Looking at television schedules available on the web, "Shockwave" is the last Flashpoint episode CBS will air during this summer, and, given Nina Tassler's recent comments, potentially the final episode of the show the network will air. I don't believe this signals the end of the show since it was renewed for a fifth season and is still popular in Canada, but nothing is certain.
In any case, "Shockwave" is a strong episode to end on. It's a tense episode, filled with the emotional moments we've come to expect. The format is a bit different than usual, with the team mostly stationary throughout the episode. Spike, Sam, and Raff are stuck in a building with a massive bomb which will detonate. This cuts out some of the less potent scenes like driving around places, allowing for more focus on the characters right at the center of the action.
There's a lot going on--Spike's father having a clout and possibly dying, Sam having a concussion, a woman trapped under rubble, and mostly importantly, the bomber hiding with them in plain sight--and it's all heavy stuff. But everyone pulls out in the end and after a whirlwind ride, the audience can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Score: 9.0/10
Showing posts with label Flashpoint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flashpoint. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 6 A Day in the Life
Um... that was a random episode. I get the point the episode was trying to convey, that life for the SRU is busy, especially on Valentine's Day, but the episode was way too packed for its own good. The pacing of the episode is immediately different, as there are two smaller cases--resolved quickly by major reveals about Raf and Jules--before the main case, which ends with two people dead. There just isn't enough time to really absorb any of the plots and get the emotional resonance the writers so desire.
Score: 7.8/10
Score: 7.8/10
Friday, August 5, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 5 The Better Man
Outside of Ed, the characters on Flashpoint have not been developed to the point where the audience really cares about them as individuals. We simply haven't seen enough of them outside of work to get a deeper connection with them. (Before anyone comments, yes I remember all about Wordy's wife, Greg's son, etc.) So, when Wordy departed, I didn't mind that much insofar as the character Wordy is involved. What makes the last scene work is what has always made the show work--the team.
While Wordy may never have gotten a prominent role other than a few choice episodes, he's always been there, rock-solid, to support the team and do his job. The team relied on him and he always delivered. But now, he admits that he has Parkinson's and can no longer trust himself to perform his duties. Wordy is not only leaving a team, but also a family, and it's clear that the characters care about him more than as a colleague. This emphasis on the team as a whole and not on Wordy emphasizes the strengths of the show, and minimizes potential pitfalls to the episode, such as trying to fill in tons of Wordy backstory before the end.
The case this week features a bone-headed detective who botches a massive drug operation by informing his girlfriend--also the girlfriend of the boss--of the raid and she's caught trying to escape. Although I spent the episode annoyed at how irrational he was acting, there wasn't entirely a happy ending as the girlfriend is shot. The writers have to do this once in a while just to keep things honest. If no one ever dies, then they're cheating the audience by continually dangling out dangerous situations when there actually is no danger. Well, an (relatively) innocent person got killed this week and we're reminded that people do get hurt on this show.
Score: 8.7/10
While Wordy may never have gotten a prominent role other than a few choice episodes, he's always been there, rock-solid, to support the team and do his job. The team relied on him and he always delivered. But now, he admits that he has Parkinson's and can no longer trust himself to perform his duties. Wordy is not only leaving a team, but also a family, and it's clear that the characters care about him more than as a colleague. This emphasis on the team as a whole and not on Wordy emphasizes the strengths of the show, and minimizes potential pitfalls to the episode, such as trying to fill in tons of Wordy backstory before the end.
The case this week features a bone-headed detective who botches a massive drug operation by informing his girlfriend--also the girlfriend of the boss--of the raid and she's caught trying to escape. Although I spent the episode annoyed at how irrational he was acting, there wasn't entirely a happy ending as the girlfriend is shot. The writers have to do this once in a while just to keep things honest. If no one ever dies, then they're cheating the audience by continually dangling out dangerous situations when there actually is no danger. Well, an (relatively) innocent person got killed this week and we're reminded that people do get hurt on this show.
Score: 8.7/10
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 4 Through A Glass Darkly
Every episode of Flashpoint begins with an awkward situation which looks pretty clear cut, someone is doing something dangerous and the SRU is there to stop him/her. But the episode progresses are we learn the whole story, even sympathizing with the original "bad guy". This requires a degree of contrivance for the tables to be completely turned every time, but it's somewhat believable most of the time.
"Through A Glass Darkly," though, is so far out there that it's hard to take seriously. Two guys kidnap kidnap a girl, because... they tricked granny! That they would kidnap the girl--and her mother--in broad daylight is already suspect, and the stuff about fooling the grandmother was perhaps more bizarre and unbelievable.
Score: 7.8/10
"Through A Glass Darkly," though, is so far out there that it's hard to take seriously. Two guys kidnap kidnap a girl, because... they tricked granny! That they would kidnap the girl--and her mother--in broad daylight is already suspect, and the stuff about fooling the grandmother was perhaps more bizarre and unbelievable.
Score: 7.8/10
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 3 Run, Jaime, Run
Years after something becomes popular, television writers suddenly discover it and marvel in the wonders of it, deciding to incorporate it into an episode. This usually turns into an awkward mess where the writers are trying to throw in these "cool" terms so they sound hip and with the times. "Run, Jaime, Run" is somewhere in that vicinity, but manages to avoid the major problems that befall these episodes. Yes, there are descriptions of social media and its implications, definitions of internet lingo (ROFLMAO), but Flashpoint is a show which always keeps moving and the episode doesn't get bogged down.
Also, there is a message in the episode, which trumped the glories of technology, regarding the way people view other people--Jaimie and Kyle, Sam and Natalie, the public and Jaimie. The incorporation of technology with this idea made for a great twist, as the girl Jaimie was helping by killing her father turned out to be a guy manipulating him over the internet and with a voice changer.
Score: 8.8/10
Also, there is a message in the episode, which trumped the glories of technology, regarding the way people view other people--Jaimie and Kyle, Sam and Natalie, the public and Jaimie. The incorporation of technology with this idea made for a great twist, as the girl Jaimie was helping by killing her father turned out to be a guy manipulating him over the internet and with a voice changer.
Score: 8.8/10
Friday, July 15, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 2 Good Cop
"Good Cop" is a fairly standard episode of Flashpoint, with an added emphasis on Ed. After a cop is found innocent of the murder of a black teenager, everything goes crazy and the team is forced into a tough spot. Since this is the second episode of the season, coming right after the team got back together, it was likely no one would get hurt and no one does get hurt. At the end of the episode, Ed is back on the team, but, under his wife's orders, will have his job scaled back a bit.
Score: 8.5/10
Score: 8.5/10
Friday, July 8, 2011
Review - Flashpoint Season 4 Episode 1 Personal Effects
I haven't been reviewing Flashpoint since CBS has been aired the episodes out of order and I didn't want to deal with the order/episode numbers, but now that CBS and CTV are in the same spot, I'll start reviewing the show again.
The third season finale was a pretty clever clip show and set up problems for the team beyond the usual crimes. Through all the adversary and bad things that have happened as a team or individually, the team was always the glue that kept everyone together. Everyone knew they had back-up when they need it and everyone offered their support. That's what made the job bearable. But then this psychologist comes, and with Greg's help, switches things up significantly and breaks the team apart.
With the shooting of Ed, the team is reformed and there are no immediate consequences by the end of "Personal Effects." Jules and Sam are safe, and Ed's wife Sophia and their baby are fine. But there is a significant crack that will be explored later in the season--Dr. Toth basically forcing Greg to keep a close eye on the team, not as a friend but as a boss and this clearly upsets Greg.
Score: 8.8/10
The third season finale was a pretty clever clip show and set up problems for the team beyond the usual crimes. Through all the adversary and bad things that have happened as a team or individually, the team was always the glue that kept everyone together. Everyone knew they had back-up when they need it and everyone offered their support. That's what made the job bearable. But then this psychologist comes, and with Greg's help, switches things up significantly and breaks the team apart.
With the shooting of Ed, the team is reformed and there are no immediate consequences by the end of "Personal Effects." Jules and Sam are safe, and Ed's wife Sophia and their baby are fine. But there is a significant crack that will be explored later in the season--Dr. Toth basically forcing Greg to keep a close eye on the team, not as a friend but as a boss and this clearly upsets Greg.
Score: 8.8/10
Friday, July 9, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 6 The Farm
OK, I just found out that CBS aired "The Farm" as episode 3 and "Behind the Blue Line" as episode 6. It was aired in a different order in Canada and pretty much throws off my numbering. Since that's the case, if you want to read my reviews for Flashpoint, look at the episode titles.
In the order aired in Canada, today's episode would be "The Farm" and I've already reviewed "Just a Man," the second episode of the double-feature tonight, so I'll review "The Farm" right now and try to finish reviewing the rest of the episodes this week or the next for whoever wants to read them. Sorry about the inconvenience.
After a woman attempts to rob a gas station, the investigation leads a "the farm," a compound where she went to get clean. The name clearly denotes something weird, and yep, there's something off with the place and residents. Ed and Jules visit the compound and the situation quickly disintegrates into a standoff. Ed is captured and disarmed, putting everyone in a precarious position.
It turns out that Charles, the guy in charge, once genuinely wanted to help people but now wants to kill everyone, a point that isn't explained until the very end when it is revealed that he has cancer and he shoots himself. Ed, who talks about not letting his son go to an unsupervised party at the beginning of the episode, comes to a similar revelation that he has to let his son find his own path.
"The Farm" wasn't revolutionary in any respect, but it was a high quality episode we've come to except. The plot was tightly knit, the acting was good, and there was a real connection between the SRU and Charles.
Score: 8.9/10
In the order aired in Canada, today's episode would be "The Farm" and I've already reviewed "Just a Man," the second episode of the double-feature tonight, so I'll review "The Farm" right now and try to finish reviewing the rest of the episodes this week or the next for whoever wants to read them. Sorry about the inconvenience.
After a woman attempts to rob a gas station, the investigation leads a "the farm," a compound where she went to get clean. The name clearly denotes something weird, and yep, there's something off with the place and residents. Ed and Jules visit the compound and the situation quickly disintegrates into a standoff. Ed is captured and disarmed, putting everyone in a precarious position.
It turns out that Charles, the guy in charge, once genuinely wanted to help people but now wants to kill everyone, a point that isn't explained until the very end when it is revealed that he has cancer and he shoots himself. Ed, who talks about not letting his son go to an unsupervised party at the beginning of the episode, comes to a similar revelation that he has to let his son find his own path.
"The Farm" wasn't revolutionary in any respect, but it was a high quality episode we've come to except. The plot was tightly knit, the acting was good, and there was a real connection between the SRU and Charles.
Score: 8.9/10
Friday, July 2, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 5 Coming to You Live
Politicians are all scumbags who have terrible things in the past, right? That's what a radio host thinks when he kidnaps a councilman on air. It all revolves around a car crash year ago which led to the death of the councilman's friend. The host believes the councilman was behind the wheel, not his friend. The SRU mobilizes, finding the parties involved, eventually uncovering the truth.
Several facts come out. First, the host is revealed to be the friend's biological father, which was one of the triggers, though it seemed kind of unrealistic since he's never met his son. Second, the councilman's assistant was actually the driver. She was his friend's girlfriend and they covered up the accident to keep her out of trouble. In they end, both the councilman and his assistant are arrested. (And oddly enough, Ted Kennedy is seen as a national hero despite killing a woman in his past.)
"Coming to You Live" was a solid episode with the stuff you'd usually expect. I'm trying to wrack my brain for more to say on the episode, but it was pretty cut and dry. The connections between the SRU and the criminal was almost nonexistent this week other than Sam telling Jules that he would have covered up the crash for a friend, eliciting a smile from her.
Score: 8.7/10
Several facts come out. First, the host is revealed to be the friend's biological father, which was one of the triggers, though it seemed kind of unrealistic since he's never met his son. Second, the councilman's assistant was actually the driver. She was his friend's girlfriend and they covered up the accident to keep her out of trouble. In they end, both the councilman and his assistant are arrested. (And oddly enough, Ted Kennedy is seen as a national hero despite killing a woman in his past.)
"Coming to You Live" was a solid episode with the stuff you'd usually expect. I'm trying to wrack my brain for more to say on the episode, but it was pretty cut and dry. The connections between the SRU and the criminal was almost nonexistent this week other than Sam telling Jules that he would have covered up the crash for a friend, eliciting a smile from her.
Score: 8.7/10
Friday, June 25, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 4 Custody
There's honestly not much to say about the episode. The episode starts off great with a hostage situation after a custody hearing, but becomes annoying circular. Too few characters are introduced, and Helen, the woman who Jules talks to for a while in the beginning, kidnapped her children to bring back to Ireland.
But, as always, the episode brought ample emotion to the lame plot and Greg was able to relate, having been divorced and lost contact with his own son. The rest of the team was doing their usual jobs, and Leah got a bit of reality as she's reminded that Ed is in charge and in full command.
Score: 8.4/10
But, as always, the episode brought ample emotion to the lame plot and Greg was able to relate, having been divorced and lost contact with his own son. The rest of the team was doing their usual jobs, and Leah got a bit of reality as she's reminded that Ed is in charge and in full command.
Score: 8.4/10
Friday, June 18, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 3 Just a Man
I'm exhausted right now and I still haven't gotten to Burn Notice and Royal Pains yet, so I'll be very brief.
"Just a Man" is an episode about one man--and that's pretty much it. The prison break out and gang killing stuff was unimportant, allowing for the particular opportunities to arise. Ed's involvement was the biggest engagement the team had with the situation and it was good for the most part.
However, the episode belonged, in whole, to Roger Cross and his amazing portrayal of Anton Burrows, convicted murder who isn't a bad guy. Cross, who most people recognize from 24, was never really allowed to show much range on 24 other than in the sixth season, his role constricted to tough action man. Here, he showed anger, fear, repentance, sadness, and everything in between as he protected the people who would not like him out on parole.
Score: 8.8/10
"Just a Man" is an episode about one man--and that's pretty much it. The prison break out and gang killing stuff was unimportant, allowing for the particular opportunities to arise. Ed's involvement was the biggest engagement the team had with the situation and it was good for the most part.
However, the episode belonged, in whole, to Roger Cross and his amazing portrayal of Anton Burrows, convicted murder who isn't a bad guy. Cross, who most people recognize from 24, was never really allowed to show much range on 24 other than in the sixth season, his role constricted to tough action man. Here, he showed anger, fear, repentance, sadness, and everything in between as he protected the people who would not like him out on parole.
Score: 8.8/10
Friday, June 11, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 2 Never Let You Down
After last week's episode, I was expecting more reactions from the team, but they only came at the beginning and end of the episode. And I think that's the strong point of Flashpoint (no pun intended), the ability to have the team continuing to do their job well though whatever personal problems they're having. The writers know exactly how to bring personal issues into play along with the case the team is on.
In "Never Let You Down," a crazy guy kidnaps a woman who looks like his deceased daughter. He was suspected in his daughter's death but never charged. There's a long standoff and not much happens until Jules talks him down, using her experience with Lou's death to connect with him. As usual, it's emotional and fairly well-acted.
I was, however, wary of Lou's replacement, Leah Kern. We don't know much about her except that she applied for the SRU job before and didn't make it and was a firefighter. I'm not sure if I'm looking too much into this, but at the beginning of the episode, she seems eager, almost too eager, to prove herself to the team, requesting something to do.
Score: 8.8/10
In "Never Let You Down," a crazy guy kidnaps a woman who looks like his deceased daughter. He was suspected in his daughter's death but never charged. There's a long standoff and not much happens until Jules talks him down, using her experience with Lou's death to connect with him. As usual, it's emotional and fairly well-acted.
I was, however, wary of Lou's replacement, Leah Kern. We don't know much about her except that she applied for the SRU job before and didn't make it and was a firefighter. I'm not sure if I'm looking too much into this, but at the beginning of the episode, she seems eager, almost too eager, to prove herself to the team, requesting something to do.
Score: 8.8/10
Friday, June 4, 2010
Review - Flashpoint Season 3 Episode 1 One Wrong Move
The third season of Flashpoint had lots going on, but in the end, boiled down to an explosion, one that will surely affect the team for the rest of the season. Spike and Lou, two characters that operate in the background most of time, took center stage in defusing explosives around the city. While approaching an explosive, Lou steps on a mine and despite Spike's best efforts, there's nothing he can do.
Lou lifts his foot is blown up. Most notable among the varied reactions is Sam's. He had been arguing against Spike doing more, realizing the futility of the situation and after the mine detonates, walks off with a stern look on his face, angry that there was nothing to be done.
The biggest fault of the episode--something Flashpoint normally tackles with supreme control--was a balance between the SRU and the criminal side of the equation. Usually, we can sort of see the point of the other--not necessarily condone the actions, but at least see where they are coming from.
In "One Wrong Move," the bad guy was a wacko environmentalist on a quest for environmental justice who hoodwinks the daughter of his former compatriots. We're not shown a real argument for their side, a built-in problem with the premise of the episode: only legitimately sick people would support killing humans for the environment. Killing humans for a human problem--maybe, just maybe. Definitely not for the environment.
Score: 9.2/10
Lou lifts his foot is blown up. Most notable among the varied reactions is Sam's. He had been arguing against Spike doing more, realizing the futility of the situation and after the mine detonates, walks off with a stern look on his face, angry that there was nothing to be done.
The biggest fault of the episode--something Flashpoint normally tackles with supreme control--was a balance between the SRU and the criminal side of the equation. Usually, we can sort of see the point of the other--not necessarily condone the actions, but at least see where they are coming from.
In "One Wrong Move," the bad guy was a wacko environmentalist on a quest for environmental justice who hoodwinks the daughter of his former compatriots. We're not shown a real argument for their side, a built-in problem with the premise of the episode: only legitimately sick people would support killing humans for the environment. Killing humans for a human problem--maybe, just maybe. Definitely not for the environment.
Score: 9.2/10
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Preview of Week 05/30/10 - 06/05/10
Breaking Bad - AMC, Sunday, May 30, 10:00pm ET
After last week's freakishly smart/crazy episode, it looks like everything will be back on track which means anything can happen.
Justified - FX, Tuesday. June 1, 10:00pm ET
As the final two episodes of the season come around, the heat will be turning up. Boyd is out of control and Raylan will have to put a stop to him, but he may need his father's help.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, June 3, 9:00pm ET
The underlying mythology of Burn Notice has gotten kind of muddled and illogical with all the twists and turns that all go back to the simple fact that all the people who burned him want is his help. The beginning of Season 3 begins with another reset and Michael is quickly back into the spy game.
Royal Pains - USA, Thursday, June 3, 10:00pm ET
Royal Pains really began to wear on me in the later half of its first season and the second season begins much the same way. There's way too much interpersonal relationship problems, not enough comedy, and not enough medical stuff. That's where the difference between Royal Pains and Burn Notice is glaring. Burn Notice focuses on standalone stories much more and keeps away from soap opera-y arcs while Royal Pains embraces the soapy aspect to a point where everything feels labored.
Flashpoint - CBS, Friday, June 4, 9:00pm ET
After last week's freakishly smart/crazy episode, it looks like everything will be back on track which means anything can happen.
Justified - FX, Tuesday. June 1, 10:00pm ET
As the final two episodes of the season come around, the heat will be turning up. Boyd is out of control and Raylan will have to put a stop to him, but he may need his father's help.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, June 3, 9:00pm ET
The underlying mythology of Burn Notice has gotten kind of muddled and illogical with all the twists and turns that all go back to the simple fact that all the people who burned him want is his help. The beginning of Season 3 begins with another reset and Michael is quickly back into the spy game.
Royal Pains - USA, Thursday, June 3, 10:00pm ET
Royal Pains really began to wear on me in the later half of its first season and the second season begins much the same way. There's way too much interpersonal relationship problems, not enough comedy, and not enough medical stuff. That's where the difference between Royal Pains and Burn Notice is glaring. Burn Notice focuses on standalone stories much more and keeps away from soap opera-y arcs while Royal Pains embraces the soapy aspect to a point where everything feels labored.
Flashpoint - CBS, Friday, June 4, 9:00pm ET
Flashpoint would seem to be a normal procedural on the surface; it’s about an elite police team trained to talk down dangerous situations and if need be, take decisive action. Pretty simple, right? Well it is, and then you watch the show. Almost every episode immerses viewers into both sides of the equation—both the law enforcement angle and the mind of the criminal. It can get a little too sappy at times, but Flashpoint is one of the few procedurals that can bring out so much emotion.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Opinion of Current Television Shows, Part 2
Continuing on with the list... I also want to add that I'm not going to add any new shows to the list.
The Mentalist: The writing is fairly average, but Simon Baker steals the show. As Patrick Jane, he's charming, charismatic, serious, funny, and every other adjective out there. I'm glad he got an Emmy nod even though the cynic in me tells me that the whole system is corrupt.
NCIS: My favorite procedural on television right now, possibly my favorite of all-time. I liked JAG a lot, but NCIS blows it away. The team dynamic and characters are unmatched.
Flashpoint: I know you must be wondering why the hell I'm watching Canadian television (don't worry, I also watched The Listener), but Flashpoint is an oddly endearing and compelling show. It just has something special that makes you want to watch.
The Big Bang Theory: I find the show completely hilarious since I get a lot of the geek and science references. The characters are great, and Sheldon and Penny make comedic genius.
Better Off Ted: I never understood why the ratings were so low. The first couple episodes may not have been spectacular, but the clever writing and Portia de Rossi's performance made BOT one of the best new shows last year.
Scrubs: I loved all 8 seasons of the show and never had any problems with the storytelling. Even season 6 was awesome. Hopefully the reboot without Zach Braff will have as much success, but I'm not banking on it. Nevertheless, Bill Lawrence has done some amazing things and he'll probably make the new concept work.
Lost: The show has gotten as little too convoluted with the interconnectedness, but I guess that's part of the draw of the show. I've forgotten a lot and haven't rewatched much, so I'm planning a 10-day rewatch of the whole series and post daily updates on my blog. If you don't think I can, I promise I'll do it in 10-days or less, or I won't watch Lost season 6, ever. I'm not worrying since I watched 16 episodes of Farscape per day for 3 days, and can watch 10 episodes per day during the weekends.
Castle: The crimes are badly written (no offense to the writers), generic, and exceedingly simplistic, but all of that is redeemed by the characters and the acting. Castle's douchebagginess has been toned down and he's a genuinely good person that Beckett and the other detectives respect.
True Blood: I like True Blood a lot and the show will continue to be popular for years. The directing and cinematography is simply breathtaking. The acting is well above average, and the writing is good for the most part.
Dexter: This is another show that my opinion will elicit hatred. I think Dexter is overrated. The serial killer trying to be normal was interesting for a while, but the sheen has worn off for me, and while I keep watching, I don't find the need or desire to review it.
