"One thing that makes this episode and the early season episodes generally stand out is the way the characters made mistakes and then experienced the consequences of them. Of late that doesn't appear to be happeneing."

Very true.

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As both Jimmy and Michelle were secondary characters, then neither were properly afforded anything by way of a detailed back story of how they first met, or how they built on their relationship. It all just apppeared tacked on merely for comic effect.
Therefore, when Michelle was exposed as the "Mole", two seasons later, their affair became a loose end that required "tying up" very quickly, and not TOO clearly on the details.
As a by product of this, many people truly believe that Michelle was playing Jimmy from the very beginning, that is during season 4 and , sorry Margy, but from what you say in your blog, you would appear to be one of them.
The timeline proves this just could not be so.
It's clearly stated that Amanda Lee was Ted Bankston's hostage for no more than eight months so, it would seem to be stretching credulity to say that the whole of seasons 4,5 and a third of season 6 all took place within this brief span of time.
It is of course possible that Michelle's criminal activities did indeed overlap during the final weeks of their relationship, causing Jimmy to say what he did but, if so, then I can only believe she hated having to do the dirty on him.
In fact, I sincerely doubt that she enjoyed one single moment of those eight months.

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