Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 11 Deep Cover Band

I haven't been reviewing Chaos lately, but I've still been watching and my thoughts are generally the same as they were. I wanted to comment on "Deep Cover Band" because the ODS's behavior at the beginning of the episode disturbed me a bit. The team goes to pick up Gallo, but he runs outside and gets on a scooter. While this is happening, Casey and Billy are happily sitting back, allowing Gallo to drive off and only giving chase later. The result is Gallo flying off a bridge into water, and he's presumed dead. Even more nonchalantly, the team assumes he is dead and moves on.

It's disturbing how little they care about Gallo. From the way the back entrance, their car, and the scooter were positioned, Billy and Casey could easily have stopped him--Michael and Rick could have given chase as well--but chose not to for whatever reason. After Gallo falls into the water, they don't care to search for him or look to see if the police recovered the body, jumping to the easy conclusion. The sad part about this is that Gallo is no different from the ODS. He is an American, a CIA operative placed in a dangerous position to help the country. But instead of saving him, the ODS makes a mockery out of him and treat him as badly as a criminal.

Of course, Gallo turns up alive in the end and this whole thing becomes a big plot device for Gallo to appear to die. Still, in the process of doing so, it makes the ODS seem like callous, unfeeling people.

Score: 7.5/10

Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 7 Remote Control

I didn't review Chaos last week, but I remain very positive about the show despite its cancellation. It's certainly a procedural-y show, with a similar set-up, but at the same time, it remains relatively fresh. The ODS visits a different country each week and experience various kinds of people (usually stereotypes) and there is always an extra wrench thrown in which is always different. To top things off, there is always some meaningful pathos behind the episode relating to spies and the spy world.

As far as long term planning goes, "Remote Control" seems to be a significant episode, though we'll never know what happens. While Michael and Fay seem well on their way to getting back together, Rick and Adele have a larger problem. Their relationship is based on deception, Adele ordered to bug Rick. She may like him, but orders and advancement trump everything else.

Score: 8.5/10

Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 4 Two Percent / 5 Molé

CBS canceled Chaos over a month ago and is burning it off on Saturday nights, so I'm guessing no one really cares too much about the show. Anyway, both "Two Percent" and "Molé" follow the mold set by the previous episodes. The team heads to another country, get into trouble, and eventually make their way out safely under miraculous circumstances. Along the way, there is some stereotyping and jingoism and talk of duty, but it's nothing too annoying. "Molé" does end on a cliffhanger, with someone tailing Adele, so hopefully we'll be able to see the conclusion. There is hardly any information about the show out there, but I assume production went past the fifth episode before the cancellation.

The thing that struck me most about the show was how much I liked it. The humor is also there, and the team works very well together in any environment. Sure the plots might be hackneyed, but in an age of procedurals that seem very similar, it was nice to have a procedural that focused on another subject. Chaos's ultimate demise was most like a matter of scheduling than quality. Stuck in the 8 PM slot before CSI: NY, the show had little chance to begin with and the difference in tone with the rest of the night only doomed it further.

Score: 8.7/10

Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 3 Love and Rockets

If you haven't read by now, Chaos has bad ratings, even for Friday nights. There is basically no chance for renewal, but we might as well enjoy these episodes while they last.

I don't understand why the show doesn't appeal to viewers (although it is a bit out of the CBS mainstream), because there is plenty to like about it. "Love and Rockets" has some funny spy stuff, Casey staying in the car compartment for eternity and the usual hijinks to get out of the situation. The pathos doesn't really get through, but it's not really the point, as the sense of duty always comes out on top.

Score: 8.6/10

Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 2 Song of the North

"Song of the North" may lay on the sentimentality too much for some people, but Chaos continues to be quite a surprise, balancing the humor between the team, action, and a sense of justice. It all comes in a neat package and at the end of the day, every character, even the director, looks like a good person while those except the North Korean government is happy.

You might have heard by now, but Chaos premiered with horrible ratings, so it's a near certainty that it will be canceled. Yeah, it sucks.

Score: 8.5/10

Review - Chaos Season 1 Episode 1 Pilot

I'm tired and still have to watch a bunch of TV, although it is Saturday morning, so I'll be brief, not that Chaos needs much explaining.

Chaos is quintessential harmless television. It's fun, has a great cast, has action, and doesn't worry about the details. For the most part, it doesn't have a message about the CIA or anything else (and when those parts do come up occasionally, it's easily recognizable). We're just supposed the appreciate the banter and over the top spy stuff. Certainly, a show about the CIA could deeper, more emotional, more intense, and also a lot less fun, but Chaos doesn't try to be that.

Chaos isn't for everyone and it is different than the usual CBS crime procedurals, but I certainly enjoyed the first episode and will be watching in the weeks to come.

Score: 8.6/10