two reviews and one reaction
Mar. 27th, 2015 07:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shallownessPerson of Interest 3.01 Liberty
The first episode after something happens that you as a viewer think ‘changes everything’ is interesting. The show has to acknowledge what’s happened, but how much changes because of the weekly format?
Well, for season 3, we have expanded and updated credits (I am delighted Acker and Shahi’s names are included as regulars). And then we got to know some of what is going on since the Machine was let loose – still giving Our Heroes numbers, but also the authorities. Sure, Reese caused some chaos and earned an uniformed Carter’s scolding, but Shaw’s entrance was even cooler and better, and Lionel being the driver with a fake beard was perfection. Of course Finch was most irked by her lack of a mobile.
Of course, too, Reese liked the NoTW. No wonder, that line about what he was going to do to the soldier was straight out of Reese’s own playbook. Reese the amused onlooker was one thing, Reese stepping in to take part and getting knocked down to the ground? (Though I had forgotten quite how entertaining this show’s action is.)
And he said they should get everyone in on this, but we knew that probably didn’t mean Zoe or Leon...
Finally, we caught up with Root and her new, complicated relationship with the Machine.
A lot of this episode was on how Shaw can fit into Team Machine – by being very competent (at medical stuff and backing Reese up) and cool, it seems to me. Maybe I’m just showing my biases there, because Carter and Root’s changed situations got a lot of play too. While it’s not good that Carter was demoted, she’s looking good in the off-duty civvies. There was just the right level of exposition for me about Carter and Elias, because I didn’t remember exactly what had happened at the end of season 2. They’re both great actors, so I hope for much more between the characters. And Elias emphasising the point about keeping that a secret from Harold and John is interesting – Reese/Carter shippers would be angsty at this point, because him reaching out to her was definitely a moment. But John, she’s got a secret mission to carry out on her closet’s back wall....
Reese being mean to Lionel was fun. (It probably won’t be after a few more episodes.) Because of my soft spot for Lionel, I did think ‘well, at least they’re trusting him, despite his lack of bomb disposal expertise.’ Um.
Most of what Shaw said and did at the pawn shop shoot out was very badass. For all my levels of affection for the characters on this show, she’s the one I fangirl. (I fangirl enough to ditch a Natasha Romanov icon for, which amuses me, because I’d put her in the same character type that I love, with your Aeryn Suns.)
The use of ‘Feeling Good’ as Elias’s man started financing his boss’s return to power was spot on.
Where I’d been worried about John over-identifying with the NotW all episode, the realisation that he’d been forced to enlist and was able to guide someone like him on a different path was nice. Of course Finch learned this nugget along with the viewers. I don’t think Cavaziel is the best actor on the show, but he can do dry delivery, and ‘I’m a very private person’ to Harold made me grin.
Also, they are shipmates!!! I don’t slash them, but I totally get that their relationship is central to the show’s appeal.
Still, it’s just as interesting that Finch and his shadow self, ‘Robin’ (was that Root’s birth name always? Anyway, it’s a beautiful Batman shout-out) know enough to worry about what’s next. Root ‘truth telling’ to the psychiatrist was a thing of beauty. And the way she called the Machine god (and identified her as female) and thus saw herself as a chosen one was terrible to behold.
Meanwhile, we got to see the Machine’s response to that – which could be read as ambiguous.
Although I have been spoiled for one big thing, I’m looking forward to see where the show takes us this season, because it got the balance right between entertaining action, character stuff and setting up intriguing threads in this opening episode. Better than some other shows I’m watching these days.
The Good Wife 6.9 Sticky Content
I have less to say, although I thought the ep was very good, but I watched it live and couldn’t type up thoughts during the breaks on my computer.
I was with ‘the body woman’ AKA the voice of reason on most of those campaign videos.
Nice balance between Alicia’s box of dirt and Cary’s tape of Bishop talking about his death. The recurring fantasies of Cary getting shot were quite the change from Alicia’s fantasies of people talking about her.
I loved the thing with the dress, because Alicia looked so foxy and was so ready for business in it, and it was this one tiny thing ruining the video. (Apart from the tackiness and the wake music.) How it tied into the whole tangled relationship mess worked well. Really clever and believable that Peter and Ramona had an affair when Alicia was pregnant with Grace. I say clever, because as Alicia had had the affair with Will, Peter having an affair with Ramona now would be nullified (although those later pictures were faked, right?) And then she goes to Finn. And it was for all the wrong reasons, but he was ready for the shift in relationship, but although the repeated gesture with the hand made it mainly about Peter, for me, the elephant in the room in Alicia’s relationship with Finn, even though I think Finn is lovely, is Will. Still. (Especially because of the location.)
And her outburst was the nudge to make Peter cross that line (recross) with Ramona.
The Fifth Wheel band name I was less enamoured of.
I’m not exactly minded to feel that sorry for Lana and her career. She should have some idea of what Kalinda is, and she really is too personally involved to be on this case.
Is Diane wearing the same necklace in every episode these days?
Also, is someone keeping a record of how many units Alicia downs per episode?
And a Robin mention! But no sighting.
As for the news that Downton's sixth series will be its last (are ITV Community fans with the movie talk?), I can only muster up a shrug. I think it would be hard to carry on without Maggie Smith - I'm calling the final episode involving Violet's death and the birth of a child. Fellowes has been running out of steam on several storylines for a bit (as for people who try to have the jumping the shark discussion, I'd say this show has always had its ridiculous moments, it's just that the first series hid them better.) There are certain things I hope are wrapped up. And could Edith please, please, please be happy? Yes, it has become an autumn/winter fixture, and we'll miss it, but nobody will need to pass me a hanky.
The first episode after something happens that you as a viewer think ‘changes everything’ is interesting. The show has to acknowledge what’s happened, but how much changes because of the weekly format?
Well, for season 3, we have expanded and updated credits (I am delighted Acker and Shahi’s names are included as regulars). And then we got to know some of what is going on since the Machine was let loose – still giving Our Heroes numbers, but also the authorities. Sure, Reese caused some chaos and earned an uniformed Carter’s scolding, but Shaw’s entrance was even cooler and better, and Lionel being the driver with a fake beard was perfection. Of course Finch was most irked by her lack of a mobile.
Of course, too, Reese liked the NoTW. No wonder, that line about what he was going to do to the soldier was straight out of Reese’s own playbook. Reese the amused onlooker was one thing, Reese stepping in to take part and getting knocked down to the ground? (Though I had forgotten quite how entertaining this show’s action is.)
And he said they should get everyone in on this, but we knew that probably didn’t mean Zoe or Leon...
Finally, we caught up with Root and her new, complicated relationship with the Machine.
A lot of this episode was on how Shaw can fit into Team Machine – by being very competent (at medical stuff and backing Reese up) and cool, it seems to me. Maybe I’m just showing my biases there, because Carter and Root’s changed situations got a lot of play too. While it’s not good that Carter was demoted, she’s looking good in the off-duty civvies. There was just the right level of exposition for me about Carter and Elias, because I didn’t remember exactly what had happened at the end of season 2. They’re both great actors, so I hope for much more between the characters. And Elias emphasising the point about keeping that a secret from Harold and John is interesting – Reese/Carter shippers would be angsty at this point, because him reaching out to her was definitely a moment. But John, she’s got a secret mission to carry out on her closet’s back wall....
Reese being mean to Lionel was fun. (It probably won’t be after a few more episodes.) Because of my soft spot for Lionel, I did think ‘well, at least they’re trusting him, despite his lack of bomb disposal expertise.’ Um.
Most of what Shaw said and did at the pawn shop shoot out was very badass. For all my levels of affection for the characters on this show, she’s the one I fangirl. (I fangirl enough to ditch a Natasha Romanov icon for, which amuses me, because I’d put her in the same character type that I love, with your Aeryn Suns.)
The use of ‘Feeling Good’ as Elias’s man started financing his boss’s return to power was spot on.
Where I’d been worried about John over-identifying with the NotW all episode, the realisation that he’d been forced to enlist and was able to guide someone like him on a different path was nice. Of course Finch learned this nugget along with the viewers. I don’t think Cavaziel is the best actor on the show, but he can do dry delivery, and ‘I’m a very private person’ to Harold made me grin.
Also, they are shipmates!!! I don’t slash them, but I totally get that their relationship is central to the show’s appeal.
Still, it’s just as interesting that Finch and his shadow self, ‘Robin’ (was that Root’s birth name always? Anyway, it’s a beautiful Batman shout-out) know enough to worry about what’s next. Root ‘truth telling’ to the psychiatrist was a thing of beauty. And the way she called the Machine god (and identified her as female) and thus saw herself as a chosen one was terrible to behold.
Meanwhile, we got to see the Machine’s response to that – which could be read as ambiguous.
Although I have been spoiled for one big thing, I’m looking forward to see where the show takes us this season, because it got the balance right between entertaining action, character stuff and setting up intriguing threads in this opening episode. Better than some other shows I’m watching these days.
The Good Wife 6.9 Sticky Content
I have less to say, although I thought the ep was very good, but I watched it live and couldn’t type up thoughts during the breaks on my computer.
I was with ‘the body woman’ AKA the voice of reason on most of those campaign videos.
Nice balance between Alicia’s box of dirt and Cary’s tape of Bishop talking about his death. The recurring fantasies of Cary getting shot were quite the change from Alicia’s fantasies of people talking about her.
I loved the thing with the dress, because Alicia looked so foxy and was so ready for business in it, and it was this one tiny thing ruining the video. (Apart from the tackiness and the wake music.) How it tied into the whole tangled relationship mess worked well. Really clever and believable that Peter and Ramona had an affair when Alicia was pregnant with Grace. I say clever, because as Alicia had had the affair with Will, Peter having an affair with Ramona now would be nullified (although those later pictures were faked, right?) And then she goes to Finn. And it was for all the wrong reasons, but he was ready for the shift in relationship, but although the repeated gesture with the hand made it mainly about Peter, for me, the elephant in the room in Alicia’s relationship with Finn, even though I think Finn is lovely, is Will. Still. (Especially because of the location.)
And her outburst was the nudge to make Peter cross that line (recross) with Ramona.
The Fifth Wheel band name I was less enamoured of.
I’m not exactly minded to feel that sorry for Lana and her career. She should have some idea of what Kalinda is, and she really is too personally involved to be on this case.
Is Diane wearing the same necklace in every episode these days?
Also, is someone keeping a record of how many units Alicia downs per episode?
And a Robin mention! But no sighting.
As for the news that Downton's sixth series will be its last (are ITV Community fans with the movie talk?), I can only muster up a shrug. I think it would be hard to carry on without Maggie Smith - I'm calling the final episode involving Violet's death and the birth of a child. Fellowes has been running out of steam on several storylines for a bit (as for people who try to have the jumping the shark discussion, I'd say this show has always had its ridiculous moments, it's just that the first series hid them better.) There are certain things I hope are wrapped up. And could Edith please, please, please be happy? Yes, it has become an autumn/winter fixture, and we'll miss it, but nobody will need to pass me a hanky.
