Lethal Weapon Season 2 Episode 18 Review: Frankie Comes to Hollywood
Lisa Babick
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If Riana knew that Roger almost lost his life the night she was born, she might not have been so quick to criticize her dad for being as overprotective as he was while teaching her how to drive on Lethal Weapon Season 2 Episode 18.
It's hard enough watching your kids grow up, but when there is a deeper issue at play, it's understandable that letting go might be a bit more difficult.
I wonder if Trish even knew what happened to Roger that night? Knowing Roger, he probably didn't share how Frankie Kelso almost made her a widow while she was in labor with their daughter.
Roger has been in some scary situations, but the night Kelso held a gun to his head had to be one of the scariest of his life. Of course, Roger wanted to bring down the man who almost put a bullet in his head, but he never got the opportunity -- until now.
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But Kelso wasn't the same bad man he was 16 years ago. He changed, and the only reason he was back in Roger's life was that some other mob guys were setting him up.
Roger didn't want to believe that the guy who almost killed him had turned into a mellow old man. Roger really wanted Kelso to be the one who killed Mike Diamond because that would fit with the image he had of the guy.
Sure, Kelso was a murderer and should have been in jail, but Roger saw things differently because he was given that second chance.
He didn't know how many more people Kelso killed after that night he let Roger go, but the only thing Roger remembered was that Kelso had let him live.
And when Roger knew that Kelso wasn't responsible for Diamond's murder, his opinions about Kelso had changed. Hell, they even shared the same urologist.
So it wasn't unbelievable when Roger became upset that Kelso died on the way to the hospital.
It was ironic that Riana called Roger at that moment to ask him for some fatherly advice before she went to take her driving test for the second time. He didn't want to answer the phone, but Kelso insisted.
It wasn't easy for Roger to let go, but he knew he had to let her spread her wings no matter how much he wanted to keep his baby at home and safe. What he said was touching, and Kelso telling Roger he was glad he didn't kill him that night made the scene even more poignant.
Riana: Dad, I'm going to the DMV to retake my test, and I thought I could use a little last-minute pep talk.
Roger: Oh, c'mon, you don't want my voice in your head.
Riana: It's already there anyway. At least give me something I can use.
Roger: Okay. Don't focus on the things that can go wrong -- all the dangers out there. Focus on the road ahead and the wonderful places that it can take you. The only drivers who never get hit are the ones that never leave the house.
Riana: I'm going to get hit?
Roger: No, no. I'm saying if you're too scared then you'll never go where the road is trying to take you. Get it?
Even though Kelso didn't get a chance to live out the rest of his life in peace, he died knowing that the choice he made that night letting Roger live made a positive difference in someone's world.
Letting Roger see his daughter be born might even have been the catalyst that changed Kelso's life. Maybe Roger and Riana were the reason why Kelso left the mob life. Who knows?
If a murderer like Kelso can change for the better, is it possible that an evil bastard like Riggs' dad can change?
It was a bit of a shocker how the relationship between Riggs and his father changed so quickly.
At first, I wasn't sure that I was on board with this new course between father and son because it seemed so drastic, but maybe it's time for there to be some positive in Riggs life instead of all the negative.
It's possible that Riggs's dad realized all the wrong he did. Sitting in a cell day after day after day gives you a lot of time to think, and maybe Riggs' dad decided that enough was enough and he needed to try to repair his very broken relationship with Martin.
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Riggs was very confused about the whole thing which was understandable, but almost every child wants to have a loving relationship with their parent even if it was the healthiest.
They're going to have to go through a lot of therapy together to get things right and Riggs' dad is going to have to jump through a lot of hoops, but it is believable that they can make it work.
Riggs is willing to try because if he wasn't, he wouldn't have asked his dad for help with the case.
The problem now is that his dad almost died because of it. Riggs has to make a choice if he's going to help his father and get him out of there, or if he's going to let him die there because as soon as the guy recovers, it's all over for him.
The last time Riggs saw his dad, he told him he wanted to see him dead. Was that just a child lashing out at his parent and not really meaning what he said?
If Riggs' dad was responsible for Molly's dog's death, how is that even forgivable. It's a weird and sick way to get attention.
So this new dynamic between Riggs and his dad is confusing. We'll have to see how it plays out. The easiest thing would be for his dad to die in his sleep so Riggs can move forward in his relationship with Molly.
He can deal with the after-effects of the death of his dad (if that's how this all turns out) in therapy with Cahill.
How do you guys feel about it all?
Should Riggs help his dad get out of prison? Do you want to see his dad dead and gone?
How would he deal with it?
Was Roger too soft on Kelso?
Hit the comments and share your thoughts!
If you need to catch up, you can watch Lethal Weapon online right here via TV Fanatic!
