Red Right Hand: CAUGHT UP
*He is not a secret agent. Not at all.



I've gotten back up to date on my television consumption.

The Closer
I'm not a big fan of procedurals, which is really where this one is, but I dig the Brenda Johnson character and the end of 1x09 was something of the sort you don't get on the network procedurals, which I dug. It's not the top of my list, but it fills a spot in the otherwise underpopulated summer season. If this were on in the fall, I'm not sure if I'd catch it as regularly.

Battlestar Galactica
Still one of the best shows on TV. Fleet politics in the absence of Adama and his impending return continue to comment on the current real world while veering into unusual territory. Gaius is getting hardcore, and that can only be good. I'm still not sure about the Starbuck on Caprica stuff. I liked the pyramid team thing, but it doesn't feel like it's going anyplace really interesting. And what is it that my favorites (the best written characters) are not regulars. Tigh, Tyrol, Dee, etc.

Rescue Me
Tommy hit the lowest depths I've ever seen a main character in a continuing TV series hit. He's skirting the edge of irredeemable. It's so good and so different.
Shea's character seems to be going in a predictable direction, but with this character, I don't mind it at all, because he's such a real guy. And if it takes a sudden turn, so much the better.

Over There
So far, so good. I don't mind in the least that it's staying in the middle of opinions on its subject matter. It's not about the war, it's about the people in the war. What I'm really looking forward to is more about the women ("Doublewide" and "Mrs. B") since this is an aspect of war that's fairly unique to this particular conflict. As far as dramas, FX is batting a thousand.

Rock Star: INXS
Yeah, I got bit by the reality thing. I guess there is one for everyone. This is the antidote to the crap that is American Idol, where they're trying to manufacture the next Celine fucking Dion and all they get are techical skills and a lack of charisma. Idol my ass. Still, I can't imagine a Hutchence-less INXS.

The pilot was nothing new. Nothing that The Shield hadn't really done better. Adding Lee Tergesen in the second ep is a step in the right direction. The visual tricks are annoying though. I hope they pull back on that some. This one is also, essentially, a procedural but with a helluva a lot more flavor and a lot of room to break out of that mold at anytime. Outside of Gary Cole's character, there isn't too much digging into the character's lives (which is fine, you don't have to do that to open things up). Each character displays their depth in their interactions with the rest of the team, who all seem to have a thing agaisnt each other. Okay, you know what? It's not a procedural, it's just that the crimes aren't as interesting as the team, so that bit seems a little stale and makes me think of procedurals. I'm keeping my eye on this and will likely spec this one unless I see a reason not to...
©2020 Michael Patrick Sullivan