Friday, March 30, 2012

What I’m Watching: Smash


Smash: Season 1, Episode 8 “The Coup” (C)

If there’s one thing not to do in the midst of trying to produce a play, it’s to secretly stage a performance of a new number with the girl that didn’t get the lead without telling the writers. As Eileen’s daughter Katie, played by Meryl Streep’s daughter Grace Gummer, pointed out, that’s something that Derek or Jerry would do, and she should have known much better than to think that such a stunt wouldn’t be hurtful. Karen earns no points by playing dumb, particularly because they seem to want to cast a star in the role rather than her. Derek’s effect has not been lost on Ivy, it appears, and she’s just going to continue to get hurt as she lets him worm his way back into her life. It was good to hear Tom air his issues with Derek, and to manage a blow that stung like something Derek might say. I understand having Eileen’s daughter pop by to infuse her mother with some hope, and I can comprehend why Leo and his legal problems are still being featured, even if they’re unnecessary, but why must Dev get his own plotline? It won’t be long before he either slips and does something stupid with RJ or Karen gets jealous enough to presume that something is going on and preemptively tanks the relationship. I think that this show is casting too wide a net in trying to follow the personal lives of all its characters, and a tighter focus might be nice. Oh, and get rid of Ellis already!

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