“I’m not gonna fire you, but I do think less of you.” -Merc
It should be stated that until I watched the finale I had no idea it would be the finale. Nothing in the previous 6 episodes led me to believe that we would be approaching the final episode. Only in the penultimate episode did we even get to real conflict. Having that been said, as a whole, I was not a fan of the first season of Episodes. As I was watching the second to last episode and the beginning of this episode I thought to myself, “I’m starting to feel like Matt should have slept with Beverly in the opening episode. It would have been more compelling watching them try to create a comedy pilot amidst all the dramatic tension.” Well wouldn’t you know, that’s what we have planned for Season 2, if there is a season 2.
The entire first season could have been compressed into one Pilot episode. I know this would mean we would miss out of some great banter about how funny English people talk from Matt LeBlanc, but when it comes to action, there was only one time I got interested, after Beverly slept with Matt. Aside from Sean being a super sleuth and all the British accent cracks, I found the finale pretty enjoyable. The arguments between Sean and Beverly were poignant and truthful. I had never like Beverly, and I don’t think I do now, but I did feel a bit sad while watching her lose the man of her dreams. My dislike for Beverly was strong in the opening scene of this episode. She seems awfully content with her affair until Matt tells her nothing happened between Sean and Morning. Oh what? Now that it’s not revenge it’s not okay anymore? Now that you’re the only one at fault the sleeping with “Joey” wasn’t a good idea? How about being beyond reproach or still honoring the commitment to your husband? Is that to much to ask? Apparently for Beverly, yes, it was.
I very much enjoyed the way Matt LeBlanc was portrayed as such a kind hearted easy going sleaze ball. His depiction was calculated the whole time. He’s the type of guy who would befriend you, try and hook you up with a hot actress, and then bang your wife. I particularly enjoyed the moment where he reached over a weeping Beverly to get a drag off of the cigarette he lent her since he was out. He wasn’t focused on the life he just ruined, he needed to get his post coital smoke on. We never really hated him, but we should have. Another character I was fond of was Carol, played brilliantly by Kathleen Rose Perkins. Her desire to please everyone, including her over bearing boss Merc, made for many light hearted moments when she would try and soften the blows to the Lincolns. And I’d like to make quick mention that in his limited screen time, I found Joseph May’s Andy Button to be very funny. If there’s a season 2, I hope they find a way to bring him back.
If the show can find honesty in the characters, I think Season 2 can be decent. I’m not sold on if we need another season of this show, but I think there is some potential. Does Sean pursue Morning? How to Beverly and Sean separate their personal lives from work to do their job? Do they try and take out their frustrations by writing a compelling TV series? I’m not sure. But until I see a second season the way the Lincoln’s feel about their pilot of Pucks! is how I feel about Episodes. I wonder if this is all just an elaborate expensive joke Showtime is playing on the viewers. A few bright spots here and there, but the show ultimately fell flat for me.
Showing posts with label episodes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label episodes. Show all posts
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Episodes - "Six" Review
“It’s not funny enough. It’s not smart enough, it’s nothing unique or special, it’s just profoundly mediocre.” -Beverly
My how self-aware Beverly is about Episodes. Wait. She was talking about the fictional show Pucks! she’s creating my mistake. Episodes is traveling down a path it does not want to go. It had a chance to make a kind of clever statement on the production of TV shows and the perils of making bad decisions while being a great show at the same time, however I can only think of one word to describe this show: predictable.
In this Episode we pick up where the show first started. When a TV series or any other media starts en media res I look for their to be profound changes from where we first saw the middle to when we actually get there. We want to be left with a sense of, “So THAT’S how that happened. Wow.” But instead I couldn’t help but think, “That’s it? That’s what led us to that point?” Sean and Beverly’s relationship is boring. We don’t particularly like any one of them and they’re always fighting. So it’s actually a bit surprising when Sean decides not to act on his impulses and pursue that starlet. This misdirection of course leads us to the elementary comedic tactic of Beverly observing what she thinks is an adulterous hug, whereas actually Sean and Morning are trying to save the marriage of Beverly and Sean.
Beverly storms out of the house and crashes her car into Matt LeBlanc because, wait for it, she’s driving on the wrong side of the street because she’s British! How hilarious is that?!?! Needless to say, Beverly uses this time with Matt LeBlanc to get to know him and she finds that he’s actually an alright guy. But, in an attempt to make Matt LeBlanc as unlikable as possible, he takes advantage of Beverly’s vulnerable situation and ends up romancing her. So now the woman with the supposed integrity and morals jumps at the first opportunity to screw the first person she gets to. But let’s not forget the most important part, she still doesn’t quite know the full truth about Sean and Morning. They say the cover up is worse than the lie. We’ll see what kind of effect this has on the relationship and the show.
As predictable as I thought the episode was, at least we have some action. Something has actually happened. Beverly has slept with Matt LeBlanc. I do not think that Beverly and Sean can survive this, much less the show, Pucks!. I think Episodes may have gone to the well too early. In Beverly’s verbal accosting of Matt she tells him that he’s ruined the show because, “everyone knows you’re going to get her in the sack eventually.” She of course was talking about the inevitability of his character getting together with Morning’s, but we’ll cross apply that statement to the show Episodes. I hope the writers have a way of making the inevitability I saw about Beverly getting with Matt not be the death of Episodes. Though I’m not so sure if I’ll be crushed.
Other thoughts:
-If Merc is self aware, I’d like that. I think he knows the show is crap. So I hope we get to see the Lincoln’s struggle to get the show back to prominence. And in doing so, they get back to the show’s original heart.
-Matt being introspective about the show is nice. It’s what the show needs. We can’t forget that he’s playing himself and how interesting of a dynamic it is that he’s so self aware. But, let’s not forget that he did work in how big of a penis he has to sub in for all the self deprecating humor.
-The guard at the gate of the Lincoln’s neighborhood is a good recurring joke.
My how self-aware Beverly is about Episodes. Wait. She was talking about the fictional show Pucks! she’s creating my mistake. Episodes is traveling down a path it does not want to go. It had a chance to make a kind of clever statement on the production of TV shows and the perils of making bad decisions while being a great show at the same time, however I can only think of one word to describe this show: predictable.
In this Episode we pick up where the show first started. When a TV series or any other media starts en media res I look for their to be profound changes from where we first saw the middle to when we actually get there. We want to be left with a sense of, “So THAT’S how that happened. Wow.” But instead I couldn’t help but think, “That’s it? That’s what led us to that point?” Sean and Beverly’s relationship is boring. We don’t particularly like any one of them and they’re always fighting. So it’s actually a bit surprising when Sean decides not to act on his impulses and pursue that starlet. This misdirection of course leads us to the elementary comedic tactic of Beverly observing what she thinks is an adulterous hug, whereas actually Sean and Morning are trying to save the marriage of Beverly and Sean.
Beverly storms out of the house and crashes her car into Matt LeBlanc because, wait for it, she’s driving on the wrong side of the street because she’s British! How hilarious is that?!?! Needless to say, Beverly uses this time with Matt LeBlanc to get to know him and she finds that he’s actually an alright guy. But, in an attempt to make Matt LeBlanc as unlikable as possible, he takes advantage of Beverly’s vulnerable situation and ends up romancing her. So now the woman with the supposed integrity and morals jumps at the first opportunity to screw the first person she gets to. But let’s not forget the most important part, she still doesn’t quite know the full truth about Sean and Morning. They say the cover up is worse than the lie. We’ll see what kind of effect this has on the relationship and the show.
As predictable as I thought the episode was, at least we have some action. Something has actually happened. Beverly has slept with Matt LeBlanc. I do not think that Beverly and Sean can survive this, much less the show, Pucks!. I think Episodes may have gone to the well too early. In Beverly’s verbal accosting of Matt she tells him that he’s ruined the show because, “everyone knows you’re going to get her in the sack eventually.” She of course was talking about the inevitability of his character getting together with Morning’s, but we’ll cross apply that statement to the show Episodes. I hope the writers have a way of making the inevitability I saw about Beverly getting with Matt not be the death of Episodes. Though I’m not so sure if I’ll be crushed.
Other thoughts:
-If Merc is self aware, I’d like that. I think he knows the show is crap. So I hope we get to see the Lincoln’s struggle to get the show back to prominence. And in doing so, they get back to the show’s original heart.
-Matt being introspective about the show is nice. It’s what the show needs. We can’t forget that he’s playing himself and how interesting of a dynamic it is that he’s so self aware. But, let’s not forget that he did work in how big of a penis he has to sub in for all the self deprecating humor.
-The guard at the gate of the Lincoln’s neighborhood is a good recurring joke.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Episodes - 2/6/2011 Review
“Nobody stopped watching a TV show because a librarian looked too hot” -Roger
Relationships are key to the success of Episodes. We don’t really care so much about the creation of Pucks! as we do about what that process is going to do to the Lincolns. Last week we got to love Matt LeBlanc. We appreciated him despite his faults, but I feel like this week we took two steps back with him. It was as if the writer’s were trying to make him unlikable. Being insensitive with the speaker at the rape convention, endorsing infidelity, telling the young British writer to get out his country. I just didn’t get the point of tearing down his likability.
This episode focused heavily on the LIncoln’s marriage and what Pucks! is doing to it. Beverly has already teased Sean about his captivation with Morning’s breasts, but this week it went one step further. We learned that Sean left his previous wife for Beverly, so there’s precedent for cheating. She’s jealous that he’s going to the wine tasting with Matt, and it turns out that Morning is there too! So even more reason for Beverly to be jealous. At the end of the night LeBlanc and Morning essentially give Sean the opportunity to cheat, but Sean denies...too a point. When he gets home he has the “who else was there” circular argument with his wfie. (Side note: I’ve had this conversation several times, and if you lie at first, the conversation does not end that civilly.) He comes clean and tells her they had a moment, but he declined. She seems a bit bothered, but content, until she catches Sean masturbating to the sex tape of Morning that he learned about from LeBlanc.
I’m not quite sure what we’re supposed to think. Is Sean capable of cheating? He seems to actually love Beverly. Is LeBlanc trying to set up Sean? Or is he just having his back. Is Morning really interested in Sean? She spoke of his brilliance. Or is she just a sexual deviant? With all this going on, I’m curious how it’s going to effect the creation of Pucks!
Other thoughts:
There was a nice exchange betwee Sean and Matt that summarizes the conflict in creating the show. Sean says, “I’m her [Morning] boss. She has to be nice to me.” LeBlanc replies, “I’m not nice to your wife.”
Liked Beverly being so candid with Carol about “making the show worse.” Probably not what you want to say to the producers though.
Seems far fetched for Carol to believe that the only reason Merc won’t leave his wife for her is because she went blind. You’re smarter than that Carol.
Bringing in Andrew Leslie to laugh at where the American version has gone is a good idea. Gives Sean some perspective.
Do you think Sean and Beverly’s marriage will last?
Relationships are key to the success of Episodes. We don’t really care so much about the creation of Pucks! as we do about what that process is going to do to the Lincolns. Last week we got to love Matt LeBlanc. We appreciated him despite his faults, but I feel like this week we took two steps back with him. It was as if the writer’s were trying to make him unlikable. Being insensitive with the speaker at the rape convention, endorsing infidelity, telling the young British writer to get out his country. I just didn’t get the point of tearing down his likability.
This episode focused heavily on the LIncoln’s marriage and what Pucks! is doing to it. Beverly has already teased Sean about his captivation with Morning’s breasts, but this week it went one step further. We learned that Sean left his previous wife for Beverly, so there’s precedent for cheating. She’s jealous that he’s going to the wine tasting with Matt, and it turns out that Morning is there too! So even more reason for Beverly to be jealous. At the end of the night LeBlanc and Morning essentially give Sean the opportunity to cheat, but Sean denies...too a point. When he gets home he has the “who else was there” circular argument with his wfie. (Side note: I’ve had this conversation several times, and if you lie at first, the conversation does not end that civilly.) He comes clean and tells her they had a moment, but he declined. She seems a bit bothered, but content, until she catches Sean masturbating to the sex tape of Morning that he learned about from LeBlanc.
I’m not quite sure what we’re supposed to think. Is Sean capable of cheating? He seems to actually love Beverly. Is LeBlanc trying to set up Sean? Or is he just having his back. Is Morning really interested in Sean? She spoke of his brilliance. Or is she just a sexual deviant? With all this going on, I’m curious how it’s going to effect the creation of Pucks!
Other thoughts:
There was a nice exchange betwee Sean and Matt that summarizes the conflict in creating the show. Sean says, “I’m her [Morning] boss. She has to be nice to me.” LeBlanc replies, “I’m not nice to your wife.”
Liked Beverly being so candid with Carol about “making the show worse.” Probably not what you want to say to the producers though.
Seems far fetched for Carol to believe that the only reason Merc won’t leave his wife for her is because she went blind. You’re smarter than that Carol.
Bringing in Andrew Leslie to laugh at where the American version has gone is a good idea. Gives Sean some perspective.
Do you think Sean and Beverly’s marriage will last?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Episodes Review
Episodes has an inherent struggle. How do you make a show about the creation of a show interesting AND funny? This episode provided the blueprint on how to do that. Less time spent on the creation of show and more time spent developing the relationship between Matt LeBlanc and the Lincolns. The extended scene between the Lincolns and LeBlanc in the bar was perhaps the best scene so far in the show. With LeBlanc getting drunk, he was finally able to voice his opinion on Besty, errrr, Beverly. It really allowed their relationship to grow and the schadenfreude Beverly feels finally allows her to have compassion on Matt and invite him into their home. In order for Episodes to be successful, I think it will rest on the likability of the interactions between Matt and the Lincolns.
This was a very strong Episode for LeBlanc. He played downtrodden drunk with bursts of levity quite well. I especially liked when he was explaining why he lost his kids. It’s a very drunk thing to try and justify your transgressions, so when he exclaimed, “She was already in the house! It shouldn’t have counted!” I had to laugh out loud. I was also moved to laughter when Matt was so candid about the nature of his relationship with Kendra. “We f*ck once in a while.”
Random Thoughts:
You’d think the Lincolns would have a better car than a Mustang.
I hope we stay away from drama about Beverly being jealous of Sean and the attention he gets on the set from women. I don’t buy it.
I miss Kathleen Rose Perkins as Carol already. She was my favorite part of early episodes.
Cup stacking is impressive.
What are your thoughts on Episodes? Is the show moving in a better direction than when it started?
This was a very strong Episode for LeBlanc. He played downtrodden drunk with bursts of levity quite well. I especially liked when he was explaining why he lost his kids. It’s a very drunk thing to try and justify your transgressions, so when he exclaimed, “She was already in the house! It shouldn’t have counted!” I had to laugh out loud. I was also moved to laughter when Matt was so candid about the nature of his relationship with Kendra. “We f*ck once in a while.”
Random Thoughts:
You’d think the Lincolns would have a better car than a Mustang.
I hope we stay away from drama about Beverly being jealous of Sean and the attention he gets on the set from women. I don’t buy it.
I miss Kathleen Rose Perkins as Carol already. She was my favorite part of early episodes.
Cup stacking is impressive.
What are your thoughts on Episodes? Is the show moving in a better direction than when it started?
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday Night TV - 1/23/11
Big Love
The lesson this week is more Barb, Nikki and Margene and less of Bill is a good thing. The relationships between the sister wives has always been the more compelling that whatever scheme Bill is working on. Bill gets to run around and stir up a hornets nest but it's his wives that have to suffer the stings. Barb's walk on the wild side, well the wild side for a Mormon housewife, has been refreshing and a much needed turn for her character. As viewers we've been deprived her story. The story of how Bill re-embracing the principle after many years of marriage has affected her as a woman and her relationships with her family. We knew her family disapproved and relationships were strained but the scars never seemed to be revealed.
Equally refreshing is the maturation of Nikki. She was always too much of a two dimensional character, petulant and predictable in her stubbornness. Now that she is raising her teenage daughter and has turned her back on Juniper Creek, she is evolving into a more complete character ready to reveal the damage growing up on a polygamist compound has done.
I'm of the opinion that Margene should take Bill up on his offer to let her leave the family. One thing the last two seasons have revealed is that She is not going to be happy long term kept in her cage raising kids and waiting for Bill to come home. Her personality is too big for that life and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for her to go on a self realization journey with Ana.
One more item, we need more Alby. No one brings the creepy like him and we need that.
Californication
This weeks episode had two highlights. First we found out producer Stu Beggs is "rich as fuck and hung like a moose." Then the episode closes with Hank finally getting around to writing the "Fucking & Punching" screenplay. In between was a collection of disjointed, out of character scenes that really took us no where.
There is no denying Hank is a poon chasing dog but he does possess a certain integrity that makes him using an assumed suicide attempt to get back into Karen's good graces unbelievable. I think Karen has become a huge problem for the writers. She should have been written off the show after season two but for whatever reason continues to hang around LA. I understand the convenience having a plot tool of you're lead character hung up on his "sole mate" is, but has Karen ever done anything to show us why Hank would be obsessed with her? And having a child together isn't enough. There's very little chemistry between the two. She has yet to reveal a quality about her character that would draw a dynamic person like Hank to her. And worst of all, she's just boring. With the series being picked up for a fifth season, I'm hoping season four finds a way to finally put the death knell in the Hank/Karen relationship.
Episodes
The good news is that each episode has improved on the one before it. The bad news is that Episodes still isn't a good show. I haven't checked my "all holidays" calendar but Sunday must have been Big Dick Day on Showtime. Not only did we find out about Stu Beggs moose like qualities on Californication but much of this week's Episodes revolved around what the Lord has blessed Matt LeBlanc with in penis department. I do know it's going to take more than LeBlanc's giant cock to keep me tuning in past next week. I've been more patient with Episodes than I probably should have but the show is looking like a lost cause at this point. Tune in next week for the funeral.
Shameless
Hey a really enjoyable episode. That's different. Frank still doesn't offer much more than a catalyst to start fires for Fiona to put out but if that's what the character is, I'm OK with that. I just wish they weren't wasting a talent like William H. Macy to fill that role. Lip and Ian continue to be the most interesting on all the Gallagher clan with Ian revealing to a girl at school he's gay. Unfortunately for Lip that revelation came too late to save him a beating at the hands of the Milkovich brothers.
The Aunt Ginger stuff brought a nice bit of levity to a sometimes depressing household and gave Debbie a place in the episode. It was important to get to know Debbie a little before next week's episode when she apparently steals a baby from somewhere.
This was the first week there weren't lulls where I was bored with what I was watching. Hopefully, things will continue looking up in the weeks to come.
The lesson this week is more Barb, Nikki and Margene and less of Bill is a good thing. The relationships between the sister wives has always been the more compelling that whatever scheme Bill is working on. Bill gets to run around and stir up a hornets nest but it's his wives that have to suffer the stings. Barb's walk on the wild side, well the wild side for a Mormon housewife, has been refreshing and a much needed turn for her character. As viewers we've been deprived her story. The story of how Bill re-embracing the principle after many years of marriage has affected her as a woman and her relationships with her family. We knew her family disapproved and relationships were strained but the scars never seemed to be revealed.
Equally refreshing is the maturation of Nikki. She was always too much of a two dimensional character, petulant and predictable in her stubbornness. Now that she is raising her teenage daughter and has turned her back on Juniper Creek, she is evolving into a more complete character ready to reveal the damage growing up on a polygamist compound has done.
I'm of the opinion that Margene should take Bill up on his offer to let her leave the family. One thing the last two seasons have revealed is that She is not going to be happy long term kept in her cage raising kids and waiting for Bill to come home. Her personality is too big for that life and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for her to go on a self realization journey with Ana.
One more item, we need more Alby. No one brings the creepy like him and we need that.
Californication
This weeks episode had two highlights. First we found out producer Stu Beggs is "rich as fuck and hung like a moose." Then the episode closes with Hank finally getting around to writing the "Fucking & Punching" screenplay. In between was a collection of disjointed, out of character scenes that really took us no where.
There is no denying Hank is a poon chasing dog but he does possess a certain integrity that makes him using an assumed suicide attempt to get back into Karen's good graces unbelievable. I think Karen has become a huge problem for the writers. She should have been written off the show after season two but for whatever reason continues to hang around LA. I understand the convenience having a plot tool of you're lead character hung up on his "sole mate" is, but has Karen ever done anything to show us why Hank would be obsessed with her? And having a child together isn't enough. There's very little chemistry between the two. She has yet to reveal a quality about her character that would draw a dynamic person like Hank to her. And worst of all, she's just boring. With the series being picked up for a fifth season, I'm hoping season four finds a way to finally put the death knell in the Hank/Karen relationship.
Episodes
The good news is that each episode has improved on the one before it. The bad news is that Episodes still isn't a good show. I haven't checked my "all holidays" calendar but Sunday must have been Big Dick Day on Showtime. Not only did we find out about Stu Beggs moose like qualities on Californication but much of this week's Episodes revolved around what the Lord has blessed Matt LeBlanc with in penis department. I do know it's going to take more than LeBlanc's giant cock to keep me tuning in past next week. I've been more patient with Episodes than I probably should have but the show is looking like a lost cause at this point. Tune in next week for the funeral.
Shameless
Hey a really enjoyable episode. That's different. Frank still doesn't offer much more than a catalyst to start fires for Fiona to put out but if that's what the character is, I'm OK with that. I just wish they weren't wasting a talent like William H. Macy to fill that role. Lip and Ian continue to be the most interesting on all the Gallagher clan with Ian revealing to a girl at school he's gay. Unfortunately for Lip that revelation came too late to save him a beating at the hands of the Milkovich brothers.
The Aunt Ginger stuff brought a nice bit of levity to a sometimes depressing household and gave Debbie a place in the episode. It was important to get to know Debbie a little before next week's episode when she apparently steals a baby from somewhere.
This was the first week there weren't lulls where I was bored with what I was watching. Hopefully, things will continue looking up in the weeks to come.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday Night TV - 1/17/11
Shameless
So episode 2 is our real introduction to Frank. He likes to drink. He doesn't like his sons. He's OK with his daughters and he really hates Canada. What we also learn is that even though he's a giant dirtbag, his kids still love their father and even though he makes their lives exponentially harder, they turn west Chicago upside down trying to make sure he's OK. Most of all what we learned is the lengths Frank will go to be taken care of and to continue his plush disability check to disability check lifestyle. He moved in with Sheila (Joan Cusack) and that length appeared to be about 9 inches in a most uncomfortable place. Steve was taught a lesson about coming between Fiona and her family and sorry douche but stealing a minivan for her doesn't make up for kidnapping her dad and dumping him in Toronto. I personally would have been happy to see Fiona give Steve the boot all together but I suppose he'll make his way back into her life and we'll all have to put up with him in the weeks to come. Hey maybe that cop friend of Fiona's can take care of that problem for us.
Californication
Not much really happened this week besides some pill and alcohol induced reflection by Hank and we met Rob Lowe's character Eddie Nero who's slated to play Hank in the movie version of Fucking & Punching. So, what did we learn from this week's episode? Not much. Hank is still ruled by his dick, Runkle is up to fifteen women and Rob Lowe likes to dress up as Brad Pitt. We did finally see Hank feel some remorse for the disappointment and embarrassment he's brought his daughter. I thought Hank's line about wanting Harvey Keitel to play him because Harvey likes to show his dong on screen was fantastic since David Duchovny is a notorious on screen dong swinger.
Big Love
So I decided to stick it out with Big Love because this is the last season and I've made it this far. Fortunately, it looks like I may be rewarded for my loyalty. There's no questioning last season was bad. It was more than bad it was god awful. The whole Bill going down to Mexico and rescuing his family in a blaze of glory nearly forced me to cancel my season pass. In their final season it looks like the show is going back to its core principles by focusing on the family and Bill's fight to live the principle. Gone is the casino, JJ's weird gyno son and just about all remnants of last season's bizzaro world. In comes Barb trying new things like drinking, in comes Nicki bullying ten year old boys and a new group of other polygamists who have been living the principle in secret just like the Hendricksons. We finally saw Bill hit with a bit of humility when he realized the pain and feelings of betrayal he's brought upon the people in his life. Even with this bit of humble pie Bill's still the biggest self righteous gas bag on television but it seems at the state house he may no longer be the biggest fish in his pond.
Episodes
I have to say ep. 2 was much better than the first but still not good enough to inspire me to set a season pass yet. Matt LeBlanc played a very capable TV star Matt LeBlanc with all the typical over sexed, pampered star cliches. Hopefully we've seen just about the last of Myra and Andy. The characters are horribly done and continue to clog up the screen with stale unfunny quips. The bit with Merc's blind wife could have been funny if it had been a bit more subtle but I don't think subtlety is in the plans for this show. The seeds of what will undoubtedly be the main tension of the show were planted this week. Sean is obviously embracing the LA lifestyle and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get their show on the air. While Beverly will continue to fight against LA, the network, body image issues and Matt. At the current pace Episodes probably has two more chances to build momentum and sell me on it. With as crowded as Sunday night is you've got to better than this to crack the DVR lineup.
So episode 2 is our real introduction to Frank. He likes to drink. He doesn't like his sons. He's OK with his daughters and he really hates Canada. What we also learn is that even though he's a giant dirtbag, his kids still love their father and even though he makes their lives exponentially harder, they turn west Chicago upside down trying to make sure he's OK. Most of all what we learned is the lengths Frank will go to be taken care of and to continue his plush disability check to disability check lifestyle. He moved in with Sheila (Joan Cusack) and that length appeared to be about 9 inches in a most uncomfortable place. Steve was taught a lesson about coming between Fiona and her family and sorry douche but stealing a minivan for her doesn't make up for kidnapping her dad and dumping him in Toronto. I personally would have been happy to see Fiona give Steve the boot all together but I suppose he'll make his way back into her life and we'll all have to put up with him in the weeks to come. Hey maybe that cop friend of Fiona's can take care of that problem for us.Californication
Not much really happened this week besides some pill and alcohol induced reflection by Hank and we met Rob Lowe's character Eddie Nero who's slated to play Hank in the movie version of Fucking & Punching. So, what did we learn from this week's episode? Not much. Hank is still ruled by his dick, Runkle is up to fifteen women and Rob Lowe likes to dress up as Brad Pitt. We did finally see Hank feel some remorse for the disappointment and embarrassment he's brought his daughter. I thought Hank's line about wanting Harvey Keitel to play him because Harvey likes to show his dong on screen was fantastic since David Duchovny is a notorious on screen dong swinger.Big Love
So I decided to stick it out with Big Love because this is the last season and I've made it this far. Fortunately, it looks like I may be rewarded for my loyalty. There's no questioning last season was bad. It was more than bad it was god awful. The whole Bill going down to Mexico and rescuing his family in a blaze of glory nearly forced me to cancel my season pass. In their final season it looks like the show is going back to its core principles by focusing on the family and Bill's fight to live the principle. Gone is the casino, JJ's weird gyno son and just about all remnants of last season's bizzaro world. In comes Barb trying new things like drinking, in comes Nicki bullying ten year old boys and a new group of other polygamists who have been living the principle in secret just like the Hendricksons. We finally saw Bill hit with a bit of humility when he realized the pain and feelings of betrayal he's brought upon the people in his life. Even with this bit of humble pie Bill's still the biggest self righteous gas bag on television but it seems at the state house he may no longer be the biggest fish in his pond. Episodes
I have to say ep. 2 was much better than the first but still not good enough to inspire me to set a season pass yet. Matt LeBlanc played a very capable TV star Matt LeBlanc with all the typical over sexed, pampered star cliches. Hopefully we've seen just about the last of Myra and Andy. The characters are horribly done and continue to clog up the screen with stale unfunny quips. The bit with Merc's blind wife could have been funny if it had been a bit more subtle but I don't think subtlety is in the plans for this show. The seeds of what will undoubtedly be the main tension of the show were planted this week. Sean is obviously embracing the LA lifestyle and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to get their show on the air. While Beverly will continue to fight against LA, the network, body image issues and Matt. At the current pace Episodes probably has two more chances to build momentum and sell me on it. With as crowded as Sunday night is you've got to better than this to crack the DVR lineup.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Shameless-ly Lights Out Episodes
As the calendar flipped from 2010 and we all mourned the loss of Terriers and Rubicon, 2011 arrived and brought us a brand new batch of shows to love and then see unceremoniously canceled before their time. Well some of them will just be put out of their misery or our misery depending on your point of view.
Sunday kicked off a the new season for Showtime including two new shows to bookend every red blooded man's favorite Californication, Shameless and Episodes. Shamelesss the hour long drama about a tight-nit group of siblings struggling to keep the lights on and their dead beat drunk dad off the floor. Episodes is the new half hour Matt LeBlanc vehicle about an English TV writing couple who move to LA to adapt their series for American television and have Matt LeBlanc forced upon them by the network.
On Tuesday FX brought us Lights Out, the new boxing drama to love and hate for all the same reasons we love and hate every boxing drama. Holt McCallany plays Patrick "Lights" Leary a former heavyweight champ who five years in to retirement finds himself broke. With three kids, a mortgage and a wife in med school, what's an old fighter to do but put everything on the line for that one last big purse.
Shameless
The Good
I guess Emmy Rossum was a star before this show, she was in Day After Tomorrow and The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't see either movie so she was a refreshing new face to me. And what a new face it is. Five minutes in and it's obvious she's the real star of the show. I liked brothers Lip and Ian a lot too. There's definitely room for fun and tension between these two. Lip is the schemer of the two and the only family member that knows Ian is gay. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind further exploits these two find themselves in. A dad catching you getting a hummer from his daughter under the dinning room table was quite a start.
The Bad
William H. Macy's Frank was a little too much caricature and not enough character. I think he was supposed to provide a little levity to a depressing situation but came off as over the top and rather pathetic. I don't get the Steve character at all. You have a poor Chicago family based in the realities of the lower class and then you throw in a character out of 'Gone in 60 Seconds' complete with his own slow motion action scene.
Wishful Thinking
I want to see the kids and especially Fiona deal with the realities of her dead beat father. There has to be resentment and buried hatred for what he's done to her and the family towards Frank. At some point, Fiona has to deal with what she's lost by having to be a mother to all these other kids. I really don't care what happens between her and Steve in the future. The less we see of him the better as far as I'm concerned. I hope to see William H. Macy get to develop this character and add a greater level of depth than we got to see in the first episode. I was excited by what I saw from the previews for the upcoming season and I'm looking forward seeing where this goes.
Episodes
The Good
The Brits had good English accents? It was good to see John Pankow in something. I thought the guy had falling off the Earth since playing Michael J. Fox's buddy Fred Melrose in The Secret of My Success. The first episode was just about as boring as its lead characters.
The Bad
It was dreadfully boring. LA jokes are easy and old. The network supporting characters were the same tired cliches we've seen a thousand times. Crickets lots and lots of crickets.
Wishful Thinking
I'm going to give it another episode before I flush it because the "star" of the show Matt LeBlanc doesn't show up until the next episode. And yes that's how boring the premiere was. We're hoping Matt LeBlanc can save it.
Lights Out
The Good
Holt McCallany owned the role of Lights Leary. Aside from him being a white heavyweight, I had no doubt that he was a retired boxing champ. The boxing scenes, limited number of them there was, were already better than the scenes from The Fighter. Pablo Schreiber and Stacy Keach are both nice as Leary's brother/manager and father respectively. The premiere was mostly spent setting up the back story and issues Leary will have to confront as he gets ready to get back into the ring after a five year layoff.
The Bad
Was it impossible to find an American actress to play Leary's wife. Or at least someone who wouldn't constantly butcher a New York, American or whatever accent she was trying to do. I've never been a Catherine McCormack fan and she's done nothing so far on Lights Out to change that. The story is cliche. Ok it's more than cliche it's basically the only retired boxing champ story there is.
Wishful Thinking
Boxing stories build drama naturally. You're capturing two men who are stepping into an arena to battle one another. As long as the cast delivers solid performances and the director doesn't run the ship aground this series should be a keeper.
Sunday kicked off a the new season for Showtime including two new shows to bookend every red blooded man's favorite Californication, Shameless and Episodes. Shamelesss the hour long drama about a tight-nit group of siblings struggling to keep the lights on and their dead beat drunk dad off the floor. Episodes is the new half hour Matt LeBlanc vehicle about an English TV writing couple who move to LA to adapt their series for American television and have Matt LeBlanc forced upon them by the network.
On Tuesday FX brought us Lights Out, the new boxing drama to love and hate for all the same reasons we love and hate every boxing drama. Holt McCallany plays Patrick "Lights" Leary a former heavyweight champ who five years in to retirement finds himself broke. With three kids, a mortgage and a wife in med school, what's an old fighter to do but put everything on the line for that one last big purse.
The Good
I guess Emmy Rossum was a star before this show, she was in Day After Tomorrow and The Phantom of the Opera. I didn't see either movie so she was a refreshing new face to me. And what a new face it is. Five minutes in and it's obvious she's the real star of the show. I liked brothers Lip and Ian a lot too. There's definitely room for fun and tension between these two. Lip is the schemer of the two and the only family member that knows Ian is gay. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind further exploits these two find themselves in. A dad catching you getting a hummer from his daughter under the dinning room table was quite a start.
The Bad
William H. Macy's Frank was a little too much caricature and not enough character. I think he was supposed to provide a little levity to a depressing situation but came off as over the top and rather pathetic. I don't get the Steve character at all. You have a poor Chicago family based in the realities of the lower class and then you throw in a character out of 'Gone in 60 Seconds' complete with his own slow motion action scene.
Wishful Thinking
I want to see the kids and especially Fiona deal with the realities of her dead beat father. There has to be resentment and buried hatred for what he's done to her and the family towards Frank. At some point, Fiona has to deal with what she's lost by having to be a mother to all these other kids. I really don't care what happens between her and Steve in the future. The less we see of him the better as far as I'm concerned. I hope to see William H. Macy get to develop this character and add a greater level of depth than we got to see in the first episode. I was excited by what I saw from the previews for the upcoming season and I'm looking forward seeing where this goes.
The Good
The Brits had good English accents? It was good to see John Pankow in something. I thought the guy had falling off the Earth since playing Michael J. Fox's buddy Fred Melrose in The Secret of My Success. The first episode was just about as boring as its lead characters.
The Bad
It was dreadfully boring. LA jokes are easy and old. The network supporting characters were the same tired cliches we've seen a thousand times. Crickets lots and lots of crickets.
Wishful Thinking
I'm going to give it another episode before I flush it because the "star" of the show Matt LeBlanc doesn't show up until the next episode. And yes that's how boring the premiere was. We're hoping Matt LeBlanc can save it.
The Good
Holt McCallany owned the role of Lights Leary. Aside from him being a white heavyweight, I had no doubt that he was a retired boxing champ. The boxing scenes, limited number of them there was, were already better than the scenes from The Fighter. Pablo Schreiber and Stacy Keach are both nice as Leary's brother/manager and father respectively. The premiere was mostly spent setting up the back story and issues Leary will have to confront as he gets ready to get back into the ring after a five year layoff.
The Bad
Was it impossible to find an American actress to play Leary's wife. Or at least someone who wouldn't constantly butcher a New York, American or whatever accent she was trying to do. I've never been a Catherine McCormack fan and she's done nothing so far on Lights Out to change that. The story is cliche. Ok it's more than cliche it's basically the only retired boxing champ story there is.
Wishful Thinking
Boxing stories build drama naturally. You're capturing two men who are stepping into an arena to battle one another. As long as the cast delivers solid performances and the director doesn't run the ship aground this series should be a keeper.
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