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Summer Reflections: LO: CI, In Plain Sight and SYTYCD
My sister's kids headed back to school today which signifies the end of summer in our family. The discussion of new fall shows has begun and I have a highlighted day by day schedule sitting next to my keyboard as I type. But before I move on to the new fall season -- which I'm actually really excited about -- I want to spend a few moments reflecting on some of the shows that captured me this summer. In particular -- Law and Order: Criminal Intent, In Plain Sight, and So You Think You Can Dance. Now, I watched quite a bit other television this summer (because I'm a tv fanatic - right?) Other enjoyable watching moments this summer included Project Runway, The Next Food Network Star, WipeOut, the Olympics, and, yes, the Dish Network live feed from the Democratic National Convention. But the three shows I mentioned stood out for me for different reasons.
So You Think You Can Dance
If anyone has read my previous posts, including my most recent return post about Dancing with the Stars, you'll know I have a little bit of a dance fever. But for some reason, I have NEVER watched So You Think You Can Dance. I think that by the time it comes on each year I'm on American Idol burnout and it has felt like more of the same. My goodness, could I have been more wrong. Wow! What a fantastic show for dance.
I think the thing I absolutely loved the most was seeing the styles of the different choreographers. I am a huge Mia Michaels fan now. By the end of the show I could tell you who choreographed the piece just be watching it. I was also just blown away by the talent. For me, it seems a bit harder to learn one or two new dance pieces in genres you've never danced before than it is for the American Idols to sing country or Neil Diamond (don't you think??)
I thought this show did well with the order that folks got kicked off. I know that it seems that Will went early but in the long run, I never thought he could win since it really still is a personality contest in the long run. I loved the final four -- Courtney, Katie, Twitch and Joshua. I rooted for Twitch to begin with and thought he was the one for a long time. Then I was completely blown away by Katie's talent. Every time she had a new partner, it got better and better which I attributed to her. But in the long run, I think Joshua was a good choice. No formal training, sweet faced, and so talented (anyone remember those jumps during the final show? - Wow).
So, SYTYCD is now a staple of my viewing catalog. I look forward to it's return. And in closing just want to say that I think Cat Deeley is a fabulous host and I want to see more of her!
In Plain Sight (and other USA dramas)
At the end of this summer, I have to make an admission -- I am a USA drama fan and I think In Plain Sight (along with Law and Order: Criminal Intent's move there) has helped solidify this fandom. I'm not a big drama fan. Lost and Grey's Anatomy are really the only dramas I watch regularly. And I've watched Monk and Psych in the past -- when both were very new -- and found them to be a bit fluffy and silly. I guess I had the same feeling when I started watching In Plain Sight.
So why did I even start watching this show? You know, I think it was because of Christian de la Fuente. Dancing with the Stars had just ended and I was a big fan of his. I'd never seen him before and so when I saw he was on In Plain Sight, I wanted to check him out. Funny enough, I had also just seen a quick glance of Mary McCormack in the audience of the Tony's -- maybe nominated for her role in a play -- and that intrigued me also.
So I watched. I've missed the first one or two episodes, but when I began watching, they were still shaking things out. The characters were still a bit cartoonish -- a bit one dimensional. But at the end of episode after episode I was taken by how the characters were flushed out in such interesting and complex ways. Strangely, the character I thought they were most on the road to doing this with -- Marshall -- ended up getting a little short shrift as the whole Brandy/drugs story unfolded. I'm hoping they give us more of his back story and what makes him tick next season. I will say though, regarding Marshall, that they did give us enough to know he's one smart cookie and not just some puppy dog mooning over Mary.
Mary is an interesting character. I'm not sure I like here that well. I'm actually more sympathetic to those impacted in her universe -- Rafe, Brandy, and her mom. I think the relationship between Rafe and Brandy could have been so quickly cliche' and disappointing, but the writers were restrained enough not to just throw them in bed together and then have to live with the consequences. And I just want to add that Lesley Ann Warren should be given the opportunity to sing more. I always new she was a great comedic, musical actress but her short song was wonderful. More please!
Some of the conversations among Mary, Brandy, and her mother in the last two episodes bordered on being almost uncomfortably real and painful. There were no easy answers, quick fixes, kisses and we are all happy. That surprised me and it's what made me look at the other USA dramas again a little more closely.
I look forward to the return of In Plain Sight but can't believe I have to wait until next summer. Bummer! For now I'm watching Psych, Monk, and trying to get turned onto Burn Notice. Having watched Psych and been uncomfortable with it's goofiness I'm glad I returned. They've used that goofiness to build some great chemistry among the characters. They are now a lot less like cartoons and more like real, somewhat interesting people. I find this to be the case in particular for Lassiter and his partner (who Shawn has a crush on and I can't remember her name!!???). The same goes for Monk too. After Bitsy left as Sharonna I was uncomfortable with Taylor Howard in the role as Monk's assistant. I also thought the other supporting characters "overacted". But I just watched several episodes again and it has all gelled together nicely and I'm actually looking forward to the Monk marathon this week.
So Bravo USA Network!
Law and Order: Criminal Intent
I should probably post a whole other entry on this show and especially the season finale. But I'll go ahead and keep it here. I love CI. I bought the first and second season's on DVD because I wanted to see all the episodes and see them in order. But it turns out, upon further research, that there is probably only one or two episodes I've never seen. So, buying the dvds is somewhat moot at this point.
OK back on point. I posted on Coach Queen's post about Chris Noth's final episode. And with the final Goren and Eames episode, it's clear that the writers had a theme of catharsis and/or redemption for this season. If you are a fan and haven't seen the episode, I'd really encourage you to watch it before I spoil it below. Big stuff happened, in my opinion.
Let me just summarize the bigness of this episode -- brother Frank -- dead. Nicole Wallace -- dead. Mentor Declan -- senile, batty, and in jail. Bobby Goren -- free??? Declan did it all to free Bobby. His mother and father(s) are dead. Now all the other "burdens" are out of his life. What he's left with is what? Eames -- dedicated, steadfast Eames. And his own thoughts and beliefs.
I found this episode shocking, exhilarating and thought provoking. I want Bobby Goren to be free from those demons. I've been so uncomfortable with him fighting them, trying to keep his head above water, wondering--- wondering if he was like all those other crazy, sick, twisted people in his life. And throughout it all he's stayed true, honorable, and morally centered. How that happened, I don't know -- but as a television character -- he should be honored for that depth of character.
But the thing that really struck me was the question "is he really free?" It made me reflect on my own life. Is it truly the conditions in our lives -- the people who are in it, the actions, the circumstances -- that really make things so hard or is it our own interpretations of them? At minimum, I believe it is both but it sure as the heck isn't just the conditions. Which means, Bobby Goren still has a long road to walk before his catharsis is complete. But as gruesome and insane as an idea as Declan had, I still think he did do Bobby a favor and I'm really excited to see where they go with this next season.
We've seen the descent for at least two seasons -- what will the ascent look like? It's not going to look like sunshine and lollipops. But will we possibly see the little twinkle of joy in Bobby's eyes again as he's interrogating a suspect or asking questions so "clumsily" in the office of a witness?? I hope so.
Well, that's my summer reflections. Now onto the fall!!
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Aug 27, 2008 2:35 PM
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Good blog Kelly. I also watch In Plain Sight and like it. I am not sure I like Brandi though. She always looks like she is about to laugh or is laughing when she is supposed to be serious.
I also watch Burn Notice and I like it too.
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Aug 27, 2008 2:48 PM
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Excellent write up on In Plain Sight. I'm so jealous of people who give so much thought to what they watch. When it comes to the TV shows I watch I'm very easy to please. Either I like it or I don't and that's about it.
I had to skip over your thoughts on L&O:CI finale since I haven't had the chance to watch it yet. I'll check back after I watch it.
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Aug 27, 2008 6:49 PM
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