Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn, Penny Jerald Johnson, Tamala Jones
Summary (from imdb.com): Castle & Beckett confront the possibility of paranormal foul play when a world renown ghost hunter is mysteriously murdered while investigating a haunting at a legendary New York mansion.
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE EPISODE
Review: I really have enjoyed this season of Castle. I don't hate the new captain as much as I expected to, and I'm fairly amused by the love/hate (Okay, mostly hate) relationship she has with Castle. Sure, I'd like to give Beckett a stern shake and force her to tell Castle she remembers everything and she loves him too, but the waiting only occasionally makes me nuts (like when they try to draw parallels between whatever case they're working on and Castle and Beckett's relationship). Even Alexis' new, semi-bratty stage hasn't annoyed me as much as I thought it would.
But this episode was far and away the best episode of the season to date.
I don't normally like Halloween episodes, especially in dramas. I don't really like scary stuff (shh, I only write about crime television). And I know Castle has done a Halloween episode at least once before, but I couldn't really call up the plot.
I needn't have worried though. Sure, the whole episode was about ghosts and demons, but it was also Castle, the way this show was meant to be written. I'd had an inkling that something was off in the beginning of the season, but I couldn't really put a finger on it until now. While there has been some decent banter between Castle and Beckett (and Ryan and Esposito), it wasn't really clicking until this week. I didn't realize that until I saw how much smoother they were in this episode. Every line, every facial tick, every movement was perfectly in sync, and that made all the difference.
If I had to pick one thing that didn't quite work, it was the Ryan/Esposito B story. The guys took their women (Ryan's fiancee Jenny (played by his real-life wife Juliana Dever) and Esposito's girlfriend Lanie) out to dinner for a double-date. I'd heard about this story, and I was looking forward to it. Ryan and Esposito's bromance is one of the greatest currently on television, and I've liked the small snippets we've been given between Ryan and Jenny and Esposito and Lanie. Combining the couples into an awesome foursome seemed inevitable.
But apparently the Powers That Be didn't agree with my idea. Instead of fun, light-hearted affair, we were treated to an incredibly cheesy and awkward toast by Ryan (sorry, man, I love you, but that can't be explained away with, "Well, I'm me") and then the World's Worst Question by Jenny. "So when are you two getting married?" she asks Esposito and Lanie. Okay, first of all, who asks that to a woman she's just met? That's something your blue-haired great-aunt asks you because she's hoping she'll live to see it or your mean-spirited older brother asks because he wants to make trouble. Am I crazy, or do you not ask that if you're trying to make someone your friend? Or keep someone as your friend, for that matter?
After that, obviously Esposito and Lanie decided they needed to break up, since Esposito's not ready to get married and Lanie... isn't either. Hmmm. I can only think of two reasons for the abrupt ending given to this relationship that we never really got to see much anyway: 1) the writers realized they didn't have much they wanted to do with Esposito and Lanie (and the chemistry, while present, was weak at best), or 2) the writers have something planned for Esposito and Lanie in the future. Either way, nothing about that story really worked for me.
But that was a very tiny fly in the ointment for this episode. The ghost story was perfect. I actually didn't identify the killer from the first minute he walked on-screen, which is unusual for Castle. I loved the intricate setup of the "haunted house," and that, while the demon was explained away, it doesn't completely remove the idea that there might supernatural forces. But most of all, I loved that Castle and Beckett seemed to be back on equal footing. Maybe we're starting to move away from the shooting aftermath, and we can get back to the Castle of previous seasons that we all loved so much.
Rating: 5/5
Favorite line:
Castle: So... if Barry's not our guy, I think it's time we revisit the possibility that our killer's a...
Beckett: If you say ghost, I'm sending you home.
Castle: Apparition-American.
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Showing posts with label network: ABC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label network: ABC. Show all posts
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Castle - Rise
Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn, Penny Jerald Johnson, Tamala Jones
Summary: In the fourth-season opener, a wounded Beckett fights to stay alive as Castle investigates her shooting. Meanwhile, Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) takes charge as the precinct's tough new captain.
Review: Castle was one of my three most highly anticipated premieres (the other two being Criminal Minds and The Mentalist, in case you were interested), and it really never could have lived up to my expectations. This certainly wasn't a bad way to kick off the season, but it also left a lot of room for growth as we go on.
The episode focused on three things: the aftermath of Beckett's shooting, the introduction of the new captain, and the investigation of a celebutante's murder in a hotel room. After beginning the premiere just minutes after last season's finale ended, we jumped forward three months in time to Beckett's return to the precinct, where things aren't exactly as she left them. Captain Montgomery's been replaced by Victoria "Iron" Gates, a former Internal Affairs investigator who was made detective just six weeks after Beckett. Gates plays by the rules, as she's quick to prove by refusing to let Beckett have her gun back until she re-qualified (which, needless to say, thrilled Beckett). Gates also closed the investigation into Beckett's shooting after three months and no leads. Plus, she clearly terrifies Ryan and Esposito, who speak in hushed tones and hide around corners when she's near.
While Ryan and Esposito are sent to a crime scene, Beckett and Castle continue to investigate her shooting and her mother's murder, right up until the point where Castle receives a phone call from the mysterious man who received the package Montgomery mailed at the end of last season (who else thought that package was going to Castle?). In a conversation we don't get to see, the man tells Castle that he has compromising documents that he can use to protect Beckett... as long as she stops investigating. Castle, who is surprisingly confident for a man who went three months without talking to Beckett, is sure he can convince her to stop. And, sure enough, he has a short conversation with her and keeps her from falling down the rabbit hole again. No problem. All in a day's work for Super Castle.
Meanwhile, Ryan and Esposito (and eventually Castle and Beckett) are tasked with solving the high profile murder of a celebutante (which is a word my dictionary doesn't recognize). This case was such a low priority, it was almost a joke. And the fact that the killer was literally hiding under the bed the whole time? That was a bit ridiculous, even for Castle reality. But, as with most Castle episodes, the case wasn't really the main focus of the episode. It seemed like this one was mostly here to a) give Ryan and Esposito something to do, and b) give Beckett something to do after Castle convinces her to stop investigating her mother's murder.
The one thing this episode was really lacking was the humor that makes Castle such a fun show. Obviously, the episode after a shooting isn't going to be all laughs and smiles, but the solemnity was almost overwhelming. Castle is a better show when it doesn't take itself too seriously, so hopefully next week will get back to the lightheartedness we all love.
There were still a lot of bright moments in this episode. The look on Beckett's face while she listened to the mayor order Gates to keep Castle was priceless (was that the only time we saw Beckett smile this episode?). I liked how neatly Josh was disposed of in the first fifteen minutes of the episode, and I was really hoping Alexis would take a swing at him when they were fighting in the hospital. I think Gates has the potential to turn into a decent character if she can learn to loosen up, though she also has the potential to be a real witch (we're trusting you, Andrew Marlowe!). I loved that Alexis was so worried about her dad, even if she showed it by acting a little bratty.
And I really, really liked the honesty in Castle and Beckett's relationship so far. Aside from the one big, whopping lie she tells him--did anybody really believe she didn't remember anything about the shooting?--there's a sincerity between them that just shows how far their relationship has come since season one. Castle may not have told her he loved her in words again, but he said it a million times in his actions in this episode. And Beckett's revelation about the walls she's put up made my heart break just a little. Of course Castle is able to talk her into tabling her mother's case; anyone with eyes could see how he was only telling her those things because he cares about her. I challenge anyone to watch this episode and not root for these two people at least a little.
So it was a bit of a slow start for the season, but I think there's a lot of potential here. Obviously the big storyline is still open, but more important in the next few episodes will be getting back to the familiar rhythm of Castle, with the banter and the chemistry that's made this show a hit. I'm looking forward to seeing where the season leads.
Rating: 3/5
Favorite line:
Ryan (during interrogation): "So what are you saying, Dale? You sleep-shot her?"
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn, Penny Jerald Johnson, Tamala Jones
Summary: In the fourth-season opener, a wounded Beckett fights to stay alive as Castle investigates her shooting. Meanwhile, Victoria Gates (Penny Johnson Jerald) takes charge as the precinct's tough new captain.
Review: Castle was one of my three most highly anticipated premieres (the other two being Criminal Minds and The Mentalist, in case you were interested), and it really never could have lived up to my expectations. This certainly wasn't a bad way to kick off the season, but it also left a lot of room for growth as we go on.
The episode focused on three things: the aftermath of Beckett's shooting, the introduction of the new captain, and the investigation of a celebutante's murder in a hotel room. After beginning the premiere just minutes after last season's finale ended, we jumped forward three months in time to Beckett's return to the precinct, where things aren't exactly as she left them. Captain Montgomery's been replaced by Victoria "Iron" Gates, a former Internal Affairs investigator who was made detective just six weeks after Beckett. Gates plays by the rules, as she's quick to prove by refusing to let Beckett have her gun back until she re-qualified (which, needless to say, thrilled Beckett). Gates also closed the investigation into Beckett's shooting after three months and no leads. Plus, she clearly terrifies Ryan and Esposito, who speak in hushed tones and hide around corners when she's near.
While Ryan and Esposito are sent to a crime scene, Beckett and Castle continue to investigate her shooting and her mother's murder, right up until the point where Castle receives a phone call from the mysterious man who received the package Montgomery mailed at the end of last season (who else thought that package was going to Castle?). In a conversation we don't get to see, the man tells Castle that he has compromising documents that he can use to protect Beckett... as long as she stops investigating. Castle, who is surprisingly confident for a man who went three months without talking to Beckett, is sure he can convince her to stop. And, sure enough, he has a short conversation with her and keeps her from falling down the rabbit hole again. No problem. All in a day's work for Super Castle.
Meanwhile, Ryan and Esposito (and eventually Castle and Beckett) are tasked with solving the high profile murder of a celebutante (which is a word my dictionary doesn't recognize). This case was such a low priority, it was almost a joke. And the fact that the killer was literally hiding under the bed the whole time? That was a bit ridiculous, even for Castle reality. But, as with most Castle episodes, the case wasn't really the main focus of the episode. It seemed like this one was mostly here to a) give Ryan and Esposito something to do, and b) give Beckett something to do after Castle convinces her to stop investigating her mother's murder.
The one thing this episode was really lacking was the humor that makes Castle such a fun show. Obviously, the episode after a shooting isn't going to be all laughs and smiles, but the solemnity was almost overwhelming. Castle is a better show when it doesn't take itself too seriously, so hopefully next week will get back to the lightheartedness we all love.
There were still a lot of bright moments in this episode. The look on Beckett's face while she listened to the mayor order Gates to keep Castle was priceless (was that the only time we saw Beckett smile this episode?). I liked how neatly Josh was disposed of in the first fifteen minutes of the episode, and I was really hoping Alexis would take a swing at him when they were fighting in the hospital. I think Gates has the potential to turn into a decent character if she can learn to loosen up, though she also has the potential to be a real witch (we're trusting you, Andrew Marlowe!). I loved that Alexis was so worried about her dad, even if she showed it by acting a little bratty.
And I really, really liked the honesty in Castle and Beckett's relationship so far. Aside from the one big, whopping lie she tells him--did anybody really believe she didn't remember anything about the shooting?--there's a sincerity between them that just shows how far their relationship has come since season one. Castle may not have told her he loved her in words again, but he said it a million times in his actions in this episode. And Beckett's revelation about the walls she's put up made my heart break just a little. Of course Castle is able to talk her into tabling her mother's case; anyone with eyes could see how he was only telling her those things because he cares about her. I challenge anyone to watch this episode and not root for these two people at least a little.
So it was a bit of a slow start for the season, but I think there's a lot of potential here. Obviously the big storyline is still open, but more important in the next few episodes will be getting back to the familiar rhythm of Castle, with the banter and the chemistry that's made this show a hit. I'm looking forward to seeing where the season leads.
Rating: 3/5
Favorite line:
Ryan (during interrogation): "So what are you saying, Dale? You sleep-shot her?"
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Castle - Poof, You're Dead
Network: ABC
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Molly C. Quinn, Susan Sullivan, Tamala Jones
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for the episode.
Summary: Castle and Beckett interview a top magician after the owner of a magic store drowns in Houdini's legendary water torture tank. Elsewhere, romance is in the air for Esposito and Lanie. (from tvguide.com)
Review: While not quite as good as last week's episode, Castle certainly continued to prove it's worthy of the full-season pick up it received. This episode had a little bit of everything: murder, relationship drama, murder, and even magic.
"Poof, You're Dead" focused on the investigation into the death of a magician who supposedly killed himself using a magic trick. Obviously, this being a crime show and all, the suicide turned out to be a murder, which then turned out to be the first step of what may be Castle's most complex storyline ever.
If I have one complaint about this episode, it was how convoluted it was. They introduced more red herrings than usual, and they were (almost) all men, so by the time the full story came out, I was having trouble remembering which name belonged to which character, and what that character's relationship was with the dead guy. To top it off, the dead magician had an identical twin with a similar name, which added another layer of complexity.
That being said, I think it's the first time all season I haven't guessed the killer from the moment he or she entered the room. I was completely surprised by twist (perhaps because I was still trying to figure out how they leapt from magicians to philanthropist billionaires), and I enjoyed the element of surprise. Most of the time, the case is not Castle's strong suit, and the show is mostly focused on the characters' interactions as they solve it. It seemed that was on the back burner, and a significant portion of this episode was focused on actually solving the crime, instead of bantering. It was a refreshing change made better by the fact that they didn't completely abandon Castle and Beckett's repartee as other shows are wont to do.
That's not to say this episode was completely without a humorous dive into the characters' lives. In fact, for the first time ever, Lanie was given a prominent place in the plot. Seems our favorite medical examiner has a new man in her life--Detective Javier Esposito. Was I the only one who giggled like a schoolgirl at that? TVGuide.com had it included in their preview, so I wasn't surprised it happened, but I was surprised by how much I like the idea. I hope they continue to give us glimpses into their relationship, though I would request that they only try to hide it from the team for another episode or so. Any more than that, and I think it would get boring, especially since we already know the team knows.
Lanie and Esposito weren't the only couple the episode focused on. Many moments were devoted to the (apparently) increasingly tumultuous relationship between Castle and his girlfriend/publicist Gina, culminating in a breakup that was neither surprising nor (for me) important. Considering Gina essentially disappeared after she and Castle began dating--only resurfacing that one time to bond with Alexis--I'm completely not invested in her, and I completely don't care that she's gone. Now Beckett just needs to lose the doctor guy, and they can all live happily ever after.
My only other comment is that I missed Castle's mother and daughter again. I feel like they used to be in more of the episode, instead of the one or two scenes they had this week and last. And while I did love the scene where Castle and his mom talked about Gina, just once I'd like to see them actually finish a conversation without the case interrupting.
What did you think, Castle fans? Did the case seem unusually complex to you? Are you excited about Lanie/Esposito? Do you also think Ryan deserves the award for Best Dressed Detective this week? Leave me some comments and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, Seamus Dever, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Molly C. Quinn, Susan Sullivan, Tamala Jones
WARNING: The following review contains spoilers for the episode.
Summary: Castle and Beckett interview a top magician after the owner of a magic store drowns in Houdini's legendary water torture tank. Elsewhere, romance is in the air for Esposito and Lanie. (from tvguide.com)
Review: While not quite as good as last week's episode, Castle certainly continued to prove it's worthy of the full-season pick up it received. This episode had a little bit of everything: murder, relationship drama, murder, and even magic.
"Poof, You're Dead" focused on the investigation into the death of a magician who supposedly killed himself using a magic trick. Obviously, this being a crime show and all, the suicide turned out to be a murder, which then turned out to be the first step of what may be Castle's most complex storyline ever.
If I have one complaint about this episode, it was how convoluted it was. They introduced more red herrings than usual, and they were (almost) all men, so by the time the full story came out, I was having trouble remembering which name belonged to which character, and what that character's relationship was with the dead guy. To top it off, the dead magician had an identical twin with a similar name, which added another layer of complexity.
That being said, I think it's the first time all season I haven't guessed the killer from the moment he or she entered the room. I was completely surprised by twist (perhaps because I was still trying to figure out how they leapt from magicians to philanthropist billionaires), and I enjoyed the element of surprise. Most of the time, the case is not Castle's strong suit, and the show is mostly focused on the characters' interactions as they solve it. It seemed that was on the back burner, and a significant portion of this episode was focused on actually solving the crime, instead of bantering. It was a refreshing change made better by the fact that they didn't completely abandon Castle and Beckett's repartee as other shows are wont to do.
That's not to say this episode was completely without a humorous dive into the characters' lives. In fact, for the first time ever, Lanie was given a prominent place in the plot. Seems our favorite medical examiner has a new man in her life--Detective Javier Esposito. Was I the only one who giggled like a schoolgirl at that? TVGuide.com had it included in their preview, so I wasn't surprised it happened, but I was surprised by how much I like the idea. I hope they continue to give us glimpses into their relationship, though I would request that they only try to hide it from the team for another episode or so. Any more than that, and I think it would get boring, especially since we already know the team knows.
Lanie and Esposito weren't the only couple the episode focused on. Many moments were devoted to the (apparently) increasingly tumultuous relationship between Castle and his girlfriend/publicist Gina, culminating in a breakup that was neither surprising nor (for me) important. Considering Gina essentially disappeared after she and Castle began dating--only resurfacing that one time to bond with Alexis--I'm completely not invested in her, and I completely don't care that she's gone. Now Beckett just needs to lose the doctor guy, and they can all live happily ever after.
My only other comment is that I missed Castle's mother and daughter again. I feel like they used to be in more of the episode, instead of the one or two scenes they had this week and last. And while I did love the scene where Castle and his mom talked about Gina, just once I'd like to see them actually finish a conversation without the case interrupting.
What did you think, Castle fans? Did the case seem unusually complex to you? Are you excited about Lanie/Esposito? Do you also think Ryan deserves the award for Best Dressed Detective this week? Leave me some comments and let me know.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 4/5
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Castle - Nikki Heat
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
Summary: Beckett and Castle tackle an upscale matchmaker's murder case, and they have company: the actress cast as Nikki Heat, who wants a deeper grasp of her character. Her copycat image soon becomes too much for Beckett, but Castle likes it. (from tvguide.com)
Review: Just when I think I can't possibly enjoy Castle anymore than I already do, something like this happens.
Maybe it's because it was the first episode after a too-long break or because Laura Prepon was guest starring, but everything about this episode seemed to click. Castle and Beckett's banter was seamless and exceptional, and the addition of a new character didn't put a damper on it. If anything, Prepon only added to the chemistry. She really showed her acting ability in this episode. She did Beckett almost as well as Stana Katic does, but with a hilarious, sometimes creepy edge to it. She toed the line between ditzy Hollywood starlet and serious method actor well, adding just enough insightfulness to avoid being labeled an idiot. And she played so well off Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic that I could have sworn she'd been acting with them for years.
Prepon's oft-creepy imitations allowed for some great moments between Castle and Beckett as well. I've said before that Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are both wonderful physical actors, and it really showed in this episode. The wide array of facial expressions that both actors demonstrated were spot-on for whatever situation they were in, from Castle's wounded pride look to Beckett's half-terrified, half-bewildered expression when Natalie Rhodes steals her coffee. There was never a moment where I felt they were over-the-top or off in any way, and I laughed harder at those moments than almost anything else in the episode.
But as much as I found myself laughing, "Nikki Heat" also brought me to tears. I'm not too proud to admit I cried a bit at the end, like any sappy, over-emotional girl would. This is the first episode that Ryan has had his own story (aside from a few minutes where they first introduced his girlfriend), and even though it was just used as filler for the main arc, it was still wonderful to see Seamus Dever getting some love. Ryan is one of my favorite supporting characters, and I loved every minute he was on the screen.
If I had any negatives, there were two small things. The first is that there wasn't nearly enough of Grams and Alexis. I'm not really sure where they would have fit in this episode, but I always love their scenes, so I was a little disappointed that they just had one in the beginning.
The second thing is that I had very little emotional investment in the case. For me, it was just a reason for all these characters to be interacting. It took half the episode for me to remember the victim's name was Stacey. I didn't even try to guess the killer because I wasn't paying enough attention to what was going on to know which character was which. That being said, I don't feel I lost anything by not following it. This was still, without a doubt, one of my favorite Castle episodes of all time. With February sweeps lurking just around the corner (alright, they're four weeks away), I can't wait to see what future episodes will hold.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 5/5
Time: Mondays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Seamus Dever, Jon Huertas, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Susan Sullivan, Molly C. Quinn
Summary: Beckett and Castle tackle an upscale matchmaker's murder case, and they have company: the actress cast as Nikki Heat, who wants a deeper grasp of her character. Her copycat image soon becomes too much for Beckett, but Castle likes it. (from tvguide.com)
Review: Just when I think I can't possibly enjoy Castle anymore than I already do, something like this happens.
Maybe it's because it was the first episode after a too-long break or because Laura Prepon was guest starring, but everything about this episode seemed to click. Castle and Beckett's banter was seamless and exceptional, and the addition of a new character didn't put a damper on it. If anything, Prepon only added to the chemistry. She really showed her acting ability in this episode. She did Beckett almost as well as Stana Katic does, but with a hilarious, sometimes creepy edge to it. She toed the line between ditzy Hollywood starlet and serious method actor well, adding just enough insightfulness to avoid being labeled an idiot. And she played so well off Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic that I could have sworn she'd been acting with them for years.
Prepon's oft-creepy imitations allowed for some great moments between Castle and Beckett as well. I've said before that Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic are both wonderful physical actors, and it really showed in this episode. The wide array of facial expressions that both actors demonstrated were spot-on for whatever situation they were in, from Castle's wounded pride look to Beckett's half-terrified, half-bewildered expression when Natalie Rhodes steals her coffee. There was never a moment where I felt they were over-the-top or off in any way, and I laughed harder at those moments than almost anything else in the episode.
But as much as I found myself laughing, "Nikki Heat" also brought me to tears. I'm not too proud to admit I cried a bit at the end, like any sappy, over-emotional girl would. This is the first episode that Ryan has had his own story (aside from a few minutes where they first introduced his girlfriend), and even though it was just used as filler for the main arc, it was still wonderful to see Seamus Dever getting some love. Ryan is one of my favorite supporting characters, and I loved every minute he was on the screen.
If I had any negatives, there were two small things. The first is that there wasn't nearly enough of Grams and Alexis. I'm not really sure where they would have fit in this episode, but I always love their scenes, so I was a little disappointed that they just had one in the beginning.
The second thing is that I had very little emotional investment in the case. For me, it was just a reason for all these characters to be interacting. It took half the episode for me to remember the victim's name was Stacey. I didn't even try to guess the killer because I wasn't paying enough attention to what was going on to know which character was which. That being said, I don't feel I lost anything by not following it. This was still, without a doubt, one of my favorite Castle episodes of all time. With February sweeps lurking just around the corner (alright, they're four weeks away), I can't wait to see what future episodes will hold.
For more crime TV news, follow NewarkCrimeTV on Twitter.
Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Rating: 5/5
Thursday, December 9, 2010
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.
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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.
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Rating: 4/5
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.
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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
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.
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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.
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Questions or concerns? Email me at NewarkCrimeTV@gmail.com.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Modern Family - Fears
Network: ABC
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-9:30pm
Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter
Summary: Each of the families discuss and confront some of their fears.
Review: For a half hour show, Modern Family really packs a lot into each episode, yet does it in a way that makes sense and doesn't overwhelm the viewer (unlike, say, Parenthood's first episode). This episode had stories involving Jay and Manny facing their fears of roller coasters, Haley going for her driver's license test (for the third time), Alex going to a school dance, Luke and Phil exploring under the house, and Mitch and Cam's fear that Lily's first word was "Mommy." All that in 30 minutes, and still enough time to delve into a side story about Lily's pediatrician (played by the awesome Suzy Nakamura, who was Sam's original assistant Cathy on The West Wing).
And each story was not only well-rounded (beginning, middle, end), but coherent, funny and sweet all at the same time. I love the sweet side of Modern Family. Most sitcoms, even the family ones, focus so much on being funny that they don't have the same heart-warming effect Modern Family has. And I'm not sure this kind of sweetness has a place in every sitcom. After all, could you imagine The Big Bang Theory if Sheldon and Leonard sat down and talked out their feelings at the end of each episode? Or Seinfeld if Jerry had a voice over at the end talking about what he'd learned from that episode? It wouldn't work at all.
But Modern Family makes it work, which is why I think it's one of the (if not the) best sitcoms in at least the past two decades.
Plus it's funny. Even the characters that aren't particularly likable (Phil) are still funny to watch. And it manages to encompass several different types of humor. Phil is the master of the awkward humor that I don't particularly enjoy but everyone else seems to like. Mitch and Cam do the gay humor really well, but find the right balance between flamboyant homosexuality and an honest, wholesome couple. And Jay relies more on a dry wit and sarcasm, especially when dealing with his precocious stepson.
This episode was just another in a long line of solid episodes from this show. Ultimately, I don't think this one will stand out in my head the way the one with Luke's birthday party does, but it still deserves a high rating for generally being excellent. This show has been nothing but consistent so far, and I look forward to it every week to see what they'll do this time.
Favorite lines:
Jay: I'm not afraid of anything.
Gloria: What about pigeons?
Jay: Oh, yeah, I don't like them. They're shifty.
Jay: (about Manny) I could have guessed he'd have trouble with roller coasters. That kid gets woozy at barbershops when they spin his chair towards the mirror.
Phil: We're like Ponce de Leon and his son... little Ponce.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Wednesdays, 9:00-9:30pm
Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, Nolan Gould, Ariel Winter
Summary: Each of the families discuss and confront some of their fears.
Review: For a half hour show, Modern Family really packs a lot into each episode, yet does it in a way that makes sense and doesn't overwhelm the viewer (unlike, say, Parenthood's first episode). This episode had stories involving Jay and Manny facing their fears of roller coasters, Haley going for her driver's license test (for the third time), Alex going to a school dance, Luke and Phil exploring under the house, and Mitch and Cam's fear that Lily's first word was "Mommy." All that in 30 minutes, and still enough time to delve into a side story about Lily's pediatrician (played by the awesome Suzy Nakamura, who was Sam's original assistant Cathy on The West Wing).
And each story was not only well-rounded (beginning, middle, end), but coherent, funny and sweet all at the same time. I love the sweet side of Modern Family. Most sitcoms, even the family ones, focus so much on being funny that they don't have the same heart-warming effect Modern Family has. And I'm not sure this kind of sweetness has a place in every sitcom. After all, could you imagine The Big Bang Theory if Sheldon and Leonard sat down and talked out their feelings at the end of each episode? Or Seinfeld if Jerry had a voice over at the end talking about what he'd learned from that episode? It wouldn't work at all.
But Modern Family makes it work, which is why I think it's one of the (if not the) best sitcoms in at least the past two decades.
Plus it's funny. Even the characters that aren't particularly likable (Phil) are still funny to watch. And it manages to encompass several different types of humor. Phil is the master of the awkward humor that I don't particularly enjoy but everyone else seems to like. Mitch and Cam do the gay humor really well, but find the right balance between flamboyant homosexuality and an honest, wholesome couple. And Jay relies more on a dry wit and sarcasm, especially when dealing with his precocious stepson.
This episode was just another in a long line of solid episodes from this show. Ultimately, I don't think this one will stand out in my head the way the one with Luke's birthday party does, but it still deserves a high rating for generally being excellent. This show has been nothing but consistent so far, and I look forward to it every week to see what they'll do this time.
Favorite lines:
Jay: I'm not afraid of anything.
Gloria: What about pigeons?
Jay: Oh, yeah, I don't like them. They're shifty.
Jay: (about Manny) I could have guessed he'd have trouble with roller coasters. That kid gets woozy at barbershops when they spin his chair towards the mirror.
Phil: We're like Ponce de Leon and his son... little Ponce.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Monday, November 2, 2009
Modern Family - Pilot
Network: ABC
Time: Wednesday, 9:00-9:30
Cast: Ed O'Neill, Sophia Vergara, Rico Rodriguez II, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter,
Creators: Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan
Summary: This show follows three individual families that make up one larger family. There's one nuclear family: husband, wife, and three kids. There's one gay family: two boyfriends and an adopted daughter. And there's one divorcee who's now married to a much younger woman and raising her young son. The story has a documentary feel to it, with all the characters doing confessionals and speaking to the camera either by themselves or with their spouses.
Review: As a general rule, I'm a much tougher critic of a one-hour show than a sitcom. For a sitcom to be good for me, all it has to do is make me laugh a few times and not bore me. I don't have to like the characters. Oh, sure, it's nice when I do, but it's not essential. Generally in a sitcom, characters are fairly static anyway. Look at Friends or Seinfeld as an example. The characters age, sure, but they don't actually *grow*. There's little personality change between Chandler of season 1 and Chandler of season 10. The audience expects their characters to be a certain way every time they watch the show. Whereas the Josh Lyman in season 1 of the West Wing is a much more relaxed, humorous character than the Josh Lyman in season 7 who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The point of that mini-rant is that, unlike dramatic television, a sitcom's greatest weapons and biggest liabilities are snappy dialogue and good jokes. Without both of those, nothing else in the show matters.
Modern Family has the whole package. Right from the start, you are walking into a funny show. It's set up like a mock documentary (read: mockumentary), with The Office-style confessionals to the camera. These confessionals can be solo, but usually each couple is together. It's better that way because it allows them to play off each other.
And, boy, are they good at that. I don't know who was in charge of casting for this show, but they managed to find a set of actors with the kind of chemistry most shows can only dream of (so good, infact, it made me end my sentence with a preposition). From the first episode, we're supposed to believe all these people are related--a father and his two children from one marriage, each of their families (one heterosexual, one homosexual), his new wife (who's roughly his daughter's age) and her son from a previous marriage.
And I buy it. For awhile we only see each individual family and their troubles. There's Claire, who's trying to raise a teenage girl (Haley), a pre-teen girl (Alex), a pre-pre-teen boy (Luke), and a husband (Phil, who, frankly, is the least mature of all of them). The entire family dynamic is real enough that I turned to my viewing partners and said, "If I had had an older sister, I'd have been exactly like Alex." Sure, they're wittier and the comebacks are snappier than most families are, but, at least in the case of my family, it gives us something to aspire to.
The point of that mini-rant is that, unlike dramatic television, a sitcom's greatest weapons and biggest liabilities are snappy dialogue and good jokes. Without both of those, nothing else in the show matters.
Modern Family has the whole package. Right from the start, you are walking into a funny show. It's set up like a mock documentary (read: mockumentary), with The Office-style confessionals to the camera. These confessionals can be solo, but usually each couple is together. It's better that way because it allows them to play off each other.
And, boy, are they good at that. I don't know who was in charge of casting for this show, but they managed to find a set of actors with the kind of chemistry most shows can only dream of (so good, infact, it made me end my sentence with a preposition). From the first episode, we're supposed to believe all these people are related--a father and his two children from one marriage, each of their families (one heterosexual, one homosexual), his new wife (who's roughly his daughter's age) and her son from a previous marriage.
And I buy it. For awhile we only see each individual family and their troubles. There's Claire, who's trying to raise a teenage girl (Haley), a pre-teen girl (Alex), a pre-pre-teen boy (Luke), and a husband (Phil, who, frankly, is the least mature of all of them). The entire family dynamic is real enough that I turned to my viewing partners and said, "If I had had an older sister, I'd have been exactly like Alex." Sure, they're wittier and the comebacks are snappier than most families are, but, at least in the case of my family, it gives us something to aspire to.
Then there's Mitchell, who lives with his boyfriend Cam. In the pilot episode, they just adopted a little girl from Vietnam, and they (read: Mitchell) are worried about how to tell his father, who's just accepted the fact that Mitchell is gay. This is another realistic relationship. They have their stereotypically gay quirks, but it's refreshing to see that even they know when they take it too far. It seems that homosexuality is the new "in thing" to have in a television show. See Glee for an example of what happens when all the gay characters are unashamedly flamboyant, and you'll see, as I do, that's it's refreshing to see a gay couple that acts more like real people.
Finally there's Jay, Mitchell and Claire's father, who lives with his new wife Gloria and her precocious grade-school son Manny. This is a point to consider later, that Mitchell and Claire's stepmother is roughly their age, and their stepbrother is the same age as Claire's son. Ed O'Neill is probably the only name I recognized going into this show, and he delivers spectacularly. His wit is dry, his demeanor is gruff, and his bluntness is balanced with a dash of sweet.
All of this combines to give the first episode a lot of laughs and a heart-warming ending that makes you realize that all families are dysfunctional in their own way. Because, when you get to it, all these related characters make up a pretty normal family. They have their craziness, but, really, what's normal anyway?
Rating (this episode):
[1] Run in the other direction
[2] Don't bother
[3] Worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do
[4] Definitely try it out
[5] A total keeper
[1] Run in the other direction
[2] Don't bother
[3] Worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do
[4] Definitely try it out
[5] A total keeper
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Forgotten - Pilot
Network: ABC
Time: 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Christian Slater, Heather Stephens, Michelle Borth, Anthony Carrigan, Bob Stephenson, Rochelle Aytes
Creator: Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: When the police can no longer spend their resources trying to find the identity of a dead body, they turn it over to a group of volunteers called the Forgotten Network. The Network uses its manpower and--let's face it--sheer determination to see if they can do better than the overextended police department. They rely mostly on the belief that people are inherently good and willing to help out, so if you're a cynic, you're going to have to suspend your disbelief here.
Review: So I finally changed the channel from CBS to ABC's Cold Case-esque new show, The Forgotten. Out of everything I'm watching this season, this is the biggest uncertainty for me. Let's break it down.
First off, I love the premise. Unlike Cold Case or any of it's similar shows, we're not dealing with a branch of law enforcement. All the people in the Forgotten Network are volunteers, with real other jobs that they have to balance with this. Something a little different, it opens the door for some potentially interesting scenes where they try to balance their "real lives" with this incredibly important job. Also, I'm a sucker for those heartbreaking stories where they finally name the John or Jane Doe and their family can finally have closure.
Second, the voice over. Honestly, voice overs are usually cheesy, and I can only count a few shows that use them well (How I Met Your Mother, for example). This show uses it well. The Doe narrates the voice over, acting as both a storytelling mechanism and a lie detector. When the Forgotten Network gets a step closer to discovering who their Doe really is, the narrator steps in and gives the audience some more information about themselves. And then they end the episode by say their name, as if to say, "I've been found."
Third, I'm intrigued by the characters, though I'm not sold on them yet. Personally, I have many issues with Christian Slater. Mostly, he scares me. I don't care what role he's playing, he always looks like a scary elf to me. Joking aside, though, I don't feel very invested in his character Alex, despite finding out his personal crusade that led him initially to the Network. The only other character they really develop in the first episode is Tyler (Anthony Carrigan), the med school dropout who only joins the Network because he has to do community service. They turn him around quickly though, maybe a little too quickly. There's another guy Walter (Bob Stephenson) who is really enthusiastic about his volunteering. Don't know why he's so enthusiastic, but I guess that's never a bad thing. And then there are two women, Lindsey (Heather Stephens) and Candace (Michelle Borth), who I can't tell apart in looks or personality.
Fourth, it drags. Like The Good Wife, I feel like the actual story is shorter than the episode. They figured out who the Doe was pretty early in the episode. Then they found out they were wrong. OK, that's good. Gives us more time to investigate. Then they figured it out again. Then they spent time trying to find his killer. Up until that last bit, I was enjoying myself. But a network of volunteers shouldn't be investigating a murder, even if one is an ex-cop who's still buddies with the police chief. Not only is it unbelievable, but it's not interesting. They don't have any of the cool toys, they can't arrest people or legally kick their butts, and they sort of go into each interview with a, "I'm a good person volunteering to help a grieving family please tell me everything I need to know," attitude. And it works. At which point even I rolled my eyes and said, "Come on. No one's that helpful."
Like I said, I'm not sold yet. There's potential. And there's a strong opening and closing. I'll give it a few more weeks.
Rating (this episode):
[1] Run in the other direction
[2] Don't bother
[3] Worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do
[4] Definitely try it out
[5] A total keeper
Time: 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Christian Slater, Heather Stephens, Michelle Borth, Anthony Carrigan, Bob Stephenson, Rochelle Aytes
Creator: Jerry Bruckheimer
Summary: When the police can no longer spend their resources trying to find the identity of a dead body, they turn it over to a group of volunteers called the Forgotten Network. The Network uses its manpower and--let's face it--sheer determination to see if they can do better than the overextended police department. They rely mostly on the belief that people are inherently good and willing to help out, so if you're a cynic, you're going to have to suspend your disbelief here.
Review: So I finally changed the channel from CBS to ABC's Cold Case-esque new show, The Forgotten. Out of everything I'm watching this season, this is the biggest uncertainty for me. Let's break it down.
First off, I love the premise. Unlike Cold Case or any of it's similar shows, we're not dealing with a branch of law enforcement. All the people in the Forgotten Network are volunteers, with real other jobs that they have to balance with this. Something a little different, it opens the door for some potentially interesting scenes where they try to balance their "real lives" with this incredibly important job. Also, I'm a sucker for those heartbreaking stories where they finally name the John or Jane Doe and their family can finally have closure.
Second, the voice over. Honestly, voice overs are usually cheesy, and I can only count a few shows that use them well (How I Met Your Mother, for example). This show uses it well. The Doe narrates the voice over, acting as both a storytelling mechanism and a lie detector. When the Forgotten Network gets a step closer to discovering who their Doe really is, the narrator steps in and gives the audience some more information about themselves. And then they end the episode by say their name, as if to say, "I've been found."
Third, I'm intrigued by the characters, though I'm not sold on them yet. Personally, I have many issues with Christian Slater. Mostly, he scares me. I don't care what role he's playing, he always looks like a scary elf to me. Joking aside, though, I don't feel very invested in his character Alex, despite finding out his personal crusade that led him initially to the Network. The only other character they really develop in the first episode is Tyler (Anthony Carrigan), the med school dropout who only joins the Network because he has to do community service. They turn him around quickly though, maybe a little too quickly. There's another guy Walter (Bob Stephenson) who is really enthusiastic about his volunteering. Don't know why he's so enthusiastic, but I guess that's never a bad thing. And then there are two women, Lindsey (Heather Stephens) and Candace (Michelle Borth), who I can't tell apart in looks or personality.
Fourth, it drags. Like The Good Wife, I feel like the actual story is shorter than the episode. They figured out who the Doe was pretty early in the episode. Then they found out they were wrong. OK, that's good. Gives us more time to investigate. Then they figured it out again. Then they spent time trying to find his killer. Up until that last bit, I was enjoying myself. But a network of volunteers shouldn't be investigating a murder, even if one is an ex-cop who's still buddies with the police chief. Not only is it unbelievable, but it's not interesting. They don't have any of the cool toys, they can't arrest people or legally kick their butts, and they sort of go into each interview with a, "I'm a good person volunteering to help a grieving family please tell me everything I need to know," attitude. And it works. At which point even I rolled my eyes and said, "Come on. No one's that helpful."
Like I said, I'm not sold yet. There's potential. And there's a strong opening and closing. I'll give it a few more weeks.
Rating (this episode):
[1] Run in the other direction
[2] Don't bother
[3] Worth a watch if you've got nothing better to do
[4] Definitely try it out
[5] A total keeper
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