|
Post by Techguy on Apr 26, 2009 22:18:05 GMT -5
Despite a few moments of overload of the oddball, quirky, eccentricity of the new character Zach Nichols, overall I liked him a lot. Is he supposed to be competition for Goren in that department? Is Wheeler now supposed to be the grounding influence for her partner the way Eames is for Goren? On the surface I get the impression that there has been a determined effort to create a second detective team that is complementary to the G/E pairing. Having said that, I liked and respected the departed "street wise" Logan a lot and enjoyed his episodes on their own terms for what they represented.
I'd like to know what Nichols has been up to for the past 7 years. At least he's the smiling type and no stranger to irony. I wish Goren would get back to smiling more. After some additional Nichols backstory, hopefully without an excess of emotional and psychological baggage, he and I can corral Goren for a guys' night out at a local watering hole. I'm buying if Nichols brings some bagels and ham grits and can go 30 minutes without hitting the ivories of the bar piano.
|
|
|
Post by outerbankschick on Apr 26, 2009 22:45:29 GMT -5
I really, really liked it. I pegged Hank early on as at least one of the killers, but they had me good and confused at some point because I knew Phillip was involved in one of them. . .just not which one. And I was halfway thinking Sue had something to do with it, too. And oh my goodness, Zack had me rolling with laughter. That whole scene where Wheeler looks at Ross and says, "Do you know what he's talking about?" And Ross is like, "I don't have a clue." I had a clue! I understood Zack perfectly. Maybe I should be worried about that. . . The absolute best line of the night belongs to Zack, too. Phillip: I have a Grammy! Zack: Milli Vanilli has a Grammy. Another ROTFLOL moment. Score one for the new guy!
|
|
ZackNicholsgirl
Detective
I love both doggies and kitties. I could just scrunch up their cute little faces! - Jeff Goldblum
Posts: 423
|
Post by ZackNicholsgirl on Apr 27, 2009 0:57:37 GMT -5
As a Major Jeff Goldblum Fan, I was expecting something great! But tonight, I’ve watched something way beyond what I was expecting! And All I have to say is WOW! I was quite confused about who was the Killer too, but just like OBS I had my idea on it! One hour isn’t enough, I’d have watched that episode all night lol. Ahh I’m a greedy girl LOL. Oh my, when Zack Showed the Bed bugs hehe! I just can’t stand bugs… I can only stand Flies It was very interesting for me to finally watched something new and fresh! I’m very new to LOCI, so for me I was really excited and it was worth the wait lol. Screencaps of Jeff Goldblum are available at: jeffgoldblumonline.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=143 I can't wait for Jeffan to watch this Episode. I know she will be in heaven hehe!
|
|
|
Post by Jefferaldo on Apr 27, 2009 2:08:47 GMT -5
Sounds good so far. Now I just have to wait until the episode is available on iTunes to watch it. Hopefully just a few more hours xD
|
|
ZackNicholsgirl
Detective
I love both doggies and kitties. I could just scrunch up their cute little faces! - Jeff Goldblum
Posts: 423
|
Post by ZackNicholsgirl on Apr 27, 2009 2:32:08 GMT -5
You will love it Jefferaldo
|
|
|
Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 3:21:37 GMT -5
Ok, going to watch it shortly purely for viewing pleasure then off to work. A bunch of nineteen year olds expecting miracles from me!
Z-girl: you got me psyched.
OBC: LOL, My kinda quote. A+ I'm liking it already!
Techguy: Thanks for your thoughts and is it a "guys only" bar?!
I'm taking note during the credits who actually wrote this episode.
|
|
|
Post by Jefferaldo on Apr 27, 2009 4:28:53 GMT -5
Initial thoughts: I really liked it.
There were a few moments of overload on quirky Nichols but I like how he would dribble on his own tangent. He's like a mix between Barek and Goren.
My favourite line: "I thought I might get some actual evidence since everybody around here seems to like that kind of thing"
|
|
|
Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 5:48:27 GMT -5
With prejudice: WOW.
Would I have enjoyed it so much without Jeff? Can't answer that yet as I need to watch it again with a more critical eye.
Some great throw-away lines. Storyline familiar territory but well done as Ed Zuckerman wrote the script. The director was Bill D'Elia and I don't know whether he is a regular or not.
I'm not going to vote in the poll until I have watched it again in my "objective" mode.
|
|
|
Post by DonnaJo on Apr 27, 2009 7:05:51 GMT -5
Only saw it once, but I thought it was really good. Really good because of Jeff Goldblum. The plot? Not so much. Maybe because I cheated & saw the 2 minute promo? Even without, the killers jumped out of the script from the very beginning. We didn't really need Zack's exclamation at mid episode after talking with Hank "That kid is a killer." I think Zack Nichol's methods of crime solving were summed up by this comment. Wheeler: "It's the little things, isn't it? Nichols: "Always." Nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed JG's characterization of a quirky, hip, highly intelligent cop. What was missing was the insecurity of a man on his first case in the prestigious MC division where his former partner is the Chief. I saw not a hint of that, and that seemed implausible. The scene in Ross' office, where Nichols says, "I......don't know." Is classic Season 1 Goren. ;D "Not big on trust, are you?" ...that seemed cruel for Ross to say to Wheeler after she dared to question Nichols methods. And then to bring up that her partner abandoned her & her fiancee was carted off to jail? Nice. I know they have to establish those facts for the future, but there must have been a better way. When Zack was compiling and multiplying the statistics on how many struggling musicians are out there vying for success it was so much like his character in the first "Jurassic Park." I loved it. More later after another viewing.
|
|
|
Post by Patcat on Apr 27, 2009 8:00:39 GMT -5
I enjoyed that.
I think I liked PLAYING DEAD more than some people, less than others, but I thought this was a better episode overall. Aside from the actor playing Rafe being older than I thought he should be--and the actor's performance was just fine, so I'm being persnickety here--I thought all of the supporting actors were solid. I like the Bohemian artist attitude of the warehouse, and the way the episode captured the atmosphere of this neighborhood in transition. It wasn't the fastest paced episode, but I liked the way it took time to establish character and place.
Wheeler has developed a personality! And she snarks! "How did he do when he wasn't having breakfast?" "Thank you, Captain Freud." "You need any construction paper?" "Do we canvas the area for Donald Trump's hair?" Her relationship with Ross appears to be more contentiious, and Ross seems very unsettled by it.
As for the new guy on the block--I'm puzzled and curious about where Nichols has been for the past seven years and how he managed to get a plum spot at Major Case after being gone for so long. He's in awfully good form for a guy who's been a way from police work for so long, and I wonder about NYPD policy regarding such a long leave.
That aside, I liked Zach Nichols and I liked Jeff Goldblum's portrayal of him. He's funny and sharp and eccentric and enthusiastic. He seems comfortable with Ross, but Ross doesn't seem entirely comfortable with him. "You're the boss." There was something both antagonistic and submissive about that Nichols' response to Ross, and Nichols' later comment to Ross, "Reading the Lifestyle section again," seemed to hit a nerve. The piano bit came a bit out of nowhere, but it made a point. The evidence line was great.
This was certainly a much stronger debut than Mike Logan got in his first episodes. (I sensed the first two or three Logan/Wheeler stories were orginally written for Goren/Eames and not changed a great deal.) Not the most difficult plot to solve, but nice character and atmosphere. I enjoyed it.
Patcat
|
|
|
Post by annabelleleigh on Apr 27, 2009 8:56:36 GMT -5
Jeff Goldblum was by far the most interesting and promising aspect of this episode. I have no doubt he has the talent and imagination to develop the Zack Nichols character into something surprising and original. With the right support.
However (IMO) "Rock Star" had a third-rate story and a second-rate script. Again, no dramatic tension, no surprises, no sense of momentum. Dialogue with little zing.
In criticizing the story and the writing, I'm not referring in this instance to the halcyon days of Balcer gone by but to CI's contemporary dramas: "House," "The Closer," "Burn Notice," "Bones," and "In Plain Sight." I don't even like all of the aforementioned but I can recognize better overall writing and direction when I see it.
Since I know I'm a drag on the enthusiasm here (and I care too much about you all to rain on your parade) I'm taking a hiatus from the board. I'll be back when I see a new episode about which I can be positive. Or perhaps when somebody at Wolf Films admits/explains why mediocrity has become the acceptable standard for CI story development and script writing.
AL
|
|
lovesong
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 98
|
Post by lovesong on Apr 27, 2009 10:09:42 GMT -5
I agree with all of th above. JG was excellent. My wish has been granted, a detective with an intact personality! He is everything Iliked about BG in season 1-3. He even got a great aria! Terrific. I am looking forward to his episodes.
I also agree that he made lemonaide out of lemons. The story was ho hum. Phillip was on my last nerve (s they say around here) from the get go. I didn't peg him as a killer, but I was hoping he got killed himself. I did love the Bono wannabe glasses though, nice touch wardrobe.
Wheeler cleans up nice. she got quite a makeover in the hiatus. She looks great and her personality is the old Eames before kidnappings and psycho partners overshadowed her life.
I loved the piano playing, loved loved loved the little diagram he carried around in the big portfilio, loved the "I dont......know." Bummed that Rodgers wasn't in it. Ca,'t wait to see her interact with the new crazy smart guy the was she used to w/ BG. And, ok I admit it, I want to know what happened b/w Rodgers and Ross.
In the end, I thnk the PTB have been listening to fans screaming for the old show back. They gave it to us! The same partner dynamic, benignly agitated realtionship with the authority figure, and what do you know, a little intent back in Criminal Intent. I don't know where they will go with G&E, but suddenly I don't care. I'll probably catch most of those eps, because I'm methodical. But THIS half is seeming to be intended to bring us back to the CI I really loved.
All that remains now is to get the scripts up to snuff and we can do a happy dance., Goldblum, will be the savior of CI after all!
|
|
|
Post by Jefferaldo on Apr 27, 2009 10:46:30 GMT -5
Another thing I noticed is that they are back to asking or explaining why MCS is at the crime scene. Something that has been lacking since ohhh say season 4.
|
|
Leonore
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 145
|
Post by Leonore on Apr 27, 2009 10:54:51 GMT -5
I like Goldblum's Zach and may grow to love him, then we'd really have a "two-fer" the price of one!! As I watched the show, I kept thinking about Zach as Ross' partner and I found myself wondering why Ross seems so at odds with Goren's methods most of the time and he should really understand Eames. There is lots of backstory I'm curious about!
|
|
LO:CI
Silver Shield Investigator
Posts: 141
|
Post by LO:CI on Apr 27, 2009 11:04:53 GMT -5
In the end, I thnk the PTB have been listening to fans screaming for the old show back. They gave it to us! ... But THIS half is seeming to be intended to bring us back to the CI I really loved. Am I the only one who doesn't like that the new detective seems to be a copy of the "old" Goren? To me that's just weird. I mean a character like Goren (old) is something very unusual and here we have it twice on one place. How unrealistic is that?
|
|