hardly appeared in character with the very poor. There was still a whole lot of freshness and vitality in her even when she was begging for more hours at the plant.
--I agree. There was something about her that set her apart from Colleen and Joanna.
--I didn't have a problem with Sam's appearance in this episode. I've lived in a couple of hotels like that, many years ago, and had the really lousy jobs like that (minus the drug running), and inevitably, there was always the one cute person. And actually, we always figured they were the ones who were doing something illegal, shoplifting or whatever, so they didn't have to look poor.
-People mentioned how Sam didn't look "down & out" enough. The revers of this is that people who are living the "Nickled & Dimed life" often have a hardness about them in the face which can be covered over with make up, but the thing that gives it away is the hands. Sam's hands probably were softer than someone who works in a tool & die factory.
--Not necessarily. Firearms training and working out can really callous the hands fairly well.

-I liked her backstory and her scenes with Amy were very good. I'm thinking Sam's connection with kids and moms is more to do with her not having a real connection with her own mother vs. her having been a mom...
-I was seriously verklempt in the end. Sam hugging Amy. yeah I was teary. moms-little girls.
-Loved that episode. Mostly because Sam/Poppy kicks butt. I loved the flash backs, and how Sam handled the situation. It could so easily have been her real life, had her mom not stopped her at the bus stop. ah - huh. Good jobs by all the cast.
-I got the feeling that she finally saw her childhood from a different point of view. Like she could finally see that her mom was doing her best, it was just a tough system. Just my thoughts on that. Loved Viv, as usual, she seemed to see what Jack was feeling watching Martin and Sam getting in the ambulance. Good all around.
-I think it was last year Sam mentioned having run away at 14, but that her mother tracked her down at the bus stop. I like that they have given us a little of her history. The Ambler Tamblyn episode gave us a little of Danny's history, we know who Martin's Dad is, now I want to know a little more about Viv.
-Danny is my favorite. I love his hair. He has always been my favorite, but he really sealed it in "Wannabe" --when he and Jack find the MP and the little boy is trying to hang himself, the tears running down Danny's face while he is holding the boy up so he won't hang.
--you're going to get me misty eyed just thinking about that episode. It's such a killer.
---Aw, you guys are talking about "Wannabe," one of my favorite episodes. EM's performance that scene was nothing short of incredible.
-As I am still catching up on the first season repeats, I am realizing how the characters have evolved over the years. I actually like Jack a lot during the first year, he was funny and personable. And I like Danny more now than I do in the beginning--his sensitivity and sense of humor comes through more. And Viv has always rocked.