I'm with you. We had to endure creepy guy Russell in every episode to varying degrees and that character may bring the disturbing, but has zero appeal and charisma IMHO. Why not minimize him?
Regina King is a good actress, but we've had Lydia in every episode, even when certain actions, such as a veteran officer and detective not understanding all the drawbacks of the department and system she works in and represents (this couldn't have been her first or even 10th case with an unknown victim, even if it did frustrate her) don't add up. There's a difference between being righteous and upset at the confines she has to face and another to seem too naive for her position and not want to answer calls or pressure other co-workers.
Anyway, my point is that it's possible to include characters in each episode even if they're not the A plot and at the forefront. I, for one, wanted some continuation from last week while the interactions and emotions were most fresh. Not capitalizing on that seems like a mistake. And it seems that others (besides me!) really respond to the Ben/Cooper dynamic- or else they wouldn't be featured so prominently in promotions.
And I'm preaching to the choir! Thanks for the soap box vent? I'd had a crazy week and wasn't expecting a letdown episode. As you say, ensembles can be tricky, I just hope they strike a balance and find the right rhythm. They don't exactly have time and breathing room to experiment right now.
We had to endure creepy guy Russell in every episode to varying degrees and that character may bring the disturbing, but has zero appeal and charisma IMHO. Why not minimize him? Well, in the previous episodes he was more on the sidelines and my guess was, that he was supposed to be the sensitive, emphatic guy who can deal with the family of their missing/killed victims, but IMHO he feels more creepy than sensitive. And last night, he got his own backstory and I couldn't care less. So Tom Everett Scott is my #1 candidate for the "I wouldn't mind if he was ditched"-character.
I mean, I was interested in the Regina King story and Kevin Alejandro getting more backstory was interesting as well, so I didn't mind Ben/John standing back for these two (for one episode that is, they better bring them back next week), but Tom Everett Scott is just not working for me at all.
Obviously, ITA about CG/TES. He's unsettled me from the very outset, even though I tried- really!- to keep an open mind. No matter what, I couldn't get past the negative vibe. There's something about the personality of the character, combined with aspects of his appearance, and there's even something about his acting that just does nothing for me. Either I'm invested or not. In his case, that's a resounding "NOT!" ; )
Like you, I didn't want to know anymore about him and I didn't like having more of his character and his unappealing, dull story forced on me. Had I cared about him, I would have been interested. As it is, I find myself hoping he doesn't appear, and that his role is kept to a minimum. I realize Lydia needs a partner, and maybe someone who makes her more the "good cop" with the positive qualities. So, I'm hoping they can at least minimize him and keep him in the context of work only as necessary. The combo of no Ben and no follow up with way too much CG/TES was tough to take- and just cruel!
I wish I could say I was interested in Alejandro (I can't remember- which says a lot- his character's name) and his story, but I'm not. I wasn't really drawn to him and haven't been given a reason to care about him yet, so, for me, caring about him and his family is a stretch until there's some kind of investment to build on. And then there was the fact that I'd figured out his "secret" right away and had to wait for it to be revealed. That just seemed to take a lot of time with phone calls, driving around, yelling, etc. In contrast, for example, even if Cooper had repeatedly asked Ben questions to figure him out and learn more, it was while they were on patrol and it tied in work and personal lives in a way that seemed linked. When they did address at least the question of why Ben learned to shoot- and so well- it was as they left work, within the guise of their evolving partnership and quasi-friendship, and very direct. There wasn't wasted time. Instead, I wished there had been more.
I guess I missed Ben and Michael more because there wasn't anything to fill the void, and I wasn't expecting the hole to begin with. I think what also had me thrown was that much of Lydia's focus and disillusionment struck me as off for someone with that many years in the department. She seemed way too fixated on one case and thinking she could solve it immediately to the exclusion of all else was like a page out of the numerous detective shows with their "crime of the hour." Since I really have zero tolerance for TES, his connection to her affects my view of her character.
You know I'm with you in not feeling anything for Russell other than the lack of anything positive. Now I really want something captivating this week- and with Ben of course (and Michael/Cooper).
Regina King is a good actress, but we've had Lydia in every episode, even when certain actions, such as a veteran officer and detective not understanding all the drawbacks of the department and system she works in and represents (this couldn't have been her first or even 10th case with an unknown victim, even if it did frustrate her) don't add up. There's a difference between being righteous and upset at the confines she has to face and another to seem too naive for her position and not want to answer calls or pressure other co-workers.
Anyway, my point is that it's possible to include characters in each episode even if they're not the A plot and at the forefront. I, for one, wanted some continuation from last week while the interactions and emotions were most fresh. Not capitalizing on that seems like a mistake. And it seems that others (besides me!) really respond to the Ben/Cooper dynamic- or else they wouldn't be featured so prominently in promotions.
And I'm preaching to the choir! Thanks for the soap box vent? I'd had a crazy week and wasn't expecting a letdown episode. As you say, ensembles can be tricky, I just hope they strike a balance and find the right rhythm. They don't exactly have time and breathing room to experiment right now.
Reply
Well, in the previous episodes he was more on the sidelines and my guess was, that he was supposed to be the sensitive, emphatic guy who can deal with the family of their missing/killed victims, but IMHO he feels more creepy than sensitive.
And last night, he got his own backstory and I couldn't care less.
So Tom Everett Scott is my #1 candidate for the "I wouldn't mind if he was ditched"-character.
I mean, I was interested in the Regina King story and Kevin Alejandro getting more backstory was interesting as well, so I didn't mind Ben/John standing back for these two (for one episode that is, they better bring them back next week), but Tom Everett Scott is just not working for me at all.
Reply
Like you, I didn't want to know anymore about him and I didn't like having more of his character and his unappealing, dull story forced on me. Had I cared about him, I would have been interested. As it is, I find myself hoping he doesn't appear, and that his role is kept to a minimum. I realize Lydia needs a partner, and maybe someone who makes her more the "good cop" with the positive qualities. So, I'm hoping they can at least minimize him and keep him in the context of work only as necessary. The combo of no Ben and no follow up with way too much CG/TES was tough to take- and just cruel!
I wish I could say I was interested in Alejandro (I can't remember- which says a lot- his character's name) and his story, but I'm not. I wasn't really drawn to him and haven't been given a reason to care about him yet, so, for me, caring about him and his family is a stretch until there's some kind of investment to build on. And then there was the fact that I'd figured out his "secret" right away and had to wait for it to be revealed. That just seemed to take a lot of time with phone calls, driving around, yelling, etc. In contrast, for example, even if Cooper had repeatedly asked Ben questions to figure him out and learn more, it was while they were on patrol and it tied in work and personal lives in a way that seemed linked. When they did address at least the question of why Ben learned to shoot- and so well- it was as they left work, within the guise of their evolving partnership and quasi-friendship, and very direct. There wasn't wasted time. Instead, I wished there had been more.
I guess I missed Ben and Michael more because there wasn't anything to fill the void, and I wasn't expecting the hole to begin with. I think what also had me thrown was that much of Lydia's focus and disillusionment struck me as off for someone with that many years in the department. She seemed way too fixated on one case and thinking she could solve it immediately to the exclusion of all else was like a page out of the numerous detective shows with their "crime of the hour." Since I really have zero tolerance for TES, his connection to her affects my view of her character.
You know I'm with you in not feeling anything for Russell other than the lack of anything positive. Now I really want something captivating this week- and with Ben of course (and Michael/Cooper).
That got waaaaay too long!
Reply
Leave a comment