I can't figure it out. Is "hand waving" good or bad - a mixture of both?

Hand waving=good. It means there are some inconsistencies or unexplained plot points that don't matter enough to lessen the enjoyment of the episode. We hand wave those away.

The eps sitting on my DVR waiting for me to finish my coffee so I'm coherent.

"Pasadena, we have a problem..."

I love that.

When I brought it up, I meant it in the sense that there was going to be a whole lot of stuff in it that was going to make absolutely no logical sense if one sat down and thought about it, even a little. Things like the death ray being buried under Main Street when there's all that open land available around the town. That the GD corporation collectively forgot what was down in Fargo's office. That Fargo and Spencer didn't recognize it for what it was. That using the moon as part of a death ray's targeting system means that it will only work when the moon is overhead (twelve hours a day at best). Fortunately, the acting, dialogue, and direction were all good, so one can wave off the illogic of the situation.

I did like the bit about it being the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Linus Pauling (something that was very controversial in the US scientific community at the time) that was what stunned Thatcher into mental oblivion.

Fortunately, the acting, dialogue, and direction were all good, so one can wave off the illogic of the situation

Yep, this. I think of "hand-wavy" as a value-neutral quality -- hand-waving is the method by which we achieve suspension of disbelief. If the story/characterization/timing/etc are all good, hand-waving is easy and fun. When they're not, it's a chore. Last night was good.

I can see putting the weapon under the town square to make a point, but doesn't the theory of MAD require you to tell people you have a death ray? (And I'm mildly irritated that nobody thought to ask Eugenia if she knew how to turn it off, once it was established that she was close to Irving back in the day.)

I'm mildly irritated that nobody thought to ask Eugenia if she knew how to turn it off, once it was established that she was close to Irving back in the day

No one asked those other two guys either, it seems.

Was the death ray complete? I don't think the town would have forgotten it, but I can see it languishing without the world knowing, especially if they hadn't gotten dispensation to turn it on ever.

No one asked those other two guys either, it seems.

Sure, but they were only introduced to the audience at the last minute. Eugenia was established early on as being important.

Sure, but they were only introduced to the audience at the last minute.

No, they were the two guys who told Zoe that it was her fault her parents split.

I can see putting the weapon under the town square to make a point, but doesn't the theory of MAD require you to tell people you have a death ray?

Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you *keep* it a *secret*! Vhy didn't you tell the world, EH? t /Dr. Strangelove

No, they were the two guys who told Zoe that it was her fault her parents split.

Oh! You're right, they were. Ignore me.

And I'm mildly irritated that nobody thought to ask Eugenia if she knew how to turn it off

Yeah, totally. Did we even hear that she was a scientist or involved in that sort of work at all? I don't think we did, did we? All we knew was that she was a crotchety old lady pining for her lost love.

I did like that the speech Thatcher gave included what we thought was just nonsensical babble. I don't like dementia issues being played for a joke.

Also, how irresponsible is this town with their technology, eh? Lots of "I have no clue about it but it has shiny buttons" going on.

Oh, and Eugenia/Jack kiss! Hee.