Last updated: January 12, 2003. Posted to rec.arts.tv on December 17, 2001.
NOTES on the GRADING: The 'Series Grades' used in this Review are a 'sense of the show' grade, both in how I feel the show is doing versus its own expectations and against the other shows I watch.
Essentially, the grades break down roughly this way:
The shows are listed by day, Sunday shows first and Saturday shows last, with the exception of syndicated shows which are listed first.
Bottom line: the 2001-2002 season is a disappointment, so far.
Very few of the new shows are very good, and very few of the returning shows have improved over last season. In fact, this season is so bad that I've even scrapped including a "Top 5" and "Honorable Mentions" list. Instead, I'm just giving straight grades, and nothing this season is getting over a 'B+'!
Indeed, several returning shows have declined to the point where I'm no longer
watching them, including "Buffy" and "ER".
Of the returning shows that have improved, they tend to be 'lesser' shows,
like "Special Unit 2", "Beastmaster" and "V.I.P."
Several shows are about where they were last season, such as "Once & Again" and "King of Queens". Several others (aside from "ER" and "Buffy") have really gone 'into the tank', including "The X-Files" and "Earth: Final Conflict".
So, I'd be lying if I said anything was "setting the tube on fire" this year. When historians look back on this season, it's a sure bet it won't be mentioned as "one of the best TV seasons ever", that's for sure.
Here is a list of the Returning Show grades (reviews follow that):
The List of Graded New Shows (in order of Grades)
TV SERIES GRADE
----------- -----
Once & Again B+
Angel B
Special Unit 2 B
Survivor: Africa B
Andromeda B-
Beastmaster B-
Charmed B-
C.S.I. B-
Dark Angel B-
Dawson's Creek B-
King of Queens B-
Roswell B-
V.I.P. B-
Yes Dear C+
That 70's Show C+
The District C
Gilmore Girls C
The Weakest Link C
The Lost World C-
The X-Files D
Earth: Final Conflict D-
| ANDROMEDA (Syn.): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
"Andromeda" has taken a promising first season, punctuated with the occasionally almost exceptional episode, and taken it into an even better second season. At least, so far.
Unfortunately, the thing that sets "Andromeda" apart right now is the very thing that is imperiled by Tribune's idiotic studio goons and the show's star (more on this below): namely, the show's increasingly developed storyarc. For, as originally conceived, "Andromeda" is not a ST:TOS or B5 retread, but a story about a man (Kevin Sorbo's Capt. Dylan Hunt) from the past trying to restore the known universe to the former, civilized glory of his memory. And the many, many obstacles he encounters along the way, including the modern conceptions and doubts of even his own crew. In this way, "Andromeda" is as much a character study as it is a 'space opera'.
And, on that level, "Andromeda" has so far been a success, especially in the continuing mystery of formerly-tailed 'purple girl', Trance Gemini (Laura Bertram), and in the continuing clashes between Hunt and Nietzschean 'superman' Tyr Anasazi (Keith Hamilton Cobb).
Unfortunately, even this relatively simple vision set out by show creator Robert Hewitt Wolfe is too complicated for 1) the show's star Sorbo (formerly "challenged" by his role in the "Hercules" series), and 2) Tribune's infamous studio goons. Lest we forget, the latter morons are the same people who "fixed" "Earth: Final Conflict" after its exceedingly promising first season by firing its star (and replacing him with a more suitable 'pretty boy') and the entire 1st season writing staff, triumphantly dumbing down the show for the increasingly uninterested masses.
So Sorbo pulled an "Alyssa Milano" with Tribune's more-than-willing studio goons and engineered Wolfe's ouster, to pursue a more "Dylan Hunt-centric, less character conflict-driven, more episodic" format.
And what can we expect from this?!, you ask.
Think of it as "Earth: Final Conflict, version 2.0". That's what.
In other words, enjoy this relatively smart version of "Andromeda" while you can. Because it'll be gone soon after the new year.
WHAT WORKS:
Increasingly sharp character work; an improved (and more straightforward) storyarc,
and greater attention to continuity; improved character development; pretty
much anything that is based around either the characters of Tyr or Trance; better
guest casting (e.g. William B. David, James Marsters, etc.); very good action/fight
sequences (see: the first season finale showdown with the feared Magog)
WHAT DOESN'T:
Episodes based around Dylan Hunt (read: episodes that require Sorbo to carry
them); Rev Bem is still probably the show's most boring character, despite his
interesting backstory; "down on some planet" episodes still tend to
be weak; the coming post-Wolfe "Andromeda", which is certain to suck
as badly as 2nd season "Earth: Final Conflict" did...
| BEASTMASTER (Syn.): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
This show is actually fairly improved.
"Beastmaster" is a show that is now in its third incarnation in three seasons. Season #1 was essentially a traveling "road show" a la "The Fugitive" - the adventures of Beastmaster Dar (Daniel Goddard) & sidekick Tao (Jackson Raine) as they traveled the countryside helping the downtrodden while searching for Dar's childhood-sweetheart. Season #2 was a much less successful affair with much more overt pro-environment, pro-animal (anti-technology) themes, with the battle against the evil King Voden (David Paterson, who was pretty much the only good thing about that 2nd season) mixed in.
Season #3 finds the show refocused more on the season #1-based format, but with a twist - now Dar has been given a quest, a 'spirit guide' (original "Beastmaster" Marc Singer)... and a sword! In addition, the original Sorceress (the stunning Monika Schnarre), who went AWOL along with The Demon Curupira in season #2, is restored (but without Grahame Bond's Ancient One, unfortunately), and the dastardly King Zad (an effective Steven Grives) has been put back front-and-center as the primary villain. In addition, the show has dumped Sam Healy's demon Iara (by far, the worst thing about season #2), and has deemphasized the character of Arina (Marjean Holden).
All of these changes mark season #3 as improvement. Which is why I'm actually paying more attention to the "Beastmaster" again this season.
WHAT WORKS:
Bringing back Monika Schnarre's Sorceress (even with a reduced
number of appearances) was a necessary move, as was bringing King Zad back as
the show's main bad guy; a more action-oriented focus also makes the show more
interesting; the 'quest' for the season gives the show a needed storyarc, and
provides the season with cohesion and a theme; eliminating deadwood (e.g. Iara)
was a good idea, as was refocusing the story back on Tao, and especially Dar
(season #2 got away from them somewhat); this show is very good at casting Aussie
'eye candy' in guest-starring roles!
WHAT DOESN'T:
While, a 'quest' was a good idea, I'm not sure this
specific quest is such a good one...; though many of the aforementioned changes
were necessary, a resolution to several of these dangling plot threads would
be welcome (e.g. what happened to Iara? Curupira? King Voden? The second Sorceress
(Dylan Bierk) from season #2? Is The Ancient One really dead?! (personally,
I don't believe it!) And what ever happened to Zad-rival, Qord, the murderer
of Dar's first love who was sparred by the Sorceress back in the season #1 finale?!
And the prophesy that Zad would die at the hands of a 'child King'?...) - at
least they told us what happened to The Black Apparation and The Slayer chick
from season #1...
| EARTH: FINAL CONFLICT (Syn.): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | D- |
OVERVIEW:
Wow, does this show suck now.
Let me start out with a 'truth in advertising' run-down of how I felt about E:FC's previous seasons:
1st season - excellent, 2nd season - terrible, 3rd season - fair,
4th season - fair, 5th season - horrible!
I mean, I had a hard time conceiving that anything could be worse than this show's 2nd season, until I saw its fifth!
Though the show has obviously been mortally wounded by cast defections, and by simply being on the air too long, what is truly remarkable about this season is how it combines a total lack of emotional urgency with a complete unbelievability, mixed in with what must be draconian budget constraints.
In other words: primarily, it's the writing, stupid!
But whatever made this show watchable once upon a time is completely gone now. The originally clever concept of the Tailons has been replaced (don't ask me why) with a bunch of moustache-twirling new aliens, "The Atavus", who are about as effective and compelling as villains as a couple of surly squirrels. And speaking of 1-D villains, what they've done to Sandoval (Von Flores) is just as bad. And then there's the show's lackluster "heros" this year.
In any case, if you stumble upon season #5 on E:FC while channel surfing, just keep on going. Nothing to see here. Just move along...
WHAT WORKS:
Jayne Heitmeyer (Renee Palmer) and Melinda Deines (Julia Street) are likeable
enough performers, not that it's enough to make this show (or their characters)
interesting; it was nice to seen Kevin Kilner (Boone) again, but...(see below)
WHAT DOESN'T:
The Atavus, who are stupid, uninteresting villains, and who couldn't be less
compelling if they tried, have basically killed this show; squandering the return
of Boone on completely uninteresting stories (ditto: the return of Zo'or); the
budget-cutting which has whittled this show down to no more than 2 or 3 standing
sets (leading to very boring viewing); cast departures have basically killed
this show (Leni Parker's Da'an being the most missed, along with Kilner); mercenary
writing (IOW, whoever the people are who still writing this show are 'paycheck
players', and aren't interested in even trying to come up with compelling storylines)
| THE LOST WORLD (Syn.): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C- |
OVERVIEW:
A show without much going for it starting out, it seems to have less going for it with every passing season. Not only was season #3 missing a fifth of the cast for several episodes, but it also seems to be completely missing any underlying theme, and is wildly casting about from one outrageous fantasy story to the next.
WHAT WORKS:
Not much this season, I'm afraid - about the only thing keeping it afloat is
that fact that its two female leads (played by Rachel Blakely and Jennifer O'Dell)
are still beautiful
WHAT DOESN'T:
Aimless, themeless, desperate writing; a cast that looks like they don't want
to be there anymore; a shaky production arrangement hastily band-aided together
after the original production company producing the show was bought out and
abandoned the show...
| V.I.P. (Syn.): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
By my account, "VIP" was a show that was starting to 'jump the shark' in season #3 - amazingly, in season #4, the show has 'jumped back'! The problems with the previous season or two of "VIP" were two-fold, 1) excessive "stunt casting", and 2) Pamela Anderson's Val dominating the show to the exclusion of all of the other characters.
I'm pleased to report that neither of the above are problems in season #4. The stunt casting is mercifully nearly totally absent, and Val has been deemphasized enough that this season has even had a 'Kay' episode and a 'Jonny' episode. All they need is another 'Tasha' episode, and they'll be cooking with gas!
As a mindless creampuff-for-a-lazy-weekend-afternoon diversion, "VIP" is back in action.
WHAT WORKS:
Deemphasizing Val; episodes about the other V.I.P. castmembers; no stunt casting;
a reemphasis on good, clean, silly "VIP" fun
WHAT DOESN'T:
No serious complaints about this season, so far...
| THE X-FILES (FOX): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | D |
OVERVIEW:
Without Mulder, what's the point?!
Despite its flippancy, this is a serious question. First and foremost, "The X-Files" was conceived as a show about MULDER'S QUEST! for Pete's sake! Without Mulder, can TXF even exist?!
Unfortunately, the answer is "No". The problem here is that a serious tactical blunder was made when it was learned that David Duchovny was leaving this show. What Chris Carter and the "brain-trust" at FOX should have done was let Gillian Anderson go, and SPIN-OFF an entirely new show, with a MOTW format, based around John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and A.B. Skinner (Mitch Pileggi). That would have gotten the new show out from under TXF's increasing lame, stupid, contrived, nonsensical "conspiracy storyarc", and given the new show a fresh start.
Instead, they foolishly shoehorned everything into a decaying XF franchise, and then compounded the problem by keeping Anderson (who just doesn't fit into the show at all, anymore), and adding Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish), and then Cary Elwes, of all people!
The problem here isn't just that TXF was a corpse before Duchovny left. It's also that Gish is ALL WRONG! for this show! Now, that's my opinion, and I honestly don't care if anybody agrees with it. It's just how I feel.
So, if anyone asks me, as far as I'm concerned Annabeth Gish finally killed this show for me. She is not the right actress for the show, and I just don't give a 'tinker's damn' about her character.
Luckily, the ratings for this show are now even more negative than this review. So expect this show to be gone after this season. I feel bad for Robert Patrick (and Pileggi). But the rest of them deserve their pink slips...
WHAT WORKS:
Robert Patrick, struggling mightily under dead writing and a dead show, trying
to keep this series afloat, all by himself; Mitch Pileggi is still plugging
away, as well; Cary Elwes is, actually, OK
WHAT DOESN'T:
Annabeth Gish is a terrible fit here; also problematic
is Gillian Anderson, who should have been given her walking papers along with
Duchovny, and who's now just going through the motions; the lame attempts at
going forward with the stupid "conspiracy" - just give the damn thing
a rest, all ready! Nobody cares anymore!!!
| THE WEAKEST LINK (NBC): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C |
OVERVIEW:
A game show with promise, killed by network goon directives that the show become populated with nothing but past-their-prime "celebrity" contestants, thus repeating the same mistakes that have effectively killed "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire".
WHAT WORKS:
Anne Robinson is still the best part about the show; a couple
of the 'celebrity' editions (e.g. The Brady Bunch, and especially
The Star Trek edition) actually worked; non-'celebrity' editions still
tend to be more entertaining than not
WHAT DOESN'T:
Most of the 'celebrity' editions only served to show how clueless and ignorant
many Hollywood types are; the practice of allowing The Strongest Link to be
voted off in the Round of Three should be disallowed IMO...
| KING OF QUEENS (CBS): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
Still amiably loveable, if still not as funny as it was in its first season.
WHAT WORKS:
Kevin James is still the heart of this show; Leah Remini
and Jerry Stiller provide the needed support; occasional episodes still manage
to come up with wacky, fun situations
WHAT DOESN'T:
Some of the supporting cast, such as Spence and Kevin's cousin,
are starting to be overexposed; some of the subplots (e.g. the temporary break-up
between Deacon (Patton Oswalt) and Kelley (Merrin Dugney, now of "Alias"))
were kind of off-key
| YES DEAR (CBS): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C+ |
OVERVIEW:
Despite the hype, this show is usually quite watchable, and is occasionally even laugh-out-loud funny.
WHAT WORKS:
The best parts of this show nearly always involve Anthony
Clark's and Mike O'Malley's shenanigans
WHAT DOESN'T:
While some of the show's episodes are funny, it does tend
to be hit-or-miss
| ANGEL (WBN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B |
OVERVIEW:
While it would have been difficult-to-impossible for "Angel" to match, or exceed, the excellent first half of its second season, the first half of its third season is still entertaining, at least.
Several advantages have elevated "Angel" over the show it was spun-off from, among them a narrower and more manageable focus, a more workable genre (i.e. fantasy-action), and a greater attention to maintaining the humor. One thing initially also in "Angel's" favor was it's smaller cast.
This last thing is one area where "Angel", like "Buffy" before it, is starting to fall down. There is a direct correlation between a watering down of the writing with an increase in the main cast size. This is particularly true for a show like "Angel" where the genre (action) isn't as amenable to a shift in focus from character to character (which is eminently more possible in soap operas such as "Melrose Place" and "Knots Landing" which are actually predicated on such shifts in focus from episode to episode). Indeed, "Angel" is repeating "Buffy's" mistake of adding at least one main character to the cast with every succeeding season: Angel-Cordelia-Doyle becomes Angel-Cordelia-Wesley-Gunn becomes Angel-Cordelia-Wesley-Gunn-Fred. This is a problem when you factor in the numerous recurring characters (e.g. Lilah, Darla, The Host, etc.) and the fact that there probably wasn't enough for Cordelia and Wesley to do when there will only three castmembers! Then you need to factor in the underdeveloped, underwritten, generally unnecessary characters of Gunn and Fred, and you really start to see a problem. Even some of the recurring cast is overexposed these days (e.g. The Host). One can now imagine the writers all sitting down and figuring how to give each and every character at least 'x' lines in every episode.
Beyond this, "Angel's" season #3 arc isn't nearly as compelling as the 2nd season one, with the only welcome addition being that of vampire hunting bad-guy, Holtz (Keith Szarabajka).
But, all in all, "Angel" is still an enjoyable romp. As long as you don't take the show as "more" than that, "Angel" works.
In fact, it's probably the best of the SFTV shows out there.
WHAT WORKS:
The Darla arc, especially its shocking conclusion, really worked for me (chomp
Cordelia!); Charisma Carpenter and David Boreanaz (and, to a lesser extent,
Alexis Denisof) have really come into their own as actors, this season; Lilah
has risen to the challenge in the post-Lindsey, post-Holland W&H landscape;
John Rubenstein is amusing as the new W&H bad guy; I like Holtz, and am
intrigued by his new "strategy"; some solid, if unspectacular, episodes
this season
WHAT DOESN'T:
The characters of Gunn and Fred do not rate as 'main' characters, are superfluous,
and are taking screentime away from more worthy characters - they need to be
bumped down to recurring, or dumped; The Host is now overused and overexposed;
Gavin Park isn't quite gelling as a W&H bad guy; some S3 episodes have been
of a... questionable nature (see: "Billy", and "Dad" to
a lesser extent)
| THAT 70's SHOW (FOX): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C+ |
OVERVIEW:
While clearly in decline, this show is usually still entertaining, and occasionally amusing.
WHAT WORKS:
Topher Grace still carries this show, with most of the help
coming from Kirkwood Smith, Debra Jo Rupp and Mila Kunis
WHAT DOESN'T:
Some of the characters (e.g. Kelso, Hyde and Donna) have
become a little tired; cast upheaval (e.g. the departures of Midge, Laurie)
hasn't helped the show either; adding Tommy Chong was an obvious (and unnecessary)
gimmick
| GILMORE GIRLS (WBN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C |
OVERVIEW:
The greatest danger that can befall either men, or TV shows, is to start believing your own 'hype'. "Gilmore Girls" is clearly a show which has come to believe its own hype.
Everything that was annoying about this show in its first season has been amplified in its second season, to detrimental effect.
Further, from what I've seen (which isn't too much, I'll admit), the show is also somewhat 'flat' this year.
Which is to say that a show that was overhyped in its first season has even less going for it this year...
WHAT WORKS:
Not much this season - mainly Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Herrmann)
(and maybe Paris (Liza Weil))
WHAT DOESN'T:
'Lauren Graham-itis' (i.e. the tendency to deliver every line of dialogue just
as Graham does) has infected the rest of the cast, most distressingly, Alexis
Bledel (Rory); Tristan is sorely missed, as is (surprisingly) Max Medina; new
character Jess (Milo Ventimiglia, formerly effective on "Opposite
Sex")
is an even bigger 'dud' than Dean (Jared Padalecki), and his relationship with
Rory is wholly unbelievable; still too much "quirk"!
| ROSWELL (UPN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B |
OVERVIEW:
"Roswell's" third season is a puzzling portrait of contrasts.
On the one hand, the disastrously addled, confusing, fragmentary, haphazard 'Sci-Fi' storylines foisted on the show in its second season by The WB's brain-dead network goons are finally gone. Instead, the show has restored something much more closely approximating the proper balance between 'Sci-Fi' and 'relationship' stories that the show had throughout the initial 2/3 of its first season.
On the other hand, despite all of this, I just cannot get emotionally involved in the vast majority of season #3's storylines. Whether it's fatigue on the part of the writing staff, or the obvious disinterest of most of the show's cast, I just am not getting into this show anywhere near like I used to.
Which is not to say that there aren't still some things that work. Pretty much anything involving Kyle (Nick Wechsler) has succeeded this season. And rehashing season #1's formula of an adult who threatens the gang, this time in the form of Phillip Evans' (Garrett M. Brown) quest to discover what Max's (Jason Behr) secret is, has worked brilliantly, stoking the only really strong interest I've had in this season's proceedings.
In addition, several episodes/miniarcs have been good, notably Max's journey to L.A. to meet Nasedo #2 (Joe Palatino), and the short-lived appearance of Kivar.
Pretty much everything else is problematic.
Problem #1 comes in the form of Isabel (Katherine Heigl) who has degenerated into a basically unpleasant character, and who is now placed in a generally boring (and fairly unrealistic) marriage storyline with a costar (newcomer Adam Rodriguez) with whom Heigl has no chemistry and who is playing a totally uninteresting character.
Problem #2 is that the chemistry between Max and Liz (Shiri Appleby) has dissipated to the point where they are now essentially an uninteresting couple (rumors that the two actors now hate each other IRL don't help the believability of their scenes either).
Problem #3 is the squandering of pretty much all of the adult characters, outside of Phillip Evans, especially Jim Valenti (William Sadler) - it's criminal how little Sadler is being used these days!
Problem #4 is the onscreen splintering of the characters. There was a key shot used in the opening credits of season #1 of the six main cast members standing around in a circle. In season #3, such a scene is nearly unthinkable, as most scenes involve no more than 3 (and often only 2) of the cast members together at the same time. What happened to this being an ensemble show, as opposed to the now soap opera-based, rotating-character-focus format?!
Then again, who am I kidding? "Roswell" is deader than disco.
Still, despite the problems, I'm still watching and liking (if not loving) 3rd season "Roswell". It may not be the heights of season #1. But, then again, it's still a heck of a lot better than the show that immediately precedes it on UPN.
And I'd better watch it, while I still can...
WHAT WORKS:
Restoring a much better balance between 'relationships' and 'Sci-Fi' (and better
thought-out Sci-Fi); several storylines (L.A., Kivar, Maria finally dumping
Michael) have been pretty good this season; anything with Kyle Valenti is still
among the best things this show has to offer; whatever else you want to say
about her storyline, Katherine Heigl has at least been giving her performances
her all; Behr and Appleby are still good; the Phillip Evans storyline is giving
this show needed (and manageable) conflict, something it has needed since season
#1
WHAT DOESN'T:
Dividing the characters (and cast) from each other - this
is most obvious in this season's tendency to have a "Max" episode
followed by an "Isabel" episode followed by a "Michael"
episode followed by a "Max" episode, etc. - what ever happened to
working with all of the characters, together?!; the adults, outside of
probably Phillip Evans, have been criminally dumbed down and simplified (and
where's Amy Deluca?!); Isabel, and to a lesser extent Max, are basically unpleasant
characters now; several castmembers (see: Brendan Fehr and Majandra Delfino)
are obviously 'phoning in' their performances this season; there are still some
continuity problems here (e.g. What the Hell happened to Sean Deluca,
and Brody?!); what happened to alien powers?! (they have been conspicuously
rare this season); this show has not been emotionally involving this season,
at least to me
| DAWSON'S CREEK (WBN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
Despite the transition to college, this show is holding up remarkably well. (However, sticking everyone in the Boston area was a total cop-out...)
WHAT WORKS:
The storyline involving Joey's early academic struggles has worked out pretty
well (despite the predictable will-he-or-won't-he-hit-on-her? undercurrents
with her lit. professor); the Dawson-Jen development is a pleasant surprise,
and I'm liking Dawson's therapy sessions; Joey's roommate (Busy Phillips) is
a pleasing addition; even Jack's rushing the fraternity has been interesting
WHAT DOESN'T:
Pacey has been squandered so far this season, especially when stuck with Loudres
Benedicto's annoying character; the developments to keep Dawson in Capeside
(e.g. Dawson dropping out of USC after a mere... mmmmm, 3 days; killing off
Mr. Leary (John Wesley Shipp)) are contrived beyond belief, and show a lack
of vision on the writers' part
| SPECIAL UNIT 2 (UPN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B |
OVERVIEW:
The only show that I'm getting really consistent, large tracts of enjoyment out of, it reminds me of the kind of cheeky, funny, semi-satirical show "Buffy" was before it traded all that in for dreary, chest-pounding melodrama.
In any case, a show that slips in lines smarter than this show has any right to be, I appreciate its whole Men-In-Black-Meets-the-funny-episodes-of-The-X-Files vibe.
Basically, "Special Unit 2" is like a 'B' version of "The X-Files", but without the dreary 'mytharc conspiracy' storylines, and with lots of silly, pop-culture humor.
SU2, as it is affectionately known, is headlined by Michael Landes (the guy who was unfairly, idiotically and disastrously dumped after "Lois & Clark's" first season because one of ABC's 'brain-surgeon' network goons' "thought he resembled Dean Cain too much"!) as the snarky, over-sexed Det. Nick O'Malley, and Alexondra Lee (best known for her previous work on "Party of Five") as ethical, dating-challenged Det. Kate Benson. The bulk of the 'funny' comes from snide comments from O'Malley, and especially from the loopy, larcenous antics of SU2 informant, and gnome!, Carl (Danny Woodburn), who is comedy relief in every positive sense of the term. The cast is rounded out by upright, hard-nosed Capt. Page (Richard Gant) and SU2's nerdy, enthusiastic technician/scientist Jonathan (Jonathan Togo).
There's not much else to say about SU2. The focus of the show is less the 'Monsters of the Week' that O'Malley and Benson encounter, than it is the silly, ridiculous situations they get themselves into (especially with Carl's help).
This show may not be as solid as 'Sci-Fi' as "Angel", but I find myself enjoying it more. SU2 may be the only metaphorical 'ray of sunshine' I'm finding this season. And that's more than good enough for me.
WHAT WORKS:
The humor, including some rather pointed shots the show takes at some Hollywood
stand-bys; pretty much anything with Carl, especially when he plays darts with
SU2's monster under the desk!; the continuing theme of the disaster-that-is-Kate-Benson's-love-life!
is an amusing touch; tech Jonathan manages to be amusingly nerdy, without crossing
the line into annoying (take note, "CSI"!); the make-up for some of
this show's monsters are pretty good
WHAT DOESN'T:
It's generally less effective when it tries to be a little serious; at the same
time, it could use a little more depth; it's rarely falling-down-on-the-ground
funny, though it's gotten close
| SURVIVOR: AFRICA (CBS): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B |
OVERVIEW:
The third most interesting cast in 3 incarnations (get it?), "Survivor: Africa" is still darn entertaining stuff.
WHAT WORKS:
The 'Beadz Kidz' were truly detestable (esp. slimy Silas and psycho-bitch/babe
Lindsey), making them decent enough villains; supercillious Lex has been about
as bad over the past several episodes; 'old' Kim and Theresa prove the "Tina"
rule once again: never underestimate a steely old broad!; the challenges in
this version are an improvement over the inspiration-challenged challenges(sic!)
of "Survivor II"; unlike "Survivor II", the voting patterns
of this season have been much less readily predictable
WHAT DOESN'T:
This incarnation is seriously lacking people worthy of rooting for - many are
rallying around Ethan, but this viewer smells a phony!; indeed, the cast in
general is 'charisma-challenged'; Clarence was sand-bagged by Diane (and Lex);
Mark Burnett has betrayed a certain desperation in some of his machinations
this season
| CHARMED (WBN): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
Among other circumstances, the departure of a major or key castmemeber is often defined as a 'jump the shark' moment for a TV show. And while the (forced) departure of Shannen Doherty from "Charmed" hasn't quite been a 'jump the shark' moment (yet), it has gotten dangerously close to one.
Which is not to say that the new cast member, Rose McGowan (as long-lost sister, Paige), isn't fine in her role. McGowan has been more than able to handle what the writers have given her to work with (which hasn't been very much of a challenge at all in terms of her character Paige, I'm afraid). So, the "new girl" is not the problem here.
The problem with the present season of "Charmed" is two-fold: 1) the writers seem to be taking a real powder this season, as the individual episodes have not been up to "Charmed" usual (fun) standards, and 2) the fall-out from the Doherty departure has obviously affected cast interaction, and this is clearly starting to show up on screen.
For example, it's very clear, even from on-camera interactions, that (real-life Doherty boyfriend) Julian McMahon (Cole) and Alyssa Milano (Phoebe) don't much like each other IRL. Similarly, it's also clear that (real-life Milano boyfriend) Brian Krause (Leo) and Holly Marie Combs (Piper) don't much care for each other, either. And this is a real problem when the former are supposed to be an (almost engaged) couple and the latter are supposed to be a loving married couple.
In fact, from what I've seen this season, the strong impression coming through in Milano's performance is that, 1) she doesn't much like anyone in the cast, outside of Krause (the only scenes Milano seem to come alive in are those with Krause), and 2) she doesn't much seem like she even wants to be there anymore. (Maybe the producers dumped the wrong girl?!...)
So, a combination of uninspired performances and uninspired writing is succeeding in knocking "Charmed" down a few pegs this season. It just ain't fun this year.
Is it a 'jump the shark' moment?
It's still too early to tell. But with ratings (and quality) down this season, things aren't looking good...
WHAT WORKS:
Rose McGowan has been fine as Paige (and she looks
great), though her character is rather hollow; Holly Marie Combs, as usual,
has been putting in some fine performances, and is almost single-handedly holding
this show together; the developments vis a vis Cole have at least been unexpected;
Brian Krause actually looks like he's having fun this year (which has
energized his usually flat delivery)
WHAT DOESN'T:
Milano's performance has been flat this season; the
writing has been not nearly as good as compared to past seasons; off-screen
tension is showing up on screen; this show still needs a good recurring
villain to improve continuity (I thought they were going that way with Krista
Allen's 'Oracle', but now she's dead too)
| C.S.I. (CBS): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
I've finally figured out what this show is: it's "Murder She Wrote" with [TECH]!
Which is fine, if you like a good mystery. Just don't expect much in the way of depth out of a show like this.
WHAT WORKS:
They seem to be giving Nick (George Eads) and Warrick (Gary Jourdan) more to
do this season, which is a good thing; Paul Guilfoyle (Brass) is always great;
the mysteries are usually pretty engrossing; some continuity (with season #1
villains) is being maintained, which is a good thing; lots of good guest stars;
unlike many shows in this genre (see: L&O), this show is good at avoiding
preachiness; despite the more-than-occasional scientific inaccuracy, this show's
goal of bringing science to the masses is laudable
WHAT DOESN'T:
A little of Grissom (William Petersen), Catherine (Marg Helenberger)
and Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) goes a long way; I don't really like lab nerd
Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) - "Special Unit 2" does a much better
job with a similar character!; shows like "CSI", in the straight "mystery"
genre, always lack the depth of more traditional dramas
| DARK ANGEL (FOX): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B- |
OVERVIEW:
A new season has brought a new focus, and I can't say I like it as much.
Season #1's "theme" was a relatively straight-forward affair: Max (Jessica Alba) had roughly a dozen transgenic "siblings" that she wanted to track down (and, over the course of that season, she found at least half of them) while keeping from being captured by her main pursuer, Manticore baddie Col. Lydecker (John Savage). Oh, and she was also having some UST with her primary benefactor, 'Eyes Only' dissident, Logan (Michael Weatherly).
Season #2's "theme" is much more muddled, in comparison: now all of Manticore's transgenics have escaped, and Max must help them stay free from capture - meanwhile, she has uncovered a whole second secret set of selectively-bred transgenics that are the result of some sort of ancient mythical sect or religion. And then there's this virus that Logan has now, so Max can't jump his bones. Oh, and she's got a new transgenic pal, 'Dog Boy' Joshua (Kevin Durand).
Got all that?! 'Cos I'm not sure I do.
The problem with this is that it set "Dark Angel" back to 'square one' at the start of the season. The result was that this season, like the first season, started very slowly, only getting back up to steam after about half-a-dozen episodes. In the meantime, it lost a significant segment of its viewership.
In addition, for reasons that must have something to do with the writing, the overall effort just isn't quite as good this season.
On the positive side, however, Jessica Alba is actually growing into this role and improving as an actress.
WHAT WORKS:
Jessica Alba is a better actress this season, even if she doesn't look as healthy
(Alba's now much thinner than she was even in season #1, if that's even humanly
possible!); after a slow start, season #2 got better about 6 episodes in; Jam
Pony has been mercifully deemphasized; Alex (Jensen Ackles) is a pretty good
addition to the show; the show has finally stumbled on a 'mythology', but...(see
below)
WHAT DOESN'T:
OTOH, Asha (Ashley Scott) adds nothing to the show; White (Martin Cummins) was
a boring villain for too long (he only got interesting in the most recent episode);
Lydecker is missed; Joshua is a character of questionable value to "Dark
Angel"; the basis of this season (e.g. the escape of all the transgenics)
is less compelling than season #1's; the 'mythology' of this show is getting
muddled, and is threatening to cross into "X-Files" territory - this
is not good
| ONCE & AGAIN (ABC): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | B+ |
OVERVIEW:
While never again regaining the heights of its superior first season, season #3 has been about as good the previous season (season #2), which still marks "Once & Again" as the best show currently on the air.
Particularly effective this season have been episodes and stories centered around the Samler/Manning children.
WHAT WORKS:
As stated above, pretty much all of the stories built around
the Samler/Manning children have been fabo this season, especially the
developments with Jessie (Evan Rachel Wood) and her "new best friend",
Jessie & Grace (Julia Whelan) and the school play, and Eli's (Shane West)
job (and then loss thereof); and, speaking of, guest star Mischa Barton is doing
an awesome job in the role of Jessie's new friend, Katie; Lily (Sela Ward) has
been much less annoying this season, and her job is actually interesting for
the second time in a row; also good is the slow 'melting down' of Karen (Susanna
Thompson); no 'dumb' episodes, so far this season
WHAT DOESN'T:
They aren't doing anything interesting with Rick Samler (Bill Campbell) this
season, which is a shame especially since his 'Atlantor' arc last year was perhaps
the best thing about that season; Judy (Marin Hinkle) is just annoying this
season, and her storyline with Sam (Steven Weber) is so far a dud (which is
surprising when you consider that the Judy-Sam episode, "The Mystery Dance",
is my vote for the best episode of O&A); Jake (Jeffrey Nordling) and Tiffani's
(Ever Carradine) arc is OK, but not all that compelling (and the episode of
"Jake and the Women" was my least favorite of the season, followed
by the recent birth/X-Mas episode)
| THE DISTRICT (CBS): | |
| Overall Grade for Season: | C |
OVERVIEW:
I can't put my finger on why, but late season #1-"District" was much better than season #2-"District".
But this show is what it is - a 'police procedural', and it works fine on that simplistic level.
WHAT WORKS:
Well, I generally like "cop" shows...; Craig T. Nelson gives this
show his 'all' (which is sometimes too much); several of the supporting players
(Lynne Thigpen, Roger Aaron Brown, Elizabeth Marvel) are quite good; the most
recent episode, "Thursday", while obvious and melodramatic, was the
best episode of the season, so far
WHAT DOESN'T:
New cast addition Jonathan LaPaglia is fine, but I preferred David O'Hara and
don't understand why O'Hara's character was killed off in the first season finale;
this show just seems less inspired (and perhaps too Mannion-centric) this season;
while some ([cough]Annie Keitz[cough]) are turned of by the obvious 'White Man's
Burden' angle of this show, what tends to turn me off more is the way this show
views things in (metaphorical) 'black-and-white', not because many of these
issues aren't black-and-white, but because black-and-white storytelling is just
less dramatically compelling
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