Well, the second season of Dark Blue is over and I can't say I'm impressed. It's a two-part season finale, but only because there is a small twist at the end of the first episode to extend the undercover work. Other than that, it's generic family problem, several characters going undercover, and a shootout in the end, everything we've seen before, nothing special.
And of course there's the hints that Dean wants a real date with Jaime but doesn't act, a job opening for Alex, though she declines, and a wedding ring Carter buys. Except for Ty, who finally signs the divorce papers, everyone is in a relatively happy place. So much for the "dark" in Dark Blue.
But "Personal Effects" also works as a series finale in the likely event the show is canceled. If I'm not mistaken, Dark Blue is TNT's worst rated original show (just below Southland) and definitely on the chopping block. After the successes of freshman dramas Memphis Beat and Rizzoli and Isles, in addition to the continued success of Hawthorne, all of which were recently renewed, TNT has no need for Dark Blue. The only thing going for Dark Blue right now is that the ratings haven't fallen past the lowest points of the first season. Last season, everyone thought it was dead until it was renewed months and months later, so there could be hope.
Score: 8.1/10
Showing posts with label Dark Blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dark Blue. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 8 Shell Game
With the two-hour season finale of Dark Blue next week (actually two separate episodes, I assume, to avoid network competition), there's not much to expect in terms of overall story developments. The main problem of Dark Blue is the writing. The typical episode: buy-and-bust, problem, slick talking, arrest and/or shoot bad guys. And the only difference in the second season is that there's "drama" with Carter and Alex, and less reckless behavior--knocking down doors, scrounging for money.
Behind Carter and Alex, Ty has the next most development, and "Shell Game" has good focus on him, putting him in a difficult position. It turns out that his girlfriend and her brother, neither of whom know his real name or occupation, and involved in the drug trade, headed by Charles S. Dutton's character Shell. As Ty gets closer to Shell, his facade slowly breaks down until the end when his girlfriend is sent of of town and her brother dead.
Score: 8.7/10
Behind Carter and Alex, Ty has the next most development, and "Shell Game" has good focus on him, putting him in a difficult position. It turns out that his girlfriend and her brother, neither of whom know his real name or occupation, and involved in the drug trade, headed by Charles S. Dutton's character Shell. As Ty gets closer to Shell, his facade slowly breaks down until the end when his girlfriend is sent of of town and her brother dead.
Score: 8.7/10
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 7 Home Sweet Home
Ever since Alex Rice was introduced, her relationship with Carter has consumed Dark Blue. Every episode has some kind of progression on their side while the other characters get shafted completely. And it wouldn't be too bad if Alex and Carter were actually more interesting than the other characters. The writers just can't write compelling dialogue. Oooh, Alex asks about Carter's favorite ice cream and now she asks him about his first marriage.
The main plot, again, was Alex and Carter posing as a couple and tied up together by another, slightly more deranged married couple, giving them a chance to reflect on what they want. Of course, being a show of happy resolutions, despite supposedly being "dark," Alex agrees to move in on a temporary basis.
Was the reference to Farmington a shout out to The Shield or a big coincidence?
Score: 8.2/10
The main plot, again, was Alex and Carter posing as a couple and tied up together by another, slightly more deranged married couple, giving them a chance to reflect on what they want. Of course, being a show of happy resolutions, despite supposedly being "dark," Alex agrees to move in on a temporary basis.
Was the reference to Farmington a shout out to The Shield or a big coincidence?
Score: 8.2/10
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 6 Jane Wayne
This picture at the end of "Jane Wayne" pretty much sums up what Dark Blue has become, another police procedural with a substantial comedic element. And it's hard to begrudge the writers for going in this direction. The writers tried the hardcore, intense mode in the first season, and the ratings dropped each week while the ratings have actually increased since the beginning of the second season with the change in tone. Almost all of the highest rated shows aren't too serious, and if Dark Blue is joining them in order to stay alive, I guess it's a necessary move.
As far as the plot went, "Jane Wayne" was the usual undercover work ending with a shootout. There are subplots about Carter not understanding women, with his request that Jaime pretend she was scared after a shooting and misinterpreting a department-wide gift from Alex as signal she wants the relationship to move forward.
Score: 8.4/10
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 5 Brother's Keeper
I've liked every episode this season, but was "Brother's Keeper" a listless hour of television. Dark Blue used to have an edge--as slight as it was--that set it apart from other cop shows, but the addition of Alex Rice is proving more troublesome to the entire makeup of the show than I previously anticipated.
She's a by-the-book FBI agent intent on keeping the team in order and following the law. However, she's also in a relationship with Carter, a very plain one at that, which sucks out any interdepartmental issues that should arise. We see Carter completely disregard her orders and go off on his own (not nearly as wild as some stunts in the first season), but receives little backlash from Alex. Instead, the episode ends on cutesy pizzicato and guitar plucks while Alex and Carter walk off in tandem.
But I wonder if the change in tone is an attempt to garner better ratings. Looking at the most popular cable shows, none are nearly as serious as Dark Blue. Could the writers be deliberately trying to make the show lighter in tone to get more viewers?
Score: 7.5/10
She's a by-the-book FBI agent intent on keeping the team in order and following the law. However, she's also in a relationship with Carter, a very plain one at that, which sucks out any interdepartmental issues that should arise. We see Carter completely disregard her orders and go off on his own (not nearly as wild as some stunts in the first season), but receives little backlash from Alex. Instead, the episode ends on cutesy pizzicato and guitar plucks while Alex and Carter walk off in tandem.
But I wonder if the change in tone is an attempt to garner better ratings. Looking at the most popular cable shows, none are nearly as serious as Dark Blue. Could the writers be deliberately trying to make the show lighter in tone to get more viewers?
Score: 7.5/10
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 4 High Rollers
Based on the ratings of the first three episodes, it's unlikely Dark Blue will be renewed, given that Rizzoli & Isles has performed splendidly after The Closer and that Dark Blue is one of the lowest rated (possibly the very lowest) TNT original series on air. And it's hard to fault anyone. Dark Blue squandered the Leverage lead-in last year (the shows aren't similar) and the ratings dropped severely. TNT renewed it after many months and shoved in on Wednesday alongside syndicated shows, showing its justified lack of confidence in Dark Blue. It's not surprising, then, that the ratings this season began at the lowest point of the first season and are only going down.
I liked the creative direction this season, including the addition of Alex Rice, who adds another facet to the show. "High Rollers," however, takes a misstep. Carter and Alex get way too cuddly--in only the fourth episode of the season--and there is no friction between them, making them a cookie-cutter couple which doesn't add to the show.
The benefits of a fairly large cast is that Jaime and Ty pick up the slack. Jaime tries using her sexuality in an attempt to dig deeper into the criminal, dragging out a cautionary tale from Alex in the process. In addition to Alex and Carter moving too fast, Ty and his wife's relationship disintegration was also rushed with only last week's episode bridging this week's revelation that Ty and Mellisa are separated. Still, the payoff is that we see Ty's gambling problem emerge, though Carter shoves it under the rug.
Within everything going on with the various characters, the plot was tossed to the side as there were about three guest stars who actually had lines and a simple entrapment to wire was stretched out to fill the hour.
Score: 7.9/10
I liked the creative direction this season, including the addition of Alex Rice, who adds another facet to the show. "High Rollers," however, takes a misstep. Carter and Alex get way too cuddly--in only the fourth episode of the season--and there is no friction between them, making them a cookie-cutter couple which doesn't add to the show.
The benefits of a fairly large cast is that Jaime and Ty pick up the slack. Jaime tries using her sexuality in an attempt to dig deeper into the criminal, dragging out a cautionary tale from Alex in the process. In addition to Alex and Carter moving too fast, Ty and his wife's relationship disintegration was also rushed with only last week's episode bridging this week's revelation that Ty and Mellisa are separated. Still, the payoff is that we see Ty's gambling problem emerge, though Carter shoves it under the rug.
Within everything going on with the various characters, the plot was tossed to the side as there were about three guest stars who actually had lines and a simple entrapment to wire was stretched out to fill the hour.
Score: 7.9/10
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 3 Shelter of the Beast
Three episodes in and already the writers of Dark Blue have done more with the characters than they did for most of first season. Continuing from "Liar's Poker," "Shelter of the Beast" further fleshed out the conflicts we'll see this season as Carter used Finn and Maria to get at Garza.
We've come to expect high-level criminals taken down within an episode, so Garza being the main target in last week's episode and not even seen was pretty exciting. He showed his face this week and still wasn't caught! After Dean screws everything up, opting to save Maria instead of following through on orders, Carter, fully infuriated, goes berserk and prepares to charge in to get Garza on anything. However, Alex stops him with the full force of her position. No bust this week! So we see Alex ready to step when Carter becomes a little crazy (and honestly, his behavior is one of the grimiest on television this side of Vic Mackey), but at the same time, they're continuing their relationship/tryst.
I simply don't see how Dean can continue to stay on the team after directly going against orders, completely ruining the chance to take down a huge criminal. If he can't keep his emotions under control, how can anyone trust him the next time? I sure as hell wouldn't be fine with him backing me any time soon. But Carter seems to think this is a one-time thing, which it probably is if Dean is to stay on the show.
Score: 8.6/10
We've come to expect high-level criminals taken down within an episode, so Garza being the main target in last week's episode and not even seen was pretty exciting. He showed his face this week and still wasn't caught! After Dean screws everything up, opting to save Maria instead of following through on orders, Carter, fully infuriated, goes berserk and prepares to charge in to get Garza on anything. However, Alex stops him with the full force of her position. No bust this week! So we see Alex ready to step when Carter becomes a little crazy (and honestly, his behavior is one of the grimiest on television this side of Vic Mackey), but at the same time, they're continuing their relationship/tryst.
I simply don't see how Dean can continue to stay on the team after directly going against orders, completely ruining the chance to take down a huge criminal. If he can't keep his emotions under control, how can anyone trust him the next time? I sure as hell wouldn't be fine with him backing me any time soon. But Carter seems to think this is a one-time thing, which it probably is if Dean is to stay on the show.
Score: 8.6/10
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Review - Dark Blue Season 2 Episode 1 Urban Garden / 2 Liar's Poker
I've always liked the tone and atmosphere of Dark Blue, but the one huge plot hole always threatens to make the show unwatchable. Somehow, the team is able to make arrests in broad daylight and conduct their investigation in establishments filled with people without ever being outed as a cop on sight. You'd think that after the 5th or so bust, criminal enterprises would be clued in that a group of undercover LAPD officers are nabbing bad guys left and right. But apparently not. They're clueless and can be fooled each time by the same exact people. It's a problem that's always nagging me, especially when I start thinking, "Hey, this show is actually pretty good."
The first episode, Urban Garden, introduced Alex Rice (everyone's favorite BSG hottie Tricia Helfer) as an undercover FBI, going after Victor, the same guy Carter is after. They go about business with covers, until Carter's CI friend is killed. Alex's real motives are uncovered: she's going after a bigger target she lost in San Francisco, so Carter can't get Victor for murder. However, Carter has plans of his own and nabs Victor on murder anyway to Alex's dismay. To make Carter seem less terrible, the writers throw in an additional caveat--the guy in San Francisco is already dead. Yeah, Alex's main target was dead and her had no clue! OK...
Before Alex departs, she sleeps with Carter and then gets call informing her of a joint FBI-LAPD taskforce headed by none other than herself. And Trica Helfer stays on!
"Liar's Poker" had a more disjointed plot with several threads that never quite came together, but it did, however, set up for the rest of the season in a much larger form than in the first. Most interesting was the decision of the writers to put Alex in a very vulnerable position after the shooting. After telling Carter that it was her first shooting, Carter is there for her, showing a sympathetic side that rarely comes out. Instead of making her slightly adversarial to Carter or the team, the writers decided the break the bonds of any FBI, LAPD problem and basically make her one of them, a new character with a new backstory to explore. As expected, Tricia Helfer fills the role exceptionally, improving the already above-average cast.
On the relationship side of things, Jamie is still sleeping with Dean, having broken things off with Scott (so much for that "cliffhanger" at the end of the first season). Right now, it's just sex, but it's pretty obvious where they're going, especially with Dean's new (undercover) girlfriend, Maria (Jordanna Brewster). Ty is having trouble connecting with his wife who recently got a promotion and is too busy to stick around and talk.
Dark Blue will never be a hit or critical darling, but it's a show people should be taking a look at. Sure the dialogue can be cheesy and plot contrivances can be annoying, but it has a certain grit to it few shows have and for a summer show, that's fine for me.
Score: 8.6/10
The first episode, Urban Garden, introduced Alex Rice (everyone's favorite BSG hottie Tricia Helfer) as an undercover FBI, going after Victor, the same guy Carter is after. They go about business with covers, until Carter's CI friend is killed. Alex's real motives are uncovered: she's going after a bigger target she lost in San Francisco, so Carter can't get Victor for murder. However, Carter has plans of his own and nabs Victor on murder anyway to Alex's dismay. To make Carter seem less terrible, the writers throw in an additional caveat--the guy in San Francisco is already dead. Yeah, Alex's main target was dead and her had no clue! OK...
Before Alex departs, she sleeps with Carter and then gets call informing her of a joint FBI-LAPD taskforce headed by none other than herself. And Trica Helfer stays on!
"Liar's Poker" had a more disjointed plot with several threads that never quite came together, but it did, however, set up for the rest of the season in a much larger form than in the first. Most interesting was the decision of the writers to put Alex in a very vulnerable position after the shooting. After telling Carter that it was her first shooting, Carter is there for her, showing a sympathetic side that rarely comes out. Instead of making her slightly adversarial to Carter or the team, the writers decided the break the bonds of any FBI, LAPD problem and basically make her one of them, a new character with a new backstory to explore. As expected, Tricia Helfer fills the role exceptionally, improving the already above-average cast.
On the relationship side of things, Jamie is still sleeping with Dean, having broken things off with Scott (so much for that "cliffhanger" at the end of the first season). Right now, it's just sex, but it's pretty obvious where they're going, especially with Dean's new (undercover) girlfriend, Maria (Jordanna Brewster). Ty is having trouble connecting with his wife who recently got a promotion and is too busy to stick around and talk.
Dark Blue will never be a hit or critical darling, but it's a show people should be taking a look at. Sure the dialogue can be cheesy and plot contrivances can be annoying, but it has a certain grit to it few shows have and for a summer show, that's fine for me.
Score: 8.6/10
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Preview of Week 8/01/10 - 8/07/10
Rubicon - AMC, Sunday, August 1, 9:00pm ET
The sneak peak, aired over a month ago, told us virtually nothing about what the series actually is, but we'll see if the second episode does more than just throw out vague symbols and hints about a conspiracy.
Mad Men - AMC, Sunday, August 1, 10:00pm ET
If the season premiere last week didn't knock your socks off, I don't know what will. Either way, I'm putting Mad Men in the preview each week it airs.
Dark Blue - TNT, Wednesday, August 4, 9:00pm ET
I liked certain elements of the first season and it did show flashes of greatness on the rare occasion. However, the concept of the show--that these people can consistently go undercover without being discovered--is pretty much salvageable and a huge plot hole going into each episode. But Tricia Helfer is joining the show this season, so I'll be watching.
The sneak peak, aired over a month ago, told us virtually nothing about what the series actually is, but we'll see if the second episode does more than just throw out vague symbols and hints about a conspiracy.
Mad Men - AMC, Sunday, August 1, 10:00pm ET
If the season premiere last week didn't knock your socks off, I don't know what will. Either way, I'm putting Mad Men in the preview each week it airs.
Dark Blue - TNT, Wednesday, August 4, 9:00pm ET
I liked certain elements of the first season and it did show flashes of greatness on the rare occasion. However, the concept of the show--that these people can consistently go undercover without being discovered--is pretty much salvageable and a huge plot hole going into each episode. But Tricia Helfer is joining the show this season, so I'll be watching.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Opinion of Current Television Shows, Part 3
Just a few more parts to go.
Mad Men: The writing team is extremely talented and the acting is simply amazing. The show has very few flaws and I don't have any complaints about it. The only reason why Mad Men is one of my favorite shows right now is the kind of show it is. I like genre shows the most, and Mad Men definitely ain't it.
Warehouse 13: The stories aren't that coherent and contain many plotholes, but the characters make up for it. The team relationships is really great, and the artifacts are cool for the most part. For a light summer show, Warehouse 13 fits the role nicely.
Psych: I think Psych is a little underapproved by the critics. The writing is iffy at times, but the acting, especially by James Roday is brilliant.
Burn Notice: I think the deal involving who blacklisted Michael is a little weak, and I think the show would do better focusing on it, but it would change the tone of the show. Michael and Co. are criminals with good hearts. With the action blended with comedy, Burn Notice looks like it will survive for a very long time.
Royal Pains: I started off liking Royal Pains even more than the latest season of Burn Notice, but after a while, I started noticing all the problems in the shows. I'll keep watching, but I'm worried about where it's going.
Leverage: The first season was absolutely mindblowing, but season 2 was sort of been a let down so far.
Dark Blue: I watched Dark Blue during the summer and it was pretty good. It wasn't anything special, but the tone of the show and acting made it watchable.
