You would think being on spring break would allow me more opportunity to blog, but apparently not.
Today I’m going to basically jump right to the reviews, cause that’s why I came on. New TV shows are popping up guys, and well, I’ve seen a couple, wanted to give them more of a try than just the pilot, so be sure I’ve seen at least two episodes of each show mentioned.
On another note, CBS has the worst online watching I’ve ever experienced, I get better video from hosting sites in japanese. the video started over from the beginning when I was half way through and then stopped saying the video was “unavailable” at least three times before I hit the end.
Parks and Recreation (NBC): From the creators of The Office, Greg Daniels and Micheal Schur. Starring Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones.
Synopsis: (From NBC.com) “The documentary cameras follow Leslie Knope a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana. In an attempt to beautify her town — and advance her career.”
Pilot (April 9th 2009): So the Pilot did NOT impress me. Yes the show did have it’s funny moments, there were some jokes that I LOL’d at, but it felt forced, the humor was not natural. Another thing that bothered me, the turn around of the Ann character. One minute she’s acting completely against Leslie, the next thing you know they’re on a team.
Canvassing (April 16th 2009): The teaser at the beginning, seemed to have virtually NO context within the rest of the episode. Considering the show is technically a sitcom, it was probably the best situation to find comedy, but the episode quickly fizzled after that.
Overall impressions: Too similar to the Office, too forced. The comedy in the Office is more that these guys are working for a boss who is essentially inept at his job. Parks and Recreation is a show about a blond moron (yay for cliches) and how she annoys her coworkers with her stupidity. It’s the same thing as the Office, only taken out of context to a place where it wont work.
There’s something about Leslie that rubs me the wrong way. I don’t like her, I don’t feel for her. I’m not connecting and so I don’t care about her. And well, there’s the blatant Office copycat attempt too.
General recommendation – Even though it’s a 30 minute show, don’t waste your time.
Harper’s Island (CBS): Created by Ari Schlossberg. Starring Elaine Cassidy, Christopher Gorham and Katie Cassidy.
Synopsis: (From CBS.com) “HARPER’S ISLAND is about a group of family and friends who travel to a secluded island off the coast of Seattle for a destination wedding. In every episode, someone is killed and every person is a suspect, from the wedding party to the island locals. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered, the killer will be revealed and only a few will survive.”
Whap (April 9th 2009): The pilot didn’t grab me, it was a setting of the scene and there was a lot to get through. There are a lot of characters to set up, and well a couple to kill. Nothing really felt like it was dragging me in to the next episode either though. Episode seemed to push the sexy appeal a bit much in way of bikinis, underwear and well, sex.
Crackle (April 16th 2009): I feel like you could almost jump in to the series at this episode, all the backstory is included from the previous episode and it works a lot better as a launching point. Of course it only works that way because of the recap of the previous stuff, all information you really ought to know. It still felt a little slow moving, more set up, but I feel like it will really get going pretty soon.
Overall impressions: Feels like My Bloody Valentine (plot not gore) with some hybrid of Lost and the crime show of your choice. It’s a who dun it/who is next sort of show. The whole story is complete in 13 episodes, so it may be worth the follow since we wont get dragged on endlessly like the poor guys who still watch Lost. In fact, I think the short season is a good idea. So far in 2 episodes we’ve killed off 5 people and with promises for at least one every week, the cast is going to dwindle fast. Of course, so far no one has noticed that 5 people have died. Doesn’t speak very highly of the intellect of the characters now does it?
The preview clips looked to be more suspense and horror than the first two episodes have been. Variety sites the show as not getting going until about the 4th episode. I can’t speak to that just yet, but I’d say that’s an accurate assessment for the first 2 episodes.
General recommendation: It’s only going to be 13 episodes, so you have two options, stick through the slow bit at the beginning, or wait for the DVDs.
Castle (ABC): Created by Andrew W. Marlowe. Starring Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic and Susan Sullivan.
Synopsis: (From ABC.com) “CASTLE is a 1 hour witty drama…based on a famous crime and horror novelist, Rick Castle, who helps the NYPD homicide department solve crimes.”
Flowers For Your Grave (March 9th 2009): This Pilot was surprisingly well done. It quickly established the major players and got moving into a fun and enjoyable story. The set up of future episodes was weaker, but more or less works, I’m not sure I can really see anything else fitting. The entire episode moved quickly and didn’t have any moments of drag at all.
Nanny McDead (March 16th 2009): Another really well done episode that kept me guessing at the murderer the whole way through, lots of great moments between Castle and Beckett, as well as with him and his daughter.
Overall impression: The writing is good, the characters are fun and for a crime show it’s very fresh. I haven’t followed Fillion’s career (although I did watch Firefly and Dr. Horrible) But I think I like him in this role even more than I did as Mal (Firefly). Fillion’s character Rick Castle might feel a little bit like Psych’s Shawn Spencer, but that could be why I like him.
General recommendation: This is one of the better crime/investigation shows I’ve seen. Watch it.