The only thing good about missing so many episodes is that, since I TiVo'd them, I can watch them all back to back.
Piggy, Piggy: One of my favorite episodes, aside from religious chick shouting the typical brand of Biblical crazy inside the church. The library discussion between the disabled teacher and Violet was good. Highlight for me was the scene with Tate telling Violet how much he loved her, since he still doesn't remember what happened but she's conflicted over it because she can't figure out why he did it or "who he is" in terms of his moral character... yet it's so obviously clear that he loves her and will never let anything hurt her, and she can't help but respond to that authenticity. This is the typical complexity of people or relationships, where they cannot easily be pigeonholed; it's giving her a taste of the relationship between her parents as well, who have a very complicated relationship and yet it's clear on a basic level that both of them still love each other. (Very strong scene in the opening too, where Vivien lays out the groundrules for Ben in terms of their future relationship and what he can reasonably expect; very honest and complex.)
Open House: Constance shines, the scene between her and the Armenian guy was very definitive for both characters. (Lots of SFJ leanings in Constance being expressed there too.) Things also play out as expected between her and Moira, in terms of their alliance; I like how much they hate each other (for the known reasons), yet still obviously can come together if a mutual asset is threatened. Looks like the house won't be sold after all; I was glad Constance told Burn Victim guy to drag Armenian Guy off the premises before he expires, so he won't be added to the current motley crew inhabiting the place. We also see Violet starting to come to terms with her weird role in the house, as well as Tate's affection for Ben, Ben's love for his daughter despite him being a fuckup in some ways, and Tate's disgust for Constance. (Who exactly is Tate's dad again? Did I forget, or don't we know yet?)
Okay, I just watched the opening to the next episode, where Rubber Man is revealed. Gawd.
... I'm going to wait to read the rest of the thread until I catch up, since I know spoilers abound.
I do really like this show in the sense that I never know what is going to happen next; most TV shows are pretty predictable to me, but this one's a wild ride.
Rubber Man: Finally we're seeing where the show can go -- the interplay among the various ghosts, especially the scenes involving Hayden who is quite the pragmatic schemer. Since the ghosts do not share the same level of comprehension of their fate, it sets up some really interesting scenes. Also, both Hayden and Nora both want babies... which intersects nicely with Vivien being pregnant with twins. It was painful to watch Vivien being committed, since we know she's not crazy but everyone + events are conspiring against her and she has no way to successfully vindicate herself.
Spooky Little Girl: Black Dahlia makes the scene, along with another ghost being added to the growing fold. (Some people will do anything to be famous.) Tate is such the man-boy, as we see him here with his mom; I think he hates her because he still loves her and she emasculates him. There's also a constant undercurrent with female repression by males, as started last episode (?) with the "hysteria" discussion involving Moira and Vivien, and it shows up here as well, with women using their bodies in order to get what they want from men and yet that approach is also a trap and yet another form of restriction. Hayden resorts to violence when sex fails to work for her; and when Ben finally realizes his wife was raped, he sees Moira as she is rather than as how he wants her to be, and she states that he's finally beginning to see things as they really are. Is there redemption for Ben here, after at one point -- thinking Vivien had an affair -- he basically vows to let her rot in asylum hell forever? (I have to say, Ben is yet another man-boy; very noble in some ways, completely corrupt in others, and very self-absorbed and using his intelligence/credentials as a form of emotional protection, since instead of engaging life he can just analyze it away. Luke finally rattles him by showing him how he is really treating his wife, someone he claims to love... maybe giving Ben a chance to grow up.)
My feelings about Tate flip-flop around, considering he's yet another mixed bag -- in some ways, earnest and with seeds of potential, but then capable of horrific hurt against others. He seems a bit more altruistic than Hayden, but sometimes he just does some horrific things. And yup, he and Violet "do it" ... as Hayden validates, that apparently ghosts can have sex with humans. (Of course Tate AKA Rubber Man impregnates Viven, creating the "antichrist" baby... ha ha, rly srsly? Tate is daddy of the spawn of Satan? I dunno about that.)
EDIT: I still think Luke is pretty hot. Then again, I also had a fixation on Keith on "Six Feet Under." Luke looks like his younger brother. It's not just how he looks. He's strong but sweet and sensitive, and he has his head on straight.