Monsters of Television

“It’s getting to her.”

At least the kids came out of their rooms this time.

“Mock” is an interesting case of letting the dust settle a bit after a fairly explosive episode the previous week. In the comments for last week, I mentioned how I didn’t feel they’d be able to keep up the excitement across their 4 remaining hours,, and I was right. This week’s episode isn’t terribly exciting in terms of the serialized elements in the show, but is a solid procedural episode.

Also, we find out that Kalinda can’t speak Hindi. Finally. Something she can’t do. Take note slippery characters of Chicago! Do all your business in Hindi! Read more »

“There it is again. That poker face.”

Again with the on-the-nose episode titles. Subtly, people!

This week’s episode is the tipping point episode. It’s that episode of Lost where everyone’s getting ready to run around the Island for the next 5 hours, wondering where something is or to save someone. The big plot threads are starting to wrap together, answering my questions about how Alicia fits into Peter’s narrative, and Peter’s narrative potentially overwhelming the series.

And, you know, we find out that Kalinda is smarter than FEDERAL BOMB EXPERTS. Read more »

“I’m following the law, not agreeing with.”

It’s a challenge to review a show when you don’t want to pause it or look away. You don’t want to stop the show’s pace in any way or remove yourself from that pace to scribble or type a note about a scene. You force yourself to take it all in as much as possible and hope that your brain can recall the experience, what you were thinking when someone arched an eyebrow or how an actor just hit the beat in a line especially well. Sure, you could always rewind the episode if you’ve got it recorded, but it may play differently out of context of that pace (don’t even get me started if you watch it live).

This week’s The Good Wife had that quality. It moved at such a near seamless clip that I didn’t want to write any notes. And it’s a different experience than with Lost, which often demands, no matter how well made, taking a second to jot down ideas about what happened. While I’ve argued that Lost is at its best when it focuses on its characters, because of its thematic concerns and genre trappings, it depicts its characters in personal but epic ways. The Good Wife is about character in personal and intimate ways. Read more »

“That, my friend, was a Chicago defense. Get used to it.”

It's like he can see through my soul with his awesomeness

I will freely admit that my unbridled love of this episode stems largely from the fact that it was an episode that allows Josh Charles to dig into a script and just tear up his scenes. It’s not that the other actors on the show aren’t good; it’s just that Charles is vastly superior to them. (I kid. The cast is a very solid ensemble.)

So if I remove my mancrush from the equation, is this still a good episode? Absolutely.  The episode has a bit of everything in it, from the troubles at Stern, Lockhart & Gardner (soon to be Lockhart, Gardner, & Neutral Third Party) to solid courtroom scenes to debates about ethical client representation to Alicia and Peter’s home life and navigating family management (and planning!). Read more »

“Beep beep beep”

First off, apologies on lack of post about the show last week. I just didn’t have much to say about it (even now the episode’s incredibly fuzzy) and I had things to grade. Such is the way of things. Secondly, apologies for this review taking a while to occur. Week before spring break with lots to do.

So, with the niceties out of the way, we can commence. The episode has found me firmly in the “This is a good show” camp. I’m not in the “No. 1 show on TV” camp, but that’s because I can’t possibly watch everything on television, so I just don’t know. But it is a good show, a smart show. An adult show.

Now if I can only change the strainer in my dish washer…

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“What could be more Darwinian?”

It’s a rerun for CBS (and for many watching), but it’s New To Me (TM Jamie Weinman at Macleans). Last week, I tuned into “Hi”, a seemingly pivotal episode for the narrative and the show’s highest rated episode yet. I enjoyed the episode enough to make it part of my regular viewing, so I eagerly awaited another episode, even if it be a rerun.

This was a little bit more what I was expecting from the show when I tuned in last week: bits of courtroom stuff and law firm stuff, the on-going B-plot with Peter, and C-plots with Alicia’s kids.
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“More secrets than an O’Neill play.”

My decision to watch The Good Wife was motivated by a number of factors, and I feel it’s important to map out these factors. One of the primary reasons is that the show’s just been highly recommended to me by a number of people I know and trust (even if one of them seems fit to drag me kicking and screaming into liking Parks and Recreation). And while Julianna Margulies has never done much for me as an actress (and still doesn’t), that she was recognized at both the Globes and the SAGs indicates that people like what she’s doing.

Factor #2 is that if you look at this blog, you’d find that Nick and I stick pretty close to shows that are targeted to us (semi-well to do white males in 18-34 demo). Hell, you’d think that Chuck, HIMYM, and 3 out of the 4 NBC Thursday comedies were all that were on TV, with occasional dalliances with Life Unexpected and American Idol.  Part of this is motivated by the fact that Nick and I like these shows, and were already watching them when we started this blog. Part of this is simply a matter of scheduling our lives (I don’t own a DVR, for instance, so I try and watch as much as I can live).

Which leads to factor #3. When Nick and I started discussing the blog, we wanted, ideally, a range of shows, but the range has been pretty limited (see factor #2 for the reasons). I’m proud of everything we write here, but I did want to venture into new shows through the blog, hence  my decision to take on The Good Wife. Read more »