Network: Fox
Time: Tuesday, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Kelli Giddish, Nicholas Bishop, Richard Schiff, Ravi Patel
Summary: Psychologist Kate McGinn and former NYPD detective Price Whatley attempt to help a teenage boy who believes he is the reincarnation of an eight-year-old girl.
Review: It's not often I get to review a crime show from its inception, so this is a bit of a treat for me. It's unfortunate that I wasn't so thrilled with the show, however, but at least I made it all the way through the first episode this time (sorry, Human Target, I just couldn't do it with you).
This show needs a lot of work if it hopes to make it past the seven episodes Fox already ordered. A new premise would probably do wonders, but since that's not possible, let's see what else we can come up with.
To start, I don't think this show is sustainable for more than a season at its best. The concept is that what happened in your past life affects your present life. What it boils down to is that Kate and Price solve what are essentially cold cases by finding the reincarnated souls in living people. My question is: how many cases like this could possibly exist in the whole world, let alone just the New York area, where the show takes place? Even if reincarnation does exist, I can't believe it would be as common as it would need to be to fill all the episodes. If it was so common, wouldn't it be a little less mysterious? Maybe I'm being cynical, but I'm having trouble buying this premise.
My second problem is completely different, but equally as important. Either the acting or the writing is really bad. Or both are. I can't be sure after one episode, but something about it seemed really fake. I mean, Richard Schiff was his usual wonderful self, but he wasn't in nearly enough of the episode to make up for Kelli Giddish. The other characters fluctuated between mildly tolerable (Nicholas Bishop) and absurdly overdramatic (Cayden Boyd). Things were told to the audience through monologues or dialogues instead of shown through the characters' actions. It took drama away from the moments that really deserved an impact and gave it to moments that could have easily been done better. It also made it boring.
I tried hard to stay focused through the whole thing, but I definitely found my attention wandering during long conversations that seemed irrelevant (of which there were many). The problem with a "tell, don't show" episode is that it's not attention-grabbing. In our world of instant gratification, a show simply can't afford to be boring.
I really wanted to like this show. It sounded like it could have been interesting if it was less about reincarnation in such specific terms and more about the general idea. Also, if they used Richard Schiff more, I think it would have been infinitely better. But there just wasn't enough to keep me interested. I'd like to give it another chance to see if they fix some of the problems, but I don't know if I'll be able to keep going if they don't.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Comments? Leave them here.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NCIS - Jack Knife
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: When a Marine is found dead, the team hits the road to bust an illegal trucking operation.
Review: This was an odd episode. Start to finish, it was quite unlike any NCIS episode I've seen before. For one thing, while there was a murder of a Marine, the bulk of this episode had very little to do with murder or Marines. It was about a possibly illegal trucking operation that possibly employed a few Marines.
Remember Corporal Damon Werth? The super-soldier from a couple seasons ago who came back a few episodes ago to save the team's collective butts? The one Ziva had a thing for? Well, he's back. And our favorite FBI agent, Tobias Fornell? He's back too (with facial hair). I have to admit, just having Fornell there made Gibbs a more likable character again. I don't know what's been up with him lately, but he's been even surlier than normal.
Also, McGee has taken to being Gibbs' personal slave. He feels bad about Gibbs getting hurt while saving his life, so he's running around doing anything and everything Gibbs could possibly need. Which means getting very little sleep. Which means a way over-caffeinated McGee. Which was hilarious.
Also also, if Tony and Ziva aren't sleeping together, I'll be shocked. There are just way too many inside jokes and secret looks for them to be teetering on the brink still. The tension is no longer unresolved; it's a different kind of tension now. The kind that TV couples have when they're in a relationship that no one else can know about (see The Mentalist's Rigsby and Van Pelt for a good example).
This was a fun little episode. Not much in the way of substance, but it seemed like the writers were stepping back and making sure all the characters were still likable. For the last few episodes, there's always been at least one character who was acting unnecessarily obnoxious or snarky. It was nice to see everyone get back to where they should be. They've also set up a nice story with Gibbs and McGee that I feel could be leading up to a good moment between the two. Not quite a 5-star episode, but definitely enjoyable to watch.
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: When a Marine is found dead, the team hits the road to bust an illegal trucking operation.
Review: This was an odd episode. Start to finish, it was quite unlike any NCIS episode I've seen before. For one thing, while there was a murder of a Marine, the bulk of this episode had very little to do with murder or Marines. It was about a possibly illegal trucking operation that possibly employed a few Marines.
Remember Corporal Damon Werth? The super-soldier from a couple seasons ago who came back a few episodes ago to save the team's collective butts? The one Ziva had a thing for? Well, he's back. And our favorite FBI agent, Tobias Fornell? He's back too (with facial hair). I have to admit, just having Fornell there made Gibbs a more likable character again. I don't know what's been up with him lately, but he's been even surlier than normal.
Also, McGee has taken to being Gibbs' personal slave. He feels bad about Gibbs getting hurt while saving his life, so he's running around doing anything and everything Gibbs could possibly need. Which means getting very little sleep. Which means a way over-caffeinated McGee. Which was hilarious.
Also also, if Tony and Ziva aren't sleeping together, I'll be shocked. There are just way too many inside jokes and secret looks for them to be teetering on the brink still. The tension is no longer unresolved; it's a different kind of tension now. The kind that TV couples have when they're in a relationship that no one else can know about (see The Mentalist's Rigsby and Van Pelt for a good example).
This was a fun little episode. Not much in the way of substance, but it seemed like the writers were stepping back and making sure all the characters were still likable. For the last few episodes, there's always been at least one character who was acting unnecessarily obnoxious or snarky. It was nice to see everyone get back to where they should be. They've also set up a nice story with Gibbs and McGee that I feel could be leading up to a good moment between the two. Not quite a 5-star episode, but definitely enjoyable to watch.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Big Bang Theory - The Large Hadron Collision
Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 9:30-10:00pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: When Leonard gets invited to see the CERN laboratory in Switzerland on Valentine's Day, Sheldon gets mad because he decides to take Penny with him.
Review: My affinity for Big Bang knows few bounds, but they're starting to do a few things that annoy me. First and most importantly, the Sheldon/Leonard relationship. When the show first started, Leonard regarded Sheldon with tolerant amusement. He accepted Sheldon's antics with good humor and patience. Now, he gets annoyed and lashes out and, more often than not, resembles a four-year-old have a tantrum because his little brother is getting his mother's attention. Out of all the things that I've noticed with Big Bang this season, this is the most troublesome. Where Leonard's comments to and about Sheldon were once light-hearted, they now seem barbed and aimed to hurt (though Sheldon often remains oblivious).
And Sheldon doesn't make it any better. He's always been a selfish character, but it seems like he's gotten worse as the seasons went on (and the writers realized that his selfishness is part of the amusement for the audience). He thinks nothing of bullying, annoying, and guilting his friends into doing what he wants. His selfishness before used to be due to a lack of awareness about his friends' feelings; now it seems to be driven by a lack of concern for them.
Another thing that's started to annoy me is the Howard/Raj relationship. Since Leonard's mother's first episode (and maybe before), there's always been a hint of homosexuality in Howard and Raj's relationship. It seems lately, however, that the writers are building that up so much that it's damaging the other aspects of their interaction. Howard has a girlfriend now, which leaves him with less time to spend with Raj. But he's started to rub that in Raj's face, which I think is both cruel and out of character for Howard. We've had no evidence to suggest that he would ever deliberately hurt his friend, so why is he starting to now?
Raj himself has become a rather pathetic character. Perhaps he always was, but he's doubly so now that his (more normal) friends have girlfriends, and he's left alone more often than not. I miss the days when the boys used to hang around playing geek games and horrifying Penny. Now Howard and Leonard are with Bernadette and Penny, Raj is noticeably absent, and Sheldon is in his own world unless it suits him to come out. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost sorry Leonard and Penny got together in the first place.
This episode had some funny moments, but it's far from the hilarious episodes of last season or even the beginning of this one. Sheldon's antics are always funny, and I really like the Leonard/Penny interaction, which was appropriately sweet for Valentine's Day. I wasn't crazy about the end, as well as the things I mentioned before, but I can only hope that some of these things will resolve themselves with time.
Favorite line:
Sheldon: I believe you know why I'm here.
Penny: I always figured it was to study us, discover our weaknesses, and report back to your alien overlords.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 9:30-10:00pm
Cast: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
Summary: When Leonard gets invited to see the CERN laboratory in Switzerland on Valentine's Day, Sheldon gets mad because he decides to take Penny with him.
Review: My affinity for Big Bang knows few bounds, but they're starting to do a few things that annoy me. First and most importantly, the Sheldon/Leonard relationship. When the show first started, Leonard regarded Sheldon with tolerant amusement. He accepted Sheldon's antics with good humor and patience. Now, he gets annoyed and lashes out and, more often than not, resembles a four-year-old have a tantrum because his little brother is getting his mother's attention. Out of all the things that I've noticed with Big Bang this season, this is the most troublesome. Where Leonard's comments to and about Sheldon were once light-hearted, they now seem barbed and aimed to hurt (though Sheldon often remains oblivious).
And Sheldon doesn't make it any better. He's always been a selfish character, but it seems like he's gotten worse as the seasons went on (and the writers realized that his selfishness is part of the amusement for the audience). He thinks nothing of bullying, annoying, and guilting his friends into doing what he wants. His selfishness before used to be due to a lack of awareness about his friends' feelings; now it seems to be driven by a lack of concern for them.
Another thing that's started to annoy me is the Howard/Raj relationship. Since Leonard's mother's first episode (and maybe before), there's always been a hint of homosexuality in Howard and Raj's relationship. It seems lately, however, that the writers are building that up so much that it's damaging the other aspects of their interaction. Howard has a girlfriend now, which leaves him with less time to spend with Raj. But he's started to rub that in Raj's face, which I think is both cruel and out of character for Howard. We've had no evidence to suggest that he would ever deliberately hurt his friend, so why is he starting to now?
Raj himself has become a rather pathetic character. Perhaps he always was, but he's doubly so now that his (more normal) friends have girlfriends, and he's left alone more often than not. I miss the days when the boys used to hang around playing geek games and horrifying Penny. Now Howard and Leonard are with Bernadette and Penny, Raj is noticeably absent, and Sheldon is in his own world unless it suits him to come out. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost sorry Leonard and Penny got together in the first place.
This episode had some funny moments, but it's far from the hilarious episodes of last season or even the beginning of this one. Sheldon's antics are always funny, and I really like the Leonard/Penny interaction, which was appropriately sweet for Valentine's Day. I wasn't crazy about the end, as well as the things I mentioned before, but I can only hope that some of these things will resolve themselves with time.
Favorite line:
Sheldon: I believe you know why I'm here.
Penny: I always figured it was to study us, discover our weaknesses, and report back to your alien overlords.
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Accidentally on Purpose - Attack of the 50 Foot Woman
Network: CBS
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Jenna Elfman, Jon Foster, Ashley Jensen, Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright
Summary: Billie manipulates Zack into setting up the nursery. Meanwhile, Davis gets a job working at a gay bar.
Review: Dear CBS Network Executives, please please please please please don't cancel Accidentally on Purpose. It's a really funny show, and I think you'd be doing it a disservice if you don't give it more time to develop.
As a said in my very first review of AoP, I went into this show expecting the worst and was more than pleasantly surprised. And with every episode I fall a little more in love with this show and it's wonderful characters.
While this episode's main focus was the fledgling Billie/Zack relationship, it was Davis who stole the show. Davis got a job at a gay bar after lying to them and telling them he was gay (being, as Davis is, quite unaware that you don't actually have to be gay to work at a gay bar). And he really got into his new job, listening and offering relationship advice as a good bartender does... right up until the point when one of the men asked him out. And, of course, instead of being honest, Davis said he had a boyfriend---Zack.
Everyone knows a Zack and Davis. They're completely realistic 22-year-olds. Sometimes they obsessed with getting the right girl (and often, Davis, failing), and sometimes they're just two guys hanging around doing guy stuff that us girls don't even understand. So when Davis asks Zack for help getting out of his pants, Zack barely bats an eye, even if the ensuing scene is hysterical for the audience. Showing Zack behaving like a normal 22-year-old guy with Davis is great, because he tends to act fairly mature when he's with Billie. Sure, he has his goofy moments with her, moments where he's clueless or stupid, but he's stepped up pretty well in light of this whole baby thing. But seeing him with Davis reminds everyone that he's still just a kid sometimes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the episode, Billie is getting relationship advice from her sister (who is probably more than a little insane, but that's okay). Abby's suggestions? Manipulate Zack into fixing up the nursery so the box with the crib in it won't be sitting in the living room anymore.
And it works. She does manage to get Zack to put the crib together. But it backfires a little. I'm going to leave the details out for those who haven't seen it. This entire story is telling though. Billie and Zack fell into a very serious relationship. They've been having fun together, and they're both serious about taking care of the baby, but they never muddled through the weird parts of an early relationship, like how to take two separate lives and merge them together under one roof. There are bound to be growing pains, and I'm glad this show gave us some of them. If everything's too perfect in a television relationship, we complain. If it's too awkward, we complain. Accidentally on Purpose is one of the few shows with just the right amount of awkwardness that's balanced by the right amount of sweetness and genuine love between them.
There was a third story in this episode. Abby was looking for a gay man to help her go from "drabby" to "fabby." It had worked for Olivia, and now she was hoping it would help her. There's not much to say about this one, except that Lennon Parham is awesome, and she makes me laugh every single time she opens her mouth.
CBS is moving this to Wednesdays soon (in March, I believe), and I hope that's not the first movement toward the door because I really think this show has the potential to be as highly rated as HIMYM or Big Bang Theory (which, by the way, was not a ratings-winner for its first several seasons either). I hope CBS gives it that shot.
Favorite lines:
Abby: It's like killing someone with carbon monoxide. Smile, smile, smile, dead.
Abby: Manipulation is one of the greatest tools in a woman's toolbox. That and the vagina.
Davis (comforting a gay bar patron): There isn't a man here who would want a piece of that.
Jerome: There isn't?
Davis: No.
Jerome: So... what time do you get off?
Davis: 2am
[beat]
Davis: Ohhhh....
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
Time: Mondays, 8:30-9:00pm
Cast: Jenna Elfman, Jon Foster, Ashley Jensen, Lennon Parham, Nicolas Wright
Summary: Billie manipulates Zack into setting up the nursery. Meanwhile, Davis gets a job working at a gay bar.
Review: Dear CBS Network Executives, please please please please please don't cancel Accidentally on Purpose. It's a really funny show, and I think you'd be doing it a disservice if you don't give it more time to develop.
As a said in my very first review of AoP, I went into this show expecting the worst and was more than pleasantly surprised. And with every episode I fall a little more in love with this show and it's wonderful characters.
While this episode's main focus was the fledgling Billie/Zack relationship, it was Davis who stole the show. Davis got a job at a gay bar after lying to them and telling them he was gay (being, as Davis is, quite unaware that you don't actually have to be gay to work at a gay bar). And he really got into his new job, listening and offering relationship advice as a good bartender does... right up until the point when one of the men asked him out. And, of course, instead of being honest, Davis said he had a boyfriend---Zack.
Everyone knows a Zack and Davis. They're completely realistic 22-year-olds. Sometimes they obsessed with getting the right girl (and often, Davis, failing), and sometimes they're just two guys hanging around doing guy stuff that us girls don't even understand. So when Davis asks Zack for help getting out of his pants, Zack barely bats an eye, even if the ensuing scene is hysterical for the audience. Showing Zack behaving like a normal 22-year-old guy with Davis is great, because he tends to act fairly mature when he's with Billie. Sure, he has his goofy moments with her, moments where he's clueless or stupid, but he's stepped up pretty well in light of this whole baby thing. But seeing him with Davis reminds everyone that he's still just a kid sometimes.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the episode, Billie is getting relationship advice from her sister (who is probably more than a little insane, but that's okay). Abby's suggestions? Manipulate Zack into fixing up the nursery so the box with the crib in it won't be sitting in the living room anymore.
And it works. She does manage to get Zack to put the crib together. But it backfires a little. I'm going to leave the details out for those who haven't seen it. This entire story is telling though. Billie and Zack fell into a very serious relationship. They've been having fun together, and they're both serious about taking care of the baby, but they never muddled through the weird parts of an early relationship, like how to take two separate lives and merge them together under one roof. There are bound to be growing pains, and I'm glad this show gave us some of them. If everything's too perfect in a television relationship, we complain. If it's too awkward, we complain. Accidentally on Purpose is one of the few shows with just the right amount of awkwardness that's balanced by the right amount of sweetness and genuine love between them.
There was a third story in this episode. Abby was looking for a gay man to help her go from "drabby" to "fabby." It had worked for Olivia, and now she was hoping it would help her. There's not much to say about this one, except that Lennon Parham is awesome, and she makes me laugh every single time she opens her mouth.
CBS is moving this to Wednesdays soon (in March, I believe), and I hope that's not the first movement toward the door because I really think this show has the potential to be as highly rated as HIMYM or Big Bang Theory (which, by the way, was not a ratings-winner for its first several seasons either). I hope CBS gives it that shot.
Favorite lines:
Abby: It's like killing someone with carbon monoxide. Smile, smile, smile, dead.
Abby: Manipulation is one of the greatest tools in a woman's toolbox. That and the vagina.
Davis (comforting a gay bar patron): There isn't a man here who would want a piece of that.
Jerome: There isn't?
Davis: No.
Jerome: So... what time do you get off?
Davis: 2am
[beat]
Davis: Ohhhh....
Rating:
[5] Excellent
[4] Good
[3] Average
[2] OK
[1] Bad
White Collar - Bad Judgment
Network: USA
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Natalie Morales, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Peter and Neal find a connection between Fowler and a corrupt judge, and they devise a plan to take down both of them.
Review: After being only mildly impressed by White Collar's fall premiere, I watched last week's episode with a bit of trepidation. Fortunately, whatever small kinks were in the first episode were gone by this time, and I have nothing but rave reviews for this most recent episode.
Peter and Neal are back in action, and I'm glad they're not at odds with each other anymore. Oh, sure, there's always going to be a smidgen of distrust between them, but they're back to being as close as an FBI agent and an ex-con can be. And, more importantly, this episode marked the return of the wonderful Elizabeth/Neal relationship.
I need to say this now and have it in writing in case something goes horribly wrong with the future of this show: I love Elizabeth's character. In so many crime shows, the wife of the agent doesn't seem to understand her husband's job. She whines that he's not home enough or that he doesn't pay enough attention to her or that he puts his works first. Elizabeth does none of those things. She takes everything in stride, whether it's waking up to find a minion of FBI agents in her house or finding out her phone is bugged. Instead of getting mad at Peter, she rolls her eyes good-naturedly, gets up, and makes a pot of coffee.
In this episode, Peter thinks that Fowler may have bugged his house... again. So he calls in a Cleaner. And guess who waltzes in the door--Mozzie. Mozzie is a true criminal at heart, and Peter leaves Jones there to make sure nothing gets stolen in his house. He needn't have worried though. By the end of the episode, Elizabeth and Moz are the best of friends (and what is with Elizabeth becoming buddies with all the criminals?).
There was a lot of Mozzie in this episode, actually. Between his new relationship with Peter and Elizabeth (or, as he says, Suit and Mrs. Suit), the chemistry between him and Neal just gets better with each passing show. Mozzie doesn't get that Neal isn't the same criminal he used to be, but he's not mad at the change in his friend, he's amused. Which leads to some really funny conversations.
My only complaint about this episode is the same complaint I always have--the last two minutes. I don't know why, but the last scene of each episode just annoys me. It usually shows Neal learning new information that he plans on dealing with himself. This episode was no different, except my reaction changed. Instead of worry that this would somehow taint the Peter/Neal relationship, I rolled my eyes and said, "Neal, you always wind up telling Peter everything anyway. Why are you bothering to try and hide?" I don't know how much longer the writers think they can use that trick as a cliffhanger, but, by this point, I don't expect Nealto keep any secrets from Peter for longer than half an episode.
So, great episode. I'm glad to see the banter between the characters return to the witty repartee I've come to expect from this show. I'm not quite ready to give this a 5/5 yet, but it's well on its way. I can't wait for more.
Time: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:00pm
Cast: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Natalie Morales, Tiffani Thiessen, Sharif Atkins
Summary: Peter and Neal find a connection between Fowler and a corrupt judge, and they devise a plan to take down both of them.
Review: After being only mildly impressed by White Collar's fall premiere, I watched last week's episode with a bit of trepidation. Fortunately, whatever small kinks were in the first episode were gone by this time, and I have nothing but rave reviews for this most recent episode.
Peter and Neal are back in action, and I'm glad they're not at odds with each other anymore. Oh, sure, there's always going to be a smidgen of distrust between them, but they're back to being as close as an FBI agent and an ex-con can be. And, more importantly, this episode marked the return of the wonderful Elizabeth/Neal relationship.
I need to say this now and have it in writing in case something goes horribly wrong with the future of this show: I love Elizabeth's character. In so many crime shows, the wife of the agent doesn't seem to understand her husband's job. She whines that he's not home enough or that he doesn't pay enough attention to her or that he puts his works first. Elizabeth does none of those things. She takes everything in stride, whether it's waking up to find a minion of FBI agents in her house or finding out her phone is bugged. Instead of getting mad at Peter, she rolls her eyes good-naturedly, gets up, and makes a pot of coffee.
In this episode, Peter thinks that Fowler may have bugged his house... again. So he calls in a Cleaner. And guess who waltzes in the door--Mozzie. Mozzie is a true criminal at heart, and Peter leaves Jones there to make sure nothing gets stolen in his house. He needn't have worried though. By the end of the episode, Elizabeth and Moz are the best of friends (and what is with Elizabeth becoming buddies with all the criminals?).
There was a lot of Mozzie in this episode, actually. Between his new relationship with Peter and Elizabeth (or, as he says, Suit and Mrs. Suit), the chemistry between him and Neal just gets better with each passing show. Mozzie doesn't get that Neal isn't the same criminal he used to be, but he's not mad at the change in his friend, he's amused. Which leads to some really funny conversations.
My only complaint about this episode is the same complaint I always have--the last two minutes. I don't know why, but the last scene of each episode just annoys me. It usually shows Neal learning new information that he plans on dealing with himself. This episode was no different, except my reaction changed. Instead of worry that this would somehow taint the Peter/Neal relationship, I rolled my eyes and said, "Neal, you always wind up telling Peter everything anyway. Why are you bothering to try and hide?" I don't know how much longer the writers think they can use that trick as a cliffhanger, but, by this point, I don't expect Nealto keep any secrets from Peter for longer than half an episode.
So, great episode. I'm glad to see the banter between the characters return to the witty repartee I've come to expect from this show. I'm not quite ready to give this a 5/5 yet, but it's well on its way. I can't wait for more.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
NCIS - Jetlag
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: When Tony and Ziva escort a witness back from Paris, they discover an assassin may be on the plane with them.
Review: Make way for the return of the Tony/Ziva will-they-won't-they relationship. In hindsight, this episode seems like little more than a setup for some future episode where Tony and Ziva finally have it out (and make out?) and settle all the tension that's been between for their entire relationship. And what a fun setup it was.
There were sort of two stories going on in this episode. Obviously, there's Tony and Ziva, who were just in Paris together and, apparently, shared a room in the hotel. This story is aided by the observations of Nora, the witness they are escorting back to the States, who keeps pointing out what a good team they are and wondering why they aren't together. Then there's the more serious plotline, which is that there's possibly an assassin on board who's goal is to prevent Nora from testifying against the company she was working for.
The first story was better done. The chemistry between Tony and Ziva is always enjoyable, and it was fun to see the spark emerge between them again. It's also always nice to see that, even when they're at odds with each other personally, they are completely in sync professionally. They've worked well together since Ziva joined the team in season 3, and it's nice to see that they don't let their personal relationship affect their professional one.
The second story (some may argue the plot of the episode) wasn't quite as strong. Whether this is because the writers were more focused on the Tony/Ziva interaction because that will have more impact on the future, I don't know. But it was predictable at best. I spoke with two friends both during and after the episode who identified the assassin long before the show ever told us, and we were all fairly confident about the identity of the person who did the hiring.
Even Gibbs and McGee seemed inconsequential through the whole thing. Obviously, they were the only ones who could interview people to figure out who hired an assassin (what with Tony and Ziva being stuck on a plane and all), but none of the conversations they had stand out in my mind as something I remember. And at the end, when Gibbs pushes McGee out of the path of a car and gets hit himself (something that appeared in several promos for the episode), it was the first time I can remember a supposedly dramatic scene just looking silly on NCIS. It also felt superfluous, but I'm holding out hope that there will be some importance in a future episode.
Maybe it's because NCIS: Los Angeles completely blew me away right after this, but this episode won't go on my list of favorites for NCIS. I enjoyed the character interaction as I always do, but the plot was weak and, ultimately, I think I'll forget this episode soon.
Time: Tuesdays, 8:00-9:00pm
Cast: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Rocky Carroll
Summary: When Tony and Ziva escort a witness back from Paris, they discover an assassin may be on the plane with them.
Review: Make way for the return of the Tony/Ziva will-they-won't-they relationship. In hindsight, this episode seems like little more than a setup for some future episode where Tony and Ziva finally have it out (and make out?) and settle all the tension that's been between for their entire relationship. And what a fun setup it was.
There were sort of two stories going on in this episode. Obviously, there's Tony and Ziva, who were just in Paris together and, apparently, shared a room in the hotel. This story is aided by the observations of Nora, the witness they are escorting back to the States, who keeps pointing out what a good team they are and wondering why they aren't together. Then there's the more serious plotline, which is that there's possibly an assassin on board who's goal is to prevent Nora from testifying against the company she was working for.
The first story was better done. The chemistry between Tony and Ziva is always enjoyable, and it was fun to see the spark emerge between them again. It's also always nice to see that, even when they're at odds with each other personally, they are completely in sync professionally. They've worked well together since Ziva joined the team in season 3, and it's nice to see that they don't let their personal relationship affect their professional one.
The second story (some may argue the plot of the episode) wasn't quite as strong. Whether this is because the writers were more focused on the Tony/Ziva interaction because that will have more impact on the future, I don't know. But it was predictable at best. I spoke with two friends both during and after the episode who identified the assassin long before the show ever told us, and we were all fairly confident about the identity of the person who did the hiring.
Even Gibbs and McGee seemed inconsequential through the whole thing. Obviously, they were the only ones who could interview people to figure out who hired an assassin (what with Tony and Ziva being stuck on a plane and all), but none of the conversations they had stand out in my mind as something I remember. And at the end, when Gibbs pushes McGee out of the path of a car and gets hit himself (something that appeared in several promos for the episode), it was the first time I can remember a supposedly dramatic scene just looking silly on NCIS. It also felt superfluous, but I'm holding out hope that there will be some importance in a future episode.
Maybe it's because NCIS: Los Angeles completely blew me away right after this, but this episode won't go on my list of favorites for NCIS. I enjoyed the character interaction as I always do, but the plot was weak and, ultimately, I think I'll forget this episode soon.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
NCIS: Los Angeles - Missing
Network: CBS
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah, Peter Cambor, Barrett Foa, Adam Jamal Craig, Linda Hunt
Summary: When one of their own goes missing, the team races the clock to find him.
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THE EPISODE. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. IT WILL GIVE THE ENDING AWAY.
Review: I usually like to take a day or two to reflect on an episode before I review it, but this one left me with so much emotion that I needed to get this out right away. It's 10:09pm in New Jersey when I'm writing this, exactly nine minutes after the episode ended.
This is the NCIS: Los Angeles episode I've been waiting for for weeks. Since Abby came to LA back in episode 9, I've been sorely disappointed by the quality of Los Angeles episodes. I feel the show has been too focused on Sam and Callen, and they cases have been confusing and just-this-side-of-boring.
This episode did neither. This episode was, I believe, the proof that CBS was not wrong to renew this show for a second season.
Also, it made me feel pretty stupid for my review of the last new episode, where I complained that they weren't focusing enough on the team, so much so that they left Dominic out of the last scene, where the team goes out together. Just so you know, this episode takes off exactly where that one stopped.
The promos teased an important point in this episode: that Dominic, the LA team's probie, goes missing and that the team has to find him. They even hinted that it is much harder than anyone imagined it would be to find him.
What they don't tell you is (and I'm warning you one more time that there's going to be a spoiler) they won't find him.
In fact, there isn't even a hint. No leakage that Adam Jamal Craig was leaving the show. No teasers that this could be part of a multi-episode arc (hey, a girl can hope). I just assumed that the episode would resolve itself the way most shows do, with Dominic returning home and riding off into the sunset with Kensi (okay, okay, that part is optional).
Instead, we're left without a motive and without Dominic. And the teasers for next week don't seem to imply we're going to get any resolutions.
As I said in my latest White Collar review, I find cliffhangers to be a necessary evil. As far as necessary evils go, this one was the best I've seen in a long time. Perhaps because it truly is a cliffhanger. The audience has no idea if Dom is coming back or not, and either option seems perfectly likely. It's kind of weird, being so in the dark like this. Normally, even if you don't know how exactly the arc of season will go, you know which cast members are coming and going because their contract negotiations are leaked. In this case, I haven't heard anything. Has anyone else?
From promos to cliffhanger, this episode was great. For the first time in awhile, the team was working as a team, and everyone seemed to share the spotlight semi-equally. Nate and Eric, who are often pushed to the side by the more dominating characters of Callen and Sam, were actively involved in almost every scene, and Kensi, who they've been giving more and more on-screen time to, had several starring moments. Hetti struck the perfect balance between worried den mother and compassionate confidante, and the new character they just introduced (Ty, a future Dom replacement? Oh no!) was awesome. The ending, though unresolved, was beautiful and heart-wrenching, even while I was begging the TV to say it wasn't so.
Which leaves me with just a few questions? Who took Dom and why? Is this really all Los Angeles will give us about this case, or is it possible they'll revisit it (and hopefully soon)? Is it just me, or does Claudia Taro not sound like a Colombian name? And why wasn't this aired next week, during the first episode of sweeps? What are your thoughts on these and the episode as a whole?
Time: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00pm
Cast: Chris O'Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah, Peter Cambor, Barrett Foa, Adam Jamal Craig, Linda Hunt
Summary: When one of their own goes missing, the team races the clock to find him.
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THE EPISODE. DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. IT WILL GIVE THE ENDING AWAY.
Review: I usually like to take a day or two to reflect on an episode before I review it, but this one left me with so much emotion that I needed to get this out right away. It's 10:09pm in New Jersey when I'm writing this, exactly nine minutes after the episode ended.
This is the NCIS: Los Angeles episode I've been waiting for for weeks. Since Abby came to LA back in episode 9, I've been sorely disappointed by the quality of Los Angeles episodes. I feel the show has been too focused on Sam and Callen, and they cases have been confusing and just-this-side-of-boring.
This episode did neither. This episode was, I believe, the proof that CBS was not wrong to renew this show for a second season.
Also, it made me feel pretty stupid for my review of the last new episode, where I complained that they weren't focusing enough on the team, so much so that they left Dominic out of the last scene, where the team goes out together. Just so you know, this episode takes off exactly where that one stopped.
The promos teased an important point in this episode: that Dominic, the LA team's probie, goes missing and that the team has to find him. They even hinted that it is much harder than anyone imagined it would be to find him.
What they don't tell you is (and I'm warning you one more time that there's going to be a spoiler) they won't find him.
In fact, there isn't even a hint. No leakage that Adam Jamal Craig was leaving the show. No teasers that this could be part of a multi-episode arc (hey, a girl can hope). I just assumed that the episode would resolve itself the way most shows do, with Dominic returning home and riding off into the sunset with Kensi (okay, okay, that part is optional).
Instead, we're left without a motive and without Dominic. And the teasers for next week don't seem to imply we're going to get any resolutions.
As I said in my latest White Collar review, I find cliffhangers to be a necessary evil. As far as necessary evils go, this one was the best I've seen in a long time. Perhaps because it truly is a cliffhanger. The audience has no idea if Dom is coming back or not, and either option seems perfectly likely. It's kind of weird, being so in the dark like this. Normally, even if you don't know how exactly the arc of season will go, you know which cast members are coming and going because their contract negotiations are leaked. In this case, I haven't heard anything. Has anyone else?
From promos to cliffhanger, this episode was great. For the first time in awhile, the team was working as a team, and everyone seemed to share the spotlight semi-equally. Nate and Eric, who are often pushed to the side by the more dominating characters of Callen and Sam, were actively involved in almost every scene, and Kensi, who they've been giving more and more on-screen time to, had several starring moments. Hetti struck the perfect balance between worried den mother and compassionate confidante, and the new character they just introduced (Ty, a future Dom replacement? Oh no!) was awesome. The ending, though unresolved, was beautiful and heart-wrenching, even while I was begging the TV to say it wasn't so.
Which leaves me with just a few questions? Who took Dom and why? Is this really all Los Angeles will give us about this case, or is it possible they'll revisit it (and hopefully soon)? Is it just me, or does Claudia Taro not sound like a Colombian name? And why wasn't this aired next week, during the first episode of sweeps? What are your thoughts on these and the episode as a whole?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
