Notorious - General Discussion

[formerlyfreedom]

When a beloved rock star/humanitarian falls into a coma, Julia puts her job on the line to air a tape showing him taking advantage of a woman backstage at one of his concerts. Jake represents the woman who gave the controversy-stirring tape to LHL. Meanwhile, Louise is uncharacteristically unnerved by a news story; Ella helps Ryan track the origins of the mysterious photos sent to Julia; and stunning news is revealed about Oscar during an interview with Sarah's brother.

 

[zxy556575]

On 9/30/2016 at 0:13 AM, Lady Calypso said:

I'm enjoying the show for what it is. Even if fake kidnapping mom was so stiff in her role. 

She was awful! Good grief.

I'm hoping the show isn't cancelled before we find out why Jake and Julia are so never-lie-to-you, ride-or-die tight. I also may be terribly naive to believe there is one.

3 hours ago, Empress1 said:

What was the point of Diddy? He just needed something to do, or what?

Ha! That was so random. If Louise is so dumb that she needs to be reminded what time her show is on the air and how long hair and makeup take, she can pack her lacy bras and go away.

Edited October 1, 2016 by lordonia

[queenanne]

On 9/23/2016 at 1:17 PM, GussieK said:

Boring and pointless.  Could not follow plot.  Did not care.  Gave up after 15 minute.  Will not be back.

I don't watch the other Shonda shows for the same reason.  They misrepresent what lawyers do and everyone talks too fast.  This covers up that there is a lack of continuity or sense in the plot, IMHO.

 

On 9/23/2016 at 4:17 PM, AuntiePam said:

Yup.  Talking too fast is a bugaboo of mine, along with an unnecessarily fast pace.  Fast pacing is usually a cover-up for a plot full of holes -- if we aren't given time to think, we won't think.  Unrealistic dialogue is another pet peeve -- people just aren't that witty and quick with the comebacks.  I like ABC's sitcoms but haven't liked any of their dramas for a long time.  Too shiny, too many upscale beautiful people.

Yeah, this doohickey is what I think they call "high concept", a la "Life on Mars" - sounds great but unsustainable as a long-term premise with week-to-week storylines.  It had some snappy writing and IMDB has it as first credit for the female co-showrunner, so I'd like to see it succeed on general principles; but if the entire plot and Perabo's getting any sort of guest is going to hinge on "Daniel Sunjata will agree to have his clients show up on TV when he knows ahead of time they're going to be accused of something, but plan is to have guest shanghaied" - which is a well they already went to twice in the first episode of the series - does not bode well.

[Feline Queen]

I wonder if Louise referred to Sean 'Diddy' Combs as Puff Daddy because nobody would recognize him if she called him Sean? Speaking of Louise, can she be any more of a cliche? 

Phone calls from prison inmates are recorded and then reviewed, they wouldn't (or shouldn't) need to wait until someone points it out that an inmate has been making threats. And I doubt that would garner the guy another 17 years in prison. The mom was willing to give her baby to someone else to raise, so maybe she should stick with that plan. I recognized grandma as the actress who played Susan Sharon on Sex & The City. 

[Dowel Jones]

In addition, phone calls from prison are usually collect, as the state isn't going to foot the bill.  You have to be a bit stupid to take abuse on a collect call.

[KDB]

Interesting to learn a little more about Louise's backstory and that she did work as a serious journalist. 

[Lady Calypso]

The first half of the episode was slow but the last half was pretty good. I liked seeing Louise's story; they gave her layers that worked. I'm guessing her relationship with Julia is going to be rocky for a while. 

Ella/Ryan? Bleh. I'm not interested in that at all. I wish shows like this would avoid the obviously cliched romances. What a twist it could be if Ella was in a relationship with a woman or just not interested in Ryan at all. Because I could like both if there wasn't romance attached.

Duh. Of course Levi has been catfishing Oscar. Probably because he's in love with him, because that's also cliche. 

[Free]

2 hours ago, KDB said:

Interesting to learn a little more about Louise's backstory and that she did work as a serious journalist. 

She's honestly the only interesting character so far, almost everything else has been shallow and cliched.

[formerlyfreedom]

After Megan provides Julia with breaking news about a murdered college football player, a young man is accused of killing the student via an app which allows users to broadcast anonymous messages. Jake decides to take on the case once he learns the suspect is the son of a high school friend. Meanwhile, Levi is troubled by photos and information revealed during Oscar's interview from jail,

[Chaos Theory]

Well the show did some serious Bill Cosbying.  

Louise's backstory was nice and she had some good points.  She had never said no to a story before so the one time she did should have meant something.  Plus it goes a long way to explain her man eating ways and fills in a lot what has been a one note character.

Edited October 7, 2016 by Chaos Theory

[Eolivet]

I've been hate-watching this with my friend who's in the TV news business, and I thought this was probably the best episode yet (which is not saying much). I actually thought they did the Cosby story better than Scandal did, and the twist at the end was good (she drugged him! Whoa!)

Louise's ending monologue, albeit way too long and cliched, was also performed well. I continue to enjoy that actress, and I like they're giving her a bit more depth. "I've never asked you to kill a story." Wow.

As for the Jake portion (which, IMO, continues to drag the show down), the "That's no porn star, it's a MAN, BABY!" of it all was exceedingly predictable. Can we lose Jake and the whole law firm and make this show the glammed-up Newsroom it was always meant to be?

[NorthstarATL]

If you've ever ANY other TV it was easy to see everything that happened from a mile away. As soon as Louise had qualms about the beheading you knew it would involve a personal story. the only surprise was that the journalist in question was not the one with whom she'd been involved. And, while I like Julia being called out on her tunnel vision, Louise could have explained, rather than nixing the story altogether, which I doubt she'd be permitted to do, that she would rather have someone else do the segment, since it was too emotional for her. Also, while it's good to flesh out her character, there's nothing wrong with a raging hedonist who has no deep-rooted psychological trauma as reason for being that way.

  The kiss to distract a discovery may be the oldest cliche on TV, but it's Ryan Guzman, so that scene gets a pass from me, because I am shallow like that.

  It was also obvious that, in the third episode of a series, that the main character would not be apologizing on air, so finding victims to come forward was an easy way for her to back up the use of the video.

  It's a pretty show, but everything is so tired. They need to step up their game if they're going to attempt to be relevant.

[Free]

Quote

It's a pretty show, but everything is so tired. They need to step up their game if they're going to attempt to be relevant.

It's too glossy and shallow and it doesn't help that most of the characters and bland and going through the motions.

[callie lee 29]

I still enjoy this little fluffly fun. Was afraid I'd miss it last night since every.single. channel. had. weather. (Central FL) - luckily Gainesville ABC HD came through! And the power stayed on. 

I really liked the exchange between Louise and Julia and that Julia looks down on Louise. She may be a  borderline, pill-popping drunk who likes to sleep around, but if she's got that show with that much clout/ratings (or what we've been led to believe) she's gotta have some chops. You would think Jules should know/remember that. 

[Lady Calypso]

3 hours ago, Eolivet said:

As for the Jake portion (which, IMO, continues to drag the show down), the "That's no porn star, it's a MAN, BABY!" of it all was exceedingly predictable. Can we lose Jake and the whole law firm and make this show the glammed-up Newsroom it was always meant to be?

I wish, but clearly we won't. Really, all they need to do is lose Ella and Jake's brother and I'll be more content with Jake's portions. I appreciate Ella being a go-getter and a successful young woman, but I just don't want her sappy romance with Ryan. At least with Ryan, he has his daddy issues that could be semi-interesting for Julia's portion. I just need more for Ella to make me care for her. But Jake's brother can either be the bad guy or just not appear on my screen. I didn't even miss him this episode, which is sad because I adore J August Richards. I also like Kevin Zegers but Oscar does nothing for me, so his whole trial is mostly uninteresting for me. 

It's definitely a paint-by-numbers type of show. Basically, if you've seen any other TV show like this, you can guess the outcome pretty easily. For example, Oscar's best friend catfishing Oscar? He's probably in love with Oscar and it'll take him all of next episode to admit it. Ryan/Ella are going to hook up but there's going to be sexual tension and "will they/won't they" plastered throughout the season, because it's not going to be that easy to just let them date in the background. Oscar will find out by the ninth episode about Sarah's affair with Jake and he'll fire him as his lawyer, only to have something uber dramatic happen that will have Oscar forgiving Jake by the finale. Julia or Jake will probably have to lie to the other in a Really Big Lie that'll have them get into a major fight for a few episodes. 

I've figured out about 90% of the "twists"/mysteries thus far. It would be nice if these twists could actually be twists. 

[portfino]

Quote

I'm not interested in that at all. I wish shows like this would avoid the obviously cliched romances. What a twist it could be if Ella was in a relationship with a woman or just not interested in Ryan at all. Because I could like both if there wasn't romance attached.

I think they want to string out Julia/Jake so they felt obligated to bring the Beta couple together faster. Little do they know, no one cares about Jake/Julia. Yes, we all want the show to drop the legal procedural and give us a campy version of The Newsroom, but these people won't give it to us.

How could they give the male model from The Price Is Right only one line?

[Dowel Jones]

6 hours ago, NorthstarATL said:

The kiss to distract a discovery may be the oldest cliche on TV,

They glossed over the fact that she arrived in her own car, and left in his, thereby leaving her car there, for at least awhile.  Cop runs the plate, finds out it belongs to a junk news lady, and relays that information on to the resident (because the rich do get special privilege). Plus they have to come back and get it, the the neighborhood Gladys sees them there again.  More problems.

[KaveDweller]

2 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

They glossed over the fact that she arrived in her own car, and left in his, thereby leaving her car there, for at least awhile.  Cop runs the plate, finds out it belongs to a junk news lady, and relays that information on to the resident (because the rich do get special privilege). Plus they have to come back and get it, the the neighborhood Gladys sees them there again.  More problems.

She works for the lawyer, not the news lady, and the layer works for Oscar's company. It seems reasonable to tell the neighbor the car belonged to a lawyer working with the best friend. Especially if she goes in and talks to the friend when she goes back to get the car.

[Cabarb]

I can't actually pinpoint what Piper Perabo has done to her face.  Maybe it's the lips?? Either way, she needs to break up with her plastic surgeon for awhile.

[shapeshifter]

11 hours ago, Cabarb said:

I can't actually pinpoint what Piper Perabo has done to her face.  Maybe it's the lips?? Either way, she needs to break up with her plastic surgeon for awhile.

I think it's just being 39. I'm now 63 and recall my face changing. It did make me sad that she no longer looks the ingenue, but that's life.

[Free]

On 10/7/2016 at 4:54 PM, portfino said:

I think they want to string out Julia/Jake so they felt obligated to bring the Beta couple together faster. Little do they know, no one cares about Jake/Julia. Yes, we all want the show to drop the legal procedural and give us a campy version of The Newsroom, but these people won't give it to us.

How could they give the male model from The Price Is Right only one line?

It would help if there was something of actual substance for the characters/couple, it's part of the problem with most of the show being too shallow and surface level.

[romantic idiot]

I'm actually sold on Jake/Julia friend chemistry and now don't want them to get together. And am kinda shipping Ryan/Julia. 

[KDB]

Finding out that the young lawyer Ella lives in a motel room was a surprise. I continue to enjoy the relationship between Julia and Jake. Also liked seeing seeing Louise and Julia bonding, especially at the restaurant.

[NorthstarATL]

It was so obvious that boybun was the killer, because there was no point to his character otherwise! That's just lazy writing. As was the last scene. I thought we knew last week that Levi was in love with Keaton, but maybe it needed Julia spelling it out? And the hopelessly-in-love gay best friend is such a throwback! But I'll give them a pass, in that GLAAD put a stop to those depictions so long ago that a new generation might find it surprising. And the text Teagarden and Guzman sent to the pep rally was so clunky and obviously not the way an actual student would write it that I am surprised those two fell for it, AND stood up and ran out in front of the entire school! They may get off on the hazing charge because they should be able to prove brain damage from THEIR hazing!

[Free]

12 hours ago, NorthstarATL said:

It was so obvious that boybun was the killer, because there was no point to his character otherwise! That's just lazy writing. As was the last scene. I thought we knew last week that Levi was in love with Keaton, but maybe it needed Julia spelling it out? And the hopelessly-in-love gay best friend is such a throwback! But I'll give them a pass, in that GLAAD put a stop to those depictions so long ago that a new generation might find it surprising. And the text Teagarden and Guzman sent to the pep rally was so clunky and obviously not the way an actual student would write it that I am surprised those two fell for it, AND stood up and ran out in front of the entire school! They may get off on the hazing charge because they should be able to prove brain damage from THEIR hazing!

Definitely obvious, everyone else was pretty much accounted for except him.

[formerlyfreedom]

Jake and Julia search for the biological parents of an unborn baby. Meanwhile, Julia worries if a scathing LHL interview triggered a horrific incident; and Oscar learns the truth about Sarah and Jake’s affair.

 

[biakbiak]

On 10/13/2016 at 9:05 PM, KDB said:

Finding out that the young lawyer Ella lives in a motel room was a surprise. I continue to enjoy the relationship between Julia and Jake. Also liked seeing seeing Louise and Julia bonding, especially at the restaurant.

Except that her hotel room was the size of and as nice as many LA one bedroom apartments so it made no sense. Seriously even with an efficency kitchen that place in certain areas could be $2,000 plus.

[Lady Calypso]

16 hours ago, biakbiak said:

Except that her hotel room was the size of and as nice as many LA one bedroom apartments so it made no sense. Seriously even with an efficency kitchen that place in certain areas could be $2,000 plus.

I agree. The moment Ella opened the door to her place, I thought that it was a nice looking motel room. I'm guessing she's done renovations over the years that she's been there. I'm just surprised that she's allowed to just live there. 

For some reason, I'm still in. The show isn't great and the scene transitions give me a mild headache, but I'm still somewhat interested in watching. 

[Empress1]

On 10/16/2016 at 0:55 AM, biakbiak said:

Except that her hotel room was the size of and as nice as many LA one bedroom apartments so it made no sense. Seriously even with an efficency kitchen that place in certain areas could be $2,000 plus.

I didn't understand that either. She has a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bathroom. I can name a dozen people off the top of my head who have lived in places smaller than hers. I don't think she has a kitchen and that would bug the fuck out of me, but other than that it's basically a one-bedroom. She's not living in a "Nickel and Dimed" motel room. She could rent an actual one-bedroom and just not furnish it, if living in unfinished spaces feels better for her. I initially thought she was homeless when she wanted to meet at the office but then I was like, she drives an Audi convertible so if she's homeless she has questionable priorities. It was just a weird piece of character development.

On 10/16/2016 at 5:07 PM, Lady Calypso said:

I agree. The moment Ella opened the door to her place, I thought that it was a nice looking motel room. I'm guessing she's done renovations over the years that she's been there. I'm just surprised that she's allowed to just live there. 

If she pays, they'd let her live there. You can rent motel rooms by the week but they're usually shitty. There was a documentary about families living in motels in Orange County. And on the flip side, you read about wealthy people living in luxury hotels. As long as your room is paid for, I don't think they ask many questions.

[formerlyfreedom]

After his affair with Sarah is exposed on live TV, Jake learns a troubling secret about his former lover and is blindsided by new allegations. Meanwhile, the media fervor over a wealthy missing girl prompts Julia to undertake a personal search for a lesser-known victim whose life is in danger.

[KaveDweller]

I thought it was pretty obvious the fertility lawyer was conning everyone, but I still thought it was an interesting case. Julia's show and people use it to their advantage gives this show a different angle than most other lawyer shows. I'm still enjoying it for pure entertainment purposes.

But the ongoing drama with Oscar is the least interesting to me.

[Free]

Quote

But the ongoing drama with Oscar is the least interesting to me.

Agreed, Oscar isn't that interesting and the storyline already feels dragged out.

[NorthstarATL]

It's Barry from Tyrant! He cleaned up nicely to become Julia's love interest, whose targeting of Jake will be a stumbling block to their bliss. Interesting that Ella is back at work and doing things, while Ryan wasn't even at the office. Is he still waiting in bed? Cleaning her hotel room? Oh, and we get a bit of explanation about Jake's family.

[Artsda]

I liked seeing  President Bassam on this show, good casting for DA. 

[tvfanatic13]

4 replies. I guess only 5 of us are watching this show.

[gazebo]

I like this case of the week.  I'm a sucker for happy adoption stories.

I was getting a little bored with the Keating murder mystery but I've perked up again knowing that Jake will be getting in trouble with the D.A.  I like seeing the smug knocked off his face once in a while.

I'd I were Julia I'd throw away those blood stained suede shoes instead of washing it.  I'm sure she makes enough money that she can afford to buy new shoes.

[KDB]

I like Julia's character so far. She works hard for her show, but she is also able to apologize to people when she thinks she has hurt someone (e.g., Louise, DA, Jake). 

[romantic idiot]

I just wish Piper wasn't playing her as perpetually frazzled. Even when she's winning.

[shapeshifter]

6 hours ago, tvfanatic13 said:

4 replies. I guess only 5 of us are watching this show.

I'm still watching, but there's not much to say about it.

[alias1]

I had to catch up with it On Demand.  For some reason my dvr didn't tape it.  I like it.  And I like Piper Perabo.  I'm not that crazy about the male lead.  I agree that Oscar is just not that interesting.  And yes, Julia should have thrown away the shoes.  Aren't they ruined anyway?

[twoods]

I think it was cathartic for her to clean the shoes. It was her way of finally dealing with watching Leo kill himself.

I liked the case of the week, especially happy ending adoptions. I am also liking Julia's new love interest. Too bad there is dramaz now that he's going after Jake. And thank you for not going there yet with Julia and Jake, show. Loving their friendship.

More shirtless Ryan, please.

[romantic idiot]

20 hours ago, twoods said:

More shirtless Ryan, please.

Seconded. Preferably with Julia around.

[Twilight Man]

Notorious Episodes Order Cut Down

Congrats!!  You've just been Player -ed!!!!

Next stop - Cancellation  -  Eventually

[tessaforever]

My undying love for Piper Perabo is keeping me watching this show (I was a Covert Affairs fangirl). I like the new love interest - I hope the tension continues for awhile before any kind of consummation. I like Ella and Ryan together but I wish they hadn't gotten together so soon. 

As a homeschooling mom I like the fact that Ella was homeschooled. Although it seems like it was done because her mom was unstable, at least Ella did turn out well and has a successful career. 

[KDB]

So is Julia's dinner date with the DA still on? I wonder if that letter from the self storage locker company was some kind of set up.

[Free]

16 minutes ago, KDB said:

So is Julia's dinner date with the DA still on? I wonder if that letter from the self storage locker company was some kind of set up.

It's definitely too convenient.

The ending was kinda sad for a show like this.

[Dowel Jones]

I can't believe that the lawyer would not have seen that knife in plain view in the storage unit, as shown after the police raided the place. 

I hope that all hell rains down on Louise and anyone else involved in that episode of LHL that gave away the secret of the girl's porn site, which appears to have led directly to her death.

[KDB]

It wasn't Louise that reported the girl's porn site. It was Callie, the other show. 

Julia is a brave woman to investigate sources alone at night. She needs someone like Kalinda from the Good Wife to do that sort of thing.

[shapeshifter]

3 hours ago, KDB said:

...Julia is a brave woman to investigate sources alone at night. She needs someone like Kalinda from the Good Wife to do that sort of thing.

I was thinking that she could've at least put her long blond hair up — even better under a cap. And was she wearing a skirt? I think it's great that these days the mantra is that a woman's attire in no way makes it her fault if she is sexually assaulted, but there is no way I could've outrun my knife wielding, wannabe assailant in the 70s in heels.

[tessaforever]

I knew I knew the mom of the missing blond girl from somewhere...forced myself to keep thinking about it during the whole show and not look it up. Finally it clicked - she was the annoying best friend to Eva Mendes in Hitch!