"Dead Letter Office Solves Murder Of Baker, Reunites Couple" This clear and concise headline captures the core of that first case Oliver, Shane, Rita and Norman solved together. But who knew, along the way, that so much about the series to follow would be subtly revealed throughout this initial 83 minutes? While those subtle clues are a series of blog posts in and of themselves, today we simply pause to appreciate this first foray into the inner sanctum of the U.S. Postal Service and the concept of the "dead letter." We remember the day that, of all the coffee shops in all the world, Shane and Oliver first crossed paths at the Denver Bean coffee cart, only to find their stories further intertwined working alongside each other at the Denver Main Branch. As in the series, they seem both intrigued and frustrated by one another, only to find they share many of the same bumps and bruises, which I have argued time and again knit them together in such a way that eventually led to healing and restoration for both of them. |
This was also the first time we met Rita and Norman, bearing witness to Rita's romantic frustration over Norman, and his complete obliviousness over it---or much else---related to love. They endeared themselves to us with their comic relief, but tugged on something in our subconscious that made us want to know more. And who could forget Andrea Schmeckle, the first---and perhaps most confrontational---in a string of Supervisors to leave their mark on the dead letter office and its public servants? The first woman we see publicly challenge Oliver, Andrea would not be the last...*cough*Shane*cough* |
Together, Oliver, Shane, Rita and Norman took their first leap of faith together, retracing the steps of a budding romance between Kelly and Charlie, and the one day spent together in Washington Park. Using their unique individual talents and instincts, they went above and beyond the call of duty to not only reunite a couple, but bring justice to an innocent man. In many ways, this first case was a testament to the twist and turns to every clandestine letter to follow. And when looked at from that perspective, it only makes everything since that much more incredible! |
Of course, for this blog, the Pilot holds special significance, for it is the only time within the canon that its namesake is mentioned. "District Attorney Edwards hailed the local post office at Alameda and Downing for its superlative service and highly efficient dead letter division..." Rita reads from the newspaper article in those final minutes of the Pilot. As we learned not long after the site launched, there was an amazing God story behind that singular reference, about which Martha blogged on her website. |
Hoping You'll Join Me,
~C