By showing all the cards last week, Rubicon was boxed in a corner. For sure there was a terrorist attack in Galveston Bay and for sure it was the doings of Atlas McDowell in conjunction with Truxton Spangler. The resolution, then, would have to be incomplete for the show to go on if it were to have a second season.
"You Never Can Win" comes to a belated ending, staggering forward towards the finish line. The conspiracy angle of Rubicon started slow and didn't pick up until about halfway through the season. As the details of the conspiracy crystallized and real actions were taken by Will and the conspirators, the conspiracy came up to par with the intelligence portion of the show.
However, as the season finale proves, conspiracy theories have definite lifespans. Rubicon's ended last week. "You Never Can Win" is unable to build up the momentum gained at the end of last week's episode, instead giving us a half-hearted explanation that Atlas McDowell wants war with Iran, a fairly boring conclusion. Unlike 24 which could spin a story every which way, Rubicon is almost too real. Additional twists would throw the show off a certain equilibrium.
After being an inconsequential character for a very large majority of the season and taking up a fair amount of screen time before entering the fold a few weeks ago, Katherine Rhumor is killed by a quick injection. And with that, she's gone forever. The only useful thing she does in the episode--and arguably the entire season--is that she links Andy to the conspiracy by uncovering the recording. Unfortunately, we don't get any elaboration whatsoever on Andy, and we don't even know what side she's on.
On the other hand, Spangler, once the powerful figure who presided over API and the conspiracy, is shown to be as vulnerable as the ones whom he easily dispatched. In one fell swoop, the conspirators clamp down on him and send him a clover,
What "You Never Can Win" and Rubicon in general is successful at is showing the human cost of the intelligence world. Tanya, fed up with everything, quits for good. Miles, informed by Will of the conspiracy, is unable to properly function with the realization that everything he's done is a sham. Grant receives the promotion he's been looking for, but a glimmer of good news under the weight of all that's going on.
Score: 8.6/10
Showing posts with label Rubicon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rubicon. Show all posts
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Preview of Week 10/17/10 - 10/23/10
Forgot about writing this, so it's very late.
Rubicon - AMC, Sunday, October 17, 9:00pm ET
It's almost hard to believe, but the first season of Rubicon is over. And last week's tanker explosion at the end of the episode was only the beginning. We'll see what the writers pull off this week to top that.
Mad Men - AMC, Sunday, October 17, 10:00pm ET
What game-changing twist will happen in the fourth season finale? The possibilities are endless.
Luther - BBC America, Sunday, October 17, 10:00pm ET
Idris Elba of The Wire fame gives a sterling performance as John Luther, a cop with a troubled past.
Rubicon - AMC, Sunday, October 17, 9:00pm ET
It's almost hard to believe, but the first season of Rubicon is over. And last week's tanker explosion at the end of the episode was only the beginning. We'll see what the writers pull off this week to top that.
Mad Men - AMC, Sunday, October 17, 10:00pm ET
What game-changing twist will happen in the fourth season finale? The possibilities are endless.
Luther - BBC America, Sunday, October 17, 10:00pm ET
Idris Elba of The Wire fame gives a sterling performance as John Luther, a cop with a troubled past.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 12 Wayward Sons
Wow, I didn't see that coming. Rubicon is a slow paced show, to be sure, but that doesn't mean things can't happen. The end of "Wayward Sons" completely revolutionizes the entire show, promising never to turn back. The oil tanker explosion is a defining moment. It's greater than The Event, FlashForward, or any number of incidents on various shows. This is rooted in reality, the pure potential for a terrorist attack which could cripple the United States.
But at the same time, it's the possibly of those in power pulling strings. Through the season, the two main plots, Kateb and Atlas McDowell have run concurrently, without ever touching each other. In "Wayward Sons," however, it all comes to a head. David's API analysis of the "Houston problem" was used for the attack, a strategic move by Atlas McDowell to once again gain more money through nefarious means. The episode tries to convey the point that Kateb is a pawn, using his friends, family, and scenes of him brooding in the dark. While I certainly didn't care for him, nor did we learn his twisted motivation, the point stands. Atlas McDowell uses API to get rich.
The world of Rubicon is a dark, dark place. The monsters like Kateb are only the first wave. The real enemies lie further, out of sight but always on the perch looking over the ordinary people. If Rubicon is canceled--and there's little reason to believe it won't--I'll certainly be very impressed by how this season went.
Score: 9.4/10
But at the same time, it's the possibly of those in power pulling strings. Through the season, the two main plots, Kateb and Atlas McDowell have run concurrently, without ever touching each other. In "Wayward Sons," however, it all comes to a head. David's API analysis of the "Houston problem" was used for the attack, a strategic move by Atlas McDowell to once again gain more money through nefarious means. The episode tries to convey the point that Kateb is a pawn, using his friends, family, and scenes of him brooding in the dark. While I certainly didn't care for him, nor did we learn his twisted motivation, the point stands. Atlas McDowell uses API to get rich.
The world of Rubicon is a dark, dark place. The monsters like Kateb are only the first wave. The real enemies lie further, out of sight but always on the perch looking over the ordinary people. If Rubicon is canceled--and there's little reason to believe it won't--I'll certainly be very impressed by how this season went.
Score: 9.4/10
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 11 A Good Day's Work
From the first episode, Rubicon has been slow, excruciatingly so at certain times. It's very much a visual show where the audience sees things play out in front of them, often without much talking, so the plot developments are doled out piece by peace. "A Good Day's Work" moves much faster than the previously episode, with Will's near-murder and huge revelations about Kateb, but it still has those slow character moments which define the show.
The big thing that annoys me is how the assassination attempt is badly botched. We're supposed to believe that this organization which can orchestrate a massive global conspiracy can't get rid of Will, even with the specific instruction not to be sloppy (leaving the spoon to tip off Will was very dumb). For the sake of the show and the protagonist being indestructible, we must assume that, yes, Will is smarter than this all-powerful group and Bloom.
With two episodes left in the season, here's where we stand. API couldn't get anything on Kateb, because he is a manufactured person, the alias for a white guy named Joseph Purcell who is coming to the US to do harm. Spangler orders a hit on Will, but Bloom fails (and there's no backup). And Will knows exactly what Spangler's buddies have been up to: Atlas McDowell profits off of disasters using API's white papers. Is that the extent of the conspiracy? Is Atlas interested in Kateb causing harm? Hopefully we'll find out by the end of the season.
Score: 9.4/10
The big thing that annoys me is how the assassination attempt is badly botched. We're supposed to believe that this organization which can orchestrate a massive global conspiracy can't get rid of Will, even with the specific instruction not to be sloppy (leaving the spoon to tip off Will was very dumb). For the sake of the show and the protagonist being indestructible, we must assume that, yes, Will is smarter than this all-powerful group and Bloom.
With two episodes left in the season, here's where we stand. API couldn't get anything on Kateb, because he is a manufactured person, the alias for a white guy named Joseph Purcell who is coming to the US to do harm. Spangler orders a hit on Will, but Bloom fails (and there's no backup). And Will knows exactly what Spangler's buddies have been up to: Atlas McDowell profits off of disasters using API's white papers. Is that the extent of the conspiracy? Is Atlas interested in Kateb causing harm? Hopefully we'll find out by the end of the season.
Score: 9.4/10
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 10 In Whom We Trust
With only three episodes left in the season (and possibly series due to the low ratings), the various threads of Rubicon are coming together in a very satisfying fashion.
After being alone for the majority of screen time, Katherine finally meets Will and they exchange some information before the creep Donald Bloom threatens to kill both of them if they meet Still, Katherine sends Will the photo of all the kids who would become the world government (yeah, the notion is silly unless someone was directing them from birth). Will's investigation into Atlas McDowell brings him on the same path David was, but he's not letting up.
At API, things are moving as well, with the discovery that Kateb is still alive and coordinating attacks. What's more, those around him have been systematically eliminated, indicating he silenced them for a future attack. The air of conspiracy around Kateb leads me to believe that there could be a tie to the conspiracy. Whether there is an actual connection or just a parallel situation due to the global nature of the conspiracy, it's interesting stuff.
Maggie is the most problematic character of the show, working in another area and not involved in the conspiracy. The custody battle feels out of place, although we do see Kale actively protecting her. Unless she suddenly gets knowledgeable enough about the world or is revealed to be related to the conspiracy, it's hard imagining her ever doing something meaningful other than being Will's love interesting, whose current position is held by Andy.
Score: 8.8/10
After being alone for the majority of screen time, Katherine finally meets Will and they exchange some information before the creep Donald Bloom threatens to kill both of them if they meet Still, Katherine sends Will the photo of all the kids who would become the world government (yeah, the notion is silly unless someone was directing them from birth). Will's investigation into Atlas McDowell brings him on the same path David was, but he's not letting up.
At API, things are moving as well, with the discovery that Kateb is still alive and coordinating attacks. What's more, those around him have been systematically eliminated, indicating he silenced them for a future attack. The air of conspiracy around Kateb leads me to believe that there could be a tie to the conspiracy. Whether there is an actual connection or just a parallel situation due to the global nature of the conspiracy, it's interesting stuff.
Maggie is the most problematic character of the show, working in another area and not involved in the conspiracy. The custody battle feels out of place, although we do see Kale actively protecting her. Unless she suddenly gets knowledgeable enough about the world or is revealed to be related to the conspiracy, it's hard imagining her ever doing something meaningful other than being Will's love interesting, whose current position is held by Andy.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 9 No Honesty in Men
By now, we've come to expect that Will--or more precisely, Rubicon--won't dive straight into the conspiracy. There won't be long chase scenes involving Will running for armed men, a shootout in the middle of a crowded street, or the usual hallmarks of a conspiracy show.
But Rubicon isn't just a conspiracy show; it's as much a psychological thriller as a conspiracy. The conspiracy slowly unwinds and a fairly uninteresting fashion (since we know so little), but always around the characters who react very cautiously. And in this way, Rubicon manages to maintain a degree of uneasy tension, even if we know there won't be explosions of that kind of stuff.
In "No Honesty in Men," Will gets plunked in a relationship with Andy, the woman who's been spotting him through her window. Despite Will going to her initially to surveil his apartment, they end up meshing and in bed together. The final message: they're in this together. Yeah, it's cliched, but at least Will catches Donald Bloom in the act.
The homefront at API was a nice blend of drama from Grant, whose wife frustrations about his job seem to be getting to him, and comedy from Miles, who is charmingly earnest in his dealing with Julia.
Finally (!!!), Katherine inches closer towards Will, uncovering API and even scoping the building, passing Miles and Julia on the way out. The meeting between her and Will is so close it's only about a month away!
Score: 9.0/10
But Rubicon isn't just a conspiracy show; it's as much a psychological thriller as a conspiracy. The conspiracy slowly unwinds and a fairly uninteresting fashion (since we know so little), but always around the characters who react very cautiously. And in this way, Rubicon manages to maintain a degree of uneasy tension, even if we know there won't be explosions of that kind of stuff.
In "No Honesty in Men," Will gets plunked in a relationship with Andy, the woman who's been spotting him through her window. Despite Will going to her initially to surveil his apartment, they end up meshing and in bed together. The final message: they're in this together. Yeah, it's cliched, but at least Will catches Donald Bloom in the act.
The homefront at API was a nice blend of drama from Grant, whose wife frustrations about his job seem to be getting to him, and comedy from Miles, who is charmingly earnest in his dealing with Julia.
Finally (!!!), Katherine inches closer towards Will, uncovering API and even scoping the building, passing Miles and Julia on the way out. The meeting between her and Will is so close it's only about a month away!
Score: 9.0/10
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 8 Caught in the Suck
After watching "Caught in the Suck," I realized how little I care about the specifics of the conspiracy or even the official API work. All the names and connections go over my head and I follow only to the point where I get the generalities. But honestly, the entire conspiracy, as a we currently know it, be summarized in one sentence. Eight episodes have gone by and we know next to nothing.
Instead, Rubicon focuses on the characters--how they move, how they react, how they interact--using slick directing to draw viewers in. However, the ratings have gone from slightly below average to totally horrendous, especially in the target 18-49 demo. I'm curious to see what AMC does with Rubicon once the season ends. The ratings are bad, and it hasn't gotten as many critical accolades as AMC's other dramas which leads me to think Rubicon will be cancelled.
Thus far two-thirds of the female characters, Maggie and Katherine, have spent nearly every second of screen time on the fringes, never quite inside the conspiracy but skirting the edges enough to be somewhat relevant. Maggie's role as Kale's spy is blown open when Kale tells Will of her job, protecting her from ever lying because of her fondness for Will. Can she become relevant again?
Score: 8.6/10
Instead, Rubicon focuses on the characters--how they move, how they react, how they interact--using slick directing to draw viewers in. However, the ratings have gone from slightly below average to totally horrendous, especially in the target 18-49 demo. I'm curious to see what AMC does with Rubicon once the season ends. The ratings are bad, and it hasn't gotten as many critical accolades as AMC's other dramas which leads me to think Rubicon will be cancelled.
Thus far two-thirds of the female characters, Maggie and Katherine, have spent nearly every second of screen time on the fringes, never quite inside the conspiracy but skirting the edges enough to be somewhat relevant. Maggie's role as Kale's spy is blown open when Kale tells Will of her job, protecting her from ever lying because of her fondness for Will. Can she become relevant again?
Score: 8.6/10
Monday, September 6, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 7 The Truth Will Out
Wonderfully textured and layered, "The Truth Will Out" was by far my favorite episode. Every character is in a place he/she feels uncomfortable--Will in his apartment and office due to the bugs, Tanya due to her drug problems, Miles due to taking the file, Grant due to his daughter's play, and Katherine due to people looking around in her house.
With the usage of the FBI taking over API to track a leak, the writers deftly distill the innermost feelings of the employees and lays them out for us to see. The polygraph tests we see aren't used to find the leak--the perpetrator a random guy led off near the end--but force the characters into situations where they are completely tied down, trapped in a room with a machine which can force out the truth.
And we also see the mind-numbing, bureaucratic nature of government work, the strict adherence to rules which prevents Grant from making a single call or forces Spangler to take the polygraph.
The mystery side of the Rubicon still hasn't picked up, and it's getting to the point where I don't care about it either way. I'd be perfectly content to watch the goings-on at API without the cloak-and-dagger spy stuff hovering in the background. But it's also a structural problem, in part, because Will and Katherine are isolated in their hunt and the enormity of their positions have yet to come out.
Score: 9.3/10
With the usage of the FBI taking over API to track a leak, the writers deftly distill the innermost feelings of the employees and lays them out for us to see. The polygraph tests we see aren't used to find the leak--the perpetrator a random guy led off near the end--but force the characters into situations where they are completely tied down, trapped in a room with a machine which can force out the truth.
And we also see the mind-numbing, bureaucratic nature of government work, the strict adherence to rules which prevents Grant from making a single call or forces Spangler to take the polygraph.
The mystery side of the Rubicon still hasn't picked up, and it's getting to the point where I don't care about it either way. I'd be perfectly content to watch the goings-on at API without the cloak-and-dagger spy stuff hovering in the background. But it's also a structural problem, in part, because Will and Katherine are isolated in their hunt and the enormity of their positions have yet to come out.
Score: 9.3/10
Monday, August 30, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 6 Look to the Ant
I haven't had time to say much about Rubicon, and I barely have time tonight for more than a few lines. Hopefully I can write more next week when True Blood isn't on.
"Look to the Ant" didn't have any game-breaking leads in the main plot, but Will is sent into paranoid overdrive when Kale extends his hand, offering to support Will's investigation in the background and revealing that Will's apartment is filled with bugs.
Katherine Rhumor is still off in her own world, and I waiting for her to finally cross paths with Will. For now, she's looking for clues one step at a time, and comes upon Atlas McDowell at the same time Will does. Interesting, she meets a woman whose husband was on the board of the company and committed suicide. Katherine's husband filled the position and also committed suicide.
The stuff with Maggie and Miles were both quite good, and made for a solid episode.
Score: 9.0/10
"Look to the Ant" didn't have any game-breaking leads in the main plot, but Will is sent into paranoid overdrive when Kale extends his hand, offering to support Will's investigation in the background and revealing that Will's apartment is filled with bugs.
Katherine Rhumor is still off in her own world, and I waiting for her to finally cross paths with Will. For now, she's looking for clues one step at a time, and comes upon Atlas McDowell at the same time Will does. Interesting, she meets a woman whose husband was on the board of the company and committed suicide. Katherine's husband filled the position and also committed suicide.
The stuff with Maggie and Miles were both quite good, and made for a solid episode.
Score: 9.0/10
Monday, August 23, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 5 Connect the Dots
An episode like " Connect the Dots," which pulls the curtains back just a bit, makes me want the DVD in my hands right now even more. The pacing is as anemic as ever, but I'd love to see what happens. This week, we learned about assassinations and that every character is what they seem, playing some kind of game.
And at API, Tanya proves herself to be a good analyst and doesn't crack under pressure. Her drug problem, however, persists. "Connect the Dots" did a pretty good job at balancing all angles of the show, even with Katherine Rhumor still wandering in the wilderness.
Score: 8.8/10
And at API, Tanya proves herself to be a good analyst and doesn't crack under pressure. Her drug problem, however, persists. "Connect the Dots" did a pretty good job at balancing all angles of the show, even with Katherine Rhumor still wandering in the wilderness.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Preview of Week 8/22/10 - 8/28/10
Rubicon - AMC, Sunday, August 22, 9:00pm ET
The mystery has been nothing more than a mundane tromp through useless symbols and names, but the intelligence analyzing side of the show continues to impress me and is reason alone to keep watching. Hopefully the writers figure out a balance soon.
True Blood - HBO, Sunday, August 22, 9:00pm ET
This up and down season of True Blood comes to an end soon, so we'll see if Bon Temps redeems itself and manages to live up to the excitement of the vampire plot.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, August 26, 9:00pm ET
Michael versus Jesse versus T-1000. Should be interesting.
The mystery has been nothing more than a mundane tromp through useless symbols and names, but the intelligence analyzing side of the show continues to impress me and is reason alone to keep watching. Hopefully the writers figure out a balance soon.
True Blood - HBO, Sunday, August 22, 9:00pm ET
This up and down season of True Blood comes to an end soon, so we'll see if Bon Temps redeems itself and manages to live up to the excitement of the vampire plot.
Burn Notice - USA, Thursday, August 26, 9:00pm ET
Michael versus Jesse versus T-1000. Should be interesting.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 4 The Outsider
With the current inertia of the central mystery in Rubicon, I'm questioning whether the show needs the crosswords, clovers, and cloak-and-dagger spy game. It moves at an exceedingly slow pace, doling out a few vague clues every episode. Frankly, it's not interesting.
Then there's the think tank side of the show, a fascinating world revolving around Will, Miles, Grant, and Tanya. It's still slow, but enough happens to leave me wanting more. As they engage the world from inside an isolated office, we see the intelligence community in a light rarely portrayed on television. There are no guns, shooting, or aerial bombardments to satiate the action fans. It's a pretty boring existence. The workers come in, take stacks of files and read them for hours on end--but the content is of massive importance with far-reaching ramification across the world.
Is Rubicon a mystery-thriller or about a workers at a think tank? The writers still haven't figured out how to balance the two, but I'm fine waiting until they get it all figured out. "The Outsider," the strongest episode so far, lies on the side of workers at a think tank, so much so that I won't bother to mention the new clues or Katherine (who seems to be living in a parallel universe).
Miles, Grant, and Tanya--without Will, the one who guides them--are tasked on whether to assassinate a certain terrorist in Indonesia. Their decision will affect people they have no idea about and civilian casualties are likely. Though they may not be pulling the final trigger, the thought weighs heavily on them and we see them stressed on what to do. In the end, they decide to move ahead and the guys at the top agree, leading to the bombing.
At Capitol Hill, Spangler takes Will to make a point. Will is the outsider, the cold-hearted, detached guy who can make objective decisions. He dehumanizes Will, makes him a faceless observer impartial to death and steadfast in getting the job done right. The point comes across and he succeeds in obtaining the funding he wants.
The ratings for Rubicon have plunged since the series premiere (and not expected due to the pace), so we might not see a second season. It's a decent show so far, but if the writers want to improve the quality and ratings, they need to get the mystery moving.
Score: 9.0/10
Then there's the think tank side of the show, a fascinating world revolving around Will, Miles, Grant, and Tanya. It's still slow, but enough happens to leave me wanting more. As they engage the world from inside an isolated office, we see the intelligence community in a light rarely portrayed on television. There are no guns, shooting, or aerial bombardments to satiate the action fans. It's a pretty boring existence. The workers come in, take stacks of files and read them for hours on end--but the content is of massive importance with far-reaching ramification across the world.
Is Rubicon a mystery-thriller or about a workers at a think tank? The writers still haven't figured out how to balance the two, but I'm fine waiting until they get it all figured out. "The Outsider," the strongest episode so far, lies on the side of workers at a think tank, so much so that I won't bother to mention the new clues or Katherine (who seems to be living in a parallel universe).
Miles, Grant, and Tanya--without Will, the one who guides them--are tasked on whether to assassinate a certain terrorist in Indonesia. Their decision will affect people they have no idea about and civilian casualties are likely. Though they may not be pulling the final trigger, the thought weighs heavily on them and we see them stressed on what to do. In the end, they decide to move ahead and the guys at the top agree, leading to the bombing.
At Capitol Hill, Spangler takes Will to make a point. Will is the outsider, the cold-hearted, detached guy who can make objective decisions. He dehumanizes Will, makes him a faceless observer impartial to death and steadfast in getting the job done right. The point comes across and he succeeds in obtaining the funding he wants.
The ratings for Rubicon have plunged since the series premiere (and not expected due to the pace), so we might not see a second season. It's a decent show so far, but if the writers want to improve the quality and ratings, they need to get the mystery moving.
Score: 9.0/10
Monday, August 9, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 3 Keep the Ends Out
Rubicon is a series that works best on DVD, where viewers can plunk down on the couch and watch for hour and hours--maybe until something happens! They get the same great atmosphere and directing, but after a while, the plot will start coalescing, or at least it should.
For us watching week to week, we're left in the dark for long periods of time, possibly enough to scare of viewers afraid of commitment. Once again, literally nothing happen plot-wise. There was something about names found in the code of Yankees World Series victories, and more ominous words from men in suits about Will's continuing investigation. Every scene with Katherine Rhumor is zipping past my brain and I still have no clue why she matters. But she's there for some reason.
Will's workplace remains the glue holding the show together. Maggie seems like the odd woman out, not working on intelligence stuff with the rest of them, and is a pretty pointless character as well, especially with the random stuff with her husband. Miles was the other character expanded on this week and we learned that he's divorced and that work cut in to his personal life too much. Using Joan's analogy, church and state didn't stay separate.
I love all the visual aspects of the show and the slow pacing is growing on me, but the major plot points are either generic (Maggie's) or directionless (Katherine and Will's).
Score: 8.6/10
For us watching week to week, we're left in the dark for long periods of time, possibly enough to scare of viewers afraid of commitment. Once again, literally nothing happen plot-wise. There was something about names found in the code of Yankees World Series victories, and more ominous words from men in suits about Will's continuing investigation. Every scene with Katherine Rhumor is zipping past my brain and I still have no clue why she matters. But she's there for some reason.
Will's workplace remains the glue holding the show together. Maggie seems like the odd woman out, not working on intelligence stuff with the rest of them, and is a pretty pointless character as well, especially with the random stuff with her husband. Miles was the other character expanded on this week and we learned that he's divorced and that work cut in to his personal life too much. Using Joan's analogy, church and state didn't stay separate.
I love all the visual aspects of the show and the slow pacing is growing on me, but the major plot points are either generic (Maggie's) or directionless (Katherine and Will's).
Score: 8.6/10
Monday, August 2, 2010
Review - Rubicon Season 1 Episode 1 Gone in the Teeth / 2 The First Day of School
Rubicon is like a cool looking snail. You can stare at it for a long period of time, but in the end, it's still moving extraordinarily slow and you have no clue where it's going.
Back when AMC aired the sneak peak, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Okay, there's this big conspiracy, people are dying, and it has to do with crossword puzzles and four-leaf clover. The directing is nice and I still can't believe this is the James Badge Dale that was once on 24. But more importantly, why should we be interested? What makes this languorous show worth watching if it crawls ever so slowly towards an unknown finish line?
Well, "The First Day of School" definitely answered the questions--at least for me. Outside of the main conspiracy and the Katherine Rhumor which I still have no clue about, the episode was fantastic in creating Will's workplace environment and the consequences of living in the intelligence world.
This is all I have time for this week, but I'll definitely move Rubicon higher on my list of priorities for next week.
Score: 8.7/10
Back when AMC aired the sneak peak, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Okay, there's this big conspiracy, people are dying, and it has to do with crossword puzzles and four-leaf clover. The directing is nice and I still can't believe this is the James Badge Dale that was once on 24. But more importantly, why should we be interested? What makes this languorous show worth watching if it crawls ever so slowly towards an unknown finish line?
Well, "The First Day of School" definitely answered the questions--at least for me. Outside of the main conspiracy and the Katherine Rhumor which I still have no clue about, the episode was fantastic in creating Will's workplace environment and the consequences of living in the intelligence world.
This is all I have time for this week, but I'll definitely move Rubicon higher on my list of priorities for next week.
Score: 8.7/10
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.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Review - Rubicon Preview
I'll wait until the proper premiere on August 1 to give Rubicon a full review, but here are my quick thoughts on the sneak peak which aired last night after the season finale of Breaking Bad.
I like the look at feel of the show, but the episode dragged on without much happening. It felt like a slower version of Damages. The conspiracy stuff was all shrouded in mysterious cliches and didn't have me intrigued or excited. James Badge Dale who was fantastic on The Pacific does an excellent job. It's too earlier to tell whether the show will be successful. It'll be largely dependent on whether the blatant symbolism with the clover and chess can become more subtle.
I like the look at feel of the show, but the episode dragged on without much happening. It felt like a slower version of Damages. The conspiracy stuff was all shrouded in mysterious cliches and didn't have me intrigued or excited. James Badge Dale who was fantastic on The Pacific does an excellent job. It's too earlier to tell whether the show will be successful. It'll be largely dependent on whether the blatant symbolism with the clover and chess can become more subtle.
