NCIS: Season 7, Episode 14 “Masquerade” (B)
This was an intriguing episode to be sure, but it did feel rather scattered and all over the place. The sight of McGee in a tuxedo video-chatting in to a wedding across the ocean was pretty funny, though it might have been nice to see a bit more of that since it was a great joke that never quite received the proper follow-up. McGee did enjoy cracking a few zingers this episode, sort of taking the place of Tony, whose usually assumes the responsibility of providing the comic relief. I did enjoy the hunt for the bomb and watching Abby run up to deliver a surprise attack that was actually just her enthusiastic way of giving a hug. Regarding the central plotline and the return of Rena Sofer’s character, I’d be infinitely more impressed if the actress portraying her was much more up to the task. Her omnipresence is interesting and somewhat surprising, but again, the actress is just far too weak. Mark Harmon certainly plays well against her, but he’s a much more capable actor. They had initially been posited as rivals, and the notion that they might be crafting some sort of relationship out of Margaret’s seeming obsession with Gibbs is quite intriguing. It doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense, but it’s certainly not a route that has been explored up to this point. This in fact marks the most of any Gibbs girlfriend type we’ve seen, physically-speaking. All I can think about with that final scene where both of them are so close to each other is when Shawn and Juliet were just “talking really closely” at the close of one episode instead of doing anything remotely flirtatious. I doubt that’s the case here, of course, and I’m very interested to see what happens next week.
Showing posts with label Rena Sofer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rena Sofer. Show all posts
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
What I’m Watching: NCIS
NCIS: Season 7, Episode 11 “Ignition” (B+)
It’s fun to see the kids get to play with the adults for a change. Not one but two longstanding probies finally get the chance to take the lead on their own cases in this fun-spirited installment. Even if Jimmy is only performing an autopsy on an animal and McGee is robbed of the opportunity to visit a jetpack factory, it’s still good to give them some training and see how they operate under pressure of being in command. I’d say they both passed their tests. Jimmy’s need to tell a long story when he started the autopsy was very funny, and McGee held up very well when the attorney arrived and starting deconstructing the legality of everything he had done. Seeing the bickering couple have at each other throughout the episode was a definite plus, and the befuddled husband was a riot. The involvement of the attorney in the grander case was somewhat interesting, but the more compelling mystery to me is why Rena Sofer continues to get acting gigs (feel free to review my previous indictments of her talents). This episode is additionally atypical for two reasons: incorporating a previously seen villain (Robert Patrick in the episode “Outlaws and In-Laws” and ending on a cliffhanger where the next episode should continue the current story arc. Both those honors have been previously reserved for mega-villains like La Grenouille and Ari, and I can’t even seem to remember what Patrick’s part was, even though it was only a few weeks ago. Alas, we’ll see next week.
It’s fun to see the kids get to play with the adults for a change. Not one but two longstanding probies finally get the chance to take the lead on their own cases in this fun-spirited installment. Even if Jimmy is only performing an autopsy on an animal and McGee is robbed of the opportunity to visit a jetpack factory, it’s still good to give them some training and see how they operate under pressure of being in command. I’d say they both passed their tests. Jimmy’s need to tell a long story when he started the autopsy was very funny, and McGee held up very well when the attorney arrived and starting deconstructing the legality of everything he had done. Seeing the bickering couple have at each other throughout the episode was a definite plus, and the befuddled husband was a riot. The involvement of the attorney in the grander case was somewhat interesting, but the more compelling mystery to me is why Rena Sofer continues to get acting gigs (feel free to review my previous indictments of her talents). This episode is additionally atypical for two reasons: incorporating a previously seen villain (Robert Patrick in the episode “Outlaws and In-Laws” and ending on a cliffhanger where the next episode should continue the current story arc. Both those honors have been previously reserved for mega-villains like La Grenouille and Ari, and I can’t even seem to remember what Patrick’s part was, even though it was only a few weeks ago. Alas, we’ll see next week.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
What I'm Watching: Dirty Sexy Money (Series Return)
Dirty Sexy Money: Season 2, Episode 10 “The Facts” (C-)
This episode is not a good way to get back into “Dirty Sexy Money” right before its three final episodes begin next week. This installment is from way back in November, and was filmed as the seventh episode of the show to serve as a filler hour. It never aired, so here it is now. The biggest reason it doesn’t work is that every actor on the show regularly plays their roles way over the top, and making them even more unbelievable by having them tailor to fanciful made-up plotlines about them is simply too much. Shawn Michael Patrick, who plays Clark, isn’t the most enthusiastic of actors. While he is great in small doses, as he was in the second season premiere, he’s not really capable of carrying an entire episode by himself. The fact that the role of the reporter went to Rena Sofer only makes matters worse. I could barely stand watching television when Sofer was guest-starring on both “24” and “Heroes” at the same time since watching her attempt to act just makes me cringe. She’s so grating and uninteresting, and her characters are one-note and lame. Her reporter here was all talk, and her continuous threatening of Clark was obvious from the start. The ending of the episode wasn’t anything stunning – the very direct parody of “The Usual Suspects” is good for a laugh or two, but it doesn’t really work with the bulk of the episode that came before it. Clark’s promise to give the reporter inside scoop from that point forward makes no sense if he made the whole thing up; why wouldn’t he just leave her feeling like she got everything she wanted? I know I’m looking too closely, and “Dirty Sexy Money” isn’t that complex. This episode shouldn’t be judged so harshly because it was designed to fill in the gaps instead of airing a repeat of the show. Hopefully the remaining three installments will be much better than this, a return to the incredible awesomeness of “The Chiavennasca,” but my hopes aren’t too high.
This episode is not a good way to get back into “Dirty Sexy Money” right before its three final episodes begin next week. This installment is from way back in November, and was filmed as the seventh episode of the show to serve as a filler hour. It never aired, so here it is now. The biggest reason it doesn’t work is that every actor on the show regularly plays their roles way over the top, and making them even more unbelievable by having them tailor to fanciful made-up plotlines about them is simply too much. Shawn Michael Patrick, who plays Clark, isn’t the most enthusiastic of actors. While he is great in small doses, as he was in the second season premiere, he’s not really capable of carrying an entire episode by himself. The fact that the role of the reporter went to Rena Sofer only makes matters worse. I could barely stand watching television when Sofer was guest-starring on both “24” and “Heroes” at the same time since watching her attempt to act just makes me cringe. She’s so grating and uninteresting, and her characters are one-note and lame. Her reporter here was all talk, and her continuous threatening of Clark was obvious from the start. The ending of the episode wasn’t anything stunning – the very direct parody of “The Usual Suspects” is good for a laugh or two, but it doesn’t really work with the bulk of the episode that came before it. Clark’s promise to give the reporter inside scoop from that point forward makes no sense if he made the whole thing up; why wouldn’t he just leave her feeling like she got everything she wanted? I know I’m looking too closely, and “Dirty Sexy Money” isn’t that complex. This episode shouldn’t be judged so harshly because it was designed to fill in the gaps instead of airing a repeat of the show. Hopefully the remaining three installments will be much better than this, a return to the incredible awesomeness of “The Chiavennasca,” but my hopes aren’t too high.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What I'm Watching: Heroes
Heroes: Season 1, Episode 21 "The Hard Part" (B-)
I feel like "Heroes" is slipping back to the state it was in for a while when I gave up on it, before eventually returning to catch up online. The plot is thinning, and the whole Nathan/Linderman storyline is getting convoluted and annoying. Besides all that confusion, this episode feels very much like the "Sylar Holiday Special" what with all the snowglobes and general holiday not-so-cheer. Everyone either knows way too much (Linderman, Mother Petrelli) or way too little (Claire, D.L.); there is just no in between where characters are momentarily satisfied with what they know and are able to find out more. Even the lines on "Lost" with the castaways/Others are not drawn so obnoxiously clearly. And I could not even begin to explain what is going on with the whole Nikki/Jessica mess, not that I much care to. It is a bit cool to see pieces from this present synching up to the future Hiro visited last week. I had not realized that the shape-shifter's name was Candice, but when I saw it on the screen I recalled Sylar's line to Claire: "A woman named Candice helped me to become president." Minor things like that, but fun nonetheless. I am also grateful that Rena Sofer, though credited with the coveted "with," said but two words in this episode, because Rena Sofer's terrible acting in both "24" and "Heroes" on the same night is something I had to put up with a few months ago, and could not have withstood last night.
I feel like "Heroes" is slipping back to the state it was in for a while when I gave up on it, before eventually returning to catch up online. The plot is thinning, and the whole Nathan/Linderman storyline is getting convoluted and annoying. Besides all that confusion, this episode feels very much like the "Sylar Holiday Special" what with all the snowglobes and general holiday not-so-cheer. Everyone either knows way too much (Linderman, Mother Petrelli) or way too little (Claire, D.L.); there is just no in between where characters are momentarily satisfied with what they know and are able to find out more. Even the lines on "Lost" with the castaways/Others are not drawn so obnoxiously clearly. And I could not even begin to explain what is going on with the whole Nikki/Jessica mess, not that I much care to. It is a bit cool to see pieces from this present synching up to the future Hiro visited last week. I had not realized that the shape-shifter's name was Candice, but when I saw it on the screen I recalled Sylar's line to Claire: "A woman named Candice helped me to become president." Minor things like that, but fun nonetheless. I am also grateful that Rena Sofer, though credited with the coveted "with," said but two words in this episode, because Rena Sofer's terrible acting in both "24" and "Heroes" on the same night is something I had to put up with a few months ago, and could not have withstood last night.
What I'm Watching: 24
24: Season 6, Episode 19 "12:00am-1:00am" (F)
Hold the phone, Jack's gone rogue??!! He's never done that before. To avoid repeating the same commentary each week, I will focus this week on the romance on "24." There is a movie called "Paris, Je T'Aime" (Paris, I Love You) coming out on Friday. I am beyond excited for this movie, and I think it looks amazing. The genre, as listed on the Internet Movie Database, is romance. The genre of "24" is listed as action/drama/mystery/thriller.
If one thing is certain, it is that "24" is not supposed to be a romantic show. Not that I am opposed to a bit of romance now and then. I was fine when Tony and Michelle joked in Season 2 about how they would go out to dinner and a movie after they found and stopped the bomb. I was fine when it was implied that Jack and Kate had been in a relationship between Seasons 2 and 3. I was fine when Season 4 opened with a romantic scene between Jack and Audrey. And I was fine when Jack had a touching breakup with Diane in the Season 5 opener.
When Marilyn turned her head to kiss Jack and was left awkwardly standing there, I was decidely not fine. That kind of scene does not flow with the pacing of "24," and especially coming from Rena Sofer, who I do not consider to be a good actress at any level, it knocks down the quality of the show. This particular episode was overloaded with not one but four romances. Jack and Audrey we have done before, and now that she has some issues it only becomes less exciting. We thought she was dead, I personally did not have a problem with that and bringing her back, especially in this state, will only drag down the show. The Morris/Chloe plotline makes little sense, since the problems they are having are completely obvious aspects of their personalities which they respond to with lines like "What is your problem??" whereas they undoubtedly faced the same issues during their marriage.
At least those first two were plausible, but the other two are downright ridiculous. Work relationships like the one Bill and Karen have are directly forbidden strictly for this reason, that Karen would cover up one of Bill's mistakes. I will not touch upon the fact that over and over, extremely competent authority figures with one big secret which ultimately does not affect their job performance are removed during times of extreme crisis after episodes and episodes of "we don't have anyone else to do your job, we need you at your best." Karen and Bill are also to me very dull characters. Bill is just plain unexciting (and Jack calls him to thank him for being a friend?? after Bill tries to take him down?) and Karen is annoying, not in an endearing, pursuit of justice kind of way.
And then there exists the wondrous couple that is Acting President Noah Daniels and his assistant Lisa. I have said before that the amount of unscrutinized activity that goes on around the president has reached a ridiculous level. But when Evil President says that he has been distracted from trying to save the world by thinking about Lisa, and then asks her to SLEEP OVER, I contemplate turning off my TV (I know that I make this threat every week, and will doubtless ever live up to it). For someone who knows that other people are always watching, he should learn to be a little bit less conspicuous. And less evil.
Hold the phone, Jack's gone rogue??!! He's never done that before. To avoid repeating the same commentary each week, I will focus this week on the romance on "24." There is a movie called "Paris, Je T'Aime" (Paris, I Love You) coming out on Friday. I am beyond excited for this movie, and I think it looks amazing. The genre, as listed on the Internet Movie Database, is romance. The genre of "24" is listed as action/drama/mystery/thriller.
If one thing is certain, it is that "24" is not supposed to be a romantic show. Not that I am opposed to a bit of romance now and then. I was fine when Tony and Michelle joked in Season 2 about how they would go out to dinner and a movie after they found and stopped the bomb. I was fine when it was implied that Jack and Kate had been in a relationship between Seasons 2 and 3. I was fine when Season 4 opened with a romantic scene between Jack and Audrey. And I was fine when Jack had a touching breakup with Diane in the Season 5 opener.
When Marilyn turned her head to kiss Jack and was left awkwardly standing there, I was decidely not fine. That kind of scene does not flow with the pacing of "24," and especially coming from Rena Sofer, who I do not consider to be a good actress at any level, it knocks down the quality of the show. This particular episode was overloaded with not one but four romances. Jack and Audrey we have done before, and now that she has some issues it only becomes less exciting. We thought she was dead, I personally did not have a problem with that and bringing her back, especially in this state, will only drag down the show. The Morris/Chloe plotline makes little sense, since the problems they are having are completely obvious aspects of their personalities which they respond to with lines like "What is your problem??" whereas they undoubtedly faced the same issues during their marriage.
At least those first two were plausible, but the other two are downright ridiculous. Work relationships like the one Bill and Karen have are directly forbidden strictly for this reason, that Karen would cover up one of Bill's mistakes. I will not touch upon the fact that over and over, extremely competent authority figures with one big secret which ultimately does not affect their job performance are removed during times of extreme crisis after episodes and episodes of "we don't have anyone else to do your job, we need you at your best." Karen and Bill are also to me very dull characters. Bill is just plain unexciting (and Jack calls him to thank him for being a friend?? after Bill tries to take him down?) and Karen is annoying, not in an endearing, pursuit of justice kind of way.
And then there exists the wondrous couple that is Acting President Noah Daniels and his assistant Lisa. I have said before that the amount of unscrutinized activity that goes on around the president has reached a ridiculous level. But when Evil President says that he has been distracted from trying to save the world by thinking about Lisa, and then asks her to SLEEP OVER, I contemplate turning off my TV (I know that I make this threat every week, and will doubtless ever live up to it). For someone who knows that other people are always watching, he should learn to be a little bit less conspicuous. And less evil.
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