I did like that we got so much more about Danny and Mel, but this episode felt a lot more procedural to me, whereas in the previous episodes, I could see the character arcs.

I thought this too.

Loved the Rebecca/Mel scenes, though, and Rebecca bullying the kid. I found Rebecca likable in this episode, when previously I'd been interested in her motivations but not really into her as a character. There was a sense of playfulness about her when she was bantering with Mel -- a barely-there sense, but one I'd love to see develop.

Yes. Melody hasn't been featured as much as I would like in order to develop an understanding of her personality, but this scene and whole episode helped with that. (The whole going up into a tree bit was great!)

but she (Rebecca) finally seemed alive.

Absolutely. I had a hard time "getting" her because in the first few eps she seemed almost helpless & passionless. In this ep, more than the others, she knows what she needs to do and can stand up for herself and be strong. I like seeing lead female characters have strength.

Also intriguing: Mel's possible acrophobia. What's her childhood trauma, ay?

I read this agoraphobia and was all... "She's not afraid of open spaces, is she? There was no indication at all!" then I re-read it, and now it makes sense.

...the new beagle ate me yesterday. She thinks I'm a puppy. It was the opposite of fun.

Is acrophobia fear of heights?

Because I have that!!

Also, lilserf -- you know about the VM dvds coming out in October, right? Read about them here.

Because I have that!!

Lucy: Do you have pantophobia? Maybe you have pantophobia?
Charlie Brown: Pantophobia? What's that?
Lucy: Fear of everything.
Charlie Brown: THAT'S IT!!!

Sounded more like arborphobia to me.

Sounded more like arborphobia to me.

Fear of sitting under grapevines?

I think it's more dislike of physical activity/the great outdoors than fear of heights. As one of my grad school friends put it, "I prefer to stay on my side of the nature/culture divide, thanks."

I only know TV FBI, but I would assume you're gonna have more physical activity than the average desk monkey. Scully would shake her head sadly.

Hey, it's a made up word, it can mean whatever I want it to mean.

It was in a tree, people. There's, like, bugs and spiders and dirt and god only knows what other icky stuff.