(Instincts/Memoriam (I mean, I see what they were trying to do, but it didn't work for me) and (unpopular fandom opinions!) Zoe's Reprise and Demonology (1)) drag the season down for me
Ahh yeah, this I agree with. There were quite a few forgettable episodes. I don't know why The Big Wheel has such a fandom following--is it b/c of Alex O'Loughlin? Because the episode itself was pretty underwhelming to me. "Conflicted" is only saved b/c it's so lulzy, but I wouldn't call it a good episode by any means. It just makes me laugh at how ridiculous it is. "Demonology" and "Zoe's Reprise" both sucked balls, so agreed there. Hmm, now I wonder why I like S4 so much. Maybe it's b/c the strong episodes managed to overshadow the weak ones?
I guess for me it's a "better than the others" sort of thing rather than S4 in itself being that strong. It's the most Reid and Prentiss-heavy season which is probably why it's so popular in the fandom, but I don't particularly care for either of those characters, so not much in it for me. But it still pulls ahead of S2 b/c I hated Elle's exit arc (and S2 hair) so much, the interim episodes before Prentiss's arrival were pretty shit save for "North Mammon" and I thought Frank was almost as awful of a villain as Foyet. CM really does fail at recurring villains, now that I think about it. I kind of wish that I wouldn't keep analyzing it b/c it seems the more I do that, the more it falls apart. S3 and S1 are the only seasons that actually seem to grow stronger with extended analysis.
I'm trying to think of any really strong shows that lasted more than 6-7 seasons, and it seems that the only ones that do tend to undergo major cast changes (usually around the S6-7 mark) and by the time you hit that point most of the diehards have lost interest anyway. The thing is though, that I was talking about in woodchoc's LJ is that these changes are usually brought about by actors wanting out. The fact that neither AJ nor Paget wanted out (at least at the time) is causing a lot of bitterness and while actors wanting out kind of forces fans to accept cast changes (why I don't feel bitter about Elle leaving, although I still hate how they wrote her out), an unforced change like this is going to meet with resistance. I'm unsure how much fan pandering played into the creators' refusal to replace JJ, but firing her and then not replacing her is, IMO, the biggest fuck-up they would've made. JJ was sadly underused, but her role is necessary, and by getting rid of her and not replacing her (and using her absence as an excuse to feature Garcia more in tasks she is completely unqualified and untrained for) completely negates the existence of the character at all and negates the entire Jordan Todd arc. Had they left things as is, people might have stuck around despite the decline in writing, but CM really shot itself in the foot with this decision. I almost wish I could trade it for Fringe (which is more than likely going to get cancelled), b/c CM's just dying already and Fringe seems to finally be coming into its own. Sigh (yes ik, diff networks and shit but you know what I mean).
I thought Frank was almost as awful of a villain as Foyet.
Pfft, Frank. I do like some of the surrounding story (JJ saves the day! By the power of ~research~!), "this time we DON'T split up", Morgan and the messenger kid, nice shots in the train station.
I don't know why The Big Wheel has such a fandom following--is it b/c of Alex O'Loughlin?
That's been my assumption. I am like whatevs, personally.
I am ensaddened by the network shenanigans with Fringe. It has SO MUCH FURTHER POTENTIAL FOR AWESOME.
Ahh yeah, this I agree with. There were quite a few forgettable episodes. I don't know why The Big Wheel has such a fandom following--is it b/c of Alex O'Loughlin? Because the episode itself was pretty underwhelming to me. "Conflicted" is only saved b/c it's so lulzy, but I wouldn't call it a good episode by any means. It just makes me laugh at how ridiculous it is. "Demonology" and "Zoe's Reprise" both sucked balls, so agreed there. Hmm, now I wonder why I like S4 so much. Maybe it's b/c the strong episodes managed to overshadow the weak ones?
I guess for me it's a "better than the others" sort of thing rather than S4 in itself being that strong. It's the most Reid and Prentiss-heavy season which is probably why it's so popular in the fandom, but I don't particularly care for either of those characters, so not much in it for me. But it still pulls ahead of S2 b/c I hated Elle's exit arc (and S2 hair) so much, the interim episodes before Prentiss's arrival were pretty shit save for "North Mammon" and I thought Frank was almost as awful of a villain as Foyet. CM really does fail at recurring villains, now that I think about it. I kind of wish that I wouldn't keep analyzing it b/c it seems the more I do that, the more it falls apart. S3 and S1 are the only seasons that actually seem to grow stronger with extended analysis.
I'm trying to think of any really strong shows that lasted more than 6-7 seasons, and it seems that the only ones that do tend to undergo major cast changes (usually around the S6-7 mark) and by the time you hit that point most of the diehards have lost interest anyway. The thing is though, that I was talking about in woodchoc's LJ is that these changes are usually brought about by actors wanting out. The fact that neither AJ nor Paget wanted out (at least at the time) is causing a lot of bitterness and while actors wanting out kind of forces fans to accept cast changes (why I don't feel bitter about Elle leaving, although I still hate how they wrote her out), an unforced change like this is going to meet with resistance. I'm unsure how much fan pandering played into the creators' refusal to replace JJ, but firing her and then not replacing her is, IMO, the biggest fuck-up they would've made. JJ was sadly underused, but her role is necessary, and by getting rid of her and not replacing her (and using her absence as an excuse to feature Garcia more in tasks she is completely unqualified and untrained for) completely negates the existence of the character at all and negates the entire Jordan Todd arc. Had they left things as is, people might have stuck around despite the decline in writing, but CM really shot itself in the foot with this decision. I almost wish I could trade it for Fringe (which is more than likely going to get cancelled), b/c CM's just dying already and Fringe seems to finally be coming into its own. Sigh (yes ik, diff networks and shit but you know what I mean).
Reply
Pfft, Frank. I do like some of the surrounding story (JJ saves the day! By the power of ~research~!), "this time we DON'T split up", Morgan and the messenger kid, nice shots in the train station.
I don't know why The Big Wheel has such a fandom following--is it b/c of Alex O'Loughlin?
That's been my assumption. I am like whatevs, personally.
I am ensaddened by the network shenanigans with Fringe. It has SO MUCH FURTHER POTENTIAL FOR AWESOME.
Reply
Leave a comment