and no matter how many times i watch .. i still cannot decide what is going on for Jack... the ambiguity is masterful!

MB: No. Hang on. YOU hang on, Jack. Don't try and hoodwink me, because I can see through it, because I know you, Jack. I've been watching you fuck it up! I mean, are you stupid?

JW: No, I'm not stupid.

MB: Let me describe a stupid cop to you. A stupid cop would be somebody who would take a piece of incriminating evidence and bung it into the bin of the prime suspect.

JW:  I didn't... Listen, I know it's been a fucking shit week for me, OK...

MB: Well, it's been a much shitter week for me.

JW: I thought I was doing what needed to be done.

MB: I've had to speak to the DPS, I've had to pull a few fucking favours, favours I was rather keeping for myself. God, you are standing right on the fucking edge and I've a bloody good mind to give you a shove instead of constantly holding your hand. So, HR have said to me that you have six weeks' holiday due. I suggest that you take them. Don't send me a postcard.

The think is, as much as I sympathize with Jack, Martha is absolutely right.  He's getting off a lot easier than if an official inquiry were launched.  

I don't think Jack considers what he tried to do morally wrong....but he does know that it was a major mistake. I think he's pissed off because he fucked up as much as because he's been told off.

Yeah.. he doesnt actually apologize does he fifi....

does he think he has done nothing wrong? No I don't think so.... he has been knowing it all along.... just not expressing it outside of himself or even to himself..
BUT there is a bit of "it's unfair" for Jack because in the end he did not plant the evidence.. he did not NOT hand in the evidence...

I agree that part of his upset is about possibly having shattered the bond between Martha and him.  But I also think he knows he ultimately did wrong.  Otherwise I believe he would have come clean with Martha.  He's not exactly ashamed... but more knowing that he was circumventing the law a bit too much this time.

Sure he's pissed he's being taken off duty.  But when he's up on that rooftop by himself, I think he also knows he fucked up majorly.

would he do the same again?  hmmm, interesting question...

when I first watched this episode i thought Jack got off lightly and that it had been a long time coming. But with subsequent watches, my sympathy grows. Mainly because his intentions are good. He did the wrong thing for the right reasons. and also because he is his own worst enemy at times at this seems to be the culmination of that. Also.. there is this sense that his maverick nature is confined by this job... he does it extremely well...his motive is to get the bad guy and this was SUCH a bad guy...

jack is not the bad guy. Edward fucking Schaffer is. and Justin Meercroft.

fifi wrote:

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whimsyfox wrote:

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would he do the same again?  hmmm, interesting question...

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 it is an interesting question.  And I keep changing my mind. 

I'm tempted to say yes...if he was sure that he wasn't going to get caught out - like I said I don't think he considers it to be morally wrong - just against the rules.  But maybe he wouldn't want to risk upsetting Martha again...

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 I'm thinking he would behave for a while, but his "caped crusader" tendencies would eventually resurface.  He might be more careful about it next time, try to be sure his duplicity was better masked.

Domino - I agree totally. But as far as the law/police procedure goes he got off very lightly. I'd like to think that if a police officer tried to plant evidence in real life they would get more than 6 weeks holiday!!

ok so i put it to you fifi (in a Tom voice)

what if a police office planted evidence that put away a criminal as nasty as Edward Schaffer when no other evidence could possibly have surfaced.... yes i know it is the law and there are rules... but the bigger picture?
this is why Jack SHOULD be a caped crusader not a detective!