Eli Stone: Two Ministers

This latest episode of Eli Stone picks up right after the cliffhanger involving Eli having a vision of Beth leaving Nate at the altar. The couple comes and visits Eli at his apartment. Eli tries to subtly drop hints that marriage is a big commitment and they shouldn’t rush into it, but their response is to ask Eli to upgrade from being best man to being their minister. That’s the first minister referred to in the title.

The second minister comes to visit Keith at the firm. He claims to know Keith but Keith doesn’t recognize him right away. Finally he realizes that it is his reverend Michelle Stills…only now Michelle is Michael Stills. Michael Stills has a problem: he was let go by St. Anne’s Church without even having the opportunity to address his flock about his gender change.

Keith enlists Eli’s help. Eli sees the case as a simple case of discrimination, but the church insists it is merely a contractual dispute. The church claims that they made a contract with Michelle Stills, not Michael Stills, and are thus under no obligation to enlist his services. Keith tries to stick Eli with the case and bow out, but Eli forces him to stay on. It seems Keith also has reservations about his minister’s radical life choice. All Michael Stills wants is a chance to deliver his sermon. The church offers him a settlement payment but nix the sermon, stating that many members of the congregation are leaving because of Stills. Eli has no choice but to take it to trial.

Meanwhile, Eli continues to prod at Nate about his marriage plans and Nate finally gets suspicious that Eli had a vision about the wedding. Eli tries to nervously deflect Nate’s accusation, but Nate isn’t convinced. Nate calls Frank and asks him if Eli has mentioned having any visions. Frank tells Nate that he and Eli aren’t really talking. I guess that has something to do with Eli going to another acupuncturist to do some more of that dark arts voodoo after Frank refused. Frank warns Eli to stop doing this dangerous sorcery stuff and implores him not to go to Las Vegas for his brother’s wedding. Eli refuses.

And unfortunately, we have to be subjected to more Taylor/Matt pregnancy crap. The ridiculous couple are informed that there might be some chromosomal deficiency with their baby. You can guess what goes on from there. Taylor cries and whines, Matt tries to crack jokes, they talk about their relationship and…gag me. Gee, do you think that maybe the baby might actually be perfectly fine? I’m so sick of these characters. They add nothing to the show and they have no redeeming values.

The wedding goes down in flames, just as Eli foresaw. Turns out Beth still has the hots for Eli…which really makes no sense because Eli has been available for quite some time and no one made her go after Nate. Nate blames Eli of course, saying that Eli has ruined his chance at having a happy life, and by taking back the aneurism, Eli took away any sense of purpose for Nate. He doesn’t have a family and he doesn’t have a gift. He’s just alone. Boo hoo. The two brothers are going at it full steam when Eli’s nose starts bleeding. Thus we are left with another cliffhanger of sorts, as Eli Stone starts winding down to the very end.

This is a decent episode that at least gives Keith a better subplot than all the Angela/Patti drama of late. It’s good to have Nate around, as the scenes between the two siblings are always well-written and well-acted. But this is far from the best the show has given us, and Victor Garber’s presence is sorely missed.

Season 2, Episode 9: Two Ministers (originally aired December 30, 2008)

For another take on this episode, check out Ministering to Eli Stone by Kaitlyn Edsall.

For more on Eli Stone, click here.

Tuesdays at 10/9C on ABC

Photographs courtesy of ABC