MONROE AND HIS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.

Wu seems to know what the name Holly Clark means to Hank, even though Nick didn’t. How long have they known each other? How close are they?

“Sometimes being a cop gets in the way of what you have to do.”

Lt. Orson is the second person to tell him that. But Nick is very reluctant to cross that line. Which is a good thing! I’m glad.

Interestingly, I think the line-crossing coincides pretty cleanly with the point where people start attacking him in his own home.

In which I look at this scene through ship-colored glasses.

“You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”

Nick’s voice has such an odd note to it when he asks that. His shoulders are a little slumped, too. He looks almost…defeated. Because Monroe has never stonewalled him like this before. He’s never just flat refused to help. And Nick can’t help but read into that.

But then Monroe says “No, I’m not.”

And I swear when Nick sighs, he almost sounds relieved.

It still looks like it hurts Nick when Monroe refuses to help, but at least he knows what the reason is…and isn’t.

(I can’t help but wonder what Monroe must have been thinking after Nick left. Did he worry that Nick would get hurt? That Angelina would? That they would hurt each other, even kill each other?

Did he ask himself Angelina’s question again? “Which would hurt more?”)

Angelina’s least favorite things: pigs and cops. I feel like there’s a very mild pun somewhere in there. Oh, writers.

Poor Hap. He just wanted to eat bad food and collect things.

The way Angelina asks “which would have made you sadder?” it’s almost like she knows how close Nick and Monroe have gotten in a very short amount of time.

Nick’s FACE when Hap mentions “the stuff” Monroe used to do that might get him arrested. Like “wow, we’re gonna unpack that later.”

Someone mentioned it a long time ago but Nick really does make a point of touching Monroe whenever he asks for something. He’s always with the firm friendly shoulder grip and the big eye contact when he’s making a request that he knows is huge and annoying. And Monroe says yes Every. Time.

Nick just finds Hap so adorable. He grins every time he looks at him.