S01.E05: A Touch of Panic

[Snazzy Daisy]

Quote

When Cassandra is placed in a life-threatening situation, Alberg and the Gibson Police Department work tirelessly to find the culprit responsible.

Air Date: Oct 22, 2024

 

Guest Star — Devon Sawa

 

 

[AnimeMania]

Next New Episode: November 12, 2024       FOX     8pm

[emma675]

I was happy to see Cassandra contributing to her own rescue efforts instead of the usual helpless damsel in distress we often see in these types of situations. But if seeing her boyfriend lose his shit on the guy who kidnapped her, taunted him with her death, and also targeted his daughter makes Cassandra break up with him, give me a break. We better get some kind of backstory on why she acted so terrified of Alberg at the end.

I also know why the daughter and Cassandra don't get along. They're both pieces of wet cardboard around each other. 

[Badsamaritan]

I'm still really enjoying this show, and not snarkily or as a train wreck. I like that everybody and the town itself is kinda weird. Still getting Twin Peaks vibes. I loved that show, that may be why I've become attached to this one. 

I think Cassandra was in shock after everything that happened to her, and seeing the guy she's dating, that she maybe thought was more of a 'gentle soul' (he's an artist, remember) go apeshit on her kidnapper probably threw her. Her reactions made sense to me and seemed more real - she definitely is traumatized, and I know that personally, my reaction to trauma is to isolate as well. It was probably one of the most realistic reactions I've seen, because I can relate. 

I think the issues between Cassandra and the daughter are kinda in the daughter's head. She's got issues with her father and she's dragging Cassandra into her mess. She's trying to be so disaffected, so laissez faire, as teenagers the world over often do. I liked that her friend wasn't having any of that and told Carl about the car following them. I hope the friend can give her a reality check and tell her to knock it off and maybe try to fix her damage instead.

I'm sad we have to go 3 weeks until a new episode....

[Daff]

Re: the unusual feel of these episodes, keep in mind that the 9 books were written between 1985 and 1997. They have really gone a long way in story to update with elements of modern times. (Consider the smart TV vs. the ‘80s VCR.)

[blackwing]

I thought this was a fantastic episode.  It was much more of a procedural than the previous episodes.  Still some interpersonal drama with the daughter but overall it kept me in suspense.  I also liked that this episode really showcased the natural beauty of British Columbia with the forest and the coast.

One thing that stuck out is that they kept referring to "states" so that made me wonder if even though the show is filmed in BC that it is actually set somewhere vaguely in the Pacific Northwest.  But no, the kidnapper definitely referred to the "Sunshine Coast" so this show is definitely set in BC.  I guess when he said "some states don't have front licence plates" he was referring to U.S. states and not other Canadian provinces.

I did not recognise Devon Sawa at all.  It's been decades since I've seen him in anything.  I remember when he was supposed to be one of the next big things, maybe around the time of Final Destination, and then he kind of just disappeared and his big movie career never happened.

15 hours ago, emma675 said:

I was happy to see Cassandra contributing to her own rescue efforts instead of the usual helpless damsel in distress we often see in these types of situations. But if seeing her boyfriend lose his shit on the guy who kidnapped her, taunted him with her death, and also targeted his daughter makes Cassandra break up with him, give me a break. We better get some kind of backstory on why she acted so terrified of Alberg at the end.

I also know why the daughter and Cassandra don't get along. They're both pieces of wet cardboard around each other. 

I didn't think she was necessarily afraid of Karl, I think she was finally processing what happened and how close to death she had come, and just broke down.

I wanted to see a scene of the daughter and Cassandra hugging and the daughter apologising for being a beeyotch.  Maybe when the show returns.

5 hours ago, Daff said:

Re: the unusual feel of these episodes, keep in mind that the 9 books were written between 1985 and 1997. They have really gone a long way in story to update with elements of modern times. (Consider the smart TV vs. the ‘80s VCR.)

I haven't read the books.  It sounds like you have.  Are the episodes following the books closely?  I tend to automatically assume that any TV show or movie based on a book will almost certainly deviate greatly from the source material.

[AnimeMania]

4 hours ago, blackwing said:

I guess when he said "some states don't have front licence plates" he was referring to U.S. states and not other Canadian provinces.

I did not recognise Devon Sawa at all. 

Alberg was a "big city" cop in Pennsylvania where he encountered the crook. So the crook probably drove up from the US to Canada after leaving prison.

Devon Sawa was recently in every season of the Chucky TV Series on USA/SyFy.

[Daff]

4 hours ago, blackwing said:

haven't read the books.  It sounds like you have.

I actually have not yet, but I’m always searching for new mystery series to read. In my search for these, I was surprised to find how old they were and realized the writers had “modernized” the source material.

[Snazzy Daisy]

Quote

“White guy. Blue puffer vest. Not as handsome as you if that’s…”

Rossif Sutherland is more handsome than Devon Sawa??! Who wrote this line? 🤣

This is one of the better episode as we get to see the whole team working together in locating Cassandra. 

Andy’s flirting arc feels disjointed from the main plot. This arc can be included in a later episode, no rush.

It’s good to see Sid continues to keep Karl centered and Edwina is capable enough to resolve a conflict.

I hope they will keep Holly Alberg mostly off-screen from now on. Such an annoying character.

 

[chediavolo]

Alberg, Cassandra  & his daughter are really bad actors. Alberg & Cassandra have zero chemistry. I wish this wasn’t so sickeningly Hallmarky. 

[Badsamaritan]

2 hours ago, chediavolo said:

Alberg, Cassandra  & his daughter are really bad actors. Alberg & Cassandra have zero chemistry. I wish this wasn’t so sickeningly Hallmarky. 

I'll be honest - I watch A LOT of Hallmark movies, and I do not see the comparison at all. This show is actually pretty dark - from the way it's filmed to somebody getting murked every week, and the weird locals. For me, it is so far from Hallmark-y. I'm literally watching a Hallmark Christmas movie as I type this and trying to imagine this show and characters on that channel and my brain is not making a connection whatsoever. Nobody gets killed on the Hallmark channel, all parents/siblings/children are already dead, and we pick up with the parents/siblings/children trying to get through their first Christmas without said parents/siblings/children. Until a stranger comes along and shows them the true meaning of Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa and then they kiss in the last 2 minutes of the movie. I could see a Lifetime 'women in jeopardy' movie comparison but these folks are nowhere near happy and cheerful enough for the Hallmark formula lol. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[zapper]

my wife looked at me after this one and said "It's called *murder* in a small town - they owe me a murder!!"  or something like that, I may have paraphrased.

Good directing again - no surprise from Amanda Tapping. Unfortunately looks that that is it for her, we are back to the director of S01.E01 for the next few.

[KristenR]

On 10/24/2024 at 6:52 AM, Badsamaritan said:

Nobody gets killed on the Hallmark channel, all parents/siblings/children are already dead, and we pick up with the parents/siblings/children trying to get through their first Christmas without said parents/siblings/children. Until a stranger comes along and shows them the true meaning of Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa and then they kiss in the last 2 minutes of the movie. I could see a Lifetime 'women in jeopardy' movie comparison but these folks are nowhere near happy and cheerful enough for the Hallmark formula lol. 🤷🏽‍♀️

There's a whole Hallmark mystery brand in which people dying is the start of almost every movie. 

[Badsamaritan]

16 hours ago, KristenR said:

There's a whole Hallmark mystery brand in which people dying is the start of almost every movie. 

You are absolutely right and I stand corrected. Apologies. 

I still believe this show is much darker though. There's an overall air of gloominess and desperation that differentiates it. It reads more Twin Peaks than HM mystery to me. 

[DearEvette]

Granted I am no Hallmark regular, but their entire brand, even the mysteries have a kicky little bright tone from the dialogue,  to the character interactions, to the chirpy music, to the lighting.  They are all bright reds, greens and whites.   And the people actually crack smiles.

This show is darker in every way, everything is muted blue and grey. The music is ominous, and I think it would physically hurt anyone on this show to really smile.  LOL.

That said, the scenery is pretty gorgeous. 

I feel like they are really forcing the relationship between Cassandra and Alberg. I think it is because the actors themselves have no chemistry so on top of the relationship being written kinda rocky, it just makes it feel belabored. So her being kidnapped because it is a pain point for him just feels rather meh.

Again, that said, I actually liked this episode. The police work of the episode at least.

The daughter was so annoying.  I get that teenagers are all 'whatever' but seeing a car slowly driving behind you wouldn't set off your radar? Even just a little? Even if it you think it is a guy who likes you, him slowly driving behind you is just weird.  And then when she drops by the library to supposedly get a book she wants and sees Cassandra (who is obviously headed out with her purse on her arm!) the daughter thinks she's blowing her off?  Girl, are you just slow?  Ugh. I think it is obvious the show is trying to convey that she feels a bit threatened by Cassandra being in her dad's life so she is projecting a bit.  But it is so clumsily written.

The side plot with Andy was interesting.  I initially felt that his interaction with the woman did come off as a little too flirty for comfort.  But then again, this is set  In a small town where they are setting the narrative that everyone kinda knows everyone, so that is where I kinda mentally put it, a kind of as folksy hometown policing sort of thing.  But I was still kinda on her side a bit.  But then came to visit to her where she did herself no favors when Edwina followed up.  The fact that she admitted that she flirted  to get out of a ticket sort of thing.  I also liked that Alberg took the complain seriously. And that Edwina did give him a bit of a professional smack on the nose.

[AnimeMania]

2 hours ago, DearEvette said:

I feel like they are really forcing the relationship between Cassandra and Alberg. I think it is because the actors themselves have no chemistry so on top of the relationship being written kinda rocky, it just makes it feel belabored. So her being kidnapped because it is a pain point for him just feels rather meh.

I was thinking it might be that each episode is one book, so years may have gone by in the books whereas weeks seem to have gone by in the TV Series.

[SnarkShark]

I'd forgotten what a weak actress Kreuk is.  Gorgeous, but never convincing in any scene with depth. 

To be fair to her, the show's setup is very limiting for her character.  Girlfriend of the Police Chief, who should never actually be involved in any crime solving, leaves her only with contrived library scenes, contrived relationship drama, and contrived Townie encounters to act in. 

I'll give her credit for playing the role a little saucier than I'd have expected.  Still, she's got little to do, and frankly isn't doing it very interestingly.

I expected any Sutherland to at least have charisma, if not depth.  He's okay on that first scale but not superior.   There's little depth for him either, but part of that could be mediocre writing.

If they ARE going the shiatey pseudo-Hallmark route, what's missing is more Townie stuff.  While I was commenting on how that's contrived with Kreuk, when it's the same two locations over and over (the restaurant and the Library) that's just extra weak sauce.  We get other guest star related locations, but there's no real sense of this place as a town.  

[CatLady]

I love the scenery in the show.  I want to like Cassandra but...I'll get into that a bit more in a minute.  Alberg is so laconic that it makes his exceptional sleuthing skills quite surprising.  As opposed to the way Patrick Jane could assess a situation and not always go for the seemingly obvious guilty party in "The Mentalist".  Patrick was very intelligent and his facade of the laconic consultant became quite evident from the first episode, though many criminals were taken in by him.  Alberg does not project intelligence or great instincts.  The show is, to me, quite formulaic.

I don't dislike Karl but he is not compelling at all.  Cassandra comes off as a snobby, privileged dilettante who dirties herself with Alberg.  The whole shock and panic when she saw him arrest her kidnapper, who is also a murderer, was unbelievable to me.  Shock and panic over what she had just endured, yes but over a man doing his job, who was also scared for her life, no.

These two are just not selling what I believe the writer's intent for them to be is.  This show could be a very good hour every week but when all I really love about it is the location, ugh.  Recast someone please.