Watched the first season and liked it, even if it did come to a trite “buddy cop” ending. This season, I watched one episode and just couldn’t get interested in yet another neo-noir set in Los Angeles. Yawn.
Still wish they had pursued a story with the two modern-day cops from the first season. But then you would have two black leads possibly investigating white folks — can’t have that!
7.
Hurling Dervish
John Woo?
8.
gogol's wife
I’m about to watch the last episode of the 2002 Forsyte Saga. Brilliant work by Damian Lewis.
9.
Steeplejack
I’m going to skip this thread for now, or maybe read it with squinty, spoiler-avoiding eyes, because I have fallen behind a couple of episodes in my viewing.
After the first episode I was lukewarm about the series. Didn’t see any characters I “liked” (in a dramatic/viewing way, not a personal, “Ooh, I’d like to hang out with that person” way), and the plot looked like it was heading into a mash-up of every “corrupt cops in a dirty city” movie/series ever made.
Something about the second episode perked me up a bit, and I’ve kept on with it—although it’s true that it hasn’t been must-see TV, like the first season was. Hence the . . . checking . . . four unwatched episodes (including the one tonight).
Actually, maybe I’ll start getting caught up tonight. The last episode I watched ended with the massive shootout (which was pretty clearly a set-up). Need to find out what happened after that. But, still, not must-see TV, for some reason. I think it’s the writing. The cinematography is great, the acting has been very good, but it all feels a little formulaic.
10.
srv
This is a problem with directors. Cary Fukunaga kept Season 1 of TD on track. The six directors of Season 2 was a sin against god & nature.
House of Cards Season 1 & 2 did ok with a mix of directors (actually, a few recurring directors kept it on the rails) but then it went beserk too.
Just announce Season 3 will be directed by one or two of Johnnie To, James Foley, Fincher or Carl Franklin and it will be the best TV evah.
Yeah, those two black cops were incredibly underused! When the season ended I was like, “You hired those two guys just to sit at an interview table?!” (I think they did get one outside scene in a car.)
I would have liked to see a season about them, even if—eek!—they had to investigate white people.
Hrmm. I liked it. It clearly was not as good as the first season, but still good tv.
16.
the Conster
Well, that’s that. Still not sure how I feel about S2, but since my favorite character was Ani, I guess I have to be satisfied with the ending. It seemed needlessly complicated.
17.
Mike in NC
Well that finale sucked, but those characters were doomed anyway.
I only had to go to 2 weddings this summer. My folks had to do 5.
19.
Joshua Norton
The constant jumping back and forth between on-going scenes and then into completely different ones might have seemed like a good idea on paper, but it just made it a mish-mash to watch.
20.
Doug R
starts here in about 17 minutes so I’m leaving the thread til then.
21.
Steeplejack
D’oh. I though the finale was next week. Guess I should go ahead and binge-watch now.
And I guess I’m out of this thread, lest I see any spoilers about the finale.
Kenneth Parcell: NBC had the first two black characters on TV… sort of. For “Alfie & Abner,” NBC hired one African-American and one Caucasian because they thought two black people on the same show would make the audience nervous; a rule NBC still uses today!
26.
Joshua Norton
Poor Paul never got to come out of the closet.
27.
ruemara
@Mnemosyne (tablet): Ouch. I suppose my script of a rom-com with two black leads who are also detectives who focus on white… collar crimes, is dead before it even leaves my writing program.
Actually, feature films and cable movies with black leads do pretty well — they’re not huge blockbusters, but they’re steady enough moneymakers that you can get rom coms with black leads made fairly easily (like the “Best Man” series, the “About Last Night” remake, etc.). It’s series TV that’s still a huge problem despite hits like “Scandal.”
29.
ruemara
@Mnemosyne (tablet): I loved Undercovers. Broke my heart that it didn’t find an audience. If anyone wonders why there’s a loyal fanbase to Sleepy Hollow in the community, it’s nothing in particular but 3 (THREEEEE!!!) black leads, with complicated stories, well developed personalities and no one is dead yet.
JPL
I heard that the second series wasn’t as good. What do you think?
Joshua Norton
The only way I can follow the newest series is to read the reviews afterwards so they can explain what I just watched.
Time Travelin'
@JPL: It’s not even close. Directing, writing, acting, etc. took a step backwards.
kdaug
Don’t.
Mike in NC
All we’ve figured out is that this season is about three LA area cops who are seriously messed up.
I do prefer Vince as a violent thug. His comedic work sucks.
Also liked the article linked earlier today about how these people are able to travel from LA to San Francisco in about half an hour. Ridiculous.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
Watched the first season and liked it, even if it did come to a trite “buddy cop” ending. This season, I watched one episode and just couldn’t get interested in yet another neo-noir set in Los Angeles. Yawn.
Still wish they had pursued a story with the two modern-day cops from the first season. But then you would have two black leads possibly investigating white folks — can’t have that!
Hurling Dervish
John Woo?
gogol's wife
I’m about to watch the last episode of the 2002 Forsyte Saga. Brilliant work by Damian Lewis.
Steeplejack
I’m going to skip this thread for now, or maybe read it with squinty, spoiler-avoiding eyes, because I have fallen behind a couple of episodes in my viewing.
After the first episode I was lukewarm about the series. Didn’t see any characters I “liked” (in a dramatic/viewing way, not a personal, “Ooh, I’d like to hang out with that person” way), and the plot looked like it was heading into a mash-up of every “corrupt cops in a dirty city” movie/series ever made.
Something about the second episode perked me up a bit, and I’ve kept on with it—although it’s true that it hasn’t been must-see TV, like the first season was. Hence the . . . checking . . . four unwatched episodes (including the one tonight).
Actually, maybe I’ll start getting caught up tonight. The last episode I watched ended with the massive shootout (which was pretty clearly a set-up). Need to find out what happened after that. But, still, not must-see TV, for some reason. I think it’s the writing. The cinematography is great, the acting has been very good, but it all feels a little formulaic.
srv
This is a problem with directors. Cary Fukunaga kept Season 1 of TD on track. The six directors of Season 2 was a sin against god & nature.
House of Cards Season 1 & 2 did ok with a mix of directors (actually, a few recurring directors kept it on the rails) but then it went beserk too.
Just announce Season 3 will be directed by one or two of Johnnie To, James Foley, Fincher or Carl Franklin and it will be the best TV evah.
Steeplejack
@Mnemosyne (iPhone):
(Squinty, spoiler-avoiding reading here.)
Yeah, those two black cops were incredibly underused! When the season ended I was like, “You hired those two guys just to sit at an interview table?!” (I think they did get one outside scene in a car.)
I would have liked to see a season about them, even if—eek!—they had to investigate white people.
Lynn Dee
@Time Travelin’:
I thought the acting was as good (except for Vince Vaughn, I should add). Script wasn’t, though.
lamh36
Three new blog posts about my crazy week, between the new baby and the new brother-in-law, it’s been a big week for my family.
Check them out: http://nellybellsplace.com/
What A Week…Or…Two Sisters Made Happy!!!:
Hey There Baby Girl…Welcome To The World
When The Mister Steals Your Sister…Or…An August Wedding
Steeplejack
Also, NFL preseason football already? [Shudder]
Although I am glad that the Premier League started up this weekend.
West Bromwich Albion vs. Manchester City at 3:00 p.m. EDT tomorrow on NBC Sports.
John Cole
Hrmm. I liked it. It clearly was not as good as the first season, but still good tv.
the Conster
Well, that’s that. Still not sure how I feel about S2, but since my favorite character was Ani, I guess I have to be satisfied with the ending. It seemed needlessly complicated.
Mike in NC
Well that finale sucked, but those characters were doomed anyway.
srv
@lamh36: Congrats.
I only had to go to 2 weddings this summer. My folks had to do 5.
Joshua Norton
The constant jumping back and forth between on-going scenes and then into completely different ones might have seemed like a good idea on paper, but it just made it a mish-mash to watch.
Doug R
starts here in about 17 minutes so I’m leaving the thread til then.
Steeplejack
D’oh. I though the finale was next week. Guess I should go ahead and binge-watch now.
And I guess I’m out of this thread, lest I see any spoilers about the finale.
ruemara
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): IS that even allowed on the air?
Lavocat
A disaster from start to finish. It needed some serious editing as well. Best part of it was the whacked-out noir soundtrack.
Hill Dweller
Vince Vaughn and Taylor Kitsch shouldn’t have been cast. Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams were solid, but the story was a convoluted mess.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@ruemara:
“30 Rock” was kidding on the square:
Joshua Norton
Poor Paul never got to come out of the closet.
ruemara
@Mnemosyne (tablet): Ouch. I suppose my script of a rom-com with two black leads who are also detectives who focus on white… collar crimes, is dead before it even leaves my writing program.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@ruemara:
Actually, feature films and cable movies with black leads do pretty well — they’re not huge blockbusters, but they’re steady enough moneymakers that you can get rom coms with black leads made fairly easily (like the “Best Man” series, the “About Last Night” remake, etc.). It’s series TV that’s still a huge problem despite hits like “Scandal.”
ruemara
@Mnemosyne (tablet): I loved Undercovers. Broke my heart that it didn’t find an audience. If anyone wonders why there’s a loyal fanbase to Sleepy Hollow in the community, it’s nothing in particular but 3 (THREEEEE!!!) black leads, with complicated stories, well developed personalities and no one is dead yet.
Steeplejack
@Mnemosyne (tablet):
I haven’t seen the ratings, but Black-ish seems to be doing pretty well.
Paul in KY
Saw Lera Lynn (plays a bar singer) over weekend at Well Crafted festival. Nice set.