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Post by DonnaJo on Apr 27, 2009 11:06:33 GMT -5
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 Ummm.....no.....you are absolutely NOT a drag. Never was nor will be.  Come on, AL, you have to stay and critique the next Goren/Eames episode this Sunday. Goren all stubbly and crazy haired, dealing with a psycho mom and murdering brothers? I can't wait to hear what your opinion is.  |
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Post by Patcat on Apr 27, 2009 11:12:40 GMT -5
Ditto, DJ (g).
As to Nichols being like Goren...yea, I thought that a lot. But for me, the differences between Nichols and Goren is that Nichols seems a great deal more confident and comfortable with himself and what others think about him. Even at his most self confident, Goren apologizes for his intellect and looks for approval. I think that even in Seasons One and Two, Goren was hurt when people didn't or wouldn't try to understand him. Nichols is at the point where he's assured enough of his skills that he doesn't care. Or at least that's my take from this first episode.
Patcat
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Post by trisha on Apr 27, 2009 12:01:28 GMT -5
Adding to the chorus of praise! I don't think I've enjoyed an episode of CI this much in years.
I know it may smack of bad taste to others to remake Nichols and Wheeler in the old Goren and Eames images, but, hey, it's a combination that works so well and everyone likes so much. And, not to disrespect our beloved writers and Mr. Balcer, but the concept of such opposites being forced to work together wasn't exactly original to begin with. What made those early episodes so dynamic and enthralling was the double mystery that threaded through every episode -- Goren and Eames and the criminals acting as each other's foils as the plots unfolded.
I found there to be much of that in this episode. Perhaps I've lost a few IQ points watching the dreck that was served up the past two years, but I was hanging on every word during the aria. Yes, the aria! It's been so long since I've enjoyed one so much! You know I love it when the killers get a good thrashing and salt rub just before they're taken away in cuffs. So plebeian of me, but cest la vie.
I so look forward to the next Nichols/Wheeler ep. I do hope that you will give them another shot AL. It's so early in the season to give up!
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Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 12:05:31 GMT -5
LO:CI
Not quite getting, in part, your vague post. Can you please further elaborate what you mean by being more specific rather than just writing "weird" "unusual" "unrealistic". I get your Goren carbon-copy viewpoint, apart from that: zilch.
Thank you.
JF
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Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 12:14:39 GMT -5
LOL, you've just added a new word to my dictionary "two-fer". I like your word and I like your idea!  |
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Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 12:27:51 GMT -5
Exactly, the one character who gave me the pip. I instinctively dislike balding, pony-tailed, chest flashing aging men. I was hoping he was going to take an accidental flying jump down the elevator shaft.
Oh, and the accent. What was that: Briteeeesh!
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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 27, 2009 12:47:24 GMT -5
Exactly, the one character who gave me the pip. I instinctively dislike balding, pony-tailed, chest flashing aging men. I was hoping he was going to take an accidental flying jump down the elevator shaft. Oh, and the accent. What was that: Briteeeesh! ROTFL! |
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Post by SarahIvy on Apr 27, 2009 13:04:47 GMT -5
Really good because of Jeff Goldblum. The plot? Not so much. WORD. Yeah, the story itself wasn't too hot, and yeah, we totally knew it was a combo of the guitarist plus either the girl or the manager (husband voted girl, I voted manager, so I won that little bet ) and yeah, I didn't particularly give a crap who it turned out to be. BUT it was actually both enjoyable and entertaining watching Nichols figure it all out. That was a pleasant surprise. It has been AGES since that has happened. He was so tickled with himself and the outcome at the end that I couldn't help but be rather tickled too! The thing here is that I just really like Jeff Goldblum. Both he and D'Onofrio have been favorite actors of mine for ages. Right now, I think one of them is bringing it, and one of them could use a little talking to about earning their paycheck with actual work The way Ross was so blunt with Wheeler on the "trust" thing was pretty harsh. Install a sensitivity chip, dude! Or, you know, maybe the writers could actually WRITE BETTER.  Oh, an aside on the backdrop of artists and musicians. It actually didn't suck. I generally find it highly cringe-worthy when any of the L&O's try to portray any aspect of the music scene, but they actually did alright this time out! The loft was pretty realistic, I thought, and the gigs at the bar weren't embarrassing (probably because they stuck to showing us some jamming out and NOT singing). At this point in the show as a whole, I am so utterly underwhelmed by everything that Goldblum making Nichols a fun and engaging character that I enjoy watching is a great little ray of sunshine. Writing? BOO, LAME. Seriously under par (by any standard, not just LOCI). Directing? Lame and uninspired. It was like paint by numbers. Goldblum? AWESOME. The end. |
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Post by maherjunkie on Apr 27, 2009 13:27:15 GMT -5
Yes, not bad as a character but why do we need Goren in stereo?
They didn't mention Wheeler's pregnancy like I thought they were supposed to. She must look like a peapod in a bikini.
And the Logan sendoff: Gee, CI writers! That's it? Thanks for the memories!!!!!!
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Post by DonnaJo on Apr 27, 2009 13:28:52 GMT -5
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? Goren copycats are all over the place lately. Quirky, intelligent, emotionally scarred men who fight for the weak and solve crimes? Dime a dozen. So Nichols isn't exactly copying Goren, IMO. I do think that the show desperately needs someone like this now, since VDO has gone in a different direction with Goren. I have room in my heart (and on my DVR) for both teams. And I agree maherjunkie...that was a terrible send off for Logan and a disservice to Chris Noth, who gave us three years of quality performances, IMO. |
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Post by Jefferaldo on Apr 27, 2009 13:37:03 GMT -5
Not to mention five more on the mothership.
I attribute the terrible send off to Warren Leight's utterly dismal writing team.
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Post by trisha on Apr 27, 2009 14:09:23 GMT -5
Wordy McWord, Jeff and maher. Logan deserved so much better. But, I was terribly unhappy with the way Mr. Balcer sent Ed Green off, too. I'm not going to defend Warren Leight with comparisons. No. But I think that any attempt to make up for it now would have been a waste of time for Walon Green et al. At least we are left with the impression that Wheeler was also still stinging. maher, in order to get Goren in stereo, D'Onofrio would either have to go back in time with his looks and character, or Goldblum speed to a grey and gloomy, chubby, post-mental breakdown state with his I'm totally cool with the time warp. Nichols is the kind of guy I want to watch on the sort of show I want to watch him on. As long as the writers stick to the "no melodrama" plan with him, I'm a happy CI fan. |
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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 27, 2009 14:53:46 GMT -5
If I remember well Zack is having a daughter, I think it will be interesting to see her, or to at least hear about her. Is Zack a Good Papa? haha!
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Post by jeffan on Apr 27, 2009 15:10:30 GMT -5
The writers have changed so it may not happen.
No, he wouldn't make a good "pappa" because, as the captain said "he's got to forget what's going on in his own mind [Zach] and concentrate on the crime".
So no he has issues which isn't good for a stable family life.
Thankfully, as Jeff said in an interview I posted yesterday, the only backstory we get is what we saw in his premiere episode.
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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 27, 2009 15:12:45 GMT -5
Aww well, thanks for the info Jeffan lol.
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