Picking Nits
Costigan accepting undercover erasure, the impossible statehouse view, the central romance, Madolyn’s inaction, an intentionally forgettable killer, Queenan missing Sullivan, and the literal final rat drive the nitpicks.
In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 00:38:32Read transcript
- Costigan’s willingness to accept the undercover assignment and identity erasure is questioned.
- Damon’s character’s impossible statehouse apartment view is questioned.
- Whether Costigan and the doctor would get together is questioned and then accepted through a larger reading of Costigan and Damon’s character as opposing ways of living.
- the doctor not turning Damon’s character in after Costigan’s death is questioned.
- Casting a forgettable actor as Costigan’s killer is debated against using a more famous face that would telegraph his purpose.
- Queenan’s failure to suspect Damon’s character despite obvious suspicious behavior is questioned.
- The literal rat at the end is criticized as an overly explicit symbol, then partly defended as a closing bow.