User Reviews

I don't understand why the rating of this episode is that low. It is actually really enjoyable and good. The scene with Kevin and Laurie is just amazing. You could argue that the whole search after the baby doll feels a bit unnecessary - but I think it's kind of a metaphor and overall it's a well executed side-plot. Justin Theroux is a great actor and he delivers a nice performance. Kevin's daughter Jill is a rebelling teenager, but in a believable way. I liked her scenes very much. Laurie's scene at the very end, when she tries to get Jill's present out of the drain, moved me to tears. The music fits perfectly. "B.J. and the A.C." is a well directed episode and though it is a rather slow episode, I was entertained and gripped throughout. My vote is 9.

We take a break from important events to focus on the disappearance of Baby Jesus from the manger. Of course the point of this is to highlight the strange focus of followers of religion on idols. At first you see the making of the baby doll in a factory, identical to thousands of other babies. Then it is purchased, wrapped in blankets and put in a manger. Some Jesus. And when it goes missing, it has so much importance placed on it when it is so easily replaceable, because of the arguably silly idea that it has to be "meaningful". Garvey is told to buy a new baby doll and pretend this is the lost baby Jesus, which just highlights the strangeness of obsessing over a baby doll. It's not my favourite storyline. Even though it has a purpose, it strikes me as pretty pretentious, a little on the nose. Leave Christians to celebrate Christmas how they want, please.

Garvey's divorce file is brutal and shows just how well a cult works at cutting you off from the people who love you. It reminds me of scientology in how you are pressured to lose your connections to the outside world. The most heartbreaking thing is that Laurie won't even say it to his face that she wants a divorce because of her cult's no-speaking rules. And that she can't even bring herself to keep her daughter's gift, then regrets throwing it down the drain, adds even more poignancy. But what is stopping her from coming back? What makes the Guilty Remnants' hold on her so powerful? It would be nice to know.

Meanwhile, the actions of the Guilty Remnants are getting more horrible. Their leaflets, their intimidation, the way they break into houses to remove the memories of those who disappeared, all of it is downright disgusting. Their purpose is becoming clearer now. Still, it's hard to understand what they offer that actually draws people to them, and that's what makes it difficult for the viewer to empathise with the situation of people like Laurie. Some more context would mean a lot.