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Post by dragonsback on Apr 19, 2009 19:35:03 GMT -5
While you in the US get settled in front of the teev, the world (that's the rest of us) awaits your thoughts. Thought I'd take liberties and set up the thread. Go for it, please
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Post by annabelleleigh on Apr 19, 2009 20:41:48 GMT -5
Written by Antoinette Stella.
CI's new supervising producer and writer comes directly from the short-lived (six episodes) 2008 Fox drama "Canterbury's Law" starring Julianna Margulies as a tough defense attorney in Providence, RI. Showrunner and co-EP for that series were Walon Green and Michael Chernuchin, respectively. (Kathryn Erbe's ex, Terry Kinney, played a supporting role).
Stella began her TV writing career at "Melrose Place" where she was executive story editor and scriptwriter. The latest CI writer with a "Star Trek" connection, she was supervising producer and writer for the most recent spin-off, "Enterprise."
AL
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Post by annabelleleigh on Apr 19, 2009 21:33:11 GMT -5
Hey, what happened to Munch? Did I blink and miss him? Or do we have to wait for the deleted scenes in the Season 8 DVD?
AL
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Post by Techguy on Apr 19, 2009 21:44:31 GMT -5
Some time ago on another thread I posted my wish that this season I will see the return of the empathetic Goren who related to victims, and the predatory Goren who coiled around and zoomed in on the perp to nail him. I got this in spades, so already things are looking up for Season 8.
On a shallow note, Goren looked better than he has in a long time. A definite added bonus.
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Post by outerbankschick on Apr 19, 2009 21:57:18 GMT -5
I have to get myself to bed so I'll have to wait for the longer post tomorrow but I just had to pop in and say I really, really liked the season opener. And I'll echo what Techguy said about Bobby identifying, and empathizing, and then tearing the perp down. Good stuff! Especially that last scene with the mother and son. I was halfway going "ICK!" and halfway doing the fist-pump for the fact that Bobby nailed them both so nicely.
I also especially liked the fact that Bobby didn't let go of Stacey. He was gentle and firm, and he never gave up on her. That poor kid never had anyone stand up for her, and that's what our Bobby does best.
And I'm LOL, AL. I was wondering the same thing! The Case of the Missing Detective Munch!
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Post by ragincajun on Apr 19, 2009 22:56:38 GMT -5
Well, on first view, it was anticlimatic, I kept switching back and forth to celebrity apprentice. Guess I will have to watch it again, I will have to maybe take my words back, maybe he did phone this one in. But will wait for the rewatch, maybe I just miss the beard.
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ZackNicholsgirl
Detective
I love both doggies and kitties. I could just scrunch up their cute little faces! - Jeff Goldblum
Posts: 423
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Post by ZackNicholsgirl on Apr 19, 2009 23:16:42 GMT -5
Aww I can't wait to see the new season Won't be able till May on NBC. Oh well, glad for you girls who could watch it tonight
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Post by maherjunkie on Apr 19, 2009 23:32:41 GMT -5
I don't know. I felt like I was watching the ep from a distance. Too slow. Painful. Good to see Goren jerking the wine guy around. Looking trimmer. Good to see Eames as a red (der) head again. No real passion. Thought Goren would be more emotive at the grave. I got the impression he was sexually abused the way they connected.
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Post by annabelleleigh on Apr 20, 2009 0:27:18 GMT -5
Watched it three times.
Let's be honest folks, this story was an SVU retread (albeit mercifully absent the prurient details and Hargitay's and Meloni's histrionics.) I'd like to cut the new writer some slack, but this was hardly a CI-worthy episode. The criminal and his intent were tiresomely familiar. The plot contained not a single surprise; it simply plodded along to its predictable conclusion, completely devoid of dramatic tension.
One assumes the producers chose what they thought was a strong episode for the season opener -- which suggests that the other G/Es in the can are even weaker. Oy vey.
As for Goren: This iteration was indeed an improvement over the weepy, wimpy Bobby of Season 7. However one needed only to toggle over to the concurrently airing Bravo reruns to realize "Playing Dead's" detective is a pale reflection of the original character.
And VDO still looks like he hasn't slept in a week nor exercised in a few years.
AL
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Post by tjara on Apr 20, 2009 2:06:11 GMT -5
*cover eyes*
I'm not looking, I'm so not looking!!
Man it's torture for me today! I can't get my "morning CI fix" because I'm at work and therefore havn't seen Playing Dead yet and I don't want to spoil it...
But I'll be back later... (consider it a threat or a promise, whichever you prefer!)
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Post by jeffan on Apr 20, 2009 5:23:58 GMT -5
I've just watched it! Just sent Z-girl a nice suprise.
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Post by DonnaJo on Apr 20, 2009 6:51:36 GMT -5
It was good, not great.
Good for the reasons mentioned by Techguy and OBC. Goren empathizing with the victim. Gently but firmly. Admitting that he used to zone out when faced with the trauma of his childhood, although I don't see him being sexually abused. More physically and mentally. I can see him locked in a closet by Frances, waiting until someone came to save him.
I winced when Bobby played cute and turned on the faux french accent to ask the wine dealer for the print out. It didn't work for me. Like it was thrown in to appease the fans who yearn for that side of him. This episode was all business & way too serious for that.
The first hospital scene was excellent - the pulse rate on the monitor indicating Stacey's fear of her stepfather. Kudos to the writers for that.
The cemetery scene beautifully shot. Goren, huge & all in black walking into the shot from the short distance.
Kathy Baker was extraordinary. The end, very powerful. Ross was supportive and totally on the same page as his Detectives. Eames - she looks younger & fresher every season. What is her secret?
Goren does look better, but it is obvious that he is still being played as fighting depression and lack of sleep. But I see him working through it, so it's fine. I don't think we are supposed to believe that its been along time since "Frame." After that blow, this Bobby makes sense.
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Ladyheather
Detective
An acquired taste.....
Posts: 441
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Post by Ladyheather on Apr 20, 2009 8:00:16 GMT -5
Ok, I actually did like this one. The story was good but a bit like SVU. That was ok with me because they have done others something like this one. I think that it was a good start to this season. It showed Goren and Eames working together really well.
I am glad that we finally got to start the season.
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Post by Patcat on Apr 20, 2009 8:10:25 GMT -5
"Good, not great."
I agree.
I liked all the things others have mentioned. It was good to see the empathetic Goren. Perhaps he's realizing one way to deal with your own troubles is to help others. I liked the way he connected with Stacy, mentioning his own troubles without dwelling on them. DJ, you're right--I was very impressed with the cemetery scene. And Ross was completely with his detectives. He didn't blink when they brought up the sexual abuse, and if he was getting pressure from higher-ups, he never showed it. I suspect Goren and Eames knew they had his support, since they barely reacted to the mother and son's threats to go over their heads.
But the plot was too simple for me (and that doesn't happen very often with my slow brain). I knew who and why within a few minutes, and that the mother was responsible for the killings. I can't help but feel there were some scenes left on the cutting room floor that would've explained the characters' motivations more clearly. Kathy Baker was fine with what she had, but I felt there wasn't enough to explain why this woman would forgive this monster of a son for what he did. The last scene suggested a more complex and creepy relationship than what occurred before. And, for me, the actor playing the son wasn't charming or sleazy enough.
This is one of those cases where I thought there was a great episode trying to come out, but it didn't make it. But it gives me hope.
And I go with Techguy and DJ--I think this is a Goren on the way to recovery.
I wasn't sure if Munch was supposed to appear in this episode or next week's.
And I think Goren and Eames handled this case and the victim with far greater care than Benson and Stabler have shown in recent years on SVU. Actually, aside from the bathroom scene, the sexual aspects of this story were handled far better than anything SVU has done recently.
And I completely got the title. Stacey, and Bobby, playing dead to survive.
Patcat
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Post by random on Apr 20, 2009 8:16:25 GMT -5
I also thought the scenes between Goren and the victim were pitched well. I think those scenes sort of highlighted the problem with the rest of the episode. The villains were so two-dimensional and sensationalized, as opposed to the layering of seasons past, that there really wasn't much for Goren and Eames to dig into. I always felt that the act of digging revealed Goren and Eames to us as much as it revealed the offenders.
The motivations of the villains were also off. You can either be politically savvy or deluded enough to think you can get a sex offender elected mayor; you can't be both.
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