Jump to content

Type keyword(s) to search

Danielg342

Member
  • Posts

    4.1k
  • Joined

Everything posted by Danielg342

  1. That was probably the biggest problem with the spinoff- it wrecked the chemistry of the original show. That, and I believe it was poorly thought out and planned, and I believe if CBS hadn't screwed with the original and more properly developed the spinoff, it might still be on the air, and who knows, the original show could still be good. I know there's people who think S5 started the show's downfall, but I think S5 had the potential to grow the show, since it had just explored its first- and so far only real- natural character arc (Hotch vs. Foyet), and if the spinoff was better planned, the original might not have fired its good writers.
  2. Consider this too: with Tripplehorn, you've got a cast that's dominated by the 49+ crowd (Tripplehorn, Thomas Gibson and Joe Mantegna). With Hewitt, you've got a cast dominated by characters who are Messer's age and younger (Shemar Moore is 43, Matthew Gray Gubler is almost 35, Hewitt is 35 and AJ Cook is 37). Somehow I think that may have been a factor as to why Messer didn't like Tripplehorn and is doing more with Hewitt, which might make sense. Messer just might have been more comfortable writing characters that could, presumably, share her own experiences, instead of "older" characters who have experiences Messer might not know about. It probably points to another failing of her as a showrunner, but I can at least understand if she wanted to play more to her strengths.
  3. Well, it *is* his fault if he couldn't properly establish the characters...that's on the showrunner. However, I would agree that blaming Mundy would be unfair- perhaps he wasn't up to the showrunning gig, but that shouldn't take away from his skills as a writer. Also, I'm pretty sure there was lots of behind the scene stuff that prevented Mundy from really getting behind the project, so I'm not even sure this reflects badly on his showrunning skills.
  4. I won't comment on the acting, because that's subjective. I'll also state that I also think she's beautiful and not just for her age (though I think if we're talking the 50+ crowd I take Julianne Moore, but that's another topic). What I did mean is that, rightly or wrongly, Tripplehorn being 51 is going to affect her chances of getting roles. It's possible someone could take a flyer on her and give her another starring gig but I somehow doubt it- Hollywood likes them young. As far as the two actress' profiles are- I followed neither's career, and I'd never heard of Tripplehorn before her time on CM but Hewitt had long been on my radar. I may have only seen one or two episodes of The Ghost Whisperer and Party of Five and never saw her movie career (the I Know What You Did Last Summer series, Can't Hardly Wait) or The Client List, but I knew who she was and knew she was a star. Maybe my own TV/movie habits mean I've got a different perspective on who's the bigger star, but to me, based on what I knew, Hewitt has bigger star power. What I think it ultimately comes back to is age. Since Hollywood tends to like them young, injecting youth and "fresh faces" into the show has to be a move to keep the show going, which is why the news of Hewitt's pregnancy won't spell the end of Callahan. Hewitt and CBS likely knew of her baby-making plans and worked them into her role in the show, I'd be fairly certain. I've also got the faint hope that maybe Hewitt's hire for the "young and fresher look" means the show is positioning the series so that Reid might one day take centre stage. I think it's about time for that by now.
  5. Nothing against Jeanne Tripplehorn, but I don't think she can compare to the star power of Jennifer Love Hewitt. Before CM, the only thing Tripplehorn ever got known for was getting her butt squeezed by Kevin Costner in Waterworld and having an intense sex scene with Michael Douglas in Basic Instinct. Hewitt, at least, had The Client List and The Ghost Whisperer in recent memory, and Hewitt's age has the benefit of being on the right side of 40 (Hewitt is 35), whereas Tripplehorn is “Hollywood aging” at 51. Then you have Hewitt being the #1 reader's choice by Maxim Magazine in 2009 and TV Guide called her “TV's sexiest woman” in 2008. I'm just not sure how you can compare the two, and by adding someone who is younger and meant to be “learning the ropes” it can only be a sign that the commitment is for the long haul, isn't it?
  6. I can't help but get the impression that CBS is full of shows that are well past its due date. The Mentalist might be done this year but it was really done as a show after Season 3. Then you have the plethora of CBS' other aging serials, like The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Hawaii 5-0, CSI and even Elementary I'd say at this stage. I know NCIS is still going strong but how much longer can it go (especially they screwed over Cote de Pablo)? Then we get to our show...I don't think there's any doubt that this show has seen better days, yet Nina Tassler seems to think the show is as good as it always was. I get that she really can't slam Erica Messer in the press, but Tassler seems so unequivocal in her support that I think she actually believes what she says. Maybe that's the problem- CBS is too afraid to try new things, always hanging on to shows well past their expiry dates and jumping on bandwagons instead of leading them (how else to describe the motivations behind the CM spinoff and Supergirl? The former is a quasi rip-off of The Blacklist and the latter obviously jumps on the “superhero show” bandwagon we're currently experiencing). Even Scorpion is a retread of NUMB3RS, and don't get me started on Stalker. That, I think, will be CBS' ultimate downfall. Eventually the public will tire of the same thing and turn to the networks who are actually revolutionary- unless Tassler wises up and realizes she's got way too much dead weight.
  7. ...and just like the junk about Morgellon's and Yellowknife, the show will stick the misinformation in Reid's mouth just to mislead people into thinking it's true.
  8. ...and it's totally random too. I know she doesn't get much in the way of real characterization, but it's jarring to go from “Mary Sue” to kidnap victim in one episode. Makes her idiocy feel...convenient. On the other hand, if he had known better Hotch might fire JJ...she does have a proclivity of being kidnapped lately.
  9. I somehow doubt, unless Jennifer Love Hewitt's baby was entirely unexpected, that Hewitt is leaving the show. You had to think that when CBS signed her, CBS asked her to commit for a couple of years, not just one, because Hewitt isn't the kind of actress you trot out for just one year, and whatever delay this pregnancy will bring, CBS will work it into the show. Based on estimates, it would seem that Hewitt would return just in time for November sweeps, which would be perfect timing. Could CBS change their minds? Perhaps, especially since the ratings haven't improved since last season, but I can't see an about face happen so abruptly. The show has signed a bona fide star, that's someone you milk for as much as you can before you give up on them. Surely CBS would have a word with Erica Messer first and talk to her about using the character more before CBS would think of pulling the plug. Plus, it already seems like the big storyline this season will involve Kate Callahan. She's had her big introductory episode, we've seen her niece, we've seen her grieve over her sister and we've seen her niece and her friend trade selfies with another “boy”. I mean, Callahan has had more to do in half a year than Alex Blake had in two years. It would make no sense to dump her now.
  10. Yeah. That was probably one of show's most glaring changes. I mean, I understand that after the divorce and death of Haley he'd be depressed, but that shouldn't mean that he should become a robot. Not sure who gave him that advice.
  11. I'd agree too...Heyerdahl even looks like Hugo Strange. Then again, it is Wiki...who knows how accurate it is.
  12. According to Wiki, Gruber played a character known only as “The Electrocutioner”: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocutioner#In_other_media That, and Teresa Lisbon- no matter what- always wound up being Patrick Jane's lackey. Robin Tunney made the character confident and authoritative, but that was all on the acting- when you boiled down to what choices the character made, Lisbon ultimately always went along with Jane, going so far as to give up a new job she actually liked because Jane “needed” to work with her.
  13. LOL...would have been funny. I guess they were afraid of offending network censors...but then again, there are ways around it. For example, why not sprinkle the script with references to “sheets”, like sheet music and “sheets of records” and the like?
  14. I loved that scene, since Reid totally believed her when she talked about the guy and was believably spooked. (As an aside, if they hadn't screwed up with Reid and Garcia after around S5 or so, they'd have made a fine pairing, at least platonically...the two actors play off each other so well) I understand why the show decided to have Garcia be the one who struggles with the images that she sees- since the show wanted to portray someone who'd have a "normal" reaction to such things, and "normally" we'd all react with horror when we see mutilated bodies- but I still think they could have done that in other ways. This is where having a media liaison is vital because the public- who would actually represent "normalcy"- would be the ones who would openly wonder why a serial killer is running around collecting eyes and would harass the BAU about what they're doing about it. If the show had bothered with world-building, it would be easy to portray "normal" reactions without making a team member have to be unbelievable. Furthermore...this show in its early days was quite liberal about adding comedic bits, if only to add levity to a show that deals with really intense topics. Why couldn't someone with morbid humour work?
  15. So I guess if Director Lang is dead that means that Jim Gordon can go back to the GCPD...if this were another kind of show, I'd say it'd be up in the air but it's a procedural and things rarely ever change so I'm betting by February he's back to being a detective. Still, this actually was a pretty good episode. I thought for the longest while that it'd be another predictable procedural considering the misdirection was pretty simple- "no, it can't be an inmate, it has to be a staff member...and what staff member had medical knowledge? Dorothy Duncan!"- but then I enjoyed that the twist in itself was a twist (Duncan was actually an inmate, and a victim herself) and I had no idea that Gruber was behind all of it. For all the faults this show has in creating its mysteries, Gruber's real situation was very well hidden and I liked it. Great to see Bullock with such unbridled affection for Gordon and unflappable loyalty...he's a man you really want on your side. I loved how he browbeat the insecurity out of Director Lang...if Lang had lived, he might have been easier on Gordon, and Gordon has Bullock to thank for that. A truly special character he is. The Penguin...quite clear that Oswald Cobblepot has yet to learn how to truly be a mob boss. He tried his best to show dominance over the fisherman but the fisherman rightfully called him out on it- Cobblepot has to learn that in some situations, bluffing people isn't enough, you actually *need* leverage. He bit off more than he could chew and he got caught for it. It's a rare moment of weakness for a character that had been in the ascendancy for a while, so hopefully it'll be great character development for him. I might have liked it a bit more if Maroni had actually walked away from the prison cell and told him to rot there for a few more days, but I'll let that go. (The "you stink" not-hug was pretty funny, I must say) The Butch subplot was also pretty nice, though I agree with others that more time should have been focused on it. We hardly knew Saviano so when he was coolly blown off (something the show telegraphed badly with Butch babbling about stealing the prime cuts from him) we had hardly had a chance to really feel what the big time betrayal it actually was. Saviano and Butch were supposed to be long-time buddies, so I can imagine Butch must be guilt-stricken to have to off his long-time friend...even though he knew he had to, because in the mob, you only keep people around when they're useful to you. Only getting to know Saviano in this one episode lessens the power such a moment should have, but I do understand in the grand scheme of things it's a small action in what will be a very big war. The Ivy/Selina story...this should have been an episode all of its own. They really didn't do too much with it and a storyline was there so I don't know why they had to cram it in here. Finally...as much as I liked seeing Erin Richards actually get to act for a change, the Barbara/Montoya story was ridiculous. I get it...Barbara is a weak little waif who needs Jimmy to protect her...*yawn*. At this stage, I might think the only way Barbara gets redeemed is if she becomes a criminal...that might be worth watching. ETA- Liked Leslie Thompkins, although I thought Morena Baccharin downplayed her a little bit tonight. I'm hoping things pick up soon. Overall, pretty good tonight.
  16. I've always had this thought about Garcia: Since she's held to be the comic relief, I've wondered if she could have been the character to make quips about the UnSub's motives and actions (“he used a chainsaw? What? Was a knife not handy?”). I know some would find it tasteless and insensitive, but I think it would be a lot more fun watching that than the emotionally weak girl we get that after ten years still needs pictures of dolls and cute animals to get her through pictures she should be used to seeing already. I also think the show should have someone who's willing to say what others- on the show or even in the audience- are thinking but won't say out loud; as well as a satirical commentary on just how pathetic the UnSubs truly are. Would that work or am I off on the deep end here?
  17. I agree, those factors were very much in play...I just wonder if the failings of the original spin-off could have been avoided if they had properly thought it through, not rushed things to get on CBS' "spin-off craze". Which is why I hope this time around it'll be better because it's not being made under those circumstances.
  18. I seem to recall when the original spinoff was getting off the ground, the CM cast was pretty vocal about their disdain for it, with Shemar Moore himself saying "this s*** ain't easy." Of course, I think "Suspect Behavior" arose at a time when CBS was drunk on creating spinoffs, since it started to be talked about at the time that startup of the Miami and New York versions of CSI was still a recent memory and NCIS: Los Angeles was also just starting, so perhaps CBS was of the mindset that every hit it had needed to be spun off so they didn't think the original spinoff through. So, hopefully, maybe this time, with many of those other spinoffs off the air (and only two other new ones starting this year), CBS' motivations are entirely creative (or at least they've thought it out better) and they're in a better position to try again; plus with so few spinoffs on the air, the public might be more receptive to it.
  19. I did, and that was essentially my point. The “reward” point comes from the fact that in many stories, especially with teens, a kiss like that tends to occur only after the (typically male) hero “proves” his worth to the (typically female) suitor, with this huge scene at the end where the hero, anticipating “the kiss” gets the reward. Now, while it can be argued that Bruce proves his worth to Selina, it didn't come under the subtext of Bruce doing it thinking “Selina's going to kiss me if I help her out!” Bruce, instead, did it naturally, out of the goodness of his heart, because he knew Selina was a friend and it's the right thing to do to save your friends (I also think Bruce was also motivated by ensuring his own survival, but that's another point). The show also didn't make a big scene where “the kiss” happened- it just happened all of a sudden, and while it was a dramatic moment at the end, both actors sold it the right way- they looked at each other like their relationship was now “real”, and that the pair are obligated to each other. They could have had Bruce been excited about being kissed, and they could have had Bruce jump up and down for joy after he “scored” but doing that would undermine the impact of what he did. If anything, the show at least teaches us that being truly selfless is the only way you really get rewarded- and that's a wonderful lesson to teach, especially for kids. Yeah, there might be some backstory involving Banion (the dead guy) and Falcone that we won't know about...Falcone is right that it's a given everyone wants his job, and while he could have dispatched Banion discreetly, doing it at dinner where everyone's watching is a nice reminder to them that he's the boss and he'll spare no lengths to deal with any attempt to undermine it. It's also a great WTF scene- imagine what the other people are thinking when they think they're just going to have a nice dinner and all of a sudden one of their guys drops dead in his pasta because Falcone is making a point. Great reminder to the family that no matter where they are, they should never feel “complacent”. Thus, it's one of my favourite scenes because in being so subtle it says so much. (As an aside, one of my reactions would be “free pasta!” before I remembered that there's a dead guy's blood and guts in there. Then I would feel bad for the dishwasher...I can picture many an argument with Falcone asking him to dispose of his “undesirables” in a better manner)
  20. Oops, my bad. I must have crossed up the “60s” there... :p. Anyhow, I still think Spader at least looks like he could pass off as the dad to a character played by Katherine Heigl or Lola Glaudini. I miss Glaudini too. I think she'd work great- she'd have a great snarkfest with Spader. The official party line was that Edward Allen Bernero- who took over the show after Season 1- wanted to “spice things up” by bringing in a new agent, and it just so happened that Glaudini wanted to leave. In addition to that, Glaudini's character didn't get much to do until her exit arc (then again, in S1 it could be argued that none of the characters really had much to do in terms of distinct character arcs). So it's possible she chose that path, but I wonder if that is true.
  21. You missed the compulsory crocodile. Can't have a moat without some dangerous animals patrolling it. :P
  22. I think I got multiple toothaches reading the description for Monty. Talk about your glurge- is there any checkbox for “character that pulls at your heartstrings” the casting director didn't check? “Mack knew Monty’s big brain was only matched by his even bigger heart and recruited him to the team.” Blech.
  23. My apologies, ForeverAlone, I misread it. I liked “Rabid”, and I have a strong opinion on CM's portrayal of victims (since so many people get the wrong idea about CM) so I got defensive. Sorry.
  24. Forgot about those. I will say I wouldn't count "The Lesson" or "Epilogue" as examples since they're not "single gender" examples, but that's semantics.The other thing about "Rabid" too is that I believe it's the first attempt (in an omnivore setting) the show has made to have a male character play the victim from virtually the outset of when we see him- it's not like "Omnivore" where we discover at the last moment that the last victim is male or we don't see him until the final moment (like in "A Real Rain"). I think my point still holds that, more often than not, the woman gets saved ("Legacy", "Open Season", "To Hell...and Back", "Magnum Opus", "The Itch", "Scared to Death", "God Complex", "Parasite", "The Thirteenth Step", among others). Not that I think the show's propensity for "final female victims" is inherently a bad thing- I found a lot of those episodes enjoyable, which is the main part. The only time I had an issue with victim selection was when it's obvious the show pandered to political correctness, as what we're seeing in S10 (and what we saw in the first half of S8) and the unbelievable amount of male victims (overpowered by females no less) that we've been seeing.
  25. My point was not that it was the first case with male and female victims. I know that there were many of them. My point is this: -The show, as we already know, will show multiple victims getting killed (or show us multiple bodies). -However- and this was more prevalent in later seasons than in S1, which had escaped my mind- typically at the end of episodes there's one victim the team saves from the UnSub from getting killed. -In episodes where the victims were both genders, almost always that last victim the team saves is a woman -“Rabid”, however, is the first time since “A Real Rain” (I should amend my other post) where the last victim the team saves is a male.
×
×
  • Create New...