Friday, January 8, 2010

Castle - One Man's Treasure, S02E10

The quality of the crime investigation plot lines of Castle (as opposed to the personal relationship plot lines) is based on misdirection. There are very few episodes of any crime show where the murderer is not introduced at some point before the truth is discovered, sometimes as a suspect, and sometimes as a minor witness, almost forgotten.

In One Man's Treasure, the misdirection was not about laying the blame at the feet of one suspect so that another would go unnoticed, as was the case in episode 9 of this season, but to direct the focus of the crime towards the personal relationships of the victim rather than his work.
When a man is murdered, both his wife and his fiancée show up to identify the body. Naturally, the suspicion is that someone discovered his deception and murdered him out of vengeance. Abigail Spencer, whom you may know as the obsessive school teacher on Mad Men, played the wounded fiancée with an equally obsessive fervor. She masked her role of preventing the victim from performing corporate espionage by being the distraught wronged woman in love with a man who lied about being married.

The poor wife, who could not believe what her husband had done, suffered the persisting interference of a woman who did not actually care but was trying to recover corporate secrets. In the end, she learnt that her husband loved her and died protecting the environment, but the roller coaster of her emotions, which were elegantly portrayed, makes the fake fiancée quite the bitch.

In the end, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) sifted through all the information and worked out who was doing what to whom, and with all the misdirection, I was not able to work out the motive or the murderer any faster than they were. Kudos for that, and also for making an episode that, while punny as always, focused more on the crime and the victims than it did on the ongoing character development of Beckett and her police force and Castle and his family.

Castle - Love Me Dead, S02E09

Corruption, prostitute rings, and secrets are often the make up of great storylines. Such was the case of the 9th episode of season 2 of Castle.

Despite various warnings throughout the episode that people are not always what they seem - mostly to increase the worry of a fretful Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) in regards to a secret his daughter, Alexis (Molly C. Quinn), was keeping from him, I did not pick up on who the brains behind the killings was until the end reveal.

The story began with an allusion to Cape Fear, a DA was found murdered, thrown off a parking garage, and Castle was convinced that the murderer would be found in the files of the criminals that DA had previously put in jail. A known set up, which I'm sure the writers could have gone with to make a good story.

Instead, they took a different route. Our paragon of justice, the murdered DA, was apparently also a pimp. Responsible for a ring of call girls, his death was the result of a take over by his enforcer. Sifting through the information, Beckett (Stana Katic) and Castle are able to build a case against Knox, the enforcer and murderer of the DA, with the help of a hapless call girl, Scarlett (Michaela McManus). Though scared for her life, she reveals that Knox faked his alibi.

Scarlett had Castle utterly convinced of her vulnerability, and when Knox kidnapped her, Castle and Beckett came to the rescue, just in time for Scarlett to kill Knox, protecting herself. As she collapsed to the floor in shock, the performance seemed genuine. She appeared truly frightened and unable to comprehend the events that brought her to the point where she had to take a man's life.

Despite her brilliant acting, certain mistakes she made in the staging of the kidnapping were revealed, and Beckett and a disappointed Castle arrested her.

We all want so much to believe in the goodness of people, that a DA is completely law-abiding, that call girls all really hope to become lawyers and came to their present situations through tragedy, that people are what they seem and what they present to us. But one must face the facts, and if the facts say that someone is a criminal and their story is false, it doesn't matter how good their story is. Though, of course, it might still get published.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Republic of Doyle - Pilot: Fathers and Sons, S01E01

Wow! A Canadian show that is fun, entertaining, and solid enough that it deserves your viewing.

Compared to American shows, Canadian ones, no matter how well conceived, often miss the bar, but Republic of Doyle surpasses expectations. I know, I know, the title may seem a little silly, and it's hard to imagine that another cop-type show has a place in your television viewing schedule, so let me convince you.

Republic of Doyle takes place in Newfoundland, with very recognizable landmarks if you are a Newf (I am not, but had the pleasure of watching the show with one). Never having been to Newfoundland myself, I was surprised to see how much it reminded me of Ireland, and combining that with the Newfinese accents, the show picks up a local Canadian flavour that will have you chuckling along with it. In the pilot, two men from Alberta have arrived, and they are oh so recognizable in the cowboy hats, with which they never seem to part. But don't worry, our heroes see how obvious it is and make fun of it.

And our heroes are really the reason to watch. Jake Doyle (played by Newfoundland local Allan Hawco) and his father Malachy (Sean McGinley) are a team of private investigators. As they pursue their investigations, the shenanigans they get themselves speak both to their natures and their talents. Malachy is a former cop, still capable, but a little older and slower than he once was. Jake is a hot-head; if he's in for an inch, he's in for a mile. And though their methods are not exactly orthodox (and where would the fun be if they were), they still know their business and get the job done.

The entire future of the show rests on Allan Hawco's shoulders. As Jake, he has to seduce and charm the audience while continuing to be rash and getting himself into trouble believably. He is capable of doing it.

The pilot was entertaining, the Newfinese delightful, and the characters left me wanting more, so my advice to you is to go check out this show because we could just have a Canadian hit on our hands, and then you'll have to tell me whether you want Jake to end up with his wife...ex-wife...woman he's divorcing, Nikki (played by Rachel Wilson whom you may remember from Breaker High) or the hot new constable, Leslie (Krystin Pellerin). Let me know!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Good Wife - Infamy, S01E11

We are in January and shows are back after the Christmas break, starting with the highly acclaimed The Good Wife. Despite the ever increasing expectations, this show continues to deliver with interesting court cases, unique moments, and an intriguing conspiracy.

The last episode before the break (which I blogged about yesterday), had nothing to do with Peter Florrick (Chris Noth) and the reasons he finds himself in jail, and, at first, Infamy seemed equally directed elsewhere. Alicia (Julianna Margulies), although interested in a slander case which she had been preparing for two months, was sidetracked to consult on a divorce case. As she sat in the office with the lawyer and would-be divorcee, her attention was distracted by the shenanigans of the accused reporter bursting into what was supposed to be a settlement in a conference room across the hall. The divorce case had no interest for her, and thus even less for us, until we all discovered that the husband of the woman seeking divorce was Glen Childs, the man who put Peter in jail.

What a brilliant beginning, particularly after a lengthy break. There is still a case for the firm which makes us confront the morality of the law and our rights, but we cannot forget Alicia and Peter as individuals, as well as unfortunates caught up in someone else's game.

To miss an episode of this show, and thus to miss another reveal about Childs' plot or a discovery that the new information this episode will lead Alicia and Peter to is unthinkable.

Plus, seeing Will (Josh Charles) in a romantic situation with another lawyer, and not only to have it interrupted by the rumour that he slept with Alicia, but to discover that he has not been his usual sexual active self the last 6 months can only make me ask why! What were his previous habits and why did they change! And what was it about this lawyer, other than her tattoos, that made him bounce right back into his old habits?

What do you think? And where do you think Alicia and Peter's arch is going?

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Good Wife - Lifeguard, S01E10

From the sampling of mid-season finales I've seen so far this season - and I will admit I'm behind and there are several I have yet to view - it no longer appears to be common practice to have game-changing cliff-hangers. And, frankly, I'm disappointed with that.

Don't get me wrong; I am still excited to see the next episode of The Good Wife, and I quite liked Lifeguard...but, and yes there is a but, I want something more. Maybe it's that I want a reveal about the general direction of the over-arching plot line, and all I got was another solid episode, developing the story at the same pace as previous episodes. I almost think that leaving things as they stood at the end of episode 9, with that kiss, might have been more appropriate.

Lifeguard aired, however, and there is no reason to regret it.

This particular episode was rife with recognizable guest stars, so check out the Star Count. It is interesting how actors always carry their past roles with them, and so the minute I saw Tony Goldwyn, whom I recognize best as Patrick Swazye's deceitful best friend in Ghost, I was apprehensive. And I was right to be, since he, playing Judge Baxter, sent a young defendant off to juvie despite a plea bargain decided upon by his lawyers.

The plot of the episode was not original. I watched an episode of Law and Order not too long ago where a Judge was also sending children to juvenile detention centers for a kickback. Despite the quality of The Good Wife, there are only so many court room plots, however, the use of this device to develop our main characters was fantastic.

Diane (Christine Baranski) was asked to become a judge, but when she refused to ignore the possibility that Baxter was corrupt, she was asked not to run.

Will (Josh Charles), despite his friendship with Baxter - it was good to finally see Will in a context outside the office, and to have someone call him on his attraction to Alicia (Julianna Margulies) - also held to his morals. He may defend pharmaceutical companies against the common people, but he sticks to the law. Sending children to jail for money just doesn't work for him, and his friend was made to face the law for his crime.

Alicia had the least amount of focus this episode, but sometimes that is important. An audience needs to love not only the main character, but also those who surround her and create her universe. While the success of The Good Wife is largely due to Julianna Margulies creation of a vulnerable but powerful, easily relatable woman, the rest of the cast supports her perfectly.

Enjoy tonight's episode as The Good Wife resumes!

Monday, January 4, 2010

The Good Wife - Threesome, S01E09

I am never disappointed by this show. It is not at all my usual fare, but I am glad to be catching up and am very excited for Tuesday's new episode. As I power through the end of the first half of season 1, I suspect I will be quite upset when I must once again wait week to week for the next episode.

We finally met the third partner at the law firm where Alicia (Julianna Margulies) works. Stern (Kevin Conway) is a man who was at his best during the 70s, fighting against social inequalities and the like, but he was still quite a success until about a year ago. Will (Josh Charles) and Diane (Christine Baranski) are concerned with the effect that his current behaviour will have on the firm, but in the end, Stern chooses to leave the firm without a fight to start another.

It's not a good idea. Though Alicia had him cleared of an accusation of a DUI, the reason Stern crashed his car is because he has dementia. The firm is better off without him, and Alicia, though she stated her admiration for the man throughout the episode, declined the opportunity to go with him. He suspects this is out of loyalty to Will, though I know it's because she is too ethical to practice law with a man who is no longer fit to do so. Still, Stern tells her that Will will stab her in the back if it benefits him.

And so let us now address the question of Will. This is not the first time Alicia has been warned against him, though Peter was the first, and, as her husband, his comments had to be taken with a grain of salt. Stern's too, really. Still, what kind of man is Will? What motivates him, and what will he do to accomplish something? One also has to question the danger Alicia is in from him - he seems to have a particular affection for her, which might be romantic. Then you have to ask yourself if that means he might undermine Peter (Chris Noth) any way he can if his goal is Alicia.

As for Alicia and her family, the call girl Peter was sleeping with decided to get a book published and was giving interviews about her affair. Peter was genuinely concerned about Alicia's reaction to the mess, and when she, distressed, told him that the call girl was harassing her at work, he made her stop. He threatened her with telling a previous lover, with criminal connections, that her book included information on him. She went crying to Alicia, telling her that her husband was a monster, but how stupid do you have to be to tell your lover the secrets of another lover. As a woman, if you want to play that game, you have to have all the secrets and divulge non of your own. I can't really have any sympathy for her.

And so the episode ended with Alicia showing up, kissing Peter, and leaving again. Is this a return of trust? A good bye? Or simply a thank you?

Sunday, January 3, 2010

The Good Wife - Unprepared, S01E08

If you haven't already heard, Julianna Margulies has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress based on her performance in the first 10 episodes of The Good Wife.
The show is well written, and the ensemble is solid, but it is truly Margulies performance as Alicia Florrick that has made this show a success.

In Unprepared, she is shocked to learn that her husband, Peter (Chris Noth), may be released on bail and that she is to testify on his behalf. While most episodes to date have had a solid balance between Alicia's personal life and her new career, the court case Alicia worked in this episode received far less attention than Peter's did. But that is how it should be.

Yes, Alicia continued to work, and we had some delightful moments for both Cary (Matt Czuchry) and Will (Josh Charles), with Cary demonstrating an improvement in his questioning tactics and Will saying "No pain, no gain." To which Diana (Christine Baranski) responded "Did you really just say that?" "Yes, I did." The case was won, and the awkward accused was allowed to continue her life and her research. The show did not neglect this side of the plot, but the focus was on Peter in force.

Zach (Graham Phillips) and Grace (Makenzie Vega) got a little more screen time as well, though it is obvious that Phillips is still a young actor. His scene with Grace lacked commitment, and his timing and reactions were off. Later, however, in a scene between Zach and his mom, he held is own. Young actors always benefit when playing opposite talented and experienced ones.

The absolute best moment of the episode was when Alicia was on the stand. Until then, she had been uncertain about the potential of Peter's release and how that would affect the new life she was building, but the moment she took the stand, she was confident. She absolutely destroyed the prosecutor with the grace and accuracy that she always demonstrates in the court room.
Our certainty about how well she would manage had earlier been put into question when Peter's lawyer told her that lawyers often made the worse witnesses, knowing what they were supposed to say and how, but failing to put it into practice.

In the end, Peter was not granted bail. Whether because a friend betrayed him and he was innocent or because a friend betrayed him and he was guilty, we don't know. We don't know that Peter is innocent or guilty, and in many ways we don't care. I am far more interested in his relationship with Alicia. They were so happy - why did he have affairs? Why did he risk his family like that? What do you think?


Welcome back!

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year (or whatever delightful holiday you celebrate). Were you as busy as I have been? I'm sure you've noticed that more than one of the shows I've been covering lacks the last few episodes of 2009, which is distressing as the new episodes of 2010 are fast approaching.
Do not fear.
I am back on my game. with plenty of extra time as I find myself without a job this new year. So that means I will be able to watch and comment on all the episodes that have already aired so that I don't miss a beat with the return of these shows.

Here are the return dates and premiere dates. Let me know if there is something new that you want me to comment on that I have not included below (or even older shows that aren't yet on the roster. Now that I have time, they may earn a place)

Tuesday, Jan 5 - The Good Wife
Sunday, Jan 10 - Chuck (which, as of the 11th, will return to Monday nights)
Monday, Jan 11 - Castle
Thursday, Jan 14 - Bones
- Fringe
- The Mentalist
- Vampire Diaries?
Sunday, Jan 17 - Human Target premieres
Monday, Jan 18 - Life UneXpected
Tuesday, Jan 19 - White Collar
Thursday, Jan 21 - Vampire Diaries?
- Supernatural
- The Deep End
Friday, Jan 22 - Caprica
- Spartacus
Thursday, Feb 11 - Past Life
Monday, March 1 - Parenthood
Thursday, March 4 - FlashForward
Sunday, March 14 - The Pacific
Tuesday, March 30 - V
Thursday, April 1 - Fringe (again)
Tuesday, April 13 - Glee

Looking forward to watching all these wonderful shows with you all!