Did Buck get a Fair Shake?

[Techguy]

Even after so much time has passed since the arrival and departure of Det. Bishop, I find I am still somewhat ambivalent about the character and the actress who portrayed her.

I admit to having had certain expectations about her based on all the hype and promotion prior to Season 3. When those expectations of "locking horns" with Goren were not met, I at first felt a little cheated and actively cultivated a genuine dislike for her.

Then after watching the 7 Bishop episodes in reruns, I ended up wishing she had been given more time and opportunity to develop the character as counterpoint not only to Goren but Eames too. At the same time, I was very pleased when Eames/Erbe returned, so I have yet to resolve completely my feelings about Bishop and Samantha Buck's portrayal of her.

I also can relate somewhat to the difficulties Bishop/Buck must have had trying to fit in. I tend to be a logical person by temperament, education and by virtue of the type of work I do. So I sometimes have problems communicating effectively with people who are more intuitive by nature. I have tried to develop my instincts, so I can relate somewhat to Bishop's displays of frustration with Goren's investigative methods.

[KATIE]

I agree with a few peoples ideas, Sam only had 6 eps that is hardly time to develope the charactor she would have made her. Yes, going into somebody elses shoes as a replacement is always daunting, lastly the writers couldnt over shadow Eames charactor, so they had to keep it neutral. Just what I saw in such short amount of time she had on the show, maybe they will bring her back at some point in a storyline, who knows? Katie

[trisha]

Oh no, Katie, you just gave me a horrible thought ... what if D'Onofrio doesn't sign on and Buck replaces HIM.

No, no, no. That can never happen. To keep the show's focus on forensic psychology, we would need another 'tec with highly evolved skills in this area. Bishop does NOT fit that profile.

[NicoleMarie]

I didn't like that girl either. But to ask if she got a fair shake, I think she came on acting mean and snotty and rolling her eyes at Goren/ Vincent and I think people took a dislike to her because of that. It's her own fault. Granted, she was toned down by the end of her run but, it makes you wonder if she had the sense to realize how she would appear on screen. Maybe she did because she clearly changed her obnoxious behavior.

[Patcat]

I think it only fair not to confuse the actor and the character. I think Samantha Buck did the best she could with the character, but she wasn't given much to work with. It's clear that LOCI doesn't always show the episodes in the order they were filmed, so perhaps there was an arc that was lost. But as the episodes aired, it seemed that Bishop veered from disdain to puppy like worship of Goren. It was something of a lost opportunity--Bishop could have offered Goren a real challenge either by standing up to him or as a student.

Patcat

[missymagoshi]

I'm new here. I've been posting on other boards. This is my 1st time here. I only started watching last season, so I don't have the same history with the show everyone else has. As far as SB goes, I liked Stray (sorry Pat Cat) and Sound Bodies a lot. I did not like Murderer Among Us (talk about contrived plots!) SB wasn't great, but she wasn't as bad as other actors I see on TV. Why is everyone so hard on her?

[Patcat]

It's not that I dislike STRAY--it's a solid episode--it's just that it's shown so much! (g)

And I think Samantha Buck was in a no win situation--let's be honest, there's a lot of people who were prepared to thoroughly dislike her and her character. And, unfortunately, Bishop wasn't particularly well-written or likable.

Patcat

[missymagoshi]

SB didn't bug me as bad as it sounds like she did other people. I saw her as younger and basically a climber. I always find aggressive people like that unlikable. They're too self-involved for me.

[Patcat]

And again (just to keep beating that dead horse), let's not confuse the actress with the part. I read a couple of interviews with Samantha Buck, and she struck me as nice and very grateful for the chance to work on the show and with Mr. D'Onofrio.

But I agree that the character of Bishop often came across as either pushy or as a toady.

Patcat

[missymagoshi]

That's exactly right Patcat. The actress is not the role. That's why it's called acting. I'm sure she is a very nice person.

[amnesic]

i think that SB and VDO did a great job in their scenes conveying all the akwardness that must be associated with being given a new partner temporarily. that first episode reminds me of the weirdness associated with the first day of every job i have had. SB also did a good job in getting over to the viewer that she was willing to adapt once she saw that Goren's methods work for him, she was willing to learn and change her own methods. also, i saw S3 right after S1 and before S2, and adding bishop really made me appreciate what KE adds to the show and what eames brings to the table

[trisha]

Me too, and it also makes me wonder what wonderful faces Alex must have made on their first case, because Bishop (SB) made some great faces.

[Beaglebabes]

Sorry for speaking the minority opinion but I liked her. I thought she did a great job of acting and I think alot of people did not like her because Bishop did not like Goren in the beginning. But that is how the writers wrote her part and she warmed to Goren in the end. I wouldn't mind her coming back on the show.

[Metella]

I still think it was stiff - I don't know if was the acting, writing or directing: but I was disappointed in the playoff of the characters.

I think I saw her in a movie - Benny and Joon? if so, she was the girlfriend and played much more convincing there.

[MelTex]

Wow... its been many years since I've seen Benny and Joon, but I didn't know SB was in it. Cool!

As for Bishop, I had ambivalent feelings about her character. I do think she was poorly written, but she didn't have enough time to flesh-out her character either.

The awkwardness was pretty entertaining between Bishop and Goren - and if anything, it emphasized the smooth, synchronous connection in the Goren/Eames duo that we may have taken for granted by S 3.

And I liked it for that reason, it only showed how much Eames was an integral part of their partnership. Other than that, Bishop came off as pushy, driven, and too rigid when dealing with Goren's methods.

The anti-chemistry between the two of them was obvious, and a little hilarious (her faces were pretty good...and Goren made a few faces as well *grin*). I know some came in already hating her before they ever saw her in a scene, but I didn't feel that way. She served a purpose - and there were some pretty good episodes with her (F.P.S., Mad Hops, Sound Bodies).

If anything...she made Goren reeeaally miss Eames. And I agreed with him.