Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: When the body of a surgeon is found in a tough neighborhood with multiple skull fractures, Brennan is disturbed by how much she has in common with the victim, but her perspective may be just what the team needs to solve the case.
Review: Sorry this review is so late this week; I’ve been having some computer problems that make it impossible to watch anything with sound on my laptop, which means I spent the weekend trying to bully it into submission (it didn’t work).
So this was a very Brennan-centric episode of Bones, and one that finally called into question the entire philosophy by which she lives her life. For those who didn’t see the episode but are still reading this review for some reason, the team investigates the death of a prominent neurosurgeon with whom Brennan over-identifies. It forces her to reexamine her life.
First, I have to say that, while this may not have been Emily Deschanel’s best ever episode (I personally think that goes to the episode where she testifies against the Gravedigger), she definitely nailed it. Brennan’s been bottling everything up all season (well, really her entire life, but especially since she got back to the States this season), and it all have to come out eventually. I thought Deschanel did a good job showing a range of emotions that Brennan doesn’t normally display, namely fear and regret, in a way that was still believable for the character.
The case was the best kind of letdown. Stop here if you don’t want any spoilers. I said in a previous review that Bones (and many other crime shows) tries so hard sometimes to surprise the viewer by making the killer the least obvious person that it’s actually incredibly predictable. This episode was nothing like that. The fact that her death turned out to be essentially an accident was actually a bigger twist than any murder could have been.
Then, of course, there was Brennan’s revelation that letting Booth go was her biggest regret. Having seen the promo for this episode, I was anticipating this moment with trepidation, and I hated it just as much as I expected to. The whole thing just felt… awkward. I should state that I’ve never been a Booth/Brennan shipper, and I don’t see that changing unless one of them does a serious personality makeover. I think they (usually) have the best chemistry of almost any on-screen duo (Castle and Beckett might be the exception), but I don’t think it translates into romance. I know that I’m in the minority with this opinion, and I’ve almost accepted the fact that they’ll wind up together in the end, but this scene didn’t warm me to it. If anything, I’m hoping both of them can get some closure now and work on salvaging their friendship. Go off and be with other people. I know fans will say that they’ve already done that and it’s time for them to be together, but the opportunity was missed. If they’re really going to get together, another opportunity has to present itself, and I don’t believe that can happen until both of them have moved past this failed attempt.
So that’s it in a nutshell. There were a few more smaller things I enjoyed: the dinner Brennan threw in the beginning for Booth, Hannah, Angela and Hodgins; Brennan’s comforter; pretty much every scene with Sweets in it; how genuinely nice Brennan was to Micah (was I the only one who thought he might just be in her head?). In all, I think this was one of the better episodes this season, and I’m looking forward to seeing the consequences it will have.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Big Bang Theory - The Alien Parasite Hypothesis
Network: CBS
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: Amy finds she has sexual feelings for Penny's ex, while Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to prove who would be the better superhero. (from imdb.com)
Review: As with much this season, I liked exactly half of this episode of Big Bang Theory.
I’ll start with the good. I know there are a lot of critics who dislike Amy but I loved her in this episode, and I think it did a lot to separate her from being “a female Sheldon.” To begin, I think the odd little friendship that’s forming between Amy, Penny and Bernadette is wonderful. Bernadette seems to genuinely like Amy, and Penny is easy-going enough to roll with it. The scene in the restaurant had a comfortable feel to it, like they actually were three friends going out to eat (a significant change from the slumber party which felt like two women forced to hang out with a friend’s weird girlfriend). The change was that Penny and Bernadette didn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s quirks in this episode; they accepted them like they’d accepted her.
It also makes me happy that they’re able to add a female component to Big Bang without changing the concept of the show. At its core, Big Bang is about geeks who hang out together. Penny has always been the exception to that rule. I was worried that a friendship ring that centered around her would lose the geek aspect (since she is not), but Bernadette and Amy are as nerdy as the guys, which is what makes this new thread work. It also takes some of the focus off the guys, whose stories have gotten a little stale this season.
Now that I’ve spent more time talking about the Big Bang women than they actually spent together in the episode, we come to the main story: Amy has needs (cue laugh track from any latent That 70s Show fans). Turns out, she’s not an automaton, which is a concept that troubles Sheldon so much that he almost walks out of Amy’s lab with the human brain she’s dissecting instead of his lunch (and can I just say ew?).
It was nice to see the writers finally making a distinction between Amy and Sheldon, more than just the gender thing. Yes, they’re still freakily similar, from the science brains to the general distaste for being touched to their complete inability to spot sarcasm. But just as we’ve occasionally seen Sheldon’s human side show (usually when his mother’s involved), we’re now getting a glimpse of Amy’s.
Also, I loved the modified version of “Who’s on First?”
Will this open the door for more touching in the future? Sheldon didn’t pull away when Amy held his hand at the end. I haven’t decided which side I’m on yet—the “Sheldon only loves science” team or the “Sheldon and Amy should do it” team—but I’m curious to see how this story moves along. My only request is that they take their time with it. Instead of forcing their relationship down our throats, insert Amy into the everyday activities, like they did with Penny at the beginning. Now that Amy’s starting to exhibit some unique characteristics, she can bring a different perspective to the group.
And now we’re going to move away from happy land and enter the most painful plotline to date. Howard and Raj were arguing about which one of them would be a superhero and which would be the sidekick. I liked absolutely nothing about this. First of all, I wanted to shake both of them and say, “You’re both sidekicks in this show.” Second of all, this felt more like a bit that would occur at the beginning or end of an episode, or be a running gag throughout, not the supporting plot. It sounded like something they’d snipe and tease each other about in between things that were important. Howard and Raj have always been silly, but this was ridiculous.
I didn’t even find the sight gags very funny. I know many people thought they were hysterical in the wrestling outfits at the end, but it did nothing for me. And I actually would have preferred if they’d actually fought, instead of just dancing around each other, wasting their time and mine. The only thing that evoked even a slight smile was the spider crawling up Howard’s arm, and him trying to blow it off his back.
My biggest problem, however, was the complete waste of Johnny Galecki in this episode. I know a lot of the previous seasons have centered around Leonard (and his relationship with Penny), but he’s done nothing but whine or look depressed in weeks. It might be time for Sheldon to step back and let Leonard have some of the spotlight again. The show is best when it’s balanced.
What did you think? Did the Raj/Howard superhero challenge work for you? Are you warming to Shamy? Leave a comment and let me know.
Rating: 3/5
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-8:30pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: Amy finds she has sexual feelings for Penny's ex, while Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to prove who would be the better superhero. (from imdb.com)
Review: As with much this season, I liked exactly half of this episode of Big Bang Theory.
I’ll start with the good. I know there are a lot of critics who dislike Amy but I loved her in this episode, and I think it did a lot to separate her from being “a female Sheldon.” To begin, I think the odd little friendship that’s forming between Amy, Penny and Bernadette is wonderful. Bernadette seems to genuinely like Amy, and Penny is easy-going enough to roll with it. The scene in the restaurant had a comfortable feel to it, like they actually were three friends going out to eat (a significant change from the slumber party which felt like two women forced to hang out with a friend’s weird girlfriend). The change was that Penny and Bernadette didn’t make a big deal out of Amy’s quirks in this episode; they accepted them like they’d accepted her.
It also makes me happy that they’re able to add a female component to Big Bang without changing the concept of the show. At its core, Big Bang is about geeks who hang out together. Penny has always been the exception to that rule. I was worried that a friendship ring that centered around her would lose the geek aspect (since she is not), but Bernadette and Amy are as nerdy as the guys, which is what makes this new thread work. It also takes some of the focus off the guys, whose stories have gotten a little stale this season.
Now that I’ve spent more time talking about the Big Bang women than they actually spent together in the episode, we come to the main story: Amy has needs (cue laugh track from any latent That 70s Show fans). Turns out, she’s not an automaton, which is a concept that troubles Sheldon so much that he almost walks out of Amy’s lab with the human brain she’s dissecting instead of his lunch (and can I just say ew?).
It was nice to see the writers finally making a distinction between Amy and Sheldon, more than just the gender thing. Yes, they’re still freakily similar, from the science brains to the general distaste for being touched to their complete inability to spot sarcasm. But just as we’ve occasionally seen Sheldon’s human side show (usually when his mother’s involved), we’re now getting a glimpse of Amy’s.
Also, I loved the modified version of “Who’s on First?”
Will this open the door for more touching in the future? Sheldon didn’t pull away when Amy held his hand at the end. I haven’t decided which side I’m on yet—the “Sheldon only loves science” team or the “Sheldon and Amy should do it” team—but I’m curious to see how this story moves along. My only request is that they take their time with it. Instead of forcing their relationship down our throats, insert Amy into the everyday activities, like they did with Penny at the beginning. Now that Amy’s starting to exhibit some unique characteristics, she can bring a different perspective to the group.
And now we’re going to move away from happy land and enter the most painful plotline to date. Howard and Raj were arguing about which one of them would be a superhero and which would be the sidekick. I liked absolutely nothing about this. First of all, I wanted to shake both of them and say, “You’re both sidekicks in this show.” Second of all, this felt more like a bit that would occur at the beginning or end of an episode, or be a running gag throughout, not the supporting plot. It sounded like something they’d snipe and tease each other about in between things that were important. Howard and Raj have always been silly, but this was ridiculous.
I didn’t even find the sight gags very funny. I know many people thought they were hysterical in the wrestling outfits at the end, but it did nothing for me. And I actually would have preferred if they’d actually fought, instead of just dancing around each other, wasting their time and mine. The only thing that evoked even a slight smile was the spider crawling up Howard’s arm, and him trying to blow it off his back.
My biggest problem, however, was the complete waste of Johnny Galecki in this episode. I know a lot of the previous seasons have centered around Leonard (and his relationship with Penny), but he’s done nothing but whine or look depressed in weeks. It might be time for Sheldon to step back and let Leonard have some of the spotlight again. The show is best when it’s balanced.
What did you think? Did the Raj/Howard superhero challenge work for you? Are you warming to Shamy? Leave a comment and let me know.
Rating: 3/5
Glee - A Very Glee Christmas
Network: Fox
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, Harry Shum Jr.
Summary: Finn tries to bring a little holiday cheer to McKinley High, and Artie discovers that Brittany still believes in Santa. Meanwhile, the teachers pick their Secret Santas, and one manipulative coach rigs the gift-giving in her favor.
Review: Merry Christmas, Gleeks! And what a lovely way to kick off the holiday season.
This was one of my favorite Glee episodes so far. I should admit that there’s some bias; I love Christmas as much as Finn and Brittany do. But I’m usually able to recognize a bad Christmas episode when I see it, and I didn’t see it here.
Like with my latest Castle review, I’m going to start with the weaker aspects and move to the stronger. There were a few things that really struck me as “off” about this episode. The first is that there was absolutely no mention of Chanukah. Considering how much time they’ve spent building Rachel and Puck up as super-Jews, I can’t believe that they didn’t even say the word once. I can forgive there being no Chanukah carols (though how great would it have been for them to duet “Chanukah O Chanukah”?), but it at least deserved a sentence or two.
NOTE: Since I thought of this while I was writing this review, I’d like to put in a request for a Passover episode of Glee, with a Rugrats-style musical reenactment of the exodus from Egypt. Will can be Moses, and Sue can be the Pharaoh. I smell a classic.
The second problem I had with this episode was Kurt. I know that almost all of the last few episodes have focused on him and so it’s okay that he had a smaller part in this one, but I thought there was a serious disconnect between his story and the rest of the show. Perhaps this was done on purpose to show the rift between him and the New Directions, but I doubt it. More likely, they wanted Kurt in the episode and couldn’t find a better way. That being said, I absolutely loved his duet with Blaine. It was probably my favorite number of the night. Their voices meshed together so well, and the little flirting thing they had going on was adorable.
I’m sick of Rachel and Finn. I understand why Finn is mad at her, I really do. He’s been burned by girlfriends (Quinn) before, and now he’s extra sensitive. Rachel shouldn’t have kissed Puck. Fin shouldn’t have lied about Santana. Understood. Can we move on now? No matter how hard they try, Rachel and Finn will never be Rachel and Ross (though, frankly, I found them annoying too). Either get them together or break them apart for good, but pick a side already.
Though I did like Rachel’s hats.
Thus concludes all the negatives. Moving on to the stronger parts of the episode.
The Grinch story. Everything about it, from Sue’s green face paint and gloves to Becky as the reindog (and, oh man, how adorable was she?) to Brittany’s Cindy Lou Who-hair. The only thing it was missing was the roast beast at the end. It was a great enactment of the classic story while staying completely in character for Glee. Winner for best line may have to go to Becky’s, “Christmas came anyway, Coach.”
Also, I’d like to state it now: if Sue and Will are not together at some point in this series (but probably the end), I’ll be shocked.
Equally as strong was Brittany’s story. She and Artie are quickly becoming my favorite Glee couple, and I love that he convinced everyone to play along when he realized she still believed in Santa. Not just played along, actually, but he went out of his way to make sure Christmas didn’t lose its magic for her, including enlisting Beiste to dress up as Santa. Brittany’s face as she watched the Glee kids sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas was priceless (her whispered, “Remember, you have rights,” to the mall elf is also a contender for best line). I’ll even admit to shedding a tear or two when her Christmas wish came true at the end.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and this episode of Glee really got me into the holiday spirit. It’s sad that there won’t be another new episode until February (after the Super Bowl), but at least we don’t have to wait until April this year.
Rating: 4/5
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, Harry Shum Jr.
Summary: Finn tries to bring a little holiday cheer to McKinley High, and Artie discovers that Brittany still believes in Santa. Meanwhile, the teachers pick their Secret Santas, and one manipulative coach rigs the gift-giving in her favor.
Review: Merry Christmas, Gleeks! And what a lovely way to kick off the holiday season.
This was one of my favorite Glee episodes so far. I should admit that there’s some bias; I love Christmas as much as Finn and Brittany do. But I’m usually able to recognize a bad Christmas episode when I see it, and I didn’t see it here.
Like with my latest Castle review, I’m going to start with the weaker aspects and move to the stronger. There were a few things that really struck me as “off” about this episode. The first is that there was absolutely no mention of Chanukah. Considering how much time they’ve spent building Rachel and Puck up as super-Jews, I can’t believe that they didn’t even say the word once. I can forgive there being no Chanukah carols (though how great would it have been for them to duet “Chanukah O Chanukah”?), but it at least deserved a sentence or two.
NOTE: Since I thought of this while I was writing this review, I’d like to put in a request for a Passover episode of Glee, with a Rugrats-style musical reenactment of the exodus from Egypt. Will can be Moses, and Sue can be the Pharaoh. I smell a classic.
The second problem I had with this episode was Kurt. I know that almost all of the last few episodes have focused on him and so it’s okay that he had a smaller part in this one, but I thought there was a serious disconnect between his story and the rest of the show. Perhaps this was done on purpose to show the rift between him and the New Directions, but I doubt it. More likely, they wanted Kurt in the episode and couldn’t find a better way. That being said, I absolutely loved his duet with Blaine. It was probably my favorite number of the night. Their voices meshed together so well, and the little flirting thing they had going on was adorable.
I’m sick of Rachel and Finn. I understand why Finn is mad at her, I really do. He’s been burned by girlfriends (Quinn) before, and now he’s extra sensitive. Rachel shouldn’t have kissed Puck. Fin shouldn’t have lied about Santana. Understood. Can we move on now? No matter how hard they try, Rachel and Finn will never be Rachel and Ross (though, frankly, I found them annoying too). Either get them together or break them apart for good, but pick a side already.
Though I did like Rachel’s hats.
Thus concludes all the negatives. Moving on to the stronger parts of the episode.
The Grinch story. Everything about it, from Sue’s green face paint and gloves to Becky as the reindog (and, oh man, how adorable was she?) to Brittany’s Cindy Lou Who-hair. The only thing it was missing was the roast beast at the end. It was a great enactment of the classic story while staying completely in character for Glee. Winner for best line may have to go to Becky’s, “Christmas came anyway, Coach.”
Also, I’d like to state it now: if Sue and Will are not together at some point in this series (but probably the end), I’ll be shocked.
Equally as strong was Brittany’s story. She and Artie are quickly becoming my favorite Glee couple, and I love that he convinced everyone to play along when he realized she still believed in Santa. Not just played along, actually, but he went out of his way to make sure Christmas didn’t lose its magic for her, including enlisting Beiste to dress up as Santa. Brittany’s face as she watched the Glee kids sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas was priceless (her whispered, “Remember, you have rights,” to the mall elf is also a contender for best line). I’ll even admit to shedding a tear or two when her Christmas wish came true at the end.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and this episode of Glee really got me into the holiday spirit. It’s sad that there won’t be another new episode until February (after the Super Bowl), but at least we don’t have to wait until April this year.
Rating: 4/5
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Criminal Minds - What Happens at Home
Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: The team profiles a killer targeting women inside of a gated New Mexico community, and Hotch asks for help from an FBI cadet.
Review: One of the things I love about Criminal Minds is how the writers are constantly finding new angles for their stories. Obviously, there are only so many different ways to approach serial crimes. At the most basic level, many people who have something in common are being killed, raped, kidnapped, etc. There are a finite amount of reasons why such crimes would be perpetrated. Yet somehow Criminal Minds continues to surprise.
This week marked the arrival of Agent-Trainee Ashley Seaver, who exists essentially to replace JJ as the third woman on the team (cue angry protests from those of us who aren't ready for a new girl just yet). Despite my best intentions to hate her on sight (yes, I'm petty), I found myself intruiged by the backstory she brought to the table. Ashley is the daughter of a notorious serial killer, one Rossi and Hotch brought down many years ago. She's also a minor prodigy at the Academy, though nowhere near our boy Reid, who apparently failed every aspect of FBI training that didn't come out of the manual yet was somehow still cleared for field work.
Seaver brings a unique perspective to profiling. As Prentiss pointed out, we rarely think about the families serial killers leave behind after they're caught. Occasionally we've been given glimpses at them (such as the episode where the two suburban fathers were raping and killing teenage girls), but when the episode is over, I don't give them another thought, not like the families of the victims. But Seaver brings that situation into the forefront, which is then obviously reflected in the case. I wish they'd spent a little less time harping on the fact that her father was a serial killer though, and more time showing how that influenced her profiling skills. The scene in the church where she was explaining what her father was like was good, but I wanted more like that.
Gated communities are an interesting psychological study, and a crime committed within one rocks the neighborhood to the core. The extra security of the gate leads to complacency, which means that a violent crime is even more unsettling than it would be in even a typical suburban area. This episode could have done more to show the sense of panic that such an offense, particularly a serial one, could cause in this kind of area, but they did do a good job of making everyone a suspect. I still spotted the killer early, but there were moments where I had my doubts.
The team dynamic that I felt was sorely lacking last season is back, and it's wonderful to see them playing off each other in the way that first attracted me to this show. Garcia was a breath of fresh air in a mostly serious episode, and she managed to do both her job and half of JJ's while still having time to flirt with Morgan, tease Reid, and make Hotch smile. Seaver didn't have a lot of initial chemistry with the team, but her scenes with Prentiss weren't too bad, and I imagine she'll eventually find her place. She does fill the youngest child role that Reid seems to have abandoned this season, and her existing relationships with Rossi and Hotch could be fodder for future episodes.
For now, I'll regard Seaver with cautious optimism. I enjoyed the episode as a whole, and I see some potential in this new character that I hope will continue to grow as the season continues.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Review: One of the things I love about Criminal Minds is how the writers are constantly finding new angles for their stories. Obviously, there are only so many different ways to approach serial crimes. At the most basic level, many people who have something in common are being killed, raped, kidnapped, etc. There are a finite amount of reasons why such crimes would be perpetrated. Yet somehow Criminal Minds continues to surprise.
This week marked the arrival of Agent-Trainee Ashley Seaver, who exists essentially to replace JJ as the third woman on the team (cue angry protests from those of us who aren't ready for a new girl just yet). Despite my best intentions to hate her on sight (yes, I'm petty), I found myself intruiged by the backstory she brought to the table. Ashley is the daughter of a notorious serial killer, one Rossi and Hotch brought down many years ago. She's also a minor prodigy at the Academy, though nowhere near our boy Reid, who apparently failed every aspect of FBI training that didn't come out of the manual yet was somehow still cleared for field work.
Seaver brings a unique perspective to profiling. As Prentiss pointed out, we rarely think about the families serial killers leave behind after they're caught. Occasionally we've been given glimpses at them (such as the episode where the two suburban fathers were raping and killing teenage girls), but when the episode is over, I don't give them another thought, not like the families of the victims. But Seaver brings that situation into the forefront, which is then obviously reflected in the case. I wish they'd spent a little less time harping on the fact that her father was a serial killer though, and more time showing how that influenced her profiling skills. The scene in the church where she was explaining what her father was like was good, but I wanted more like that.
Gated communities are an interesting psychological study, and a crime committed within one rocks the neighborhood to the core. The extra security of the gate leads to complacency, which means that a violent crime is even more unsettling than it would be in even a typical suburban area. This episode could have done more to show the sense of panic that such an offense, particularly a serial one, could cause in this kind of area, but they did do a good job of making everyone a suspect. I still spotted the killer early, but there were moments where I had my doubts.
The team dynamic that I felt was sorely lacking last season is back, and it's wonderful to see them playing off each other in the way that first attracted me to this show. Garcia was a breath of fresh air in a mostly serious episode, and she managed to do both her job and half of JJ's while still having time to flirt with Morgan, tease Reid, and make Hotch smile. Seaver didn't have a lot of initial chemistry with the team, but her scenes with Prentiss weren't too bad, and I imagine she'll eventually find her place. She does fill the youngest child role that Reid seems to have abandoned this season, and her existing relationships with Rossi and Hotch could be fodder for future episodes.
For now, I'll regard Seaver with cautious optimism. I enjoyed the episode as a whole, and I see some potential in this new character that I hope will continue to grow as the season continues.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Castle - Last Call
Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Seamus Dever, Jon Huertas, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Seamus Dever, Jon Huertas, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
While this may not go down in the record books as one of my favorite Castle episodes ever, it was definitely a good one. Frankly, anything that ends with a sing-along is good in my books.
I’ll start with what I thought were the weaker points and go from there. The weakest bit for me was the Alexis storyline. The story seemed more like it was there to fill time rather than develop any of the characters further. It was essentially three scenes long: Alexis sees her old friend again and realizes she’s very different now than when they were in fifth grade; Alexis bemoans this fact to Grams and Dad, which is abruptly cut short when Dad has an epiphany, though not before they make some good points that help Alexis sort everything out; Alexis and her old friend reconnect, and they all live happily ever after. Unless this friend comes back in a future episode, I didn’t really see the point in having this in at all (except it gave Alexis something to do).
Moving on. I had mixed, but mostly positive, feelings about the case. I found the killer to be predictable by nature of being the person least likely to have done it, which is a complaint I had for the most recent episode of Bones as well. It might be nice sometimes for them to suspect the killer early in the episode, think they’re wrong, and then go back to him later, instead of always saving the actual murderer for the final suspect. In real life, the most obvious answer is usually the right one, but it never is in crime procedurals. I understand that the plot twists are there to keep a viewer interested, but that backfires if the answer is obvious by nature of being not obvious (if that makes any sense).
However, the predictability of the killer was outweighed significantly by the awesomeness of the murder. Old-time taverns, corrupt politicians, and Prohibition? It was like I was watching Boardwalk Empire, but with more one-liners. The fact that Castle looked like a little boy every time someone mentioned Jimmy Walker’s scotch, and then bought the bar, was just wonderful. I hope they don’t drop that story, because Castle as a barkeep sounds like it has amazing potential.
Castle himself was easily the strongest part of this episode. He’s really been in his element for the last few weeks, when the episodes have been even more farfetched than they usually are (and therefore closer to the fictional world in which he thrives). Nathan Fillion is a wonderful comedic actor, especially physically. He has good timing, and he and Beckett (and Ryan and Esposito) have such wonderful chemistry that it makes the show that much more fun to watch.
It saddens me that this is the last Castle episode until January (anyone know when it starts up again?), especially because I’ve heard some wonderful things about next year’s episodes (look up “Castle leaked picture” on Google news if you want to know… but it’s a very big spoiler, so proceed with caution). If you don’t watch this show (but read my reviews for some reason anyway), spend the rest of the month catching up. It’s worth it.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
I’ll start with what I thought were the weaker points and go from there. The weakest bit for me was the Alexis storyline. The story seemed more like it was there to fill time rather than develop any of the characters further. It was essentially three scenes long: Alexis sees her old friend again and realizes she’s very different now than when they were in fifth grade; Alexis bemoans this fact to Grams and Dad, which is abruptly cut short when Dad has an epiphany, though not before they make some good points that help Alexis sort everything out; Alexis and her old friend reconnect, and they all live happily ever after. Unless this friend comes back in a future episode, I didn’t really see the point in having this in at all (except it gave Alexis something to do).
Moving on. I had mixed, but mostly positive, feelings about the case. I found the killer to be predictable by nature of being the person least likely to have done it, which is a complaint I had for the most recent episode of Bones as well. It might be nice sometimes for them to suspect the killer early in the episode, think they’re wrong, and then go back to him later, instead of always saving the actual murderer for the final suspect. In real life, the most obvious answer is usually the right one, but it never is in crime procedurals. I understand that the plot twists are there to keep a viewer interested, but that backfires if the answer is obvious by nature of being not obvious (if that makes any sense).
However, the predictability of the killer was outweighed significantly by the awesomeness of the murder. Old-time taverns, corrupt politicians, and Prohibition? It was like I was watching Boardwalk Empire, but with more one-liners. The fact that Castle looked like a little boy every time someone mentioned Jimmy Walker’s scotch, and then bought the bar, was just wonderful. I hope they don’t drop that story, because Castle as a barkeep sounds like it has amazing potential.
Castle himself was easily the strongest part of this episode. He’s really been in his element for the last few weeks, when the episodes have been even more farfetched than they usually are (and therefore closer to the fictional world in which he thrives). Nathan Fillion is a wonderful comedic actor, especially physically. He has good timing, and he and Beckett (and Ryan and Esposito) have such wonderful chemistry that it makes the show that much more fun to watch.
It saddens me that this is the last Castle episode until January (anyone know when it starts up again?), especially because I’ve heard some wonderful things about next year’s episodes (look up “Castle leaked picture” on Google news if you want to know… but it’s a very big spoiler, so proceed with caution). If you don’t watch this show (but read my reviews for some reason anyway), spend the rest of the month catching up. It’s worth it.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bones - The Body and the Bounty
Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor
Summary: Brennan makes a deal with a celebrity professor to be her new intern after he inquires about hosting his children's science show from the Jeffersonian. Meanwhile, a dismembered corpse is identified as a bounty hunter, and the team find they're not the only ones looking for a fugitive who is wanted for murder.
Review: I sat on this episode a few days before writing a review because I'm still not really sure how I felt about it. On the one hand, I was annoyed by the Science Dude, and I found the killer to be predictable. On the other hand, it may have all been worth it for two scenes: the one where Angela and Brennan discuss the baby's name, and the one where Brennan comes out dressed as a skeleton.
Someone commented in a previous review that the characters were becoming "watered-down caricatures" instead of the complex characters from seasons past, and I'm starting to agree. The quirky ticks (i.e. Brennan's inability to hold a normal conversation, Hodgins' childlike enthusiasm for everything, Cam's slightly flighty nature) have amped up significantly since the 100th episode, and not necessarily in a good way. These traits which used to give balance to the characters now seem to dominate, making them more unrealistic. We've always had to suspend disbelief a little when dealing with the science behind Bones, but now I find myself starting to suspend disbelief when dealing with the characters.
People have told me they don't feel Booth and Brennan's chemistry is as good as it once was, and I can see where they're coming from, though I still enjoy the scenes between them (especially where they were planning the perfect murder in the beginning of the episode, although I feel like they could have done more with that bit later in the episode). And I do think they would be a little awkward around each other after Booth's confession of love and Brennan's rejection. That kind of thing changes a relationship, at least for awhile.
I also mentioned last week that the case seemed to be just an excuse to have the characters make jokes, and I feel similarly this week--that the case was just an excuse to set a record for the most "Amazing"s in one hour. I find this to be particularly sad, since the complex cases were one of the things I enjoyed most about Bones, after the wonderful chemistry between the characters. How can anyone compare the cases we've seen in the past few weeks with the Gravedigger or Gormogon? Even before they became arcs, those stories were significantly more intricate and compelling than anything we've seen recently.
I don't want to make it sound like this episode was terrible, because it definitely had its redeeming moments, the best being the scene between Angela and Brennan. I've always loved their relationship, especially because Brennan tries so hard to be a good friend to Angela, even though she's fairly incapable of normal social interaction, and Angela loves Brennan no matter what. This scene was probably the highlight of the whole episode for me because their relationship is one of the few that is uchanged throughout the series. It was the first thing we were introduced to in the pilot episode, and it's something that has always been solid.
Also, the final scene, though incredibly out of character for Brennan, was hysterical. It may have made the whole episode worthwhile. Brennan reciting the "Scientist's Oath" was one of the funniest things I've seen on Bones in awhile.
All in all, I have mixed feelings about this episode, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the path Bones is heading down. It's always had a strong character focus, which is good because forensic anthropology is not most people's cup of tea, but the characters are starting to detract more from the plot than enhance it. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but it didn't have any kind of lasting impression, to the point where I had to struggle to remember the plot of this episode. Did anyone else have the same problems? Leave me a comment and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, TJ Thyne, Tamara Taylor
Summary: Brennan makes a deal with a celebrity professor to be her new intern after he inquires about hosting his children's science show from the Jeffersonian. Meanwhile, a dismembered corpse is identified as a bounty hunter, and the team find they're not the only ones looking for a fugitive who is wanted for murder.
Review: I sat on this episode a few days before writing a review because I'm still not really sure how I felt about it. On the one hand, I was annoyed by the Science Dude, and I found the killer to be predictable. On the other hand, it may have all been worth it for two scenes: the one where Angela and Brennan discuss the baby's name, and the one where Brennan comes out dressed as a skeleton.
Someone commented in a previous review that the characters were becoming "watered-down caricatures" instead of the complex characters from seasons past, and I'm starting to agree. The quirky ticks (i.e. Brennan's inability to hold a normal conversation, Hodgins' childlike enthusiasm for everything, Cam's slightly flighty nature) have amped up significantly since the 100th episode, and not necessarily in a good way. These traits which used to give balance to the characters now seem to dominate, making them more unrealistic. We've always had to suspend disbelief a little when dealing with the science behind Bones, but now I find myself starting to suspend disbelief when dealing with the characters.
People have told me they don't feel Booth and Brennan's chemistry is as good as it once was, and I can see where they're coming from, though I still enjoy the scenes between them (especially where they were planning the perfect murder in the beginning of the episode, although I feel like they could have done more with that bit later in the episode). And I do think they would be a little awkward around each other after Booth's confession of love and Brennan's rejection. That kind of thing changes a relationship, at least for awhile.
I also mentioned last week that the case seemed to be just an excuse to have the characters make jokes, and I feel similarly this week--that the case was just an excuse to set a record for the most "Amazing"s in one hour. I find this to be particularly sad, since the complex cases were one of the things I enjoyed most about Bones, after the wonderful chemistry between the characters. How can anyone compare the cases we've seen in the past few weeks with the Gravedigger or Gormogon? Even before they became arcs, those stories were significantly more intricate and compelling than anything we've seen recently.
I don't want to make it sound like this episode was terrible, because it definitely had its redeeming moments, the best being the scene between Angela and Brennan. I've always loved their relationship, especially because Brennan tries so hard to be a good friend to Angela, even though she's fairly incapable of normal social interaction, and Angela loves Brennan no matter what. This scene was probably the highlight of the whole episode for me because their relationship is one of the few that is uchanged throughout the series. It was the first thing we were introduced to in the pilot episode, and it's something that has always been solid.
Also, the final scene, though incredibly out of character for Brennan, was hysterical. It may have made the whole episode worthwhile. Brennan reciting the "Scientist's Oath" was one of the funniest things I've seen on Bones in awhile.
All in all, I have mixed feelings about this episode, and I'm not entirely comfortable with the path Bones is heading down. It's always had a strong character focus, which is good because forensic anthropology is not most people's cup of tea, but the characters are starting to detract more from the plot than enhance it. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but it didn't have any kind of lasting impression, to the point where I had to struggle to remember the plot of this episode. Did anyone else have the same problems? Leave me a comment and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Criminal Minds - Compromising Positions
Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: The team profiles a serial killer who targets married couples.
Review: Despite the fact that I'm still mad at Criminal Minds for kicking off JJ, there was a moment at the end of this episode (right about when Hotch was turning both Garcia and me into goo) where I remembered why I first fell in love with this show. As interesting as I find forensic psychology and profiling, that isn't the reason I tune in every week. I don't look forward to seeing how each killer will commit their crimes and why. The fact that I like the subject matter is a nice perk, but the reason I keep coming back is because of the wonderful chemistry between the actors and the stunning moments where they remind you that they're a family.
What I liked most about this episode was that it focused a little bit on every character. It was primarily about Garcia and her desire to fill JJ's shoes, but everyone had their moment in the spotlight. Most CM episodes go one of two ways: they're either completely case-driven and the team works together without anyone being in the spotlight, or they take on a more personal approach where one character is more important than the others. This episode broke the mold a little, where it blended the crime and the personal, but still made everyone significant. Aside from JJ's departure, almost all the episodes since the 100th last season have been very case-driven. It was about time for an episode that made the audience feel good at the end. I don't know about all of you, but I definitely got some warm fuzzies.
Speaking of the characters, Kirsten Vangsness was totally on her game for this episode. Every once in awhile, they do a Garcia-centric episode, and I'm always blown away by the vast array of emotions Vangsness exhibits. Garcia, by nature, is a happy-go-lucky character, despite what she sees everyday. But in this episode, she ranged the spectrum from quirky to super-professional to overeager to overwhelmed and back again. It was weird to see Garcia away from her computers for a change (though not for long, since she was still doing her job on top of JJ's), but it made complete sense for her to try to step up this way, almost as if she wanted to lessen the blow of JJ's departure. And even though Morgan seems to be turning into a Hallmark card, Shemar Moore stepped up wonderfully to create a really touching scene between the two.
I find the cases in CM to be more interesting than most other crime shows, possibly because they don't feel the need to try to trip you up. The point isn't to be a mysterious as possible and keep the audience guessing until the last minute; it's to show how they reach the conclusion that we (usually) already know. There are plenty of things about the UnSub that we don't know, and the real mystery is why he committed the crime, not who he was.
I also liked that, despite this being a more character-driven episode, the case didn't play second fiddle. Most of the episode still revolved around solving it, especially since people kept dying throughout. It used the characters' personal moments (Reid showing off his interrogation skills, Emily trying to seduce the UnSub) to further the plot, not detract from it. Not all shows can find a way to blend the two sides, but CM did a particularly good job in this episode.
It's been a long time since a Criminal Minds episode really stood out in my mind, but I think this is one I'll rewatch a few times so I can really appreciate it. Did you feel the same way? Leave a comment below and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: The team profiles a serial killer who targets married couples.
Review: Despite the fact that I'm still mad at Criminal Minds for kicking off JJ, there was a moment at the end of this episode (right about when Hotch was turning both Garcia and me into goo) where I remembered why I first fell in love with this show. As interesting as I find forensic psychology and profiling, that isn't the reason I tune in every week. I don't look forward to seeing how each killer will commit their crimes and why. The fact that I like the subject matter is a nice perk, but the reason I keep coming back is because of the wonderful chemistry between the actors and the stunning moments where they remind you that they're a family.
What I liked most about this episode was that it focused a little bit on every character. It was primarily about Garcia and her desire to fill JJ's shoes, but everyone had their moment in the spotlight. Most CM episodes go one of two ways: they're either completely case-driven and the team works together without anyone being in the spotlight, or they take on a more personal approach where one character is more important than the others. This episode broke the mold a little, where it blended the crime and the personal, but still made everyone significant. Aside from JJ's departure, almost all the episodes since the 100th last season have been very case-driven. It was about time for an episode that made the audience feel good at the end. I don't know about all of you, but I definitely got some warm fuzzies.
Speaking of the characters, Kirsten Vangsness was totally on her game for this episode. Every once in awhile, they do a Garcia-centric episode, and I'm always blown away by the vast array of emotions Vangsness exhibits. Garcia, by nature, is a happy-go-lucky character, despite what she sees everyday. But in this episode, she ranged the spectrum from quirky to super-professional to overeager to overwhelmed and back again. It was weird to see Garcia away from her computers for a change (though not for long, since she was still doing her job on top of JJ's), but it made complete sense for her to try to step up this way, almost as if she wanted to lessen the blow of JJ's departure. And even though Morgan seems to be turning into a Hallmark card, Shemar Moore stepped up wonderfully to create a really touching scene between the two.
I find the cases in CM to be more interesting than most other crime shows, possibly because they don't feel the need to try to trip you up. The point isn't to be a mysterious as possible and keep the audience guessing until the last minute; it's to show how they reach the conclusion that we (usually) already know. There are plenty of things about the UnSub that we don't know, and the real mystery is why he committed the crime, not who he was.
I also liked that, despite this being a more character-driven episode, the case didn't play second fiddle. Most of the episode still revolved around solving it, especially since people kept dying throughout. It used the characters' personal moments (Reid showing off his interrogation skills, Emily trying to seduce the UnSub) to further the plot, not detract from it. Not all shows can find a way to blend the two sides, but CM did a particularly good job in this episode.
It's been a long time since a Criminal Minds episode really stood out in my mind, but I think this is one I'll rewatch a few times so I can really appreciate it. Did you feel the same way? Leave a comment below and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Lie to Me - The Royal We
Network: Fox
Time: Mondays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund, Hayley McFarland
Summary: Lightman defends a falsely accused man from an angry mob. In the course of proving his innocence, Lightman unearths a secret that allows a mother and daughter to begin to heal.
Review: I don't know what's been going on with Lie to Me lately, but I don't like it. It's like they've taken all the fun out of the episodes, and we're left with cases that aren't particularly interesting and characters that are either too extreme or too flat. I miss the first season episodes, where Foster and Lightman had a fun banter thing going on, and Loker was brutally honest, and Torres had more than six lines in an episode. I don't know what happened to those characters, but I'd like them back, please.
I really didn't like any part of this episode. I'll start with what's been bothering me the most for the last season or so: Loker. He was so fun in the first season. His honesty may have gotten him in trouble sometimes, but it was charming in its own way, like when he sang to a class of fifth graders about not telling white lies. Now it's like his entire philosophy on life has changed. He lies as much as any of them, and the best part of his personality is missing. Instead, all he does is whine about how Lightman picks on him (which he does, but Loker used to let it roll off his back). The acrimonious relationship between Loker and Lightman is driving me crazy. All I want is for them to sit down like adults and have a conversation to resolve it, and instead they exchange a handful of monosyllabic sentences each episode and talk about each other to Torres and Foster.
That relationship isn't the only one that's being slaughtered. Foster and Lightman used to be partners in crime. Foster used to be fun. Now, all she seems to do is mother Lightman, which he takes badly, and then they sort of fight. And then they sort of make up. I think. Their relationship was never particularly well-defined, but now it just seems to be chaos.
I don't even know where Torres has been lately, besides being a sounding board for Loker when he complains (which is always). They were really turning her into a cool character last season, but now she's almost disappeared completely.
To top it off, now they've brought in three new characters, none of whom seem to actually appear in the episode for more than a few minutes. I understand the logic behind shaking up the cast, especially since Lie to Me was (and still is) in serious danger of being canceled, but there's no point in bringing in new characters if they're not actually going to be part of the show. Right now, it's turning into the Lightman Hour, and all the rest of the characters, even the ones who've been with him since the beginning, are just there to further his plot line.
Even the story in the episode wasn't interesting, especially since Lie to Me has already dealt with the issue of a false rape accusation. The plot was different enough, and I did feel a little bad for all the players involved, but I didn't find that I was emotionally invested in the outcome. Maybe I'm just sick of watching Lightman manipulate everyone around him, including the people who are supposed to be his friends. He's always had this side, but it used to be balanced by Foster, Loker and Torres. Now that they're not using the other cast members as much, Lightman's unethical side is starting to get a bit annoying.
I loved the first season and a half of Lie to Me so much that it disappoints me how it's fallen apart lately. I wish I knew why they were making some of these changes, but I hope they fix things soon because I don't know how much more I can take. Am I the only one feeling this way, or have you been less than impressed by Lie to Me lately? Comment below and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund, Hayley McFarland
Summary: Lightman defends a falsely accused man from an angry mob. In the course of proving his innocence, Lightman unearths a secret that allows a mother and daughter to begin to heal.
Review: I don't know what's been going on with Lie to Me lately, but I don't like it. It's like they've taken all the fun out of the episodes, and we're left with cases that aren't particularly interesting and characters that are either too extreme or too flat. I miss the first season episodes, where Foster and Lightman had a fun banter thing going on, and Loker was brutally honest, and Torres had more than six lines in an episode. I don't know what happened to those characters, but I'd like them back, please.
I really didn't like any part of this episode. I'll start with what's been bothering me the most for the last season or so: Loker. He was so fun in the first season. His honesty may have gotten him in trouble sometimes, but it was charming in its own way, like when he sang to a class of fifth graders about not telling white lies. Now it's like his entire philosophy on life has changed. He lies as much as any of them, and the best part of his personality is missing. Instead, all he does is whine about how Lightman picks on him (which he does, but Loker used to let it roll off his back). The acrimonious relationship between Loker and Lightman is driving me crazy. All I want is for them to sit down like adults and have a conversation to resolve it, and instead they exchange a handful of monosyllabic sentences each episode and talk about each other to Torres and Foster.
That relationship isn't the only one that's being slaughtered. Foster and Lightman used to be partners in crime. Foster used to be fun. Now, all she seems to do is mother Lightman, which he takes badly, and then they sort of fight. And then they sort of make up. I think. Their relationship was never particularly well-defined, but now it just seems to be chaos.
I don't even know where Torres has been lately, besides being a sounding board for Loker when he complains (which is always). They were really turning her into a cool character last season, but now she's almost disappeared completely.
To top it off, now they've brought in three new characters, none of whom seem to actually appear in the episode for more than a few minutes. I understand the logic behind shaking up the cast, especially since Lie to Me was (and still is) in serious danger of being canceled, but there's no point in bringing in new characters if they're not actually going to be part of the show. Right now, it's turning into the Lightman Hour, and all the rest of the characters, even the ones who've been with him since the beginning, are just there to further his plot line.
Even the story in the episode wasn't interesting, especially since Lie to Me has already dealt with the issue of a false rape accusation. The plot was different enough, and I did feel a little bad for all the players involved, but I didn't find that I was emotionally invested in the outcome. Maybe I'm just sick of watching Lightman manipulate everyone around him, including the people who are supposed to be his friends. He's always had this side, but it used to be balanced by Foster, Loker and Torres. Now that they're not using the other cast members as much, Lightman's unethical side is starting to get a bit annoying.
I loved the first season and a half of Lie to Me so much that it disappoints me how it's fallen apart lately. I wish I knew why they were making some of these changes, but I hope they fix things soon because I don't know how much more I can take. Am I the only one feeling this way, or have you been less than impressed by Lie to Me lately? Comment below and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Castle - Under the Gun
Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Summary: Encoded evidence sparks Castle's imagination during the investigation into a bail bondsman's murder, but Beckett dismisses his wild theories. Meanwhile, Beckett's reunion with her ex-partner turns romantic, much to Castle's chagrin.
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the episode. Please don't read if you don't want to know.
Review: How have I not been watching Castle since the beginning? Seriously, why did it take me two seasons to discover how wonderful this show is?
The brilliance of Castle comes across in a few ways. The first is the writing. It's witty, it's silly and sometimes it's serious, and it always works. I can't think of a moment when one of the characters said something that made me wince because it was too goofy or too cheesy. There's a wonderful give and take between all the actors that makes the writing come to life, and it flows so easily that I can't help but wish people really spoke like that.
Even the best script can be ruined by bad acting though. Fortunately, Castle doesn't have that problem. No, they won't all win Emmys, but they're a solid group of actors, and, most importantly, they're all believable in their parts. The concept behind Castle is farfetched to begin with (face it, the NYPD would never let a writer tag along, no matter how famous he was), but it's easy to buy the premise when the acting and writing creates a world where it all makes sense. Even cliched lines seem funnier than normal (like Nathan Fillion's spectacularly delivered, "Beckett, you were a girl once," that elicited a very loud and inappropriate laugh).
But there's more that creates great moments than meets the eye, things we don't necessarily notice but affect our subconscious. This is the first episode where I really noticed how the show is directed, but, upon reflection, it's not the first time the direction has made a good (or sometimes mediocre) moment that much better. Knowing when to focus on the character who's speaking and when to turn to the reacting character is more of an art than most people realize, and Castle does it better than most, especially since both Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are such expressive actors. In particular, I'm thinking of the scene where Beckett was on the phone with Royce after he betrayed her, and they cut to the shocked and horrified expression on Castle's face. A picture really does say a thousand words.
The only flaw I can find is that the cases are always predictable, sometimes to the point of detracting from the episode. I know it's hard to have a twist when every character you introduced winds up playing a part in the crime, but it was obvious from the start that they were all involved. It actually made me kind of angry when Royce betrayed Beckett. This isn't just something that happens in Castle (in fact, NCIS is the worst culprit), but why is it that when a character who has some kind of history with one of the stars shows up, they always wind up being a bad guy? For once, couldn't he have just been a guy? It creates unnecessary drama in a show that doesn't need to be too dramatic.
On the other hand, it did give Stana Katic an opportunity for a beautifully done monologue.
If you don't watch Castle already (and are, for some reason, reading this review), go find the old episodes and catch up. It's only two seasons deep, and it's definitely worth the watch. New episodes air on Monday nights at 10pm on ABC.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Summary: Encoded evidence sparks Castle's imagination during the investigation into a bail bondsman's murder, but Beckett dismisses his wild theories. Meanwhile, Beckett's reunion with her ex-partner turns romantic, much to Castle's chagrin.
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the episode. Please don't read if you don't want to know.
Review: How have I not been watching Castle since the beginning? Seriously, why did it take me two seasons to discover how wonderful this show is?
The brilliance of Castle comes across in a few ways. The first is the writing. It's witty, it's silly and sometimes it's serious, and it always works. I can't think of a moment when one of the characters said something that made me wince because it was too goofy or too cheesy. There's a wonderful give and take between all the actors that makes the writing come to life, and it flows so easily that I can't help but wish people really spoke like that.
Even the best script can be ruined by bad acting though. Fortunately, Castle doesn't have that problem. No, they won't all win Emmys, but they're a solid group of actors, and, most importantly, they're all believable in their parts. The concept behind Castle is farfetched to begin with (face it, the NYPD would never let a writer tag along, no matter how famous he was), but it's easy to buy the premise when the acting and writing creates a world where it all makes sense. Even cliched lines seem funnier than normal (like Nathan Fillion's spectacularly delivered, "Beckett, you were a girl once," that elicited a very loud and inappropriate laugh).
But there's more that creates great moments than meets the eye, things we don't necessarily notice but affect our subconscious. This is the first episode where I really noticed how the show is directed, but, upon reflection, it's not the first time the direction has made a good (or sometimes mediocre) moment that much better. Knowing when to focus on the character who's speaking and when to turn to the reacting character is more of an art than most people realize, and Castle does it better than most, especially since both Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are such expressive actors. In particular, I'm thinking of the scene where Beckett was on the phone with Royce after he betrayed her, and they cut to the shocked and horrified expression on Castle's face. A picture really does say a thousand words.
The only flaw I can find is that the cases are always predictable, sometimes to the point of detracting from the episode. I know it's hard to have a twist when every character you introduced winds up playing a part in the crime, but it was obvious from the start that they were all involved. It actually made me kind of angry when Royce betrayed Beckett. This isn't just something that happens in Castle (in fact, NCIS is the worst culprit), but why is it that when a character who has some kind of history with one of the stars shows up, they always wind up being a bad guy? For once, couldn't he have just been a guy? It creates unnecessary drama in a show that doesn't need to be too dramatic.
On the other hand, it did give Stana Katic an opportunity for a beautifully done monologue.
If you don't watch Castle already (and are, for some reason, reading this review), go find the old episodes and catch up. It's only two seasons deep, and it's definitely worth the watch. New episodes air on Monday nights at 10pm on ABC.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Monday, October 4, 2010
Blue Bloods - Samaritan
Network: CBS
Time: Fridays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynihan, Will Estes, Len Cariou
Summary: The Reagans weigh the pros and cons of vigilantism when a man with a police record takes action against a criminal who is terrorizing riders on a subway.
Review: Overall, I was very disappointed by the quality of the new shows this season. Out of the 35 shows I planned to watch, at least 17 of them werefreshmen. As of week three, I'm still watching seven. Blue Bloods is one of them, but I'm not completely sold yet.
I'll start with the positives. Blue Bloods has a phenomenal cast, and they bring their A-game to each episode. What's more: they're given a quality script to work with. This probably wouldn't go on my list of "best chemistry" shows, but they do alright. I can believe that these people are a family, albeit one with a few issues to work through.
I also found the case in "Samaritan" to be particularly interesting. A lot of shows these days focus only on solving murders (and sometimes kidnappings). Sometimes it's easy to forget that there are other crimes that are also heinous, but not nearly as sexy. Though there was a murder in this episode, it's not really the main conflict. Instead, they deal with robbery and gang violence, which occur far more frequently but are reported far less.
Now for the negatives. To start, I hate the mystery story they developed for Jamie. I'm bothered by the growing trend in crime shows where the first episode needs to introduce some big mystery that will unfold throughout the season/series. Jane and Red John in The Mentalist. Neil and Kate in White Collar. Even Callen's unknown past in NCIS: Los Angeles. It works in some shows (like The Mentalist and Monk). But some shows, like this one, don't need a big complex puzzle to solve. I haven't yet grown to care about the living characters in Blue Bloods; I certainly don't care about their dead brother. It's enough right now to develop the characters through episode-centered stories until they're more fully formed. I like seeing how they balance their family and their jobs (especially since most of the family is working together). Why does it have to be more complicated than that?
That's the biggest fault I see so far. I'd like to see Bridget Moynihan's character get a story for herself, but it's only the second episode, so there's still time for that. I'd also like to see the side characters develop a little better. Right now, the only one I can identify is Jamie's partner. I know Frank has both an assistant and a girlfriend, but I don't know which is which when they come on screen (situational clues notwithstanding). Also Danny has a family and Jamie a girlfriend, but I don't feel like we know anything about them. Again, this will probably change as the season progresses.
I do like watching Blue Bloods, but I hope some things change and grow as it continues. The first few episodes of a show aren't always indicative of its future, so I have faith that, given enough time, this has the potential to develop into a really enjoyable program.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Fridays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynihan, Will Estes, Len Cariou
Summary: The Reagans weigh the pros and cons of vigilantism when a man with a police record takes action against a criminal who is terrorizing riders on a subway.
Review: Overall, I was very disappointed by the quality of the new shows this season. Out of the 35 shows I planned to watch, at least 17 of them werefreshmen. As of week three, I'm still watching seven. Blue Bloods is one of them, but I'm not completely sold yet.
I'll start with the positives. Blue Bloods has a phenomenal cast, and they bring their A-game to each episode. What's more: they're given a quality script to work with. This probably wouldn't go on my list of "best chemistry" shows, but they do alright. I can believe that these people are a family, albeit one with a few issues to work through.
I also found the case in "Samaritan" to be particularly interesting. A lot of shows these days focus only on solving murders (and sometimes kidnappings). Sometimes it's easy to forget that there are other crimes that are also heinous, but not nearly as sexy. Though there was a murder in this episode, it's not really the main conflict. Instead, they deal with robbery and gang violence, which occur far more frequently but are reported far less.
Now for the negatives. To start, I hate the mystery story they developed for Jamie. I'm bothered by the growing trend in crime shows where the first episode needs to introduce some big mystery that will unfold throughout the season/series. Jane and Red John in The Mentalist. Neil and Kate in White Collar. Even Callen's unknown past in NCIS: Los Angeles. It works in some shows (like The Mentalist and Monk). But some shows, like this one, don't need a big complex puzzle to solve. I haven't yet grown to care about the living characters in Blue Bloods; I certainly don't care about their dead brother. It's enough right now to develop the characters through episode-centered stories until they're more fully formed. I like seeing how they balance their family and their jobs (especially since most of the family is working together). Why does it have to be more complicated than that?
That's the biggest fault I see so far. I'd like to see Bridget Moynihan's character get a story for herself, but it's only the second episode, so there's still time for that. I'd also like to see the side characters develop a little better. Right now, the only one I can identify is Jamie's partner. I know Frank has both an assistant and a girlfriend, but I don't know which is which when they come on screen (situational clues notwithstanding). Also Danny has a family and Jamie a girlfriend, but I don't feel like we know anything about them. Again, this will probably change as the season progresses.
I do like watching Blue Bloods, but I hope some things change and grow as it continues. The first few episodes of a show aren't always indicative of its future, so I have faith that, given enough time, this has the potential to develop into a really enjoyable program.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
NCIS: Los Angeles - Borderline
Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah, Linda Hunt, Barrett Foa, Peter Cambor, Eric Christian Olsen
Summary: Deeks and Kensi partner on a mission to find three marines who disappeared after their Humvee was ambushed in the desert.
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the episode. Stop now unless you've seen the episode or you don't care.
Review: NCIS: Los Angeles is a show that really started growing into itself towards the end of season one, culminating in a wonderful season finale and a strong two-part premiere. I was worried when pre-production started that it could never live up to its predecessor, but there are times when I actually think it might be better than the original (not that I don't love NCIS, of course!).
I find this show far more serious than NCIS. The characters manage to have both a sense of humor and a level of professionalism, and they deal with more international terrorism cases than simply missing or murdered Marines. They also don't have the "cowboy" quality that Gibbs' team has. For the most part, they follow the rules. When they do break them, it's because of special circumstances.
This episode centered around a Mexican drug cartel that had kidnapped two Marines and killed another. To find the missing Marines, the team split into two groups. Sam (with Callen as backup) reactivated a dangerous undercover identity to work the drug angle, while Kensi and Deeks tried to track the cartel through the southern California desert. The humor went with Kensi and Deeks; the drama went with Callen and Sam.
Amidst the case was a lingering mystery... where did Hetti send Nate, and how did he learn to shoot?
The drug cartel story was done well. Unlike NCIS, Los Angeles seems to be able to pull off case-based episodes, even when the characters' personal lives aren't in the forefront. This may be because Los Angeles is newer and hasn't had as much time to use lots of different scenarios. Or it could be because they don't look for plot twists; the focus of this story was how they got from the crime to the rescue.
The chemistry between Kensi and Deeks was pretty good as well, though Deeks is clearly struggling to find his place in the show. I liked him when they introduced him, so I'm hoping he eventually settles in.
My biggest problem was the resolution of Nate's storyline. I understand that the writers and producers are trying to show the audience that no character is safe, but did they really need to write Nate out? The team was working, and his character provided something that no other offers: the psychological insight into the criminals (as well as the team). Obviously the show can survive without him, but it's stronger when he's there. I haven't heard whether or not it was Peter Cambor's choice to leave, nor do I know if this is a permanent move, but I'm bothered by the trend in shows to get rid of the side characters whose jobs are not the main focus of the show. I hope he'll be back by the end of the season.
Speaking of side characters, I heard rumors that Eric is in for a story of his own sometime soon, and I'm really looking forward to seeing some more of him, considering I think he had about five lines this episode.
"Borderline" was another in a line of solid episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, but I worry that constantly shaking up the team will turn more people off than the quality writing and acting can keep. It is only the beginning of the second season, so I suppose the show is still suffering from some growing pains, but I hope they don't do any damage to themselves while they continue to develop.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah, Linda Hunt, Barrett Foa, Peter Cambor, Eric Christian Olsen
Summary: Deeks and Kensi partner on a mission to find three marines who disappeared after their Humvee was ambushed in the desert.
Warning: This review contains spoilers for the episode. Stop now unless you've seen the episode or you don't care.
Review: NCIS: Los Angeles is a show that really started growing into itself towards the end of season one, culminating in a wonderful season finale and a strong two-part premiere. I was worried when pre-production started that it could never live up to its predecessor, but there are times when I actually think it might be better than the original (not that I don't love NCIS, of course!).
I find this show far more serious than NCIS. The characters manage to have both a sense of humor and a level of professionalism, and they deal with more international terrorism cases than simply missing or murdered Marines. They also don't have the "cowboy" quality that Gibbs' team has. For the most part, they follow the rules. When they do break them, it's because of special circumstances.
This episode centered around a Mexican drug cartel that had kidnapped two Marines and killed another. To find the missing Marines, the team split into two groups. Sam (with Callen as backup) reactivated a dangerous undercover identity to work the drug angle, while Kensi and Deeks tried to track the cartel through the southern California desert. The humor went with Kensi and Deeks; the drama went with Callen and Sam.
Amidst the case was a lingering mystery... where did Hetti send Nate, and how did he learn to shoot?
The drug cartel story was done well. Unlike NCIS, Los Angeles seems to be able to pull off case-based episodes, even when the characters' personal lives aren't in the forefront. This may be because Los Angeles is newer and hasn't had as much time to use lots of different scenarios. Or it could be because they don't look for plot twists; the focus of this story was how they got from the crime to the rescue.
The chemistry between Kensi and Deeks was pretty good as well, though Deeks is clearly struggling to find his place in the show. I liked him when they introduced him, so I'm hoping he eventually settles in.
My biggest problem was the resolution of Nate's storyline. I understand that the writers and producers are trying to show the audience that no character is safe, but did they really need to write Nate out? The team was working, and his character provided something that no other offers: the psychological insight into the criminals (as well as the team). Obviously the show can survive without him, but it's stronger when he's there. I haven't heard whether or not it was Peter Cambor's choice to leave, nor do I know if this is a permanent move, but I'm bothered by the trend in shows to get rid of the side characters whose jobs are not the main focus of the show. I hope he'll be back by the end of the season.
Speaking of side characters, I heard rumors that Eric is in for a story of his own sometime soon, and I'm really looking forward to seeing some more of him, considering I think he had about five lines this episode.
"Borderline" was another in a line of solid episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, but I worry that constantly shaking up the team will turn more people off than the quality writing and acting can keep. It is only the beginning of the second season, so I suppose the show is still suffering from some growing pains, but I hope they don't do any damage to themselves while they continue to develop.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Sunday, October 3, 2010
NCIS - Worst Nightmare
Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen
Summary: The team searches for a kidnapped girl, whose grandfather complicates the investigation.
Review: I continuously have the same problem with NCIS. I love the show--it's one of my most highly anticipated of the week--but the case-related plot lines have recently started to fall flat. I started noticing this with the introduction of the Michael Rivkin storyline in season 6, but then it started to pick up again in season 7... until the drug cartel. There was no need to delve further into what Gibbs did after Shannon and Kelly were killed, no reason to humanize the man he murdered. I don't know about the rest of you, but I was perfectly fine with him remaining anonymous, and the act simply being a part of Gibbs' past that no one really knows about.
I know that story was (mostly) resolved in the season 8 premiere, but this week's plot wasn't much stronger. This time, a kidnapped little girl's grandfather turns out to be not what the NCIS team expected, and he gets in the way of their investigation into her disappearance. It wasn't that it was overly complex or overly simple or anything like that. It just wasn't that interesting. Is it possible NCIS is running out of interesting cases, or was this one just a little weak?
But then the cases have never been why I tuned in to NCIS each week. I do that because I'm completely in love with the characters, and I love to watch them interact with each other. And, in that respect, this episode was certainly worth the time. It was intern week at NCIS, and each section of the team had a college student to teach. Most of the focus was on McGee and his intern Conrad (played by Greek's Zack Lively), who really didn't want to be there. It was wonderful to see McGee, who's done a considerable amount of growing up since he first appeared on the show, with a probie of his own... even if it was just for now. Not only did it emphasize the changes in McGee, but it was good to get some fresh blood into the bullpen. Whether Lively will start making regular appearances seems unlikely, but it might be good for them to introduce a new cast member to shake things up a little.
The intern in the morgue created an interesting kind of story for Palmer, who didn't appear until midway through the episode to find his place at Ducky's side may have been usurped. The new girl shared Ducky's love for long, rambling stories and Scottish music, and poor Palmer wasn't sure what to do with that. I was mildly amused by his quest to find a new place at NCIS, but I mostly just felt bad for him. For awhile I really thought they were grooming him to take Ducky's place, but now I'm not so sure. Hopefully this episode was an anomaly, and Palmer will go back to being the autospsy gremlin we all know and love next episode.
The final intern was in Abby's lab. Abby, it must be said, has had some bad experiences with people in her lab, and she was not happy about having an intern... especially one with a little crush on her. I do love seeing Abby flustered. She takes her normal level of over-caffeinated and doubles it, and it's always fun to watch the reactions of the people she's talking to, especially Gibbs, who just takes it all in stride and fixes it with a word or two.
The secret to NCIS's success is focusing on personality stories instead of case ones. When the plot is more centered on what the team is doing, they're engaging, humorous and sometimes dramatic. When it's more about solving a murder, they tend to come off as a little dry and sometimes trite. NCIS certainly hasn't lasted for eight seasons by exclusively sticking to one of those methods, but the episodes are definitely more enjoyable when they don't spend a lot of time worrying about creating and solving a complex crime.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll, Brian Dietzen
Summary: The team searches for a kidnapped girl, whose grandfather complicates the investigation.
Review: I continuously have the same problem with NCIS. I love the show--it's one of my most highly anticipated of the week--but the case-related plot lines have recently started to fall flat. I started noticing this with the introduction of the Michael Rivkin storyline in season 6, but then it started to pick up again in season 7... until the drug cartel. There was no need to delve further into what Gibbs did after Shannon and Kelly were killed, no reason to humanize the man he murdered. I don't know about the rest of you, but I was perfectly fine with him remaining anonymous, and the act simply being a part of Gibbs' past that no one really knows about.
I know that story was (mostly) resolved in the season 8 premiere, but this week's plot wasn't much stronger. This time, a kidnapped little girl's grandfather turns out to be not what the NCIS team expected, and he gets in the way of their investigation into her disappearance. It wasn't that it was overly complex or overly simple or anything like that. It just wasn't that interesting. Is it possible NCIS is running out of interesting cases, or was this one just a little weak?
But then the cases have never been why I tuned in to NCIS each week. I do that because I'm completely in love with the characters, and I love to watch them interact with each other. And, in that respect, this episode was certainly worth the time. It was intern week at NCIS, and each section of the team had a college student to teach. Most of the focus was on McGee and his intern Conrad (played by Greek's Zack Lively), who really didn't want to be there. It was wonderful to see McGee, who's done a considerable amount of growing up since he first appeared on the show, with a probie of his own... even if it was just for now. Not only did it emphasize the changes in McGee, but it was good to get some fresh blood into the bullpen. Whether Lively will start making regular appearances seems unlikely, but it might be good for them to introduce a new cast member to shake things up a little.
The intern in the morgue created an interesting kind of story for Palmer, who didn't appear until midway through the episode to find his place at Ducky's side may have been usurped. The new girl shared Ducky's love for long, rambling stories and Scottish music, and poor Palmer wasn't sure what to do with that. I was mildly amused by his quest to find a new place at NCIS, but I mostly just felt bad for him. For awhile I really thought they were grooming him to take Ducky's place, but now I'm not so sure. Hopefully this episode was an anomaly, and Palmer will go back to being the autospsy gremlin we all know and love next episode.
The final intern was in Abby's lab. Abby, it must be said, has had some bad experiences with people in her lab, and she was not happy about having an intern... especially one with a little crush on her. I do love seeing Abby flustered. She takes her normal level of over-caffeinated and doubles it, and it's always fun to watch the reactions of the people she's talking to, especially Gibbs, who just takes it all in stride and fixes it with a word or two.
The secret to NCIS's success is focusing on personality stories instead of case ones. When the plot is more centered on what the team is doing, they're engaging, humorous and sometimes dramatic. When it's more about solving a murder, they tend to come off as a little dry and sometimes trite. NCIS certainly hasn't lasted for eight seasons by exclusively sticking to one of those methods, but the episodes are definitely more enjoyable when they don't spend a lot of time worrying about creating and solving a complex crime.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Bones - The Couple in the Cave
Network: Fox
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: A surprise visit by Booth's girlfriend, war correspondent Hannah Burley, forces Brennan to take another look at her relationship with Booth. Meanwhile, the team tries to identify a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park.
Review: I'm going to come right out and say it: I like Booth's new girlfriend. And I like her and Booth together. Booth is so happy with her, and he's so obviously in love. How can you not like it? I also really like about their relationship is that Booth is clearly not with her as some kind of twisted ploy to make Brennan jealous (which you may scoff at, but is a fairly typical plot device when two characters are engaged in the "will they, won't they" game that Booth and Brennan are). He loves Hannah because he loves her, and it has nothing to do with Brennan at all.
This episode was good for several reasons. First, like I just mentioned, because it introduced Hannah and really showed her relationship with Booth. Also because the team was solving their first case the way they used to, without any of the awkwardness of having been apart for seven months. Even Clark was back as an intern... and he was still troubled by the fact that the team brings their personal lives to work with them all the time. Everything was back to the way it should be.
The case itself was pretty easy to solve, which is a mild detraction from the overall quality of the episode. I know after awhile there are only so many ways a case can pan out, but it's nice when the writers still manage to trip you up a little. In this case, I identified the killer the first time he/she walked into a scene. It loses a little bit after that point, even though it's still enjoyable to watch the team try and come to same conclusion.
It's good to see that a summer off and a new character haven't disrupted the chemistry between our favorite characters. Booth and Sweets had a few wonderful exchanges throughout the episode, Booth and Brennan were spot on, and even Cam and Hodgins had some fun. I'm looking forward to more of Hodgins and Angela and the baby story as the season goes on.
This episode did exactly what it needed to: introduce Booth's new girlfriend, establish what her relationship with Brennan would be, and show the audience that, despite the end of season 5, the team is back and just as good as they were when they left.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Thursdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, TJ Thyne, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Summary: A surprise visit by Booth's girlfriend, war correspondent Hannah Burley, forces Brennan to take another look at her relationship with Booth. Meanwhile, the team tries to identify a couple whose remains were found in a cave in a national park.
Review: I'm going to come right out and say it: I like Booth's new girlfriend. And I like her and Booth together. Booth is so happy with her, and he's so obviously in love. How can you not like it? I also really like about their relationship is that Booth is clearly not with her as some kind of twisted ploy to make Brennan jealous (which you may scoff at, but is a fairly typical plot device when two characters are engaged in the "will they, won't they" game that Booth and Brennan are). He loves Hannah because he loves her, and it has nothing to do with Brennan at all.
This episode was good for several reasons. First, like I just mentioned, because it introduced Hannah and really showed her relationship with Booth. Also because the team was solving their first case the way they used to, without any of the awkwardness of having been apart for seven months. Even Clark was back as an intern... and he was still troubled by the fact that the team brings their personal lives to work with them all the time. Everything was back to the way it should be.
The case itself was pretty easy to solve, which is a mild detraction from the overall quality of the episode. I know after awhile there are only so many ways a case can pan out, but it's nice when the writers still manage to trip you up a little. In this case, I identified the killer the first time he/she walked into a scene. It loses a little bit after that point, even though it's still enjoyable to watch the team try and come to same conclusion.
It's good to see that a summer off and a new character haven't disrupted the chemistry between our favorite characters. Booth and Sweets had a few wonderful exchanges throughout the episode, Booth and Brennan were spot on, and even Cam and Hodgins had some fun. I'm looking forward to more of Hodgins and Angela and the baby story as the season goes on.
This episode did exactly what it needed to: introduce Booth's new girlfriend, establish what her relationship with Brennan would be, and show the audience that, despite the end of season 5, the team is back and just as good as they were when they left.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Nikita - Rough Trade
Network: CW
Time: Thursdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West, Aaron Stanford, Ashton Holmes, Tiffany Hines, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley
Summary: Nikita tries to right a past wrong when she posed as a nanny for a government official who ended up dead. Michael comes to Nikita's aid during her quest, and also begins to question Percy's motives. Meanwhile, Amanda forces Alex to deal with her claustrophobia after she has a panic attack.
Review: I'm constantly surprised by how much I like this show, and how quickly it became something I anticipate watching. The writers did a wonderful job creating characters that are likable despite the horrible things they sometimes do, and I find that I am sympathetic towards almost all of them (not Percy, but they really haven't done much to expand his character yet).
Every episode provides a little more backstory into characters' lives, and this one was no exception. We finally got to see a little more of Alex's life before she met Nikita, and we got just a small hint of Michael's past as well (did you catch that last line?). We also saw a flashback from when Nikita was first recruited, when she was happy to be working for them, and her hair was messier. I imagine we'll see more of the chemistry between Michael and Nikita as the series goes on.
As much as I liked the backstories, I wasn't as wild about the present day mission Nikita was trying to pull off. It stemmed from her first kill, and she wanted to make amends by taking down the group that hired Division to kill him. But there was a slight twist that I wasn't wild about, since it warped Nikita's reason for doing what she was doing. I don't want to spoil it by giving anything away, but I like when Nikita has the moral upper hand, and this twist brought her down a little. That being said, it did create an interesting moment for Michael, who is starting to realize that he has no idea why Percy does anything he does.
I really enjoyed Alex's present-day story too. She hasn't been doing much but acting as a mole for Nikita in the past few episodes, so it was nice to see her with her own story to carry. In this case, she has claustrophobia due to a traumatic event from her childhood, and Amanda is trying to "help" her get over it. We got to see some real strength of character in Alex, not giving Division a win over her, even if she made it look like they did.
Between this episode and the summary for the next, I'm starting to get little prickly warnings about Alex's sort-of friend Thom. Right now he's pretty gung-ho about Division, and I can't imagine he'd be okay with the things Alex does to help Nikita. Which leads me to believe that Alex should not be getting as close to him as she seems to be. I'm curious to see where that road leads.
Like I said, I never expected to like this show as much as I do. It's ratings are a little shaky though, and I'm hoping the CW doesn't pull it before it really has the chance to develop into a great show.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Thursdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Maggie Q, Lyndsy Fonseca, Shane West, Aaron Stanford, Ashton Holmes, Tiffany Hines, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley
Summary: Nikita tries to right a past wrong when she posed as a nanny for a government official who ended up dead. Michael comes to Nikita's aid during her quest, and also begins to question Percy's motives. Meanwhile, Amanda forces Alex to deal with her claustrophobia after she has a panic attack.
Review: I'm constantly surprised by how much I like this show, and how quickly it became something I anticipate watching. The writers did a wonderful job creating characters that are likable despite the horrible things they sometimes do, and I find that I am sympathetic towards almost all of them (not Percy, but they really haven't done much to expand his character yet).
Every episode provides a little more backstory into characters' lives, and this one was no exception. We finally got to see a little more of Alex's life before she met Nikita, and we got just a small hint of Michael's past as well (did you catch that last line?). We also saw a flashback from when Nikita was first recruited, when she was happy to be working for them, and her hair was messier. I imagine we'll see more of the chemistry between Michael and Nikita as the series goes on.
As much as I liked the backstories, I wasn't as wild about the present day mission Nikita was trying to pull off. It stemmed from her first kill, and she wanted to make amends by taking down the group that hired Division to kill him. But there was a slight twist that I wasn't wild about, since it warped Nikita's reason for doing what she was doing. I don't want to spoil it by giving anything away, but I like when Nikita has the moral upper hand, and this twist brought her down a little. That being said, it did create an interesting moment for Michael, who is starting to realize that he has no idea why Percy does anything he does.
I really enjoyed Alex's present-day story too. She hasn't been doing much but acting as a mole for Nikita in the past few episodes, so it was nice to see her with her own story to carry. In this case, she has claustrophobia due to a traumatic event from her childhood, and Amanda is trying to "help" her get over it. We got to see some real strength of character in Alex, not giving Division a win over her, even if she made it look like they did.
Between this episode and the summary for the next, I'm starting to get little prickly warnings about Alex's sort-of friend Thom. Right now he's pretty gung-ho about Division, and I can't imagine he'd be okay with the things Alex does to help Nikita. Which leads me to believe that Alex should not be getting as close to him as she seems to be. I'm curious to see where that road leads.
Like I said, I never expected to like this show as much as I do. It's ratings are a little shaky though, and I'm hoping the CW doesn't pull it before it really has the chance to develop into a great show.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
My Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Criminal Minds - JJ
Network: CBS
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: While JJ attempts to reunite a family whose daughter has mysteriously disappeared, her BAU family braces for the loss of one of their own.
Review: I understand a news reporter is supposed to be objective about the stories she covers, never letting her personal opinion prevent her from telling the facts. That's why I'm extremely glad I'm a reviewer in this case, not a news reporter.
I haven't been quiet about the fact that I'm upset they wrote JJ out of Criminal Minds, and I know there are many, many other fans who feel the same way. And while I appreciate that she went out in a dignified, almost wonderful manner, it doesn't change the fact that she's gone, and my enjoyment of Criminal Minds has gone down just a little. I know I'll get over this eventually because it's just a television show and it doesn't really matter, but right now I'm sad and angry.
Clearly the writers felt this way too. From start to finish, they couldn't have done a better job of making it obvious that they believe JJ (and consequently AJ Cook) to be irreplaceable. The fictional reason for her leaving mirrored the real reason in many ways, with her being forced to leave the position she loves because people with more power and authority made her. Even when Garcia asks who will make the team feel safe with JJ gone, and JJ spits back a sarcastic, "There are plenty of big, strong men around," is a thinly veiled comment on the sexism that many fans feel contributed to the firing of AJ Cook (and Paget Brewster's impending departure next season). The writers obviously felt it was wrong for Cook to leave, and they channeled those feelings into the script.
These same feelings were apparent in the actors' performances as well. Probably to appease angry audiences, we were treated to a touching scene between JJ and Hotch; an angry scene between JJ, Emily, Reid, Morgan and Rossi; and an absolutely heartbreaking scene between JJ and Garcia. All three were perfect in their own way, from Hotch's almost-awkward handshake to Reid's lost little boy voice to the very real tears Garcia cried. I sniffled when Hotch told her he'd miss her. My eyes filled up when Reid insisted they couldn't take her away. And I bawled like a baby when they showed flashbacks from JJ's many episodes over the past five seasons. I'm not ashamed to admit it; this is probably tied for the most emotional Criminal Minds episode ever (with the final Reaper episode, of course).
It's also unfortunate that this was probably one of AJ Cook's best episodes. I've always loved her character, but they rarely let her get any good stories. Not only was she the focus because she was leaving, but they also focused on the part of her job we don't see as much, where she deals with grieving families and somehow gets them to help solve the case. It was wonderful to see her getting so much screen time, even if I didn't like all the reasons.
The sad thing is, I could really have liked this episode. Watching Morgan, Rossi, Emily and Reid take turns trying to crack the two suspects while JJ tried to handle a family about to break was good. It wouldn't have been the most action-packed episode, but it was uplifting in its own way. If the last ten minutes had never happened, I would really have enjoyed it.
I still don't know why someone thought it was a good idea to get rid of an actress who is not only clearly beloved, but important to the show, but I would certainly love to be able to go back in time and stop them from making that move. As is, I'll have to make due with hoping the backlash from this will be bad enough that they'll call and offer Cook her job back. And that she'll accept. For now, I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars because the acting and writing were wonderful, but I just can't see the episode where JJ leaves as excellent.
What did you think? Are you as upset as I am? Sound off below.
For more reviews (not just crime TV ones), check out One DV Rebel's Guide to TV and Film.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Feelings you don't want to share with the class? Questions? Concerns? Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, AJ Cook, Kirsten Vangsness
Summary: While JJ attempts to reunite a family whose daughter has mysteriously disappeared, her BAU family braces for the loss of one of their own.
Review: I understand a news reporter is supposed to be objective about the stories she covers, never letting her personal opinion prevent her from telling the facts. That's why I'm extremely glad I'm a reviewer in this case, not a news reporter.
I haven't been quiet about the fact that I'm upset they wrote JJ out of Criminal Minds, and I know there are many, many other fans who feel the same way. And while I appreciate that she went out in a dignified, almost wonderful manner, it doesn't change the fact that she's gone, and my enjoyment of Criminal Minds has gone down just a little. I know I'll get over this eventually because it's just a television show and it doesn't really matter, but right now I'm sad and angry.
Clearly the writers felt this way too. From start to finish, they couldn't have done a better job of making it obvious that they believe JJ (and consequently AJ Cook) to be irreplaceable. The fictional reason for her leaving mirrored the real reason in many ways, with her being forced to leave the position she loves because people with more power and authority made her. Even when Garcia asks who will make the team feel safe with JJ gone, and JJ spits back a sarcastic, "There are plenty of big, strong men around," is a thinly veiled comment on the sexism that many fans feel contributed to the firing of AJ Cook (and Paget Brewster's impending departure next season). The writers obviously felt it was wrong for Cook to leave, and they channeled those feelings into the script.
These same feelings were apparent in the actors' performances as well. Probably to appease angry audiences, we were treated to a touching scene between JJ and Hotch; an angry scene between JJ, Emily, Reid, Morgan and Rossi; and an absolutely heartbreaking scene between JJ and Garcia. All three were perfect in their own way, from Hotch's almost-awkward handshake to Reid's lost little boy voice to the very real tears Garcia cried. I sniffled when Hotch told her he'd miss her. My eyes filled up when Reid insisted they couldn't take her away. And I bawled like a baby when they showed flashbacks from JJ's many episodes over the past five seasons. I'm not ashamed to admit it; this is probably tied for the most emotional Criminal Minds episode ever (with the final Reaper episode, of course).
It's also unfortunate that this was probably one of AJ Cook's best episodes. I've always loved her character, but they rarely let her get any good stories. Not only was she the focus because she was leaving, but they also focused on the part of her job we don't see as much, where she deals with grieving families and somehow gets them to help solve the case. It was wonderful to see her getting so much screen time, even if I didn't like all the reasons.
The sad thing is, I could really have liked this episode. Watching Morgan, Rossi, Emily and Reid take turns trying to crack the two suspects while JJ tried to handle a family about to break was good. It wouldn't have been the most action-packed episode, but it was uplifting in its own way. If the last ten minutes had never happened, I would really have enjoyed it.
I still don't know why someone thought it was a good idea to get rid of an actress who is not only clearly beloved, but important to the show, but I would certainly love to be able to go back in time and stop them from making that move. As is, I'll have to make due with hoping the backlash from this will be bad enough that they'll call and offer Cook her job back. And that she'll accept. For now, I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars because the acting and writing were wonderful, but I just can't see the episode where JJ leaves as excellent.
What did you think? Are you as upset as I am? Sound off below.
For more reviews (not just crime TV ones), check out One DV Rebel's Guide to TV and Film.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Feelings you don't want to share with the class? Questions? Concerns? Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Castle - A Deadly Affair
Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Summary: Beckett finds Castle at a murder scene holding a gun and is forced to arrest him despite his claims of innocence.
Review: Castle's ratings weren't so hot last season, when ABC was debating whether or not to renew it. Ultimately, they decided to give it a chance to continue growing... and I imagine this season premiere made them glad they did.
When we last left our heroes, Beckett was finally coming to terms with her feelings for Castle, right before he skipped town with his ex-wife to finish writing his book. In the season 3 premiere, no one at the NYPD has heard from him since he left. Ironically, it's not Beckett who's most upset, but Esposito and Ryan, who provide comic relief to Beckett's almost-pining.
While the scene where Beckett finds Castle holding a gun over a dead body (and Ryan almost shoots him) is good, the show really picks up when Castle is released from custody and joins the investigation, against Beckett's wishes. A summer apart certainyl hasn't dampened the chemistry between them, and Castle is the perfect mix of his normal obnoxious self pushing Beckett's buttons and suitably contrite for not calling all summer. Yes, he's still with his ex-wife, but she doesn't make an appearance and, frankly, she doesn't seem particularly important in the grand scheme of Castle and Beckett's relationship.
Ultimately, this episode probably won't stand out against other episodes of Castle, but it did what a good season premiere should--it resolved the cliffhangers from the finale and opened the door to a good season to come. The most important thing is that it should make the audience want to continue watching, to see what will happen next. They can either do that by adding a cliffhanger at the end, or, in the case of Castle, by creating such engaging characters that you can't wait to see what situations they'll wind up in as the season continues.
The only downside to this episode was that there really wasn't enough of Castle's mother and daughter, just a little taste to remind the viewers that they still exist. This is an issue I imagine will easily be resolved in the coming months.
Aside from my perpetual disappointment that they chose to move away from the Beckett/Castle coupling, there was much to enjoy about this episode. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season will play out.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
For more reviews like this, check out One DV Rebel's Guide to TV and Film.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Questions or concerns? Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Summary: Beckett finds Castle at a murder scene holding a gun and is forced to arrest him despite his claims of innocence.
Review: Castle's ratings weren't so hot last season, when ABC was debating whether or not to renew it. Ultimately, they decided to give it a chance to continue growing... and I imagine this season premiere made them glad they did.
When we last left our heroes, Beckett was finally coming to terms with her feelings for Castle, right before he skipped town with his ex-wife to finish writing his book. In the season 3 premiere, no one at the NYPD has heard from him since he left. Ironically, it's not Beckett who's most upset, but Esposito and Ryan, who provide comic relief to Beckett's almost-pining.
While the scene where Beckett finds Castle holding a gun over a dead body (and Ryan almost shoots him) is good, the show really picks up when Castle is released from custody and joins the investigation, against Beckett's wishes. A summer apart certainyl hasn't dampened the chemistry between them, and Castle is the perfect mix of his normal obnoxious self pushing Beckett's buttons and suitably contrite for not calling all summer. Yes, he's still with his ex-wife, but she doesn't make an appearance and, frankly, she doesn't seem particularly important in the grand scheme of Castle and Beckett's relationship.
Ultimately, this episode probably won't stand out against other episodes of Castle, but it did what a good season premiere should--it resolved the cliffhangers from the finale and opened the door to a good season to come. The most important thing is that it should make the audience want to continue watching, to see what will happen next. They can either do that by adding a cliffhanger at the end, or, in the case of Castle, by creating such engaging characters that you can't wait to see what situations they'll wind up in as the season continues.
The only downside to this episode was that there really wasn't enough of Castle's mother and daughter, just a little taste to remind the viewers that they still exist. This is an issue I imagine will easily be resolved in the coming months.
Aside from my perpetual disappointment that they chose to move away from the Beckett/Castle coupling, there was much to enjoy about this episode. I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season will play out.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
For more reviews like this, check out One DV Rebel's Guide to TV and Film.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Questions or concerns? Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Terriers - Pilot
Network: FX
Time: Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Donal Logue, Michael Raymond-James, Laura Allen, Kimberly Quinn
Summary: A favor for an old drinking buddy leads Hank and Britt, small time private eyes, down a rabbit-hole of corruption in deceptively sunny Ocean Beach, California.
Review: I'm having a lot of trouble placing what exactly was the problem with this show, but it doesn't seem to be any one thing in particular. The acting was fine, the writing was fine, and the story was okay. Nothing was exceptional, but nothing was horribly bad either. Everything was just... fine.
I really wanted to like Terriers because one of the creators is Shawn Ryan, who is also responsible for Lie to Me and The Unit, among other successful programs. One of the lead actors is Donal Logue, who spent years on Grounded for Life, which was one of my favorite daytime sitcoms when I was in high school. So perhaps my expectations were a little too high going into the first episode.
Terriers disappointed me. Like I said, I can't point at any one thing and say, "That's the reason why." It was a bunch of little things. The story was mildly enjoyable, but it was predictable. I was never surprised by anything the characters did, even though I think parts of it were supposed to surprise me a little. Nothing momentous happened, which is really bad for a pilot, since this should set the tone for the rest of the season, if not the series. I wasn't even really sure what the main characters, Hank and Britt, were supposed to be doing besides running around doing favors for friends and somehow getting money for it. Supposedly they're private investigators, but they don't have any ID or, presumably, an office of any type.
That's not to saw Terriers didn't have any redeeming qualities. The writing was good, despite the predictable storyline. The dialogue between Hank and Britt was, at times, pithy and even funny. I caught myself laughing out loud at a few of the one liners. And I found that I liked both of the main characters, despite their flaws.
It's common in shows to expose something from the main character's history (usually something bad) in the first episode, so that the viewers will understand him better and perhaps even sympathize with him. This is no different in this episode of Terriers, in which we learned much about Hank's messy divorce, the ex-wife he's still in love with, and the fact that she's moving on with her life. I'm not denying that main characters should have a past; I'm questioning the need to reveal so much personal information about him so early, before the audience has really had time to bond with him. I really did like Hank, and I felt bad that he still seemed to be so hung up on a woman who no longer loved him back, but I also didn't really care yet because I haven't decided if I care about him. So instead of being emotional, or even particularly revealing, the personal aspect of this storyline fell flat.
I might come back to this one when things die down over the summer, but I have no plans to continue watching as the new episodes air. There just wasn't enough in this one to hold my interest.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Donal Logue, Michael Raymond-James, Laura Allen, Kimberly Quinn
Summary: A favor for an old drinking buddy leads Hank and Britt, small time private eyes, down a rabbit-hole of corruption in deceptively sunny Ocean Beach, California.
Review: I'm having a lot of trouble placing what exactly was the problem with this show, but it doesn't seem to be any one thing in particular. The acting was fine, the writing was fine, and the story was okay. Nothing was exceptional, but nothing was horribly bad either. Everything was just... fine.
I really wanted to like Terriers because one of the creators is Shawn Ryan, who is also responsible for Lie to Me and The Unit, among other successful programs. One of the lead actors is Donal Logue, who spent years on Grounded for Life, which was one of my favorite daytime sitcoms when I was in high school. So perhaps my expectations were a little too high going into the first episode.
Terriers disappointed me. Like I said, I can't point at any one thing and say, "That's the reason why." It was a bunch of little things. The story was mildly enjoyable, but it was predictable. I was never surprised by anything the characters did, even though I think parts of it were supposed to surprise me a little. Nothing momentous happened, which is really bad for a pilot, since this should set the tone for the rest of the season, if not the series. I wasn't even really sure what the main characters, Hank and Britt, were supposed to be doing besides running around doing favors for friends and somehow getting money for it. Supposedly they're private investigators, but they don't have any ID or, presumably, an office of any type.
That's not to saw Terriers didn't have any redeeming qualities. The writing was good, despite the predictable storyline. The dialogue between Hank and Britt was, at times, pithy and even funny. I caught myself laughing out loud at a few of the one liners. And I found that I liked both of the main characters, despite their flaws.
It's common in shows to expose something from the main character's history (usually something bad) in the first episode, so that the viewers will understand him better and perhaps even sympathize with him. This is no different in this episode of Terriers, in which we learned much about Hank's messy divorce, the ex-wife he's still in love with, and the fact that she's moving on with her life. I'm not denying that main characters should have a past; I'm questioning the need to reveal so much personal information about him so early, before the audience has really had time to bond with him. I really did like Hank, and I felt bad that he still seemed to be so hung up on a woman who no longer loved him back, but I also didn't really care yet because I haven't decided if I care about him. So instead of being emotional, or even particularly revealing, the personal aspect of this storyline fell flat.
I might come back to this one when things die down over the summer, but I have no plans to continue watching as the new episodes air. There just wasn't enough in this one to hold my interest.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Rizzoli & Isles - When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang
Network: TNT
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Jordan Bridges, Lee Thompson Young, Bruce McGill, Chazz Palminteri, Lorraine Bracco
Summary: A savage gang that killed an undercover officer now targets Boston homicide headquarters for an attack, with Jane, Maura and Frankie Jr. trapped and fighting for survival.
Review: Wow. This season ended with a bang. Literally.
It took awhile to collect my thoughts after this episode's cliffhanger ending. It's not the most compelling cliffhanger I've ever seen, but the episode as a whole does a pretty good job of making you wish the next season would start today.
There have already been a lot of ups and downs in the ten episodes of season one. From the creepy Surgeon who almost killed Jane (twice) to Maura finding out who her real father is, the writers jam-packed the season with as many plot twists as they could fit into the approximately 7.5 hours of air time. This is a fairly common occurrence for new shows, since the cast and crew are never sure if they're going to get a second season.
This finale was a great ending to a great season. Not only was there a considerable amount of action and suspense to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, but there was also another foray into Rizzoli family politics. Turns out Jane and Frankie have a brother. I've read the first book in the series this was based on, so I remember hearing mention of him, but I didn't remember the full story (or the book never went into it). Without going into many details for those who haven't seen the episode yet, Jane and Frankie aren't happy that Tommy's coming home. For some reason, I really enjoyed the scene where they made that clear to their parents. It's the first time we've seen a "kids vs. parents" situation, and it added a layer of realism to their familial relationship.
Then there was the actual plot of the episode, the shooter who killed an undercover cop attacks headquarters. It's hard to talk about this without giving anything away, but Maura was awesome. She really stole the show for me, but she wouldn't have been half as good without Jane there too. The whole series has been building up this sometimes-awkward friendship between Rizzoli and Isles, and there are times when I was left wondering how they could possibly be so close, but this made it obvious. When Maura was doubting herself, Jane was right there to pick her, and when Jane needed her help, Maura literally saved a life for her. The chemistry has been good between them since the beginning, but this really cemented it for me.
There were only two sticking points for me. The first is that there wasn't nearly enough of Frost and Korsak. They did have one or two scenes (and they do seem to be getting along much better than they did in the first episode), but they were so far on the outskirts of this episode that I actually started to miss them a little.
The other thing was Maura's tortoise. She brings it to work because it's not eating and she's worried about it (which, by the way, was kind of adorable), but it doesn't ever do anything. Normally a random prop or animal that appearance once or twice will be involved in the climax of the story somehow, but I think this was just a desire by the writers to have the tortoise come back for another episode. Which is fine, but it seemed like a loose end to me.
TNT renewed Rizzoli & Isles for a second season after only the third episode, so look for new episodes to begin again in 2011.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Angie Harmon, Sasha Alexander, Jordan Bridges, Lee Thompson Young, Bruce McGill, Chazz Palminteri, Lorraine Bracco
Summary: A savage gang that killed an undercover officer now targets Boston homicide headquarters for an attack, with Jane, Maura and Frankie Jr. trapped and fighting for survival.
Review: Wow. This season ended with a bang. Literally.
It took awhile to collect my thoughts after this episode's cliffhanger ending. It's not the most compelling cliffhanger I've ever seen, but the episode as a whole does a pretty good job of making you wish the next season would start today.
There have already been a lot of ups and downs in the ten episodes of season one. From the creepy Surgeon who almost killed Jane (twice) to Maura finding out who her real father is, the writers jam-packed the season with as many plot twists as they could fit into the approximately 7.5 hours of air time. This is a fairly common occurrence for new shows, since the cast and crew are never sure if they're going to get a second season.
This finale was a great ending to a great season. Not only was there a considerable amount of action and suspense to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, but there was also another foray into Rizzoli family politics. Turns out Jane and Frankie have a brother. I've read the first book in the series this was based on, so I remember hearing mention of him, but I didn't remember the full story (or the book never went into it). Without going into many details for those who haven't seen the episode yet, Jane and Frankie aren't happy that Tommy's coming home. For some reason, I really enjoyed the scene where they made that clear to their parents. It's the first time we've seen a "kids vs. parents" situation, and it added a layer of realism to their familial relationship.
Then there was the actual plot of the episode, the shooter who killed an undercover cop attacks headquarters. It's hard to talk about this without giving anything away, but Maura was awesome. She really stole the show for me, but she wouldn't have been half as good without Jane there too. The whole series has been building up this sometimes-awkward friendship between Rizzoli and Isles, and there are times when I was left wondering how they could possibly be so close, but this made it obvious. When Maura was doubting herself, Jane was right there to pick her, and when Jane needed her help, Maura literally saved a life for her. The chemistry has been good between them since the beginning, but this really cemented it for me.
There were only two sticking points for me. The first is that there wasn't nearly enough of Frost and Korsak. They did have one or two scenes (and they do seem to be getting along much better than they did in the first episode), but they were so far on the outskirts of this episode that I actually started to miss them a little.
The other thing was Maura's tortoise. She brings it to work because it's not eating and she's worried about it (which, by the way, was kind of adorable), but it doesn't ever do anything. Normally a random prop or animal that appearance once or twice will be involved in the climax of the story somehow, but I think this was just a desire by the writers to have the tortoise come back for another episode. Which is fine, but it seemed like a loose end to me.
TNT renewed Rizzoli & Isles for a second season after only the third episode, so look for new episodes to begin again in 2011.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Lie to Me - Black and White
Network: Fox
Time: Mondays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund, Mekhi Phifer, Hayley McFarland
Summary: The Lightman Group investigates the murder of a journalist and friend of Lightman’s who was killed while exposing a corrupt politician--a case that tests Lightman’s relationship with Reynolds and the FBI. Meanwhile, Emily’s newfound interest in dating makes her father uncomfortable.
Review: This was a good episode, but a bad season finale. I imagine the producers and writers of Lie to Me weren't sure they'd get a third season when they shot this episode, so they didn't want to leave any cliffhangers in case they didn't have time to wrap them up. Now that they did get the green light for at least half the third season, this episode came up a little short.
Not that it was bad, per se. It was just fairly typical where it should have stood out, especially since it's imperative that Lie to Me gets good ratings next season if it hopes to make it to four.
One of the best parts of "Black and White" is that it added another layer of complexity to the already puzzling character of Cal Lightman. We've seen Cal trying to help his friends, and we've even seen his distrustful of his friends, but we've never seen him when his friend was the victim of a murder. The writers did a great job staying true to his character. Lightman has always marched to his own beat, so it was perfectly reasonable that he would stray from the FBI reservation to do whatever it took to get justice for his friend. And it made perfect sense that Foster, Torres and Loker would follow him right down that path.
It was the personal storyline that seemed a little weak. It was supposed to focus on Cal dealing with Emily growing up, which they've already done several times. While it's kind of fun to watch Cal as a bumbling father (who doesn't, apparently, know everything his daughter does), it seemed like they were just reaching for a storyline for Hayley McFarland. I much preferred the episode where she was writing an article for journalism class and she followed her father and Foster around for a few days. The one good moment I thought they were going to give us with this story--where Foster came over for dinner and they talked about sex--never actually happened, which was a huge disappointed. They've never done as much with the Foster/Hayley story as I wanted.
The other problem I had with this episode (and it's actually something that bothers me about a lot of episodes) is that, despite the fact that Lightman just promoted Loker, he still treats him really badly. Honestly, I can't understand why Loker puts up with it. But instead of challenging him or making him funny, the abuse just makes Loker whiny. Couple that with the fact that he can never win with Torres (and, by the way, them sleeping together last week just seemed like a desperate ploy to rekindle the chemistry they had in the first season), and Loker's character is getting just a bit pathetic.
Lie to Me has seemed to become the Cal Lightman show recently. Even the episodes that have been about the others (Foster's boyfriend, Torres' sister) have wound up being more about Cal than anyone else. It's still fun to watch, and I still love it, but the writers need to step up their game if they hope to get picked up for more episodes after the show's expected finale in early 2011.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, Brendan Hines, Monica Raymund, Mekhi Phifer, Hayley McFarland
Summary: The Lightman Group investigates the murder of a journalist and friend of Lightman’s who was killed while exposing a corrupt politician--a case that tests Lightman’s relationship with Reynolds and the FBI. Meanwhile, Emily’s newfound interest in dating makes her father uncomfortable.
Review: This was a good episode, but a bad season finale. I imagine the producers and writers of Lie to Me weren't sure they'd get a third season when they shot this episode, so they didn't want to leave any cliffhangers in case they didn't have time to wrap them up. Now that they did get the green light for at least half the third season, this episode came up a little short.
Not that it was bad, per se. It was just fairly typical where it should have stood out, especially since it's imperative that Lie to Me gets good ratings next season if it hopes to make it to four.
One of the best parts of "Black and White" is that it added another layer of complexity to the already puzzling character of Cal Lightman. We've seen Cal trying to help his friends, and we've even seen his distrustful of his friends, but we've never seen him when his friend was the victim of a murder. The writers did a great job staying true to his character. Lightman has always marched to his own beat, so it was perfectly reasonable that he would stray from the FBI reservation to do whatever it took to get justice for his friend. And it made perfect sense that Foster, Torres and Loker would follow him right down that path.
It was the personal storyline that seemed a little weak. It was supposed to focus on Cal dealing with Emily growing up, which they've already done several times. While it's kind of fun to watch Cal as a bumbling father (who doesn't, apparently, know everything his daughter does), it seemed like they were just reaching for a storyline for Hayley McFarland. I much preferred the episode where she was writing an article for journalism class and she followed her father and Foster around for a few days. The one good moment I thought they were going to give us with this story--where Foster came over for dinner and they talked about sex--never actually happened, which was a huge disappointed. They've never done as much with the Foster/Hayley story as I wanted.
The other problem I had with this episode (and it's actually something that bothers me about a lot of episodes) is that, despite the fact that Lightman just promoted Loker, he still treats him really badly. Honestly, I can't understand why Loker puts up with it. But instead of challenging him or making him funny, the abuse just makes Loker whiny. Couple that with the fact that he can never win with Torres (and, by the way, them sleeping together last week just seemed like a desperate ploy to rekindle the chemistry they had in the first season), and Loker's character is getting just a bit pathetic.
Lie to Me has seemed to become the Cal Lightman show recently. Even the episodes that have been about the others (Foster's boyfriend, Torres' sister) have wound up being more about Cal than anyone else. It's still fun to watch, and I still love it, but the writers need to step up their game if they hope to get picked up for more episodes after the show's expected finale in early 2011.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average[2] OK
[1] Bad
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Nikita - Pilot
Network: CW
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Ashton Holmes, Tiffany Hines
Summary: Nikita, an assassin and former recruit seeks revenge on the Division, the secret U.S. agency that once doublecrossed her. Meanwhile, a troubled teenage girl named Alex is newly recruited to the Division and begins her training.
Review: I have to admit, I was conflicted going into this show, and my feelings aren't any clearer now that I've seen the pilot. On the one hand, a show about a renegade assassin has the potential to be excellent if done properly. On the other hand, the CW is best known for putting out shows like Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. Not exactly the same kind of drama as Nikita should be.
That being said, the first episode surprised me in many different ways. It centers around two main plots: the story of Nikita, a former assassin whose mission is to destroy the group who made her that way, and the story of Alex, a teenage girl who's recruited by the Division after a robbery gone wrong. Both stories are compelling in their own way, but it's what ties them together in the final minutes of the episode that makes them most interesting.
That's not to say this show isn't without it's problems. The script is weak; there's no way to sugarcoat that. It's not a dialogue-heavy show to begin with, but what little the characters do say is wholly unremarkable. There's a lot of exposition in this first episode. While that's obviously important for a pilot, there are better ways to explain what's going on than to have otherwise inconsequential character sit down and talk about everything. A good show (or book, for that matter) shows the audience what they need to know; it doesn't tell them. Nikita tells.
The effects and the fight scenes fall on the positive side for now. I was surprised how much blood there was for a CW show, but Nikita doesn't get overly messy. There's enough to remind the audience that this is a show about assassins, but not enough that you can't eat a meal while watching it.
The characters are weaker than they should be right now, but they have the potential to grow into something good if they're developed properly. Nikita is obviously the most developed so far, and I found I was sympathetic to her, even if I'm not quite sure I like her yet. Alex and Michael both show signs of being fairly interesting, and I'm even hoping to see more of the computer technician that Nikita kidnapped for information.
If you like a good action series with a halfway decent plot, give this show a try. I'm looking forward to seeing how it will grow as a series in the coming weeks.
Rating:[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Maggie Q, Shane West, Lyndsy Fonseca, Aaron Stanford, Melinda Clarke, Xander Berkeley, Ashton Holmes, Tiffany Hines
Summary: Nikita, an assassin and former recruit seeks revenge on the Division, the secret U.S. agency that once doublecrossed her. Meanwhile, a troubled teenage girl named Alex is newly recruited to the Division and begins her training.
Review: I have to admit, I was conflicted going into this show, and my feelings aren't any clearer now that I've seen the pilot. On the one hand, a show about a renegade assassin has the potential to be excellent if done properly. On the other hand, the CW is best known for putting out shows like Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill. Not exactly the same kind of drama as Nikita should be.
That being said, the first episode surprised me in many different ways. It centers around two main plots: the story of Nikita, a former assassin whose mission is to destroy the group who made her that way, and the story of Alex, a teenage girl who's recruited by the Division after a robbery gone wrong. Both stories are compelling in their own way, but it's what ties them together in the final minutes of the episode that makes them most interesting.
That's not to say this show isn't without it's problems. The script is weak; there's no way to sugarcoat that. It's not a dialogue-heavy show to begin with, but what little the characters do say is wholly unremarkable. There's a lot of exposition in this first episode. While that's obviously important for a pilot, there are better ways to explain what's going on than to have otherwise inconsequential character sit down and talk about everything. A good show (or book, for that matter) shows the audience what they need to know; it doesn't tell them. Nikita tells.
The effects and the fight scenes fall on the positive side for now. I was surprised how much blood there was for a CW show, but Nikita doesn't get overly messy. There's enough to remind the audience that this is a show about assassins, but not enough that you can't eat a meal while watching it.
The characters are weaker than they should be right now, but they have the potential to grow into something good if they're developed properly. Nikita is obviously the most developed so far, and I found I was sympathetic to her, even if I'm not quite sure I like her yet. Alex and Michael both show signs of being fairly interesting, and I'm even hoping to see more of the computer technician that Nikita kidnapped for information.
If you like a good action series with a halfway decent plot, give this show a try. I'm looking forward to seeing how it will grow as a series in the coming weeks.
Rating:[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
My Boys - My Men
Network: TBS
Time: Sundays, 10:00-10:30pm
Cast: Jordana Spiro, Kyle Howard, Reid Scott, Jamie Kaler, Michael Bunin, Kellee Stewart
Summary: Brendan must make a decision that could affect everybody. Stephanie receives an offer to work in London, and P.J. can't help Mike plan a birthday party for Marcia.
Review: Summer is no longer the season when networks burn out their crappiest episodes and show countless reruns of Law & Order and CSI. The new shows this summer were edgy, clever, dramatic and funny, and My Boys was no different.
My Boys has always been a summer show, and each of its four seasons is fewer than ten episodes long, which is sad considering what a great show it is. I spent the beginning of the summer catching up on seasons two and three, so most of the series is fresh in my mind following Sunday night's season four finale.
The finale left me feeling massively disappointed... disappointed because it turned out to be the series finale (TBS canceled My Boys on Tuesday) and now I don't get to see what happens next. I'll try to be careful to word this in a way that doesn't spoil anything for those who haven't seen it yet.
There are two major twists in this episode; one is predictable, the other is not. The unpredictable one was very easy to mess up. It could have been over the top or too rushed, but it wasn't. In fact, I'd argue that it was done perfectly because never, at any point in the episode, did I believe anything was out of character or unbelievable. The more predictable twist, which was revealed only in the last moments of the episode, just gave me a good, warm feeling that next season will be a lot of fun.
The episode as a whole dealt with priorities. PJ was trying to sort hers out when she was offered the possibility of a new "dream" job. Mike wanted to plan a birthday party for his girlfriend Marcia, and he enlisted the entire gang's help (which led to some wonderfully funny Bobby moments). And Stephanie got a job offer in London for a few months, leaving Kenny to decide whether or not he was going to go with her.
There's something about the chemistry between the characters that takes a theme that could be trite and keeps it fresh. Sure, there's nothing new and shocking going on in this show, but great writing coupled with perfect timing keeps you laughing, even if you knew the joke was coming. It's what I've always liked about My Boys, and it's just as true in this episode as any other.
The finale had an added bonus of getting to see a new side of Mike--the side that's in a serious relationship where he honestly cares about making his girlfriend happy. The title of the episode, "My Men," is fitting because PJ's boys really are growing up. This episode did actually feel like a series finale for me (particularly the title), but there were still loose ends that could have been tied up next season, had TBS renewed it. I guess now we'll be left to imagine what happens next.
Rating:
[5] Excellent[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Sundays, 10:00-10:30pm
Cast: Jordana Spiro, Kyle Howard, Reid Scott, Jamie Kaler, Michael Bunin, Kellee Stewart
Summary: Brendan must make a decision that could affect everybody. Stephanie receives an offer to work in London, and P.J. can't help Mike plan a birthday party for Marcia.
Review: Summer is no longer the season when networks burn out their crappiest episodes and show countless reruns of Law & Order and CSI. The new shows this summer were edgy, clever, dramatic and funny, and My Boys was no different.
My Boys has always been a summer show, and each of its four seasons is fewer than ten episodes long, which is sad considering what a great show it is. I spent the beginning of the summer catching up on seasons two and three, so most of the series is fresh in my mind following Sunday night's season four finale.
The finale left me feeling massively disappointed... disappointed because it turned out to be the series finale (TBS canceled My Boys on Tuesday) and now I don't get to see what happens next. I'll try to be careful to word this in a way that doesn't spoil anything for those who haven't seen it yet.
There are two major twists in this episode; one is predictable, the other is not. The unpredictable one was very easy to mess up. It could have been over the top or too rushed, but it wasn't. In fact, I'd argue that it was done perfectly because never, at any point in the episode, did I believe anything was out of character or unbelievable. The more predictable twist, which was revealed only in the last moments of the episode, just gave me a good, warm feeling that next season will be a lot of fun.
The episode as a whole dealt with priorities. PJ was trying to sort hers out when she was offered the possibility of a new "dream" job. Mike wanted to plan a birthday party for his girlfriend Marcia, and he enlisted the entire gang's help (which led to some wonderfully funny Bobby moments). And Stephanie got a job offer in London for a few months, leaving Kenny to decide whether or not he was going to go with her.
There's something about the chemistry between the characters that takes a theme that could be trite and keeps it fresh. Sure, there's nothing new and shocking going on in this show, but great writing coupled with perfect timing keeps you laughing, even if you knew the joke was coming. It's what I've always liked about My Boys, and it's just as true in this episode as any other.
The finale had an added bonus of getting to see a new side of Mike--the side that's in a serious relationship where he honestly cares about making his girlfriend happy. The title of the episode, "My Men," is fitting because PJ's boys really are growing up. This episode did actually feel like a series finale for me (particularly the title), but there were still loose ends that could have been tied up next season, had TBS renewed it. I guess now we'll be left to imagine what happens next.
Rating:
[5] Excellent[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Parenthood - Perchance to Dream
Network: NBC
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, Monica Potter, Sam Jaeger, Joy Bryant, Mae Whitman, Sarah Ramos, Miles Heizer, Max Burkholder, Savannah Paige Rae, Tyree Brown
Summary: Adam has his hands full taking care of Max and Haddie when Kristina goes out of town. Meanwhile, Sarah tries to get Amber to start thinking about college. Julia tries to teach Sydney a lesson about lying. And Crosby takes Jasmine on a date without Jabbar.
Review: I'm really glad I didn't give up on this show. It's starting to become one of my most highly anticipated shows each week (it helps that it's been one of the few to have new episodes for the last couple weeks).
Part of what I really like about this show is that it's very real, but not in an uncomfortable way. Too often, shows go one of two ways: either they're super-fluid and fast-talking, with characters who always have a quip ready (i.e. The West Wing); or they're really awkward with long pauses that give the illusion of real life (i.e. The Office).
Parenthood is neither of those things. It's realism comes from the fact that almost every time a character reacts to the situation around them, it doesn't surprise me because I know someone (if not my own parents, then a friend's) who would react the same way. They actually act like real people, instead of an idealized version of real people. One of my favorite scenes from this episode was where Sarah, Julia and Kristina were talking about their daughters because it really sounded like the kind of conversation three mothers would have.
Each story allowed us to see the characters in a slightly different way than normal in this episode. For example, normally we see Julia as the sort-of-absent parent (the working mom, who's there less frequently than Daddy). Joel seems to be the one who interacts with Sydney most about the day-to-day stuff, while Julia tends to interrupt the mundane to do things her way. But in this episode, Julia believed Sydney broke a lamp and was lying about what happened to it. So she cordoned off the room and left the lamp there until the person who broke it cleaned it up. It was such a typical lesson that a kid has to learn (who among us didn't lie at the age of four when we thought we were going to get into trouble?) that it was surprising Julia was teaching it. But it was nice to see her take on this role too, while Joel was relegated to the sidelines.
We normally see Crosby as either the ladies' man or the new father, but never both at the same time. In this episode, he wanted to take Jasmine out without Jabbar so he could get to know her better. And while their date is interrupted by their son, we do get a glimpse at a different kind of Crosby, the one who is learning to balance responsibility, commitment, and his desire to sleep with a beautiful woman. While I'm not convinced I like the Crosby/Jasmine relationship (mostly because I'm not convinced I like Jasmine), I don't feel strong dislike towards it either. I'm waiting for it to unfold naturally before I pass judgment.
So far, we've only seen Amber and Sarah at odds with each other. Our very first introduction to them was a fight, and a lot of this episode was as well. But there seemed to be a bit of a breakthrough towards the end, where each of them opened up a little and suddenly everyone could see that there was a loving mother-daughter relationship underneath the animosity.
Also, Amber and Drew, despite being siblings, have actually had very little interaction up to now. There was that whole thing with Drew and the shower, and they shared a room for a little while, but there wasn't much conversation between them or anything. We actually got to see Drew go to his sister for advice for a change and, even though the conversation was dominated by Amber and Sarah fighting, Amber seemed to be actually trying to help Drew with his girl problems.
And finally, Adam, Kristina and Haddie. This branch of the Braverman family has been dominated by the Max storyline for the first few episodes, and it's only been recently that they've been giving the others some screen time. Kristina, who is the quintessential housewife/stay-at-home mom, went back to work for the weekend to help her old employer, leaving Adam to stay with the kids. This might have been better if Haddie wasn't in the process of getting closer to her boyfriend. Adam reacts... not well, and he and Haddie fight.
In the first few episodes, Haddie seemed like the perfect daughter. Her parents' world revolved around Max and, while Haddie certainly wasn't thrilled about that, she seemed to understand and tried to make things easier. Now, she's acting out like only 15-year-old girls can, and it's a nice reminder that she's just a teenager, and she's going to be selfish sometimes.
I also liked that this episode brought back the Adam/Drew relationship. Drew needs a father-figure in his life, and he can't turn to his dad and shouldn't turn to his grandfather (Grandpa Zeke scares me), so he goes to his mom's older brother when he needs help with guy stuff. I really like this relationship, and I hope they continue to build on it.
It's kind of amazing how much stuff they cram into each episode, but it's stopped being overwhelming (mostly) and instead is a lot of fun to watch. The season finale is coming up, but that's okay because NBC already renewed it for season 2, so there's plenty for fans to look forward to.
Are you looking forward to the rest of season 1? What was your favorite part of this episode? Leave a comment and let me know.
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Bonnie Bedelia, Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, Erika Christensen, Monica Potter, Sam Jaeger, Joy Bryant, Mae Whitman, Sarah Ramos, Miles Heizer, Max Burkholder, Savannah Paige Rae, Tyree Brown
Summary: Adam has his hands full taking care of Max and Haddie when Kristina goes out of town. Meanwhile, Sarah tries to get Amber to start thinking about college. Julia tries to teach Sydney a lesson about lying. And Crosby takes Jasmine on a date without Jabbar.
Review: I'm really glad I didn't give up on this show. It's starting to become one of my most highly anticipated shows each week (it helps that it's been one of the few to have new episodes for the last couple weeks).
Part of what I really like about this show is that it's very real, but not in an uncomfortable way. Too often, shows go one of two ways: either they're super-fluid and fast-talking, with characters who always have a quip ready (i.e. The West Wing); or they're really awkward with long pauses that give the illusion of real life (i.e. The Office).
Parenthood is neither of those things. It's realism comes from the fact that almost every time a character reacts to the situation around them, it doesn't surprise me because I know someone (if not my own parents, then a friend's) who would react the same way. They actually act like real people, instead of an idealized version of real people. One of my favorite scenes from this episode was where Sarah, Julia and Kristina were talking about their daughters because it really sounded like the kind of conversation three mothers would have.
Each story allowed us to see the characters in a slightly different way than normal in this episode. For example, normally we see Julia as the sort-of-absent parent (the working mom, who's there less frequently than Daddy). Joel seems to be the one who interacts with Sydney most about the day-to-day stuff, while Julia tends to interrupt the mundane to do things her way. But in this episode, Julia believed Sydney broke a lamp and was lying about what happened to it. So she cordoned off the room and left the lamp there until the person who broke it cleaned it up. It was such a typical lesson that a kid has to learn (who among us didn't lie at the age of four when we thought we were going to get into trouble?) that it was surprising Julia was teaching it. But it was nice to see her take on this role too, while Joel was relegated to the sidelines.
We normally see Crosby as either the ladies' man or the new father, but never both at the same time. In this episode, he wanted to take Jasmine out without Jabbar so he could get to know her better. And while their date is interrupted by their son, we do get a glimpse at a different kind of Crosby, the one who is learning to balance responsibility, commitment, and his desire to sleep with a beautiful woman. While I'm not convinced I like the Crosby/Jasmine relationship (mostly because I'm not convinced I like Jasmine), I don't feel strong dislike towards it either. I'm waiting for it to unfold naturally before I pass judgment.
So far, we've only seen Amber and Sarah at odds with each other. Our very first introduction to them was a fight, and a lot of this episode was as well. But there seemed to be a bit of a breakthrough towards the end, where each of them opened up a little and suddenly everyone could see that there was a loving mother-daughter relationship underneath the animosity.
Also, Amber and Drew, despite being siblings, have actually had very little interaction up to now. There was that whole thing with Drew and the shower, and they shared a room for a little while, but there wasn't much conversation between them or anything. We actually got to see Drew go to his sister for advice for a change and, even though the conversation was dominated by Amber and Sarah fighting, Amber seemed to be actually trying to help Drew with his girl problems.
And finally, Adam, Kristina and Haddie. This branch of the Braverman family has been dominated by the Max storyline for the first few episodes, and it's only been recently that they've been giving the others some screen time. Kristina, who is the quintessential housewife/stay-at-home mom, went back to work for the weekend to help her old employer, leaving Adam to stay with the kids. This might have been better if Haddie wasn't in the process of getting closer to her boyfriend. Adam reacts... not well, and he and Haddie fight.
In the first few episodes, Haddie seemed like the perfect daughter. Her parents' world revolved around Max and, while Haddie certainly wasn't thrilled about that, she seemed to understand and tried to make things easier. Now, she's acting out like only 15-year-old girls can, and it's a nice reminder that she's just a teenager, and she's going to be selfish sometimes.
I also liked that this episode brought back the Adam/Drew relationship. Drew needs a father-figure in his life, and he can't turn to his dad and shouldn't turn to his grandfather (Grandpa Zeke scares me), so he goes to his mom's older brother when he needs help with guy stuff. I really like this relationship, and I hope they continue to build on it.
It's kind of amazing how much stuff they cram into each episode, but it's stopped being overwhelming (mostly) and instead is a lot of fun to watch. The season finale is coming up, but that's okay because NBC already renewed it for season 2, so there's plenty for fans to look forward to.
Are you looking forward to the rest of season 1? What was your favorite part of this episode? Leave a comment and let me know.
NCIS - Moonlighting
Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: Gibbs and Fornell work together when an NCIS polygraph specialist's night job is connected to murder.
Review: This was probably my favorite NCIS episode in a long time, and not just because loyal fans of the McGee and Abby relationship were finally thrown a bone.
It seems like the pieces are finally starting to click back into place for NCIS. I'm not sure what happened between the season premiere (which some may remember I declared to be the best episode of the series) and now, but it's been rough going for awhile. The episodes have felt forced, the cases have been boring and unnecessarily complicated, and everything's just been a little... off.
I remarked that the last new episode felt like NCIS was on an upswing, getting back some of the mojo it had lost, and, after seeing this episode, I think it's back on top. This episode made me remember why I loved this show. The banter was light-hearted and funny, the case was a pleasant sidenote, and Gibbs had his sense of humor back! I don't know about you guys, but I sorely missed the dry wit that it Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And Gibbs bantering with FBI Agent Tobias Fornell is just ten times better.
I used to have a sort of love/hate relationship with Fornell, but somewhere along the way I realized he makes the episodes he's really awesome. His relationship with Gibbs has evolved throughout the seasons, and it's nice to see Gibbs just be someone's friend. I know he and Ducky have been friends forever too, but their relationship is somehow different, in a way I haven't been able to put into words (I know, and they pay me to write?).
This episode also saw the return of McGee-stalker/polygraph technician Susan Grady. If you remember, she's the one who told McGee he had to retake his polygraph test so she could ask him if he had a girlfriend. In this episode, it was her second job that was possibly involved in the murder of a petty officer... which meant Gibbs wanted McGee to interview her.
Susan is... a weird character. She's kind of a mess. She's emotionally all over the map, and she has the people skills of a slightly moldy block of cheese. Yet she's an oddly pathetic character, and I found myself feeling bad for her and growing to (almost) like her by the end.
Also, please let me take a moment to let the fangirl part of me give a squeal about how jealous Abby got over Susan. I liked this episode for a number of reasons, but definitely my favorite scene was the one where Tony, Ziva and Ducky are giving Abby a hard time about McGee and Susan. And then the subsequent scene where she goes back to her lab and finds the two of them there. For those of us who've been waiting for Abby to realize she's been crazy about McGee since season 1, this was a good episode.
OK, I promise that's all about that for now. I anticipate plenty of opportunities to do that again in the next few episodes.
I'm also pleased with the way they've been using Palmer lately. I love the little autopsy gremlin, and I love that he has a hot girlfriend. Of course, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop with her, because no one on NCIS ever has a girlfriend (or boyfriend) who's not going to die or trying to kill them. With the exception of Lt. Col. Mann. And that one that Ducky wore different ties for, but we never met her so she doesn't count.
Of course, having Palmer show up more and (especially) interact with Gibbs more, only reinforces my theory that Ducky's on his way out. I've had a gut feeling for about half the season that Ducky was thinking about resigning at the end of it, but I've not proof to back it up. So I guess we'll find out about that in a few weeks.
This episode didn't have a whole lot of negatives, and it made me really anticipate the next few weeks. I think all the episodes are new from now until the season finale (finally), so I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what happens next.
What'd you guys think? Was it worth wait of all the reruns that have been on lately? Are you as excited about the season finale as I am? Leave a comment and let me know.
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: Gibbs and Fornell work together when an NCIS polygraph specialist's night job is connected to murder.
Review: This was probably my favorite NCIS episode in a long time, and not just because loyal fans of the McGee and Abby relationship were finally thrown a bone.
It seems like the pieces are finally starting to click back into place for NCIS. I'm not sure what happened between the season premiere (which some may remember I declared to be the best episode of the series) and now, but it's been rough going for awhile. The episodes have felt forced, the cases have been boring and unnecessarily complicated, and everything's just been a little... off.
I remarked that the last new episode felt like NCIS was on an upswing, getting back some of the mojo it had lost, and, after seeing this episode, I think it's back on top. This episode made me remember why I loved this show. The banter was light-hearted and funny, the case was a pleasant sidenote, and Gibbs had his sense of humor back! I don't know about you guys, but I sorely missed the dry wit that it Leroy Jethro Gibbs. And Gibbs bantering with FBI Agent Tobias Fornell is just ten times better.
I used to have a sort of love/hate relationship with Fornell, but somewhere along the way I realized he makes the episodes he's really awesome. His relationship with Gibbs has evolved throughout the seasons, and it's nice to see Gibbs just be someone's friend. I know he and Ducky have been friends forever too, but their relationship is somehow different, in a way I haven't been able to put into words (I know, and they pay me to write?).
This episode also saw the return of McGee-stalker/polygraph technician Susan Grady. If you remember, she's the one who told McGee he had to retake his polygraph test so she could ask him if he had a girlfriend. In this episode, it was her second job that was possibly involved in the murder of a petty officer... which meant Gibbs wanted McGee to interview her.
Susan is... a weird character. She's kind of a mess. She's emotionally all over the map, and she has the people skills of a slightly moldy block of cheese. Yet she's an oddly pathetic character, and I found myself feeling bad for her and growing to (almost) like her by the end.
Also, please let me take a moment to let the fangirl part of me give a squeal about how jealous Abby got over Susan. I liked this episode for a number of reasons, but definitely my favorite scene was the one where Tony, Ziva and Ducky are giving Abby a hard time about McGee and Susan. And then the subsequent scene where she goes back to her lab and finds the two of them there. For those of us who've been waiting for Abby to realize she's been crazy about McGee since season 1, this was a good episode.
OK, I promise that's all about that for now. I anticipate plenty of opportunities to do that again in the next few episodes.
I'm also pleased with the way they've been using Palmer lately. I love the little autopsy gremlin, and I love that he has a hot girlfriend. Of course, I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop with her, because no one on NCIS ever has a girlfriend (or boyfriend) who's not going to die or trying to kill them. With the exception of Lt. Col. Mann. And that one that Ducky wore different ties for, but we never met her so she doesn't count.
Of course, having Palmer show up more and (especially) interact with Gibbs more, only reinforces my theory that Ducky's on his way out. I've had a gut feeling for about half the season that Ducky was thinking about resigning at the end of it, but I've not proof to back it up. So I guess we'll find out about that in a few weeks.
This episode didn't have a whole lot of negatives, and it made me really anticipate the next few weeks. I think all the episodes are new from now until the season finale (finally), so I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing what happens next.
What'd you guys think? Was it worth wait of all the reruns that have been on lately? Are you as excited about the season finale as I am? Leave a comment and let me know.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Parenthood - The Big 'O'
Network: NBC
Summary: Kristina's constant worrying affects her and Adam's sex life, and the worrying only gets worse when Max starts working with Gaby, a young behavioral aide. Sarah debates whether she should go out on a date with Amber's teacher Mr. Cyr. Meanwhile, Crosby tries to muster up the courage to tell his parents about Jabbar, and Julia gets jealous of a mom in Joel's playgroup.
Review: In just a few short weeks, this show has really grown on me. Though the pilot episode was confusing and bit of a downer, it's really turned around since then. Which is just another reason why you should never doubt the wonder that is Ron Howard.
Every family member had a storyline in this episode, but it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as it was in the first episode. Perhaps that's because we know who the characters are now (and we've grown attached to them). Or perhaps it's because the writing has just gotten better. I'm not completely sure, but whatever it is, it's working.
Okay, just a quick point: could they possibly get cuter kids to act on this show? One minute I'm going, "Aw, look, Max is playing with a kid his age, he's the cutest," and then Sidney is sitting with her arms around her best friend and I'm like, "Aw, that's so adorable, she's definitely the cutest," and then Crosby brings Jabbar to meet his parents and Jabbar introduces himself and shakes their hands, and I'm like, "Aw, no, look how mature he is, he's definitely the cutest," and then it starts all over again.
Sorry, had to get that out.
It's sort of a segue to a larger observation about the show. The little kids (and the parents who take care of them) were a main focus of this episode, and everyone handled themselves wonderfully. There aren't really any weak links in the acting chain here. I really believe that everyone is related, and they fall into their family roles well. The last couple episodes were good examples of this, with Amber babysitting for Sidney and Adam playing ball with Drew. I like a show that can put any of the characters in a scene together and not make the audience question the decision.
Parenthood also does a good job of mixing the serious, the sweet, and the silly. Though I said previously that I expected it to be funnier, I've readjusted my expectations since then, and now I'm pleased with the results. It's not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a super-serious drama either. It's got enough light-hearted moments that you never get depressed, and it has enough sweet family love to leave even the coldest heart warmed. There are several different styles of humor at work--witty, slapstick, awkward--and they mesh together nicely with the serious moments.
This episode focused a little more on Kristina than the others. In this case, Adam was a supporting character to deal with Kristina's issues, instead of the other way around, and I liked that they switched it up. She's had so much to deal with, it was nice to see her finally break down in a very realistic way.
Realism is the name of the game, and I think this episode helped prove that. Joel and Julia dealt with a relationship hurdle as well, and I think both their reactions were more realistic than you normally get from a television show. Sure, Julia got jealous and angry, but they talked it out and ultimately handled it in the mature way you'd hope most married couples would.
The only bit of this episode I had trouble with was Sarah's decision to date Amber's teacher. Perhaps it's because I still can't wipe the memory of Lauren Graham making the same bad decision as Lorelai Gilmore, but I was upset that she decided to give in and go out with him. I was hoping she would take Amber's feelings (and obvious crush) into account and at least wait until her daughter was out of the class. As Amber's teacher, I think he should have thought of that before asking her mother out as well. The previews for next week teased that Sarah would tell Amber everything, so at least she's not going to hide it. I still can't imagine that will go well.
This is becoming a highly anticipated show for me, though it still doesn't quite have the pull that, say, Criminal Minds does. I'm looking forward to seeing these characters and their relationships develop more as the series goes on.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Summary: Kristina's constant worrying affects her and Adam's sex life, and the worrying only gets worse when Max starts working with Gaby, a young behavioral aide. Sarah debates whether she should go out on a date with Amber's teacher Mr. Cyr. Meanwhile, Crosby tries to muster up the courage to tell his parents about Jabbar, and Julia gets jealous of a mom in Joel's playgroup.
Review: In just a few short weeks, this show has really grown on me. Though the pilot episode was confusing and bit of a downer, it's really turned around since then. Which is just another reason why you should never doubt the wonder that is Ron Howard.
Every family member had a storyline in this episode, but it wasn't nearly as overwhelming as it was in the first episode. Perhaps that's because we know who the characters are now (and we've grown attached to them). Or perhaps it's because the writing has just gotten better. I'm not completely sure, but whatever it is, it's working.
Okay, just a quick point: could they possibly get cuter kids to act on this show? One minute I'm going, "Aw, look, Max is playing with a kid his age, he's the cutest," and then Sidney is sitting with her arms around her best friend and I'm like, "Aw, that's so adorable, she's definitely the cutest," and then Crosby brings Jabbar to meet his parents and Jabbar introduces himself and shakes their hands, and I'm like, "Aw, no, look how mature he is, he's definitely the cutest," and then it starts all over again.
Sorry, had to get that out.
It's sort of a segue to a larger observation about the show. The little kids (and the parents who take care of them) were a main focus of this episode, and everyone handled themselves wonderfully. There aren't really any weak links in the acting chain here. I really believe that everyone is related, and they fall into their family roles well. The last couple episodes were good examples of this, with Amber babysitting for Sidney and Adam playing ball with Drew. I like a show that can put any of the characters in a scene together and not make the audience question the decision.
Parenthood also does a good job of mixing the serious, the sweet, and the silly. Though I said previously that I expected it to be funnier, I've readjusted my expectations since then, and now I'm pleased with the results. It's not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not a super-serious drama either. It's got enough light-hearted moments that you never get depressed, and it has enough sweet family love to leave even the coldest heart warmed. There are several different styles of humor at work--witty, slapstick, awkward--and they mesh together nicely with the serious moments.
This episode focused a little more on Kristina than the others. In this case, Adam was a supporting character to deal with Kristina's issues, instead of the other way around, and I liked that they switched it up. She's had so much to deal with, it was nice to see her finally break down in a very realistic way.
Realism is the name of the game, and I think this episode helped prove that. Joel and Julia dealt with a relationship hurdle as well, and I think both their reactions were more realistic than you normally get from a television show. Sure, Julia got jealous and angry, but they talked it out and ultimately handled it in the mature way you'd hope most married couples would.
The only bit of this episode I had trouble with was Sarah's decision to date Amber's teacher. Perhaps it's because I still can't wipe the memory of Lauren Graham making the same bad decision as Lorelai Gilmore, but I was upset that she decided to give in and go out with him. I was hoping she would take Amber's feelings (and obvious crush) into account and at least wait until her daughter was out of the class. As Amber's teacher, I think he should have thought of that before asking her mother out as well. The previews for next week teased that Sarah would tell Amber everything, so at least she's not going to hide it. I still can't imagine that will go well.
This is becoming a highly anticipated show for me, though it still doesn't quite have the pull that, say, Criminal Minds does. I'm looking forward to seeing these characters and their relationships develop more as the series goes on.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
