S01.E01: Pilot

[formerlyfreedom]

LAPD’s Threat Assessment Unit’s Lt. Beth Davis and Det. Jack Larsen search for a stalker with an affinity for fire. Beth meets with an exasperated college student who claims his former roommate is aggressively harassing him.

 

[Primetimer]

You're never going to believe this, but one of CBS's new fall shows is a crime procedural!

Read the story

[LadyJaney]

Wow, I actually really like this new series.  Disturbing as hell, yes.  But it is very interesting and moves along at a good pace.

 

I think I also like the detail of the two main detectives:  one appears to be something of a stalker himself and the other is clearly a victim of being stalked herself.

 

I can already tell that the creepy college student is going to pose a problem in future episodes.

 

I always enjoy Dylan McDermott, so it's good to see him in another series.

 

New series are a hit-or-miss each season, very few surviving.  I think this one has potential to be a hit. 

[aradia22]

 

I think I also like the detail of the two main detectives:  one appears to be something of a stalker himself and the other is clearly a victim of being stalked herself.

I found this painfully stupid. Can no one write a decent script anymore?

 

I can already tell that the creepy college student is going to pose a problem in future episodes.

Looks like Sam Grey's up to his old tricks again! *wink wink*

 

I was frankly rather bored. I mean they tried with the creepy mask and the jump scares and the throwing of gasoline and self immolation and explosion and still... I was bored. Sorry, show.

 

They also didn't give up a compelling male/female partnership to latch on to as so many of these shows do. Sure, she dislikes him. Rather irrationally with Maggie and Peri from Desperate Housewives both wearing the most irritated expressions in the beginning of the episode. But their banter falls flat and if that was flirting... whew, they stink at it. It's really nowhere near as dark but it kind of reminds me of how I felt watching the pilot of the American version of Those Who Kill. That was more creepy and exploitative but underneath that it had the same blandness and people making weird snap judgments in the course of an investigation because the writer already knows the answer. 

[Brattinella]

I read a review of this show somewhere, they gave it a rare 'F' grade, so I had to see for myself.  Yuck.  I heartily agree.  Crappy writing, plot-holes a mile wide, lousy acting, etc etc.  Gonna give this a pass.

[mustbekarma]

I really liked this. I love Maggie Q, and I loved when she intimidated the stalker punk at the end. She was definitely channeling Nikita at this point.

[KLovestoShop]

I'm bothered by the horrible treatment of women on this show. Personally, I don't think this show should ever have been allowed to go on, not only for how women are terrified by stalkers, but we don't need to give the whack jobs in this world any more ideas on how to stalk women.

I read reviews in a number of newspapers and magazines, and the best review I saw was one star. The rest were either 1/2 star or no stars. I also saw the F grade in two magazine reviews.

I hope this show doesn't last more than a couple more episodes.

[awkward1penguin]

I'm indifferent about most of the show, but I did enjoy Maggie Q. The part with her and Perry at the very end was interesting - stark difference between the professional and personal self. 

 

I'll probably watch it again because I like Maggie Q. They've got to inject more life into the rest of the cast though - viewers have no reason to like anyone. 

[methodwriter85]

Erik Stocklin is rounding the corner on creepy young guys, isn't he? I'm going to admit I was disappointed that he didn't have a sexual obsession with Ricky from Secret Life of an American Teenager.

Maggie Q is just awesome, and Dylan McDermott is hot, so I'm in.

[Minneapple]

Some good things, some bad.

The good: Maggie Q. I still miss you, Nikita. I enjoyed her and Dylan.

The bad: The case was boring. And holy hell, the horror movie cliches. The stalker holds up the car keys in a scene straight out of Scream. The one woman tells the cops, "I need to pack a few things," and goes to the bedroom alone, and anyone could have told her that he was going to get her there.

I'll keep it around for Maggie, but she deserves better than this. Hopefully there's improvement.

[TaraS1]

When I first heard about this show, I wanted to check it out for Maggie Q, who I had never watched in anything before, and in spite of Dylan McDermott, who has beautiful eyes but zero acting skills IMO.  Then all the horrific reviews started coming out and I wasn't going to bother, but I gave it a shot anyway.  And was ready to turn it off by 10:02.  I hate that gratuitous, Criminal Minds-esque kind of stuff.

 

The only thing remotely intriguing or watchable about it to me was Maggie Q.  Really interesting actress.  She made me wish there was either a different male lead or no male lead at all.  So because of her, I might actually tune in next week to see if it's any better than the pilot.

[FineWashables]

This was certainly more violent than it needed to be, and that turned me off.  I might watch it in rerun season during the midseason holidays but otherwise, no.

 

I'm going to bring up something that will probably get me flamed here, so I'm hesitating to say it, but here goes.  The interaction between Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q regarding her breasts was unnecessary and offensive.  But the conversation where he said that he thought she might be open to physical compliments because of the way she was presenting herself wasn't, well, completely wrong.  Of course every woman should dress to please herself and make herself look good.  That's a given.  If part of that look means your bra is visible under a silk shirt then that's great, you look great, but don't get on your high horse about how inappropriate it is for a man to notice when a beautiful woman exposes her underwear.  Men look at breasts.  If Betty White was walking around with her bra showing, men would look.  Because boobs.  And now I'll go put on my asbestos hazmat suit.  

Edited October 2, 2014 by FineWashables

[Swansong]

 

I'm going to bring up something that will probably get me flamed here, so I'm hesitating to say it, but here goes.  The interaction between Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q regarding her breasts was unnecessary and offensive.  But the conversation where he said that he thought she might be open to physical compliments because of the way she was presenting herself wasn't, well, completely wrong.  Of course every woman should dress to please herself and make herself look good.  That's a given.  If part of that look means your bra is visible under a silk shirt then that's great, you look great, but don't get on your high horse about how inappropriate it is for a man to notice when a beautiful woman exposes her underwear.  Men look at breasts.  If Betty White was walking around with her bra showing, men would look.  Because boobs.  And now I'll go put on my asbestos hazmat suit.

I found that whole conversation even more gratuitous and annoying than the absurd horror film style violence because it seemed so stupidly obnoxious and unnecessary unless they're actually setting up Dylan McDermott's character as an actual stalker in the making. Who talks to their boss like that even if they're thinking it, especially on their first day on the job? And honestly on a show about stalking what are they suggesting by even having it in the episode? That by choosing to dress a certain way women are really asking for whatever attention they get?

[candall]

This was certainly more violent than it needed to be, and that turned me off.  I might watch it in rerun season during the midseason holidays but otherwise, no.

 

I'm going to bring up something that will probably get me flamed here, so I'm hesitating to say it, but here goes.  The interaction between Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q regarding her breasts was unnecessary and offensive.  But the conversation where he said that he thought she might be open to physical compliments because of the way she was presenting herself wasn't, well, completely wrong.  Of course every woman should dress to please herself and make herself look good.  That's a given.  If part of that look means your bra is visible under a silk shirt then that's great, you look great, but don't get on your high horse about how inappropriate it is for a man to notice when a beautiful woman exposes her underwear.  Men look at breasts.  If Betty White was walking around with her bra showing, men would look.  Because boobs.  And now I'll go put on my asbestos hazmat suit.  

No flaming here--it's an interesting point and something I've been pondering lately.  When "Utopia" started, many of the women chose to be naked and a couple of the men were uncomfortable with that.  So the first post suggested "cover up."  But the next post was: "In a new and hopefully improved society, wouldn't it be nice if women could dress as they chose and men could just accept personal responsibility for keeping themselves under control."  I liked that one a lot.  The third post said "but these guys were raised in the old society, plus there's the consideration that some of the men in the compound are black and there's the whole horrible history associated with black men who were accused of looking at white women."

 

It was one of the very few thought-provoking discussions to come out of "Utopia" before the whole thing turned into Carnival of Crap, about six minutes after it started.

 

 Re this show, I personally don't believe a woman of that rank and position would get within a hundred miles of the silky/bra combo.  With no version of the handy businessman's suit, professional women are always struggling to find some point between "too feminine" and "too masculine."  It's an additional hurdle men don't even have to think about.

 

I liked the show itself.  I quit Criminal Minds when it turned into weekly torture porn, but I think it's true that "stalking" has taken on an entirely new definition with the rise of social media and that makes it relevant to most of us.  Who hasn't checked out the whereabouts of old boyfriends?  I have looked at my friend's FB page to see if there's a clue about where she is that she's not answering my phone call.  Hmm. . . 

[chlban]

I actually really enjoyed this show. Yes, i did think the whole conversation between the two leads was odd and seemed really "off" as I don't believe such a conversation would take place today if for no other reason than everyone's fear of litigation. But., that aside, I enjoyed it.

 

Since I cannot really stomach Criminal Minds any more because  the subject matter has really has just gotten too gross, even for a crime show and they have now added JLH to the cast, so I just could not possibly sit thought an hour of her god awful acting. I have never really loved the various CSI's, so I am pretty happy with this show.

 

So far this and "How to Get Away With Murder" are the only two new shows I will even be back for a second look on. 

[ShadowDenizen]

I found the college-roommate subplot much more interesting than the "Main" story.

I hope there's some carry-over for that.

And I enjoyed Maggie Q. getting to be kinda badass, and Dylan McD. getting to be a little creepy-intensive.

 

But, overall? The show was just so-so. I'll give it a few more episodes before making a determination to keep or dump.

[threebluestars]

I really liked Maggie Q in this a LOT.

 

What I was ugh on was Dylan McDermott. I just can't take his character as a stalker/budding stalker. It makes him so unlikeable. They really need to iron out that aspect of him because it doesn't work.

[candall]

I found the college-roommate subplot much more interesting than the "Main" story.

 

Me, too.  I went into a word spill earlier, but my point was that "stalking" could cover a lot of interesting ground besides the women-in-peril angle.

[Swansong]

 

I found the college-roommate subplot much more interesting than the "Main" story.

I did too, but it felt like they kind of rushed through it and now have apparently dropped it since that stalker seems to have glommed on to Maggie Q's character. I didn't hate the episode, but I kept feeling like it would have been a much stronger episode if they'd focused on that storyline and dropped the main story.

 

I wouldn't mind D.M's character being a creeper if it felt like they were actually going for that and going somewhere with it. But obviously the idea that he might be a stalker was supposed to be mis-leading or at least we're supposed to think he's not like the others. But I agree right now he just comes off as unappealing.

[Enero]

I watched this and thought it was okay. At this point, I don't know if I'll continue to tune in. Like others the conversation between Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott's character about her wardrobe choices was a huge turnoff for me. Not only was it offensive, but a very disrespectful (and inappropriate) comment to make, especially to his boss.

 

I get the impression that Maggie Q has been stalked before. Didn't she say this earlier in the episode to the college kid who was being stalked? Anyway, I could see what they were trying to get at throughout the episode when they'd show her at home at night shutting all of her curtains and making sure the doors were locked. However, what I couldn't get was why someone who has had "much worse" from a stalker than the college kid, would have all of her curtains wide open and doors unlocked until she decides to hit the hay? Wouldn't she make a point to keep those curtains closed and doors locked at the very least as soon as the sun started to set? Her closing them at bedtime just didn't ring true to me.

 

The scene between Dylan McDermott and who I'm assuming is his ex-wife was horrible, mainly on the wife's front. The actress (don't know her name, but remember her from L&O) was terrible.

 

Lastly, Maggie Q knocking around the college kid stalker was not smart IMO. Yeah it made for a great rah rah moment, a woman who is tough and can kick ass and on top of that is giving the crazy stalker an ass whooping. However, as I was watching it I thought, this is not going to stop this guy from stalking his former roommate. The roommate beat his ass and days later the stalker turned up in the guy's room. If anything I thought it would only inflame the situation. Now he's showing up at her house, and maybe that's what she intended all along to turn his fixation from his former roommate to her. However, even if this was her plan it was a risky move that could yield a number of dangerous responses.

[Brattinella]

Sheer curtains?  Really??  Harumph, show.

[Puffaroo]

Sheer curtains?  Really??  Harumph, show.

 

And the fact that they were open at all.

[iMonrey]

 

But the conversation where he said that he thought she might be open to physical compliments because of the way she was presenting herself wasn't, well, completely wrong.

 

This may be off topic but I tend to think women dress for other women rather than for men. But I don't disagree with your point.

 

I thought the show was OK but nothing special. The reviews were all over the place - some said it was awful and others said it was the scariest thing they'd ever seen on network TV (in a complimentary way, I mean), so I was certainly curious to see it. But it ended up feeling like any other crime procedural IMO. 

 

I do think that Jack was overly aggressive trying to get Beth to like him - or at least the way he kept hounding her about why she didn't like him. That should have raised all kinds of red flags.

[Guest Accused Dingo]

I have an insanely high tolerance for violence/nudity/language on tv. My guage has always been method to madness plus my thing is censorship. I detest the thought any one has the power to determine what i am alloud to watch.

That being said....This is soooo not the show for anyone the least bit squeemish. i liked it though. Not sure how long i wil stick with it though.

[roomtorome]

I would love to see Maggie Q in something else (I loved Nikita) but this dreck is just hideously bad as is DM, as usual.  How this guy keeps having shows thrown at him is the biggest mystery.  I think I've seen basically two expressions on the man in all shows I have seen him in.  Just so odd that when there are so many good actors out there, this guy keeps landing gigs.

 

I hope this thing has a short life - it is offensive on every level - but, then, I feel the same about it's sister sick puppy, Criminal Minds.  

 

If it dies quickly, maybe Maggie Q will have time to get something else, sooner than later.

[Ohwell]

I had never seen or heard of Maggie Q before last night, I'm sick of Dylan McDermott.  I felt like a creepy voyeur watching people get stalked, even though it's just a TV show.  But since I know this kind of stuff happens in real life, I just don't think I can take watching this show regularly.  Maybe I'll watch another episode later on--if the show lasts that long. 

[arjumand]

They need to dump Dylan McDermott.  He was creepier than the unsub.

 

I agree - if not dump him, because he is easy on the eyes, at least dump the really unsympathetic "I'm stalking my ex-wife" storyline.

 

When we first saw him getting dressed for his new job, my first thought was "Are you practising smiling in the mirror? What the actual fuck." I really hated that whole bit, because I suspect the writers meant for him to be sympathetic, and he just comes across as really creepy.

 

The rest was the usual ho-hum storyline - again, it seems to me that the whole "and then he BURNS THEM ALIVE." was there to up the ante, and hook watchers, but it was just too much, too soon. We have many shows that deal with murders, so why did you mix a murder in with the stalking so quickly? And how come they can investigate that - surely once it's murder, it gets bumped to homicide. This annoys me as much as when SVU start investigating murders: that's not your job, people.

 

And we're proponents of the Criminal Minds double standard, I see. Crimes against women = sexual. Crimes against men = nossir, nothing sexual here, nope.

 

I might keep watching the show: I love Maggie Q, and that might make up for all the bullshit. But it already has two strikes: one being the fact that Dyan Mcdermott's character is creepier than the unsubs', and two being the fact that, when you want to use a Radiohead song, use the fucking original, not some terrible cover version.

[mustbekarma]

 

Now he's showing up at her house, and maybe that's what she intended all along to turn his fixation from his former roommate to her. However, even if this was her plan it was a risky move that could yield a number of dangerous responses.

I wonder how many stalkers she's trolled for. I actually think it would be a neat plot twist that she encourages the stalkers to come after her instead of their intended victims. That would be more interesting than her being an "actual" stalking victim.

[Brattinella]

So, is she armed?  Why would you parade in front of diaphanous curtains, wearing very little?  Does she want to lure someone?  If she isn't armed, she is just damned stupid!

[Guest Accused Dingo]

I meant to ask (this reminds be a lot of L&A SVU and Criminal Minds)  Does anyone remember what their initial impression of both shows were.  I know I liked Criminal Minds from the start but SVU was always hit and miss for me; not because of the subject matter but because I never actually liked ,most of the main cast.  

 

This show will live or die by  Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott.  So far I am fine with both of them.  I like that Maggie O's  charactered stalked the stalker and  Medermett has always been good with smarmy Charm.  Everything I have seen him in as of late he has had it.  This character may work for him.  

 

Despite the awful reviews I like the show.  I will ride it until its cancellation,,,,or its rise to CBS heights.  PS I don't understand why reviewers say it hates women.  No more then SVU or other shows that focus on crimes perpetrated on mostly women hate women.  

[Shanna]

They need to dump Dylan McDermott. He was creepier than the unsub.

I hope that is the point personally.

I love Maggie q and wanted to love this but I wish the casting were different. Elizabeth rohn???? That isn't promising.

I know there was a lot of talk of this being exploitive of women but I liked the inclusion of the male victim story. I found that one far more compelling and creepy than the female storyline. More of that and the show might turn out ok.

(And even though I found the whole convo about Maggie's shirt inappropriate, it was not exactly appropriate for the office either. Not because it was silk but because it was awfully low cut)

Edited October 3, 2014 by Shanna

[Calamity Jane]

Not sure I'll watch again.  I liked Maggie Q pretty well, but otherwise the whole thing left me pretty cold.  

[iscoffy]

Of all the people in the world to stalk, McDermott's character is going for the Rohm-bot?  Yikes.

 

This hit too many of the weird notes that Criminal Minds has in the last few seasons.  I hope it can correct and not turn into more torture-porn and one-upmanship with creepy stalkers.  Although as noted, McDermott might be the creepiest stalker to ever stalk.

[Brattinella]

I just read the recap, and was reminded of a question I have:  WTF is a SPIN CLASS?  And a SPIN INSTRUCTOR?  Really?  "Get on the saddle of a stationary bike, ladies.  Now, PEDAL!"  Can I get that job?

[LakeGal]

I didn't mind the show.  I will watch again next week. 

[lucindabelle]

Dear tv writers

Can we please stop with the cop with backstory related to job plot? Can we please stop with the start series with te new hire? Why can't we just have a show about the stalker unit and start in a functioning unit?

Stalker wall? In this day and age? With digital photos? Come on....

And wtf, I disliked him and he wasn't staring at my breasts, I just thought his snarky jokes and attitude were irritating, that's all she had to say.

The thing is of course mild stalking such as looking someone up on fb etc is not harmful. Here are loads of celeb onpbsessed people who are not violent. TV never ever acknowledges that.

And masks and burning alive will give me nightmares...

[thuganomics85]

Of course, this really is a Kevin Williamson joint.  Between this and The Following, he really has gotten a fetish of masked killer, doing horrible acts.

 

Sooo... I guess I did like Maggie Q.  And the stuff involving the college roommate was moderately interesting, even though, of course, I knew Beth "stalking" the stalker, was just going to backfire on her horribly.

 

The rest.... meh.  I do not get the appeal of Dylan McDermott.  Scratch that, I do: he's good-looking.  But, he has to be one of the most limited big-time TV actors out there, who can only do smug and extra smug.  I hope the show wants us to be creeped out and hate Jack, because the dude is just skeevy.  The scene where he was talking about staring at Beth's breasts, was messed up.  I mean, OK, fine: I'll admit that I totally noticed Beth's top was pretty, well, low-cut too.  But, just saying that right up to her like that; his boss none the less; is totally messed up.  And, I felt like I was suppose to find it funny, amusing, and charming on some level. Maybe even cheer him on.  It just doesn't make any sense.  And, did he really think that was the only reason she didn't like him.?  Not his general smarmy attitude during the introduction, or him mocking the stalking issue with cracks about Scarlett Johansson and listing various stalking movies as experience?  Whatever, dude.

 

The main case itself was a bust for me, because I totally knew it was the spin instructor, as soon as he showed up.  Really, the whole thing was easy: the neighbor would be the red herring, Eric Lange/banker was involved, and then, twist!  The spin instructor!  Who can just pop out of hidey holes, and kidnap women, while the cops are only a room away.  Now, that is just like The Following!

 

Finally, Elizabeth Rohm!  The Rohm-bot has returned!  OK, I did like her supporting role in American Hustle, but besides that, she's always be the "Is it because I'm a lesbian?" Rohm-bot from good old Law & Order: OG Edition.

[Shanna]

I forgot Williamson was involved with the following. I had to quit that show because it was so disturbing.

I agree with you about McDermott, I have never enjoyed him as an actor but I am holding out hope he is supposed to be creepy, which would fit. There were a ton of reasons for maggie to dislike him.

Edited October 3, 2014 by Shanna

[shrewd.buddha]

Just a few things :

 

1) Gasoline burns. When the stalker-killer poured it over his head as if it were water, without even squinting his eyes, it looked pretty fake.

 

2) The premise could make for good series. Stalking is a legal gray area which is difficult to prosecute -- but if the show keeps trying to up the ante and becomes violent torture porn ( like Criminal Minds), then I won't be watching on a regular basis. 

 

3) I actually liked that DM's character called out MQ's character on the way she dressed. (Although the dialogue was poor.) Is she a police department leader or a Calvin Klein jeans model? Those pants were skin tight - and even the camera lingered on her flagrantly exposed cleavage. 

It's a bit like Lady Gaga wearing a meat dress and getting upset that someone stares. Would someone actually think they could dress provocatively (for themselves - ugh) but think that only attractive and respectful suitors should be allowed to take notice and make comments? 

[Pepper the Cat]

Sheer curtains?  Really??  Harumph, show.

My thoughts exactly. I'd expect to have at least black out curtains. Or be living on the 20th floor of a secured building

[hilaryvm]

As others have noted, the entire introductory scene between Maggie Q and Dylan McDermott was terrible.  First off, he makes rather terrible jokes.  Then, he compounds his problems by talking about her clothes.  I just wanted her to turn around and say, "I'm not required to like you.  We just have to be professional."  I guess I can understand someone wanting to know why they aren't liked, but she didn't owe it to him.  She just had to not be unprofessional (as his comments were).

 

I actually found parts of this show genuinely creepy.  I will probably stick around for at least a few more episodes.

[Danielg342]

I'm not quite sure where to begin. This was awful. Awful with a capital "A". Okay, maybe I won't capitalize it, but it was still awful.

 

My first impression was all those reports I read about the show having "gratuitous violence against women". I failed to see that...I saw quite a bit of gasoline thrown on victims which implied what was going to happen but we were thankfully spared seeing the women actually burn. That would have been gratuitous...at least the gasoline attacks had plot-relevant points.

 

Now, Maggie Q's character, Beth, punching up the college male's stalker...that was gratuitous. No need to punch the guy up- that was out and out assault, and if the genders were flipped, there'd be an outrage. Plus it was unprofessional (obviously) and it would get any cop fired- I'm pulling no punches (no pun intended) since that's out and out police brutality, and filming that is in pretty bad taste given what happened in Ferguson (among other things). I also don't buy Beth's explanation about why she'd get away- since she had no evidence that the college kid was a stalker, he could go to the police with impunity. So that whole scene was a mess.

 

Other messes...how about the first victim? She's not particularly bright...so UnSub doused your car in gasoline and is throwing matches at it...and you try to get away inside your car? If I was her, if a guy was chucking matches at my car my first instinct would be to get out of the car and run...she was in a neighbourhood, it's not like there wasn't someone that could have intervened and helped her out. I guess UnSub could have stolen the car given that he had the keys...but he wasn't after her car, he was after her. He likely wouldn't have stolen it; and besides, in that scenario, your life is way more important than any material things you might lose.

 

Dylan McDermott...really don't know where to begin with this guy. I agree with the others that this guy was the biggest creep of them all...his character, Jack, was incredibly obsessive and needy, showing no sign of social skills or any kind of tact at all; and he had the patienence and fortitude to become a cop? Seriously? Then we get to his comments about Beth's choice of wardrobe (how was that for lazy writing, sexing her up just so Jack could dress her down?)...I agree with FineWashables that what Jack said was right, but the context was completely inappropriate. As others have said...that's his boss and, not only that, he delivered the lines so smugly and so leery that they came off as awfully disturbing. Jack sounded like he wanted to bed Beth with those words, not level constructive criticism. Considering that Beth had so easily gone to beat up the college kid, I'm not sure why she didn't pop Jack in the jaw.

 

Oh, and while we're talking about Beth and her clothes...did we really need a "mirror" shot where you can see a reflection of her changing her clothes, with her in her underwear? The lowcut blouse was good enough...we didn't need that.

 

The college kids storyline...I thought it was a great idea but poorly executed. They didn't develop it at all. I'm thinking the writers merely put it in there so that people wouldn't complain about the show being "misogynistic", which makes me wonder why they just didn't bother devoting the second episode to that case. If they had cut out those scenes maybe it would have allowed them to better develop the main storyline better.

 

(There was one thing I did like- Maggie Q is great as an actress. I hope she leaves and finds a better show to be a part of, though)

 

Above all else, though, what this show really missed was some self reflection and vulnerability. We got no "nuts and bolts" reasons why the maniacs wanted to hunt these women. I get that one was an affair but why was the other woman picked? Why douse them with gasoline? Do these guys like fire? Were they thinking of the women they were hunting as witches or something? How long have they been following these women for? I think I might have also liked some more "development" scenes where the stalkers see their victims on Facebook or something before actually attacking them, maybe finding out through there where they could attack them next. I also would have liked to have seen the victims react to all the unwanted attention they've been getting, and not leave things so obvious that they'd be killed. The way the victim scenes were filmed, you had no idea if their attacker really was a stalker or just a random killer...it's a gross violation of "show, don't tell".

 

The corollary is Jack's storyline. Now, I like that the show thought of making Jack a stalker himself (making this a case of unknowingly hiring the criminal), but the execution was wrong. Jack never questioned himself or felt remorse over what he was doing, he never really looked longingly or wistfully at his son, we never found out why he can't see his son in the first place. Part of it was the acting, because McDermott had no abiity to show vulerabiliy and sadness, but a large part of it is the writing. I woud have liked to have seen him stalk then confrit his ex in a later episode, which would show the audience that he does know what he's doing.

[Former Nun]

Random thoughts because I'm disappointed. Not much reason for me to keep watching...but I will--at least once more.  I'm not familiar with Maggie Q at all.  At all.  So there's no investment there.  Dylan McDermott outlived his appeal long ago.  Several segments of this show felt like an educational film on stalking.  Maggie Q's last encounter with the college kid made me think this should have been a comic book series. 

What's with the opening/closing of the curtains in Maggie Q's place?  Do stalkers appear only at night?  Is this some ritual to give us a hint that (oh no!) someone is/was/will be stalking her on every episode.  Maggie, close the curtains and leave them closed--you don't seem to be home much anyway.

[SVNBob]

Of all the people in the world to stalk, McDermott's character is going for the Rohm-bot?

Technically, he's stalking the son, as he's the one he claims he wants to see.  Rohm-bot was just the gateway to finding him.

 

Now he's showing up at her house, and maybe that's what she intended all along to turn his fixation from his former roommate to her.

It's absolutely what she intended.  When she "profiled" the college stalker at the school, she said something about how his fixation was based on power and hero-worship.  Her "attack" was calculated to elevate her above the jock as someone of greater power and a better hero to worship.  And given that she's already been a stalking victim (is that the right term?) and is already going through her rituals that began from that time, she is better prepared to handle a new stalker than the jock was.

[Aliasscape]

Really interesting to see the opinions of people who have never seen/heard of Maggie Q before this when she's absolutely the only reason I've given this show a second glance. Maggie spent 5 seasons on CW's Nikita, showing off incredible acting both emotional and physical. I remember tuning into that show having seen plenty of eps of La Femme Nikita and being both shocked and impressed that they had cast someone so different than Peta Wilson. But one episode and it was like oh absolutely. 

 

As I recall, Maggie's time on Nikita, she was the only Asian female lead of a series. (And she was truly the LEAD. Yes there were other characters around but it was Maggie's show, not truly just ensemble.) And she had absolutely no life while filming it because she was such the center focus so I was shocked she leaped into another one hour drama so soon. I figured she had to be really drawn to the character and the script. And I think both her and her character are the best thing about this show (possibly the only good thing about this show.) 

 

I think Dylan McDermott was cast to be exactly the time they wanted. The smug/extra smug...I just finished watching him in Hostages last season and his brand of "acting" is that, stand there and look like he could be about to kill you or about to get a sandwich but that he will be bored by doing either one. I think that's exactly what they wanted. I was like okay, so he's a stalker from his first scene but I had already figured before the end that the woman was his ex-wife and the child was his child. So I entirely agree it's the son he's stalking. I also wonder how many people his character has killed because while I can get you don't have to feel bad about killing a person about to set a woman on fire, I mean there was like blank space nothingness as he pulled that trigger. It was more like he'd turned the channel with a remote than shot someone.

 

I also believe that was exactly Beth's intent, to get the college kid to stalk her. That she would rather draw stalkers attentions to her to keep her vows to the victim that the person won't keep stalking them. I think that's the same reason she keeps her curtains open until nighttime. Because she has to dangle herself out there as the bait for the intended stalker but then take precautions for the night when she'd be most vulnerable.

 

I entirely disagree that the woman should have gone running through her neighborhood hoping random strangers would be able to assist her by the way (which is what most people these days are with their neighbors.)

 

I knew whatever case of the week would be over the top violent to try and draw in the viewers but perhaps light on blood/gore for now. (I mean I think Criminal Minds made it 4 seasons before it turned into what it's become now. I started watching it late and was shocked when I went back and watched the early stuff how much more it was focused on the killer's mindset and psychology, and even keeping the unsub a mystery instead of showing who it was within the first 5 seconds of every episode) 

 

I do think I'm in for as long as this lasts. I agree Maggie probably deserves better.

Edited October 4, 2014 by Aliasscape

[Oscirus]

I'm going to bring up something that will probably get me flamed here, so I'm hesitating to say it, but here goes.  The interaction between Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q regarding her breasts was unnecessary and offensive.  But the conversation where he said that he thought she might be open to physical compliments because of the way she was presenting herself wasn't, well, completely wrong.  Of course every woman should dress to please herself and make herself look good.  That's a given.  If part of that look means your bra is visible under a silk shirt then that's great, you look great, but don't get on your high horse about how inappropriate it is for a man to notice when a beautiful woman exposes her underwear.  Men look at breasts.  If Betty White was walking around with her bra showing, men would look.  Because boobs.  And now I'll go put on my asbestos hazmat suit.

 

Three problems with that:

1. She wasn't on her high horse. He bought up that particular fact about staring at her breasts, not her. As a matter of fact, she wasn't even pissed at him because of that. If anything, he made that situation uncomfortable by being so crass about it.

2. Even if one didn't apply there's still the fact that there's fraternization/sexual harassment rules in the workplace for a reason. The  men look at breasts/ I thought she wanted me to notice her breasts excuse doesn't fly. She's his boss, hence, she's due some respect due to the nature of the job.

3. Even if we ignore all of that, the theory that Maggie's  character's clothing emphasizing her breasts somehow removes Dylan's agency, because he's a man and men stare at breast is a fairly dangerous message to put out there, especially on a show about stalking.

 

This show was just so eager to get to the jump scares that it forget to insert it's common sense. Cop knows that a woman is in danger. Instead of checking the room that she's in to make sure there's nothing dangerous there, he merely cracks the door. We're also supposed to believe that in being kidnapped, said victim didn't struggle enough to make any noise. So he basically put his hand over her mouth lifted her over his head and jumped down into the hole without making a sound?

Finally who in their right mind would confront  the man stalking her and her son alone like that? If anything she should have reported his ass as soon as she saw him. Does she really think that giving him a stern lecture is going to stop the behavior?

 

It's a very sloppy show hand wrapped in some fairly pretty packaging.

[Shanna]

I think Dylan's character being inappropriate with Maggie is on purpose. Maybe I'm giving this show too much credit, but he was shown to be a stalker as well and in the interview was constantly saying the wrong thing. I think he's supposed to be "off" and that's part of it.

I agree that it's interesting to see what people unfamiliar with Maggie will think of her. She is the sole reason I'm watching this show and I think a stalking show has the potential to be fantastically creepy and NOT gory if they do it right. If they can make this an old school noirish creepy thriller I will be thrilled. I don't know if that's what they are going to go for but I will give it a few episodes because of Maggie and the promise shown with the roommate situation.

The gasoline/guy with a mask stuff seems all a Williamson scream shoutout, so maybe it won't be a recurring feature.

[Danielg342]

I entirely disagree that the woman should have gone running through her neighborhood hoping random strangers would be able to assist her by the way (which is what most people these days are with their neighbors.)

 

Her chances of survival are much higher than staying inside a burning car. Plus, if it were me and I saw a woman screaming for help and- most importantly, smelling of gasoline (which, if I'm not mistaken, you can smell from pretty far away, given just how much was poured)- I'd at least be calling "911" right away.

[cynic]

Like a few others, I gave this show a shot because of Maggie Q. However, I don't think she's quite enough to overcome my dislike of McDermott and Rohm. I hope sometime in the future that she ends up in a show as enjoyable as the first two seasons of Nikita.

Minor nitpick: It always makes me roll my eyes when people are able to escape attackers due to ultra fast closing elevator doors. An arthritic sloth could follow me into my work elevator and I swear the Door Close button is attached to nothing.

[Happytobehere]

This merely an okay show. I will give it my usual three episode viewing, but unless things pick up quality wise. However, it will likely be unable to overcome the awful non-acting of McDermott and Rohm. No wonder they were a couple. Their robot senses must have gone into hyperdrive when they were introduced. As it stands, Stalker will likely be deleted from my DVR.