The script for the EH pilot is online

[Rachel]

From the memo Stephen Gallagher wrote, it seemed that the 20 year old daughter was Jacob and Maggie's child. The reason she was pissed was that Jacob abandoned his life in academia (and maybe her?) to go work for the FBI when Maggie died. That they were estranged and that Jacob never mentioned her, not that he didn't know about her.  

I agree with Frannie - Hood was portrayed as sad and a bit lonely.  More than one episode showed him looking on longingly as people connected with loved ones.  And in the episode "Eternal" it was important to him to bring about the rapprochement of the estranged father with his son and daughter.  Considering how Hood was portrayed, as a person who cared about people and at his own admission a "fan" of kids, there is no way he would every lose touch with his own child. Even if said child was pissed with him and wanted nothing to do with him, he would still try to reach out to her, to reconnect, not never mention her as if she didn't exist.  GE2 is correct, if they had brought in this daughter in the second season it would have felt like a clumsy plot devise.  Now a 20 year old daughter he didn't know about, the result of a drunken one night stand and the mom never told him - that would have been interesting. 

Re: Felix - Kygal remembers correctly, Stephen Gallagher did post on his blog shortly after EH was cancelled that he disliked the addition of Felix as it changed the team dynamics. He had an interesting take on the subject but I wasn't sure I agreed with his analysis. I personally liked Felix, he brought a certain lightness to his episodes. Not necessarily comedic, but a sort of enthusiasm for the job. I mean, Hood was serious, Rachel blasé, but Felix still had the newbie, gee-whiz, we're busting the bad guys attitude to their work.

And good as H2O was, it wasn't one of his episodes. This is one episode that really showcased Rufus' range as an actor though. His "hallucination" scene is masterful.

[kissmekate]

I'm late to join this discussion, but I absolutely agree with you that even if Jacob and Maggie had had a (probably unplanned) child so early on, there's no way that he'd have abandoned his daughter. They might have fallen out over something, but he'd never have lost touch completely, especially not after Maggie died.

I actually liked Felix, for exactly the same reason as Rachel did. He was quite a good addition to the team in my opinion.

[Rachel]

I can't believe I've not commented on Gallagher's inspiration for Rachel! How remiss of me. I have to say I wish he had posted about Dani Behr and her experience with bodyguard training when EH first appeared. As I recall there was a LOT of criticism of the casting of Marley Shelton as Rachel. People complained about her gender, her height, her weight, etc. Mostly it boiled down to "she's to pretty." It just goes to show that what people think they know isn't actually always the way it works in the real world. Although I'm now left with a nagging desire to write a fanfic using Gallagher's comment about Dani in a little black dress being "the perfect concealed weapon."

Edited to add:  Frannie - there is one thing I do have to disagree with you about - you said the first few episodes of EH were brilliant.  I'll give you Resurrection, Argo, Savant, and Containment (Resurrection and Containment were written by Stephen Gallagher so no surprises there) - BUT Cardiac is on my list of the three worst!  That one has plot holes you could drive a truck through!

[francesca]

May 19, 2014 15:52:22 GMT Rachel said:

I can't believe I've not commented on Gallagher's inspiration for Rachel! How remiss of me. I have to say I wish he had posted about Dani Behr and her experience with bodyguard training when EH first appeared. As I recall there was a LOT of criticism of the casting of Marley Shelton as Rachel. People complained about her gender, her height, her weight, etc. Mostly it boiled down to "she's to pretty." It just goes to show that what people think they know isn't actually always the way it works in the real world. Although I'm now left with a nagging desire to write a fanfic using Gallagher's comment about Dani in a little black dress being "the perfect concealed weapon."

Edited to add:  Frannie - there is one thing I do have to disagree with you about - you said the first few episodes of EH were brilliant.  I'll give you Resurrection, Argo, Savant, and Containment (Resurrection and Containment were written by Stephen Gallagher so no surprises there) - BUT Cardiac is on my list of the three worst!  That one has plot holes you could drive a truck through!

Marley

When the series first started I was quite critical of Marley; not because of her appearance ,(I think she was excellently cast Are all agents fat/thin, short /tall, pretty/ plain??)no , my beef was that she appeared to be cold but I felt later that was how Rachel was supposed to appear.

Rachal, (our Rachel ):--- I bow to your superior knowledge, you are my EH expert, ..if you say Cardiac was one of the worst , so be it. I will have to watch it again soon ( My My! what a hardship )

I have enjoyed this discussion !

Can anyone think of another film/ tv series we can have a go at ?

[Rachel]

May 19, 2014 19:30:46 GMT francesca said:

Rachel, (our Rachel ):--- I bow to your superior knowledge, you are my EH expert, ..if you say Cardiac was one of the worst , so be it. I will have to watch it again soon ( My My! what a hardship )
I have enjoyed this discussion !
Can anyone think of another film/ tv series we can have a go at ?

Yes indeed, what a hardship, having to re-watch a Rufus DVD. Ah, the sacrifices we make in pursuit of Rufus knowledge.

I've enjoyed this discussion also. Maybe we need to revive the movie of the week.

[kygal]

I liked Marley as Rachel. I think the intent was for her to be "all business-like". I remember Vanessa Marcil up for the role as well.

At least Jacob was cute in Cardiac! I really do need to revisit my EH dvd.

LOL Ladies...I don't think we have any problems stating our opinions. Next.........

[rueful]

I enjoyed reading this discussion! Thanks for sharing your opinions. I agree that this Jacob, even depressed, busy Jacob, would not abandon a child. Makes no sense. I liked SG's other comments about plots, though, especially giving Rachel and Jacob an active role in their pursuit of science criminals--having the team go out and look for problems instead of waiting around to be called.