rec.arts.tv Commentary:
MY '02-'03 MID-SEASON REVIEW: Returning Shows:
Last updated: January 12, 2003.
Posted to rec.arts.tv on January 5, 2003.
GRADING scheme - see:
http://homepage.mac.com/ijball/grading-guide.html
[List of Graded Shows]
[Overview]
[The Show Reviews]
Here is a list of the "Returning" Show grades (reviews follow that):
TV SERIES GRADE
----------- -----
24 A-
Alias B
Charmed B
The Guardian B
NYPD Blue B
The Tribe B
The Agency B-
Boston Public B-
C.S.I. B-
Dawson's Creek B-
Gilmore Girls B-
Smallville B-
Mutant X C+
That 70's Show C+
Survivor: Thailand C-
DISCLAIMER: I can only review those shows I've actually *seen*. I don't go
out of my way to view shows I'm not interested in, so if a show isn't reviewed,
or listed two paragraphs down, then I haven't seen it! That is all.
Bottom line: On the returning shows front, I'm not giving out any D's and
F's this year, which is an improvement over last season. But I'm not giving
out many
B+'s or A's either (which I did more of last season). So I guess this season
can be described as "fair to middling": not bad, but not exceptional
either.
EDITOR'S NOTE: There are several other shows that I have watched this season,
but not enough to grade them properly. That list includes L&O:CI, "The
Practice", "The King of Queens", "Buffy", "Enterprise", "Sabrina
The Teenage Witch", L&O:SVU and "The District". Of these,
the only two I'm negative on are "The King of Queens" and "The
District", while I'm flat neutral on "Buffy". I'm positive (to
varying degrees) on the others.
Several returning shows have improved over last season: "24" (more
action, less f'ing around!), "Smallville" (a significant improvement), "Charmed" (more
funny, less glummy!), and "Gilmore Girls" (only place to go after
last season was up).
OTOH, several shows have declined this season, among them: "The Guardian" (a
strong 2nd season start appeared to lose steam later on), "Dawson's
Creek" (storylines
are aimless this season), "Mutant X" (more on Tribune studio goon idiocy
below) and "Survivor" (into the crapper!).
The other returning shows are about where they were last year.
I'll start off with MoviePlex/WAM!'s "The Tribe", then
go through the network shows Sunday to Saturday, and end with the one syndicated
drama in the list, "Mutant X"...
OVERVIEW:
On MoviePlex's Sunday night airing of WAM!, "The Tribe" is now
into its 4th season (unfortunately, I've missed the show's first two seasons).
Highly variable, "The Tribe" can still manage some very impressive
episodes, for what is ostensibly a "kid's soap opera" with Sci-Fi
overtones.
Still, I'm not sure I am sold on season #4's theme yet. Nor am I sold on the
new characters we've gotten in place of several of the characters who haven't
returned for season #4 (e.g. Bray, Tai-San, Alice, Moz, and especially May, are
really missed).
WHAT WORKS:
Some interesting character 'inversions' have taken place in
season #4, with formerly neurotic and skittish Salene coming on strong in a new
leadership role, while former 'leader' characters like Amber and Pride are basically
coming apart at the seams. Meanwhile, Ebony is still a great, complex character.
The storyline I'm most enjoying so far is highly whiny Ellie's descent into near
suicidal depression (though it's too bad the writers didn't have the guts to
take that story to its logical conclusion, but such are the limitations imposed
on "children's television"). Close behind that is Amber's and Trudy's
desperate march to safety.
Bratty Cloe is a good (re)addition to the cast, as are newcomers
Dee, and 'Techno' Jay.
WHAT DOESN'T:
I don't get this season's "theme", and if I did
I'm not sure I'd like it.
The technological prowess of the bad guys, the Technos, is ridiculous, and brings
this show dangerously close to outright fantasy. Meanwhile, Ram is an even more
over-the-top villain than the 3rd season's Guardian was. And Java & Siva?
I don't get it.
As I said above, some of the cast losses this season have hurt the show. Meanwhile,
the way some cast members disappear for weeks at a time (e.g. Amber & Trudy,
Jack) is kind of annoying.
OVERVIEW:
After last's seasons decline into gloominess and glumness, "Charmed" seems
to have gotten back to the more silly roots that made it so enjoyable earlier
on in its run.
Meanwhile, while Rose McGowan has fully and pleasingly settled into her role
as new sister page, the writers continue to play ping-pong with the direction
of Julian McMahon's Cole character. On the one hand, I'll actually miss the
guy when he finally leaves in February. On the other hand, it's clearly time
for
his character to go – they've exhausted the possibilities with Cole.
WHAT WORKS:
Rose McGowan has actually probably been the best thing about
this season (too bad she continues to whine about her work-hours in interviews).
You can't go wrong with Julian McMahon, nor with Holly Marie Combs. As stated
above, this show happily returned to more "fun" (though occasionally
perhaps *too* silly) storylines (e.g. "Siren Song", where Piper and
Leo have to switch jobs was rather amusing). Again, some good guest-casting
(e.g. Jaime Pressly, Sean Patrick Flanery, Melinda Clarke, Tinsley Grimes,
Emmanuelle Vaugier, etc.).
WHAT DOESN'T:
I still have problems with Alyssa Milano – though
I can't tell if it's her performance, or my general dislike for her. Brian
Krause is still unremarkable. It's time for Cole to go. I like fun, but this
show has really pushed it to the edge of silly on several occasions this season.
OVERVIEW:
While this show has clearly been "simplified" for mass-consumption
in season #2 (e.g. gone are the episode-ending 'cliffhangers' of season #1;
the 'Rambaldi' storyline has also been deemphasized), "Alias" is
still a surprisingly entertaining show.
And with the addition of intriguing Lena Olin to the mix, I can almost overlook
my obsessive repulsion from Jennifer Garner as the lead of this show. Well, almost.
WHAT WORKS:
Lena Olin brings a lot to this show, though I do hope her
character isn't as repentant as she seems. I'm loving the subplots with Sloane's
(Ron Rifkin) "dead" wife, and with Bradley Cooper's Will. (For my
money, if Sydney has to end up with anybody, I'd rather it be Cooper's Will
than Michael Vartan's milquetoast Vaughn). Good work this season also from
Victor Garber as Jack Bristow. Sark (David Anders) is a good addition. Frankly,
toning down the Rambaldi stuff was a good idea.
WHAT DOESN'T:
"Simplified" actually translates as "dumbed
down", and this show can't afford to be dumbed down any further. I'll
skip Garner's histrionics in the role of Sydney, but am I the only one who
finds Michael Vartan as Agent Vaughn a bore?! And, please!!!(?) drop the ridiculously
cloying Sydney/Vaughn scenes already! Dropping the episode-ending cliffhangers
was not such a good idea – they don't need to do it every episode, but
they should still do it at the end of at least some episodes!
OVERVIEW:
Melodramatic, over-the-top, but enjoyable, schlock; but some cast changes,
and Jason Katims' (Roswell) assuming the role of EP from David E. Kelley, may
actually mark a resurgence for this show.
WHAT WORKS:
It was time for Nikki Katt's Harry Senate to leave, and
additions like Michelle Monaghan and Jon Abrahams actually seem to bring more
to the show than they detract. The writing, especially after Katims took over,
seems to be more focused, and less over-the-top. As always, Chi McBride and
Anthony Heald are the best things this show has going. I actually think I prefer
Cara DeLizia's Marcy as Harper's assistant to Rashida Jones' Louisa.
WHAT DOESN'T:
The Marla (Loretta Devine)-Hanson (Michael Rapaport) stuff
is just idiotic – let it go! Almost as bad were some of the forced relationships:
e.g. Ronnie (Jeri Ryan) & Zack (Abrahams), maybe Marilyn (Sharon Leal) & Guber
(Heald).
OVERVIEW:
I'll just repeat what I said last year: while clearly in decline, this show
is usually still entertaining, and occasionally amusing.
WHAT WORKS:
Topher Grace carries this show, with most of the help coming
from Kirkwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp. It was nice to see Lisa Robin Kelly
show up again as Eric's bitchy older sister Laurie. Donna works better as Eric's
girlfriend than as his mean, bitchy ex (thank Gawd that's over with!).
WHAT DOESN'T:
I still detect a vein of unnecessary mean-spiritedness in
this show these days (it's now starting to poison Mila Kunis' Jackie). I'm
not sure what Tom Postin and Betty White bring to this show.
OVERVIEW:
I feel this show is better this season than in season #2, despite the fact
that there have been some real 'stinker' episodes this year, mostly written
by show creator Amy Sherman-Palladino's husband, Daniel Palladino (e.g. see,
for example, episode: "Application Anxiety", though at least that
episode sported Tinsley Grimes as a guest-star).
WHAT WORKS:
What works? - most things based around either Rory (Jess
and/or Dean excepted) or Emily, that's what. I like the applying-to-colleges
subplot this season. They finally seem to have figured out that they needed
to do *something* with Lane (Keiko Agena). When not overused, Paris (Lisa Weil)
is a very effective character. Actually, to be truthful, the whole Rory/Jess
thing has been handled much more intelligently this season than last. Indeed,
I think they've managed to 'darken' the Rory character just a tad this season,
and so far I think I like it.
WHAT DOESN'T:
Lorelai is never more annoying than when Daniel Palladino
is penning her lines (someone please make him stop!). Meanwhile, I'm *so* over
either Lorelai/Luke or Lorelai/Christopher. I don't know who's idiotic idea
it was to kick Kirk (Sean Gunn) up to 'main cast', but 1) that person should
be fired immediately, and 2) the move should be reversed A.S.A.P. – Kirk
only works in exceedingly small doses (like a couple of times a season!). Whatever
complaints I've had about "Gilmore Girls" during the past two seasons
probably still apply in this one.
OVERVIEW:
Short answer? Simply the best show on TV right now.
With tightened plotting and direction (well, except for the 'time stamp' stuff – see
below), and smarter writing, this is the only show on TV where you'd be a fool
to miss even one episode of this show.
WHAT WORKS:
Not only is Kiefer Sutherland even better as Jack Bauer
this season, the character is also significantly richer as a
'this-guy's-so-close-to-the-edge-he's-virtually-obliterating-the-edge!'
character. Better use is being made of both Kim (Elisa Cuthbert), and the idiocy
of the Kim character, this season.
Good stuff with them bringing Sara Gilbert on board,
just to kill her character off a couple of episodes into the season.
I love the dead-man-walking subplot with Mason – in fact, the scene
between Mason and his estranged son was probably the highlight of the season
so far. Great stuff also with the terrorists' plot coming apart at the seams
in the most recent episode (stuff like that is more like IRL than them
actually pulling their plot off). Almeyda (Carlos Bernard) is also better
this season. Love the return of Nina (*kill* her, Jack!). I even like
the idiocy around the Warner wedding.
WHAT DOESN'T:
As I feared during summer, they didn't need to bring Palmer
(Dennis Haysbert) back this season, and in fact I'm finding nearly all of the
Palmer subplots more distracting than engrossing – even the Sherry Palmer
stuff has been a let-down. They are seriously messing with the 'time stamp'/elapsed
time this season, and it's just coming off as sloppy (e.g. in a recent episode,
the show broke for commercial with a time stamp of 3:47pm, but it was only
about 9:42pm according to the clock on my wall – a 5 minute differential,
etc.). While this season has really cranked up the suspense factor, some developments
(e.g. Jack's plane being shot-down or sabotaged) are really pushing the believability
envelope.
OVERVIEW:
After some great episodes toward the end of season #1, and a strong start
to this season, it seemed like "The Guardian" lost some momentum,
mostly because they are using their ensemble more and several of their characters
(e.g. Lulu, especially) are weak.
(Note: Up against "24", I haven't seen "The Guardian" that
much since "24's" premiere...)
WHAT WORKS:
Simon Baker as Nick Fallin, and Dabney Coleman as his father
Burton, are both brilliant. Beyond that, the character of Nick Fallin is both
complex and engrossing. Raphael Sbarge as sneaky Jake Straka is probably the
best of the 'ensemble' players. This show can sport some very smart writing,
perhaps the smartest of any show airing right now. As long as this show keeps
the business law cases balanced with the 'social work' cases, everything is
A-OK.
WHAT DOESN'T:
Why 'sex this show up'? (e.g. Nick's new cop girlfriend) – this
show doesn't need that. Lulu (Wendy Moniz) is a waste of space as a character
(I can't believe they got rid of Erica Leerhsen's interesting Anamda character
for Lulu back in season #1). This show should always keep primary focus on
Nick first, and Burton second – this show loses something in those episodes
about the 'ensemble' players, where Nick is deemphasized (and Burton is sometimes
missing entirely). There also appears to be more emphasis on the 'social work'
cases in season #2, and this is a mistake (it's a form of 'dumbing down' the
show).
OVERVIEW:
After a rather brain-dead first season, "Smallville" is starting
to show some signs of life in its second season.
Bottom line: Like "Charmed", this show is basically mindless, good-natured
fun. (But, unlike "Charmed", it may be one of the most lacklusterly
acted shows on TV...)
WHAT WORKS:
While this show still suffers from MotW-itis, it is (correctly)
putting more emphasis on character interaction, development and history this
season, and that's a smart move. Another incredibly smart move was trading
the virtually inert Eric Johnson (Whitney) for the fabulous John Glover (Lionel
Luther) – makes me pine for the days of "Brimstone". Indeed,
more Lex (Michael Rosenbaum) and Lionel Luther, please?! Hopefully Richard
Gant will stick around as Principal Reynolds – he was great in "Special
Unit 2". Generally, there's some good guest casting in this show (e.g.
Joe Morton, Krista Allen, Richard Moll, William B. Davis, etc.).
WHAT DOESN'T:
She may be beautiful, but that Lana (Kristen Kreuk) sure
is annoying! (though I like the angle of her starting to suspect Clark's secret
in season #2). Of course, Lana's not half as annoying as Chloe (Allison Mack) – no
wonder no boy wants her! Oy! And, while we're at it, don't get me started on
the "acting skills" of most of this cast, starting with neophyte
Tom Welling (Clark). No matter what The WB says, this show will never be as
good as "Roswell" was, even on "Roswell's" worst day!
OVERVIEW:
In its 10th(?) season, this show's still going strong.
WHAT WORKS:
Dennis Franz (DUH!). After Franz, Charlotte Ross is the
best thing about this show. Good supporting work is also coming from Mark-Paul
Gosselaar, Jacqueline Obradors and Bill Brochtrup. This show has always had
great guest-casting (e.g. Joe Spano), and it still does.
WHAT DOESN'T:
Jargon-ridden dialogue is always hard to follow on this
show. The cases tend to be simplistic.
OVERVIEW:
After a strong fifth season, season #6 lacks direction, and any really compelling
storylines.
WHAT WORKS:
The best stuff this season probably boils down to three
things: 1) Dawson's honest-to-God film job (at least this shows you something
about the workings of 'The Biz'), 2) Pacey's weird stock broker job (though
I suspect this whole thing has been lifted from the movie "Boiler Room"),
and 3) Audrey's (Busy Phillips) total meltdown (more on that below). Also,
I love seeing OLTL's Roger Howarth in a role he was made to play (too bad the
producers don't have enough sense to use him more). In the same vein, Hal Ozram's
director Todd character is hilarious.
WHAT DOESN'T:
OK, they've given us Oliver Hudson, Sebastian Spence and
Jensen Ackles, and then do absolutely nothing interesting with them – why?!
Unlike last season, where she was the best thing going, Joey is the least interesting
thing about season #6. Hey guys?! – please do *something* with Jen! As
someone else pointed out to me, the Audrey storyline would be much better if
it went to its logical conclusion: a suicide attempt.
Bottom line: "Dawson" looks 'tired'
to me. I definitely think it's time to accept this as "Dawson's"
last season.
OVERVIEW:
A completely uninvolving cast marks this as the worst "Survivor"
yet (by far).
WHAT WORKS:
Honestly, there is very little good I can say about this
one (it got to be a bad sign that I found The WB's "Family Affair" far
more involving than this version of "Survivor").
Probably the best thing about this edition of "Survivor"
was CBS finally grabbing a clue and allowing Jeff Probst to host the 'reunion'
finale – Probst was far-and-away the best interviewer of the contestants by far,
and was the obvious choice for this gig all along (which I've only been saying since
the very first "Survivor"!).
WHAT DOESN'T:
This cast sucked. Unquestionably, the most boring edition
yet. I'd say "Survivor" has one more chance to rope people back in,
or this franchise is history...
Meanwhile, the Final Jury get-together was the sorriest bunch
of 'sore losers' yet: these guys (Helen, Ted, Ken) managed to almost make sore-loser
"Marquesas" Tammy look good.
OVERVIEW:
Too many 'Red Balls' cases. Too much lab tech Greg (Eric Szmanda). Too many
bad pun lines.
You know, if "C.S.I." would just 'dial it down' to season #1 levels,
it'd be a much better show. Instead, it is just trying too hard, and pandering
too much, in season #3.
Enough gimmicks!
WHAT WORKS:
For my money, the best things about this show are still
Nick (George Eads), Warrick (Gary Jourdan) and Paul Guilfoyle (Brass) (along
with medical examiner Robbins, played by Robert David Hall). Some cases are
vaguely intriguing (though less so than before).
WHAT DOESN'T:
OK, I despise lab nerd Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) now,
and his whole sexual-harrassment-of-Sara-Sidel-masquerading-as-comedy-relief
storyline was pathetically offensive. I've always disliked Sara Sidle (Jorja
Fox), but I'm starting not to like Grissom (William Petersen) very much either.
This show was more interesting with its more mundane cases of season #1 – now
every case is some over-hyped 'Red Ball' (e.g. the 'rock star' case episode
with Chad Michael Murray), which is the scripted TV series equivalent of "Celebrity
Weakest Link"...
OVERVIEW:
While clearly 'dumbed down' in season #2 (no episodes like "Peacemakers"
or "Moo" this year!), "The Agency" is still a solid,
entertaining spy-actioner.
WHAT WORKS:
I think bumping Lex up to 'full cast' was a smart move.
The subplot with the "mole" is a good one, even if I'm pretty sure
I know who it is. A.B. Stiles (Jason O'Mara) is a more kick-ass operative than
the rather staid and uninteresting Matt Callan (Gil Bellows). Beau Bridges
seems better integrated into the proceedings this season, and doesn't bug me
as much. As always, Daniel Benzali is the best thing about this show.
WHAT DOESN'T:
The Stiles/Terry Lowell (Pauge Turco) romance? – Hate
it. Please dump it! They've dropped the ball with David Clennon this season – if
they don't use him more, they may lose him, and that would be a mistake. As
far as I can tell, they never explained what happened to Lisa Fabrizzi (Gloria
Reuben) and that's a big dropped plot point if they don't bring it back up
later. They have dangerously 'dumbed down' this show, and they shouldn't let
CBS make them do that.
OVERVIEW:
This show had a relatively lackluster first-half of a first season, but really
came on strong in the second-half of its first season, to the point where it
may have been one of my favorite shows at the end of last spring (and may have
sported the best cliffhanger finale of any series last season!).
But the complete idiots who run Tribune Studios (who, for my money, are the
most incompetent studio goons in the business, besting even the fools running
AMC cable channel) never pass by an opportunity to ruin their shows, and they promptly
dumbed down "Mutant X" in season #2. (This is despite the fact that
even in season #1, this show was already so dumb that I thought it was impossible
to "dumb down"!)
With the defeat of Michael Easton's villain, Gabriel Ashlocke, in episode
#5, "Mutant X" appears to be abandoning even a pretense of continuing storylines. The
problem with this is that MotW shows tend to make for very uninspiring villains
(see: every villain on "Smallville" who's not named Luthor), not to
mention leading to uninteresting plotting – and this in a show that didn't
have much going for it (outside of the looks of its cast, and great costuming
and set design) to begin with.
In other words, "Mutant X" just isn't very interesting so far in
season #2.
Oh, how I pine for the days of Mason Eckhart and Genomex...
WHAT WORKS:
The aforementioned wardrobe and set design, though even
that is less remarkable in season #2. Obviously, the ultra-attractiveness of
the cast, most of all with Lauren Lee Smith (Emma, though I don't care for
her hairstyle this season), is probably this show's best feature. Easton, as
Ashlocke, would have made for a great continuing villain for this show, if
Tribune's idiots had bothered to sign him to a contract (he's now working on
soap "Port Charles", so clearly Tribune has already blown its chance).
Even the guest stars on this show are great eye-candy (e.g. Lindy Booth, Sandrine
Holt, Soo Garay, etc.).
WHAT DOESN'T:
I can't believe they managed to 'dumb down' this show, when
it was already so dumb to begin with. Tribune's idiots have decided to elevate
Shalimar (Vicki Pratt) and Brennan (Victor Webster) to their primary leads,
but this show works much better as an ensemble (and Emma and Adam are their
most interesting characters anyway). Please drop the outright "fantasy" storylines
(see the season premiere), please! These guys need to bring Mason Eckhart (Tom
McCamus), and smarter writing, back, A.S.A.P.
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