Rubicon: Season 1, Episode 3 “Keep the Ends Out” (C+)
What is there to say about this show? It has small, supporting compelling elements like the discussion of the worst presidents, but as a whole, it’s still a giant question mark that doesn’t show any signs of reaching any sort of clarity at any point soon. The bicycle plot proved to be pretty interesting because it provides a way to get to know a character we barely saw, starting with the visit by his wife to the office at the start. It’s all about the intrigue here, and the suspenseful music is what’s been driving every episode thus far, without much else to support it. Will being followed around by a shadowy tail is the ultimate example of that: a long-running plotline that doesn’t have to end at any point since paranoia is what keeps this show going. If the twist is supposed to be that a different, secondary group is actually following Will, how does that help? It further compounds and complicates things, forever postponing any sort of resolution. Due to the lack of answers provided, my main reaction to the episode was to recognize the actor playing the security guard at Will’s building who accompanied them up to the office and then later let Will take a peek at his camera. The actor in question is Mark Lotito, who I saw on Broadway several weeks ago playing multiple roles in “Jersey Boys.” While I do often recognize guest stars, the fact that my main attention was on that means that the rest of this show just isn’t terribly engaging.
Showing posts with label Rubicon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rubicon. Show all posts
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Round Two: Rubicon
Rubicon: Season 1, Episode 2 “The First Day of School” (B-)
To be fair, I only watched the second hour of this two-hour premiere since the first episode aired way back in the middle of June. Perhaps the experience might have been more fulfilling if I had taken them both together. I would still posit that while a first hour can be full of mysteries and introduce numerous unsolved threads (see: “Flash Forward”), the second installment should at least start to clarify some of what’s going on and provide a clearer sense of where the show is ultimately headed. While the terrific music kept me just as awake and excited as in the first episode, I was scratching my head the whole time and not gaining any sort of clearer sense of what was afoot. A show can only be intriguing to a certain point before it starts to reward viewers for tuning in. Two episodes is absolutely way too early to start giving up (that’s why I suspect some people disliked “Inception” – they gave up trying to figure out what was going on and settled for being frustrated and angry), and therefore I’ll stick with this show for a bit. I don’t think I mentioned in my review last time how excited I am to see Dallas Roberts in the cast, who’s playing the same kind of nerdy spy Christopher Gorham is playing on “Covert Affairs.” Roberts was a great addition as nanny Angus in the third season of “The L Word” and also has a great breakout role in the little-seen film “A Home at the End of the World” in 2004 with Colin Farrell. A strong cast is what will help make this confusing show work, and hopefully Roberts and his fellow ensemble members will be given the chance to shine in coming episodes.
To be fair, I only watched the second hour of this two-hour premiere since the first episode aired way back in the middle of June. Perhaps the experience might have been more fulfilling if I had taken them both together. I would still posit that while a first hour can be full of mysteries and introduce numerous unsolved threads (see: “Flash Forward”), the second installment should at least start to clarify some of what’s going on and provide a clearer sense of where the show is ultimately headed. While the terrific music kept me just as awake and excited as in the first episode, I was scratching my head the whole time and not gaining any sort of clearer sense of what was afoot. A show can only be intriguing to a certain point before it starts to reward viewers for tuning in. Two episodes is absolutely way too early to start giving up (that’s why I suspect some people disliked “Inception” – they gave up trying to figure out what was going on and settled for being frustrated and angry), and therefore I’ll stick with this show for a bit. I don’t think I mentioned in my review last time how excited I am to see Dallas Roberts in the cast, who’s playing the same kind of nerdy spy Christopher Gorham is playing on “Covert Affairs.” Roberts was a great addition as nanny Angus in the third season of “The L Word” and also has a great breakout role in the little-seen film “A Home at the End of the World” in 2004 with Colin Farrell. A strong cast is what will help make this confusing show work, and hopefully Roberts and his fellow ensemble members will be given the chance to shine in coming episodes.
In good news for this show, the two-hour broadcast was the most-watched original drama series premiere ever for AMC. Not too shabby.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Pilot Review: Rubicon
Rubicon (AMC)
Premiered June 13 at 11pm
This one-hour installment was officially a preview of the new series, premiering in August, provided by AMC as one of their flagship series, “Breaking Bad,” concluded its season. I think the idea is that the two-hour pilot that will air in August will include this episode as well as the second. Knowing that this is only the first half might generally help to curve the grade, as I’m of the opinion that the second part of a two-hour debut can often be much better. I personally feel that way about “Lost,” even if most don’t agree, having seen the first episode only and not being too interested. Not being interested is certainly not a problem with this show, since if it has anything going for it, it’s that it’s completely enticing. It’s 50% intrigue, 50% suspense, and 0% clarity, which I think is a recipe for success, even if it may not be lasting success. This is the first time in a while that, after watching a pilot, I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on. With “Lost,” I was at least able to piece together who the characters were and what might be happening, but here, I don’t have a clue. Honestly, I think it’s a positive thing since I’m very drawn in and eager to figure out exactly what’s happening, though I don’t mind if I don’t find out for a while. It’s hard to follow exactly who is who as far as the characters are concerned, but Will, played by James Badge Dale, seems like a great lead. Dale first burst onto the TV scene as Jack’s sidekick and Kim’s boyfriend on the third season of “24,” and after a starring role in the HBO miniseries “The Pacific,” Dale is ready to take on the lead part in this series, and it looks like he’s up to the task. Unlike AMC’s other two series, “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad,” this show doesn’t appear to be grounded in reality, which is cool. It’s not necessarily a sci-fi or supernatural series, but there is something about these patterns that lends itself to the mystical. Since AMC has achieved such extraordinary success with its other two original series, which just keep getting better as they get older, the future bodes well for this show. I love the music and I was genuinely thrilled for a good chunk of the episode. Having a know-it-all character at the head of a series works well if he really does know it all, and that’s what it seems like Will is. Final judgment will have to be passed in August when the show really starts up, but at this point, I feel very engaged.
How will it work as a series? Mysteries may be unraveled, and they may not. This pilot felt like a really good episode of “The X-Files” and like a much darker, better version of “Warehouse 13.” Having that every week for thirteen weeks a season sounds like a really great idea. It will definitely be a dynamic show and may also have to feature some standalone installments in addition to its recurring mythology like “The X-Files” frequently did.
How long will it last? AMC renewed its ratings-challenged series thanks to critical praise, so as long as this show earns good reviews, it should be on the air for a while. No end is in sight for either of AMC’s other shows, so it’s hard to place a bet on the length of this show’s life, but I’d imagine it would be on for at least a couple of years. If critics like it, it should be swiftly renewed once it officially premieres.
Pilot grade: B+
Premiered June 13 at 11pm
This one-hour installment was officially a preview of the new series, premiering in August, provided by AMC as one of their flagship series, “Breaking Bad,” concluded its season. I think the idea is that the two-hour pilot that will air in August will include this episode as well as the second. Knowing that this is only the first half might generally help to curve the grade, as I’m of the opinion that the second part of a two-hour debut can often be much better. I personally feel that way about “Lost,” even if most don’t agree, having seen the first episode only and not being too interested. Not being interested is certainly not a problem with this show, since if it has anything going for it, it’s that it’s completely enticing. It’s 50% intrigue, 50% suspense, and 0% clarity, which I think is a recipe for success, even if it may not be lasting success. This is the first time in a while that, after watching a pilot, I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on. With “Lost,” I was at least able to piece together who the characters were and what might be happening, but here, I don’t have a clue. Honestly, I think it’s a positive thing since I’m very drawn in and eager to figure out exactly what’s happening, though I don’t mind if I don’t find out for a while. It’s hard to follow exactly who is who as far as the characters are concerned, but Will, played by James Badge Dale, seems like a great lead. Dale first burst onto the TV scene as Jack’s sidekick and Kim’s boyfriend on the third season of “24,” and after a starring role in the HBO miniseries “The Pacific,” Dale is ready to take on the lead part in this series, and it looks like he’s up to the task. Unlike AMC’s other two series, “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad,” this show doesn’t appear to be grounded in reality, which is cool. It’s not necessarily a sci-fi or supernatural series, but there is something about these patterns that lends itself to the mystical. Since AMC has achieved such extraordinary success with its other two original series, which just keep getting better as they get older, the future bodes well for this show. I love the music and I was genuinely thrilled for a good chunk of the episode. Having a know-it-all character at the head of a series works well if he really does know it all, and that’s what it seems like Will is. Final judgment will have to be passed in August when the show really starts up, but at this point, I feel very engaged.
How will it work as a series? Mysteries may be unraveled, and they may not. This pilot felt like a really good episode of “The X-Files” and like a much darker, better version of “Warehouse 13.” Having that every week for thirteen weeks a season sounds like a really great idea. It will definitely be a dynamic show and may also have to feature some standalone installments in addition to its recurring mythology like “The X-Files” frequently did.
How long will it last? AMC renewed its ratings-challenged series thanks to critical praise, so as long as this show earns good reviews, it should be on the air for a while. No end is in sight for either of AMC’s other shows, so it’s hard to place a bet on the length of this show’s life, but I’d imagine it would be on for at least a couple of years. If critics like it, it should be swiftly renewed once it officially premieres.
Pilot grade: B+
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