Tv debriefing before I go
First my reaction on the latest Being Human episode, "The longest day".
I wasn't too keen on Herrick's resurrection in season 2's finale, it seemed unnecessary and too easy a twist (and I would rather have Ivan back!) but I must admit that Herrick's return was very well done in this episode. Now that was refreshing and clever writing. The actor playing Herrick was excellent (better than when he played Herrick before) I loved the mix of tragedy, comedy, mostly provided by the arrival of the social worker, and dark drama. And how Nina's character summed it up, going from "in charge and compassionate Dr Nina" to "manipulative and kick-ass Nina" to "manipulated, devastated and fragile Nina". One of the best episodes of the series, perhaps the best.
Still catching up on the season 2 of The Good Wife.
So far on The Good Wife we've had: Frank Sobotka, Judge Phelan, Burrel, Chris, Kima and Bodie from The Wire! Who's next? Freemon? Tommy Carcetti? Omar?*
BTW I've just seen "On Tap", which of course resonated with The Wire echoes, except that it was filled with a few lame tricks that The Wire would never have done.
For instance Alicia listening to the conversation between Will and his buddy about the message Eli deleted. I just knew she would hear something like that; it was phoned (pun intended) but, above all, it was quite melodramatic in the way it was executed on screen (the music, her emotional reaction, the slow-mo afterwards), but even lamer was Tammy's entrance just when Alicia were about to ask Will a question! The cliffhanger couldn't have been more cliched!
It's those kinds of episodes that show the difference between a network show like The Good Wife that, no matter how good it is and the real qualities it shows, cannot escape from a few tv cliches and has to tone down some stuff, and a daring cable series like The Wire.
Also, the Kalinda vs Blake storyline continues to leave me un-interested, apart from the Cary/Kalinda scenes that ensue, because those two have great chemistry on screen, and the scenes help to explore the characters of Kalinda and Cary. But that Blake guy just doesn't work. I didn't like the actor who plays him when he wa son caprica and I think he's the main problem here too.
However, I liked how both Alicia and Kalinda were focused on" the man who's always on their mind", for different reasons, the camera showing us their point of view until the two men appeared in the same frame, chatting together, while the women were close to each other but alone with their thoughts, insulated. It was nicely executed.
I enjoyed the return of In-My-Opinion Judge and Will's reaction when he saw her (just as I love his "yeah I'm the man" from the previous episode). But then, I love about everything that Will does because he's a complex, multi-layered and multi-faceted character. Eli has really grown on me. AlanCumming was a great fun to watch since day one but his character is now more interesting, slowly fleshed-out and it's good.
But I'm a bit worried about Diane's plan to leave and build her own firm. I love Diane and Will together. They are my favourite characters; their partnership is the core of the show as much as Alicia's character, and their evening banters from season 1 were my favourite moments. I'm ready to have the Alicia/Will romance fall through (even though I much prefer Alicia around Will than as Peter's good wife) but I don't want to see Diane and Will breaking up!
I don't think I will have time to post tomorrow, and I am not sure I will have Internet access in Tangiers, so see you all on the 5th of March when I'm back from Morocco!
*ETA: I'm now watching episode 9, and the new guest star from The Wire is Cutty !
I wasn't too keen on Herrick's resurrection in season 2's finale, it seemed unnecessary and too easy a twist (and I would rather have Ivan back!) but I must admit that Herrick's return was very well done in this episode. Now that was refreshing and clever writing. The actor playing Herrick was excellent (better than when he played Herrick before) I loved the mix of tragedy, comedy, mostly provided by the arrival of the social worker, and dark drama. And how Nina's character summed it up, going from "in charge and compassionate Dr Nina" to "manipulative and kick-ass Nina" to "manipulated, devastated and fragile Nina". One of the best episodes of the series, perhaps the best.
Still catching up on the season 2 of The Good Wife.
So far on The Good Wife we've had: Frank Sobotka, Judge Phelan, Burrel, Chris, Kima and Bodie from The Wire! Who's next? Freemon? Tommy Carcetti? Omar?*
BTW I've just seen "On Tap", which of course resonated with The Wire echoes, except that it was filled with a few lame tricks that The Wire would never have done.
For instance Alicia listening to the conversation between Will and his buddy about the message Eli deleted. I just knew she would hear something like that; it was phoned (pun intended) but, above all, it was quite melodramatic in the way it was executed on screen (the music, her emotional reaction, the slow-mo afterwards), but even lamer was Tammy's entrance just when Alicia were about to ask Will a question! The cliffhanger couldn't have been more cliched!
It's those kinds of episodes that show the difference between a network show like The Good Wife that, no matter how good it is and the real qualities it shows, cannot escape from a few tv cliches and has to tone down some stuff, and a daring cable series like The Wire.
Also, the Kalinda vs Blake storyline continues to leave me un-interested, apart from the Cary/Kalinda scenes that ensue, because those two have great chemistry on screen, and the scenes help to explore the characters of Kalinda and Cary. But that Blake guy just doesn't work. I didn't like the actor who plays him when he wa son caprica and I think he's the main problem here too.
However, I liked how both Alicia and Kalinda were focused on" the man who's always on their mind", for different reasons, the camera showing us their point of view until the two men appeared in the same frame, chatting together, while the women were close to each other but alone with their thoughts, insulated. It was nicely executed.
I enjoyed the return of In-My-Opinion Judge and Will's reaction when he saw her (just as I love his "yeah I'm the man" from the previous episode). But then, I love about everything that Will does because he's a complex, multi-layered and multi-faceted character. Eli has really grown on me. AlanCumming was a great fun to watch since day one but his character is now more interesting, slowly fleshed-out and it's good.
But I'm a bit worried about Diane's plan to leave and build her own firm. I love Diane and Will together. They are my favourite characters; their partnership is the core of the show as much as Alicia's character, and their evening banters from season 1 were my favourite moments. I'm ready to have the Alicia/Will romance fall through (even though I much prefer Alicia around Will than as Peter's good wife) but I don't want to see Diane and Will breaking up!
I don't think I will have time to post tomorrow, and I am not sure I will have Internet access in Tangiers, so see you all on the 5th of March when I'm back from Morocco!
*ETA: I'm now watching episode 9, and the new guest star from The Wire is Cutty !