nosee
Detective
Posts: 220
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Post by nosee on Oct 26, 2007 22:45:40 GMT -5
You know I though this episode was pretty good. I like the interaction between Logan and Falacci, but it does seem to me that the writers are going overboard to make Falacci seem "different". It is like they are trying to hard to make us like her. There were two things that really bothered me. One, nobody listened to Logan when he said he thought the playwright was innocent. Of course, Logan didn't really push his theory either to make anyone agree with him. That didn't seem right to me. And two, they had a bad ending. It just left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Three out of the last four endings have been really unsettleing. It used to be that they would end a show with a feeling that justice was being served. Well, except for the Nicole episodes. But that's another story. nosee
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Post by Techguy on Oct 26, 2007 23:40:58 GMT -5
Not very long ago, the overly sexual scenes would have bothered me a lot more, but I've learned to accept some changes in CI as the new reality. If we're going to have character-driven stories laden with angst and melodrama, then the sexual titillation is also to be expected as part of the plan to introduce the show to new, young fans. So be it, and so I'll evaluate "Lonelyville" on its own merits without comparison to the "old days" because the old days really are over.
I liked the snarks and humor, but they were just temporary reprieves in what I thought was a taut and suspenseful whodunnit. The changing landscape of suspects, with who was blackmailing whom and who was pulling the strings of the puppets in this morality play, made for some very enjoyable and riveting TV. This is one episode I couldn't figure out right away, although when Noah's situation deteriorated so low everyone had betrayed and/or abandoned him, I suspected he would try to harm himself. When the call came from the watch commander at Rikers that Noah had hanged himself, I felt myself let out a sigh of resignation, and then re-grouped to see what Logan would do to settle the score with whoever was responsible.
The snarks and humor were welcome respites from the developing Greek tragedy as one by one, witnesses and lovers leave Noah to fend for himself in the wake of Anya's murder. Anya's child is now motherless, and Noah's daughter has to deal with the loss of her father. There is so much unhappiness, so much loss in this episode, it dared me to stick with it until its conclusion.
I'm glad I stayed, glad for the opportunity to see Logan uncover the scheme behind Noah's setup. Logan has had to adjust to 3 different partners in the time he's shared the CI stage, and I applaud him and the two post-AS/Barek actresses for bringing a fresh approach to their roles, and avoiding a revolving door parody that would have sunk the Logan episodes. Eric Bogosian also deserves praise for taking the Captain Ross role, relishing and running with it. It's been an absolute pleasure seeing him taking a more hands-on approach to leading MCS, and his wit and humor shine through like a laser beam here.
Bring on the purple Princess mugs, and bring on more scenes of Logan interacting with Rodgers in the morgue. I'm enjoying the ride with Falacci riding shotgun for Logan while Julianne Nicholson is on maternity leave. If and when Wheeler returns, I hope she maintains the level of enjoyment I've had so far with the Logan episodes this season. Way to go Mikey, you're on top of your game so far after only 2 episodes.
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lovesong
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 98
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Post by lovesong on Oct 26, 2007 23:51:14 GMT -5
Bobby who?
I am loving Logan this season.
"the guy's cheating on his wife, he isn't going to go missionsry the whole way." ;D ;D
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Post by caseyswife on Oct 27, 2007 1:06:48 GMT -5
I also couldn't help but think that Goren never had to lie about his height. (audible sigh....) DJ, I had finally thought of some comments for this episode, but this line in your comments made me giggle/space out so much, I forgot every single one!! Audible sigh is right on, girl! ;D Hopefully back with more later... caseyswife
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Post by Summerfield on Oct 27, 2007 8:49:40 GMT -5
I enjoyed this episode much more than "Seeds." I don't compare G/E episodes with L/F because I just don't... Witt wasn't nearly as annoying this time out. I found the story engaging enough to keep me from falling asleep.
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Ladyheather
Detective
An acquired taste.....
Posts: 441
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Post by Ladyheather on Oct 27, 2007 12:01:22 GMT -5
Yea, I agree with most of you. This was a better written episode and I do like Falacci much more this time around. I think that Logan had a better handle of the crime midway. She showed her lack of experience not picking up on the "missionary" comment, not getting that he truly was being set up. Logan saw it early on. He didn't buy him doing this, because he knew that underneath all that stuff, the guy was a weakling.
I don't know why the mug thing was so obvious. Ok, so her kid gave it to her or made it for her. Was this just to appease fans because of the Santa mug?? Don't know...
The villain was an actress that just left Criminal Minds last season. I really hated to see her go from that show. I liked her dark mood and she really brought that to this character.
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Post by sarahlee on Oct 28, 2007 1:02:14 GMT -5
Why was this case one for the Majour Case squad? But, I did like it. This is one of the few Logan epis I will re-watch. Logan and Falacci are great together, and the Logan/Rodgers war is simmering along nicely. But still, why is this one for the Majour Case squad? Did I miss it?
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Post by maherjunkie on Oct 28, 2007 9:39:10 GMT -5
She showed her lack of experience not picking up on the "missionary" comment, not getting that he truly was being set up. Logan saw it early on. He didn't buy him doing this, because he knew that underneath all that stuff, the guy was a weakling. I don't know why the mug thing was so obvious. Ok, so her kid gave it to her or made it for her. Was this just to appease fans because of the Santa mug?? Don't know... I wondered if that was as much experience as it was a guy thing. I think the mug was just highlighting her character. I assume Major Case got it because bribery was involved.
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Post by sarahlee on Oct 28, 2007 19:34:58 GMT -5
Oh. Thanks ;Dmj.
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Post by Jefferaldo on Oct 29, 2007 4:35:41 GMT -5
Blackberry obsession!!
Is it just me or is the prop department at Law & Order obsessed with Blackberries? First I see Falacci playing with one in Seeds, then Benson in SVUs got one and now this nanny has one to wave around. Is this the dreaded product placement or just some new fad by the prop department?
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Post by DonnaJo on Oct 29, 2007 7:57:25 GMT -5
Can someone make out a particular brand being used? I don't know much about them. I know in Manhattan many people use blackberries. This may be just a sign of the times in NYC. Not to mention that by using these devices, the coveted youthful viewers can relate better to Falacci & Benson, along with their chic, sexy outfits.
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mimi
Detective
Posts: 231
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Post by mimi on Oct 29, 2007 10:18:38 GMT -5
I do have a bias towards the Logan episodes because unlike Goren, the writing team doesn't have to make up stories in order to show the audience that the character do have a social, emotional or sexual background.
Logan carries all of this with his performance or with a line here and there. The missionary comment is a prominent example of that. We know Logan has had a round of women in his bed, and we only seen one of them (in stress position). As for Goren, he used to have that quality in the first year, where we saw or felt that something was happening when he wasn't at work. We knew he had a social life because of the car guy, that he had a sex life with the "I can't vouch for his secretary comment" and we learned about his family, his values and his issues through the cases he solved and his interaction with Eames. A big chunk of that disappeared as the seasons progressed.
This is what I deplore of TV shows, they don't add layers to a character; they go on a tangent, making going back so much harder.
As for this episode, I thought the story was put together well, with enough back and forth to keep us guessing; but not too complicated as we couldn't see the well-orchestrated con.
I felt everybody had a combination of bad and good within themselves (with the exception of the lawyer).
I was on the fence with most of them, but mostly Noah. In the beginning, I had a pure aversion towards him: the cheating husband who cheats on his mistress...with two women...how low can you go. But as the episode progressed and the trap closed on him, I felt empathy.
Then, I noticed something. Is it just me or Josh Pais looks a lot like René Balcer? Tribute or insolent act?
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Post by nwchimom on Oct 29, 2007 10:45:28 GMT -5
Mimi, I hadn't noticed it when I watched the episode, but after reading your comment about the resemblance to Rene Balcer I Googled for pictures.
The first name I entered was Josh Pais, and when the pics came up I said, "OMG that's Rene Balcer!" But it wasn't, it was Pais. Wow. I want to say it was unintentional, but with all the self-referencing writer jokes in this script, I wonder....
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Post by nancyt on Oct 29, 2007 11:08:56 GMT -5
Deathroe -- Thanks for agreeing with me on the writing issue! As for whether you should "just get over it" -- NAH! Which isn't to say we can't accept mediocre writing with good performances and top-notch production values (except for the scenes shot outdoors, which I CANNOT HEAR FOR THE LIFE OF ME). We can accept and watch, but I don't think we should ever stop requesting (or demanding) first-class writing from a show that has had it in the past; particularly a franchise show in which the mothership has consistently been one of the best-written shows on television for more than 15 years. Sure, it's hard to find excellent writers. But I'm quite sure the "Law & Order" people know where they are, and I'm not inclined to just shrug and let them off the hook!
Techguy, I agree with you about Bogosian. Nothing against Sheridan -- two different styles -- but Bogosian is so forceful and straightforward in his work that, particularly when the other characters are being required to wallow in emotion, it's always a joy to see him on screen.
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Post by janetcatbird on Feb 28, 2008 0:05:30 GMT -5
Oh man, the first episode I've seen in forever...again, grad school stinks, and I hate this middle of the week timing.
I'm not a Falacci fan, but this is the only episode I've seen her in. The blue/purple/whatever fingernails just look immature. I'm not sure if the actress is trying too hard to be obstinate, or if the character is deliberately written to be provoking, but she's trying too hard to be too tough and mocking.
Logan was never my favorite, but I thought Chris Noth did a good job in this episode of conveying personality and snark without going overboard. I still love Ross, I think he's about the only thing they got right after Season 5. Bitterly disappointed at the credits, since I'd forgotten the revamp. Make-out scene was kind of unnecessary and hokey, but at least it was relatively brief and except for the tapes people kept their clothes on.
As to the story...meh. Felt a little hop-scotch. By the end of it I understood how all the different characters fit in, but I never really got a grip on why. And the whole charde line-up: they had the lawyer on video! Wouldn't that be enough to arrest/question her/force the court to appoint Tammy a new lawyer?
Sigh, I'm tired. I miss Goren and Eames--and next week's NBC run is "Depths," which I've actually managed to see! I miss the good old days.
I've missed the show and I've missed the chat. Sorry to be late.
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