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Trench warfare and bayonets
I think I've figured out why I haven't caught up with The Mentalist yet. I think its because I'm subconsciously resentful that The Mentalist got a strong viewership and became such an instant success while Life was not renewed.
Its not The Mentalist's fault, in fact I do like it. Also, Simon Baker is pretty so plus points there but... *sigh* there's this part of me where I'm feeling resentful The Mentalist got it so easy while my show struggled.
Although, I don't know why I seem to have an easier time with Castle.
--
Burn Notice the USA summer show, now that Life's been gutted I'm really embracing Burn Notice, not that I haven't before. Last season was a game changer for Burn Notice, Michael finally met with the people who burned him and jumped off a helicopter to tell them what he thought of their offer.
Instead of looking for the people who burned him and the reasons why, Michael is going to have his hands full fending off his old enemies. Alan Sepinwall has a very interesting interview with Matt Nix, the creator of Burn Notice here
Friends and Families
There were some awesome moments here although, for me it sort of fell a little flat. I haven't re-watched it so I can't put my finger on what's been bugging me but it fell a little flat. I will say one thing, the cast keeps getting better and better.
I like the integration of Madeline and the conflicts she introduces to the series and its something they've done right. One of the reasons why I haven't touched the second season of In Plain Sight is because of how much I disliked Mary's family, particularly her mother. The inclusion of Mary's family never brought anything to the table other than take time away from Mary & Marshall.
That's not the case with Madeline. Yes, she could make Michael's life more interesting than it needs to be but you could also see genuine care for Michael.
The twist in this episode where Michael meets up with an old friend who betrays him could have been interesting but I don't think the guest actor really gelled with the team. It does bring up interesting parallels between the ops guy and Michael.
Questions and Answers
This episode was a return to form and quite a form it is. One thing I've always liked about Burn Notice is how the writers are able to figure out what works and what doesn't work. I notice this in Fiona, I was lukewarm towards Fiona in the first season but came to like her a great deal in the second season and, premature as this maybe, but I think they're doing a better Fiona this season.
My main thing about Fi in the first season was I didn't know what to think of her relationship with Michael but by the second half of season 2 I've come to love not only Fiona but also her relationship with Michael. This seems to carry through to this season and I think the writers finally have a greater handle on the relationship.
Fi's frustration with Michael's need to re-enter the intelligence community is understandable and I like (as per the interview and the episode) that the writers seem to be addressing how problematic it could be for Michael to return to his old job. Especially considering how much he's changed since then.
He isn't a will-o' the wisp kind of wanderer anymore like Carla said last season: he's put down roots.
Also, this episode continues the trend regarding Fi's crazy awesomeness. I love that her idea of a peaceful meditation technique (and boy, did that remind me of Charlie in Serious Control Issues) is drowning the kidnapper in a stream and hitting him with a rock. Oh, Fi!
I also liked the guest actors here, they played it really well and I've seen the husband in several TV shows and he always played the wuss. I was pleasantly surprised to see him play against type here.
This episode was also the premiere of Moon Bloodgood's Detective Paxson. She brings in an interesting conflict for Michael. The police has become more of a problem now that the Management has taken him off their protective veil. I liked Moon Bloodgood well enough but when I learned that Jennifer Esposito was supposed to play Paxson I had a pang of: 'Oh, wow, she would have been *so* much better.'
I also liked the continuing thread where Michael avoids the use of torture and relays on outwitting and psyching out his opponent instead. And his reasoning is sound: there's a high probability you'll only get what you want to hear when you torture somebody.
One of the aspects about the relationship between Fiona and Michael is that now they seem to be on even ground. Before we knew Fi liked Michael and Mike does seem to care about Fi but there was also this distance between them and Mike has always been skittish but the episode after Hot Spot (where the gang dressed up as oh-so cool Reservoir Dog type gang) we see how much Fiona means to Michael. And *this* time it's Fi who's skittish about Michael, this year they seem to be playing on an even playing field but they still have things to work through.
Its why I adored Fi giving Michael the bayonet and saying: 'Someone once told me caring for you is like fighting a trench war. I thought you should arm yourself.'
--
I loved reading Sepinwall's interview with Matt Nix. Its a real shame Sepinwall never interviewed Rand before it was gutted.
I always love reading the process behind the stories I enjoy and this was no different. I liked Matt admitted where they were weak and how they learned along the way. Reading the interview is also instructive because it can help anyone wanting to write Burn Notice fic.
Matt admitted that it took them a while to get a handle on Fiona and that it took them until the second season to realize what worked for Fi and it definitely shows. I also like that they're addressing the issue about Mike still wanting in with his old job. But what I like is reading about how they slowly realized what worked and what didn't and they recognized that season 2 worked much better than the first, particularly the second half of the season.
Burn Notice has built up a solid world where recurring character enter and exit Michael & Co.'s lives. Its not just a random cast of characters appearing on his doorstep and that ties in the sense of believing the world Michael operates in.
This is something I lament regarding Life. Season 2 Life was a patchwork for me. Dropping plotlines and including storylines that, in the long run, did nothing for the series. I mourn the way they dropped the storylines for Constance, Davis, Jen and Jack Reese. Particularly Jack Reese's storyline with Reese, which I thought would have made Reese and Life a whole lot more complex and richer. Instead, a storyline about Reese's affair took center stage.
It could have been interesting if they added more of Jack Reese in the story and his relationship with Dani, there was a whole potential there to be mind instead they backed away. I think it was a mistake especially considering that Fathers was a pretty big theme during the second season.
Thinking on it now, I can't help feel an uncomfortable feeling that the reason they did that is because they felt it would bring attention away from Charlie. That they dropped the storyline because the writers felt that Reese would be take most of the screen time and to which, I ask, what's wrong with that?
Do they not trust Sarah Shahi? Or didn't they have enough trust in themselves to tackle both storylines? They did it well in the first season and the second season was... it was what it was.
I suspect the reason for this is part NBC meddling and part writers leaving Life. I know Rand wrote most of the episodes in season 1 but I think it helped that he also had input from such people like Rafael Alvarez (one of the writers of The Wire and Laurie Arent (writer for Serious Control Issues).
Oh, wow, look at that seems I haven't changed. I still ended talking about Life.
Its not The Mentalist's fault, in fact I do like it. Also, Simon Baker is pretty so plus points there but... *sigh* there's this part of me where I'm feeling resentful The Mentalist got it so easy while my show struggled.
Although, I don't know why I seem to have an easier time with Castle.
--
Burn Notice the USA summer show, now that Life's been gutted I'm really embracing Burn Notice, not that I haven't before. Last season was a game changer for Burn Notice, Michael finally met with the people who burned him and jumped off a helicopter to tell them what he thought of their offer.
Instead of looking for the people who burned him and the reasons why, Michael is going to have his hands full fending off his old enemies. Alan Sepinwall has a very interesting interview with Matt Nix, the creator of Burn Notice here
Friends and Families
There were some awesome moments here although, for me it sort of fell a little flat. I haven't re-watched it so I can't put my finger on what's been bugging me but it fell a little flat. I will say one thing, the cast keeps getting better and better.
I like the integration of Madeline and the conflicts she introduces to the series and its something they've done right. One of the reasons why I haven't touched the second season of In Plain Sight is because of how much I disliked Mary's family, particularly her mother. The inclusion of Mary's family never brought anything to the table other than take time away from Mary & Marshall.
That's not the case with Madeline. Yes, she could make Michael's life more interesting than it needs to be but you could also see genuine care for Michael.
The twist in this episode where Michael meets up with an old friend who betrays him could have been interesting but I don't think the guest actor really gelled with the team. It does bring up interesting parallels between the ops guy and Michael.
Questions and Answers
This episode was a return to form and quite a form it is. One thing I've always liked about Burn Notice is how the writers are able to figure out what works and what doesn't work. I notice this in Fiona, I was lukewarm towards Fiona in the first season but came to like her a great deal in the second season and, premature as this maybe, but I think they're doing a better Fiona this season.
My main thing about Fi in the first season was I didn't know what to think of her relationship with Michael but by the second half of season 2 I've come to love not only Fiona but also her relationship with Michael. This seems to carry through to this season and I think the writers finally have a greater handle on the relationship.
Fi's frustration with Michael's need to re-enter the intelligence community is understandable and I like (as per the interview and the episode) that the writers seem to be addressing how problematic it could be for Michael to return to his old job. Especially considering how much he's changed since then.
He isn't a will-o' the wisp kind of wanderer anymore like Carla said last season: he's put down roots.
Also, this episode continues the trend regarding Fi's crazy awesomeness. I love that her idea of a peaceful meditation technique (and boy, did that remind me of Charlie in Serious Control Issues) is drowning the kidnapper in a stream and hitting him with a rock. Oh, Fi!
I also liked the guest actors here, they played it really well and I've seen the husband in several TV shows and he always played the wuss. I was pleasantly surprised to see him play against type here.
This episode was also the premiere of Moon Bloodgood's Detective Paxson. She brings in an interesting conflict for Michael. The police has become more of a problem now that the Management has taken him off their protective veil. I liked Moon Bloodgood well enough but when I learned that Jennifer Esposito was supposed to play Paxson I had a pang of: 'Oh, wow, she would have been *so* much better.'
I also liked the continuing thread where Michael avoids the use of torture and relays on outwitting and psyching out his opponent instead. And his reasoning is sound: there's a high probability you'll only get what you want to hear when you torture somebody.
One of the aspects about the relationship between Fiona and Michael is that now they seem to be on even ground. Before we knew Fi liked Michael and Mike does seem to care about Fi but there was also this distance between them and Mike has always been skittish but the episode after Hot Spot (where the gang dressed up as oh-so cool Reservoir Dog type gang) we see how much Fiona means to Michael. And *this* time it's Fi who's skittish about Michael, this year they seem to be playing on an even playing field but they still have things to work through.
Its why I adored Fi giving Michael the bayonet and saying: 'Someone once told me caring for you is like fighting a trench war. I thought you should arm yourself.'
--
I loved reading Sepinwall's interview with Matt Nix. Its a real shame Sepinwall never interviewed Rand before it was gutted.
I always love reading the process behind the stories I enjoy and this was no different. I liked Matt admitted where they were weak and how they learned along the way. Reading the interview is also instructive because it can help anyone wanting to write Burn Notice fic.
Matt admitted that it took them a while to get a handle on Fiona and that it took them until the second season to realize what worked for Fi and it definitely shows. I also like that they're addressing the issue about Mike still wanting in with his old job. But what I like is reading about how they slowly realized what worked and what didn't and they recognized that season 2 worked much better than the first, particularly the second half of the season.
Burn Notice has built up a solid world where recurring character enter and exit Michael & Co.'s lives. Its not just a random cast of characters appearing on his doorstep and that ties in the sense of believing the world Michael operates in.
This is something I lament regarding Life. Season 2 Life was a patchwork for me. Dropping plotlines and including storylines that, in the long run, did nothing for the series. I mourn the way they dropped the storylines for Constance, Davis, Jen and Jack Reese. Particularly Jack Reese's storyline with Reese, which I thought would have made Reese and Life a whole lot more complex and richer. Instead, a storyline about Reese's affair took center stage.
It could have been interesting if they added more of Jack Reese in the story and his relationship with Dani, there was a whole potential there to be mind instead they backed away. I think it was a mistake especially considering that Fathers was a pretty big theme during the second season.
Thinking on it now, I can't help feel an uncomfortable feeling that the reason they did that is because they felt it would bring attention away from Charlie. That they dropped the storyline because the writers felt that Reese would be take most of the screen time and to which, I ask, what's wrong with that?
Do they not trust Sarah Shahi? Or didn't they have enough trust in themselves to tackle both storylines? They did it well in the first season and the second season was... it was what it was.
I suspect the reason for this is part NBC meddling and part writers leaving Life. I know Rand wrote most of the episodes in season 1 but I think it helped that he also had input from such people like Rafael Alvarez (one of the writers of The Wire and Laurie Arent (writer for Serious Control Issues).
Oh, wow, look at that seems I haven't changed. I still ended talking about Life.