Other TV 12 - 18 April

Posted by The TV Critic on 11 April 2010 | 0 Comments

Tags: Spartacus, Breaking Bad, Modern Family

Spartacus Blood and Sand - 112 - Revelations

The best episode of television I have seen in quite some time. Intricate plotting coming to fruition with perfect timing. The final shot of Spartacus finally putting word to his escape was pitch perfect. The fact that I knew all season that this moment would come and I still cared is perhaps the highest compliment I can pay this show.

But why stop there? This whole episode was brilliant. Every scene dripped with the emotions of its characters as their secret behaviours were laid bare and their shame came rushing to the surface. The detail work was so strong as well at each step. I don't like to resort to lists but there was so much to enjoy here that this seems simplest.

- It made sense that Solonius, a ludus owner would have some technique to take to the arena.

- It has never been elaborated on as to why Crixus decided to injure Ashur in the arena, aside from the fact that Crixus is an ass hole. But Ashur certainly took out his revenge in the most personal way.

- I liked how Crixus had had time for the idea that Naevia was sleeping with another man to sink in before he went crazy. It made it more plausible that having stewed on that thought he would fly into a rage at the realization that Ashur was that man.

- I liked Lucretia arguing against Naevia being given to Ashur. The relationships between master and slave have never been simple on this show.

- Varro's wife Aurelia is essentially a plot device to explain why Spartacus didn't kill Batiatus when he had the chance. But the fact that the writers went to the effort of explaining that is excellent. Another show might simply have had Spartacus aim to escape anyway. Or indeed have the deaths of his fellow gladiators be enough to weigh down his conscience. But instead they went the extra mile and forced Spartacus to consider the alternative route of killing all Batiatus' men as his solution. It also fits with his character because he was willing to kill them all when he thought he would regain Sura.

- I thought Glaber was superb. I wasn't taken with him in the first couple of episodes but here he was as arrogant and despicable as he could be. That is one of the keys to the shows success, it pushes primal buttons. I compared the show to professional wrestling early on and no more was that epitomized in Glaber's return. He was pure "heel" and engendered genuine emotion from me when he set his entire guard on Spartacus.

- That scene was beautifully filmed and lots of fun as Spartacus beat down the entire guard and held himself back from killing the two men who sat watching him.

- Lucretia's pregnancy will presumably present Crixus with a bit of a dilemma when she is at the end of his sword next episode. I loved how Batiatus handled the incident. As predicted he knew she was sleeping with him and let it go on because it made her happy. Again the ability of the show to display complex affections like that has been really impressive. Batiatus is all too happy to ignore the question of paternity too and raise "his" son regardless of who the father is. An adaptable pragmatist as ever. I was cheering him on when he finally snapped at Glaber and played the blackmail card.

- I thought the writing did a good job of giving Mira a bit of personality so that it is easier to care about her fate.

- All the pieces are now in place of course for the rebellion to take place. Crixus now has little reason to suspect he will be treated well and Doctore finally sees his master for what he is.

- Crixus' tears as Naevia said goodbye were well acted. He has done a great job of acting like a stuck up jerk all season, to see his devastation was quite the moment.

If you haven't watched this show...do!

 

Breaking Bad - 304 - Green Light

Alan Sepinwall continues to do fine work covering this show http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2010/04/breaking-bad-green-light-half-and-half.html. But I have to disagree that the comedy works at all. For me the show is relentlessly bleak and the comedy is nullified by the hopeless future all of its characters have to look forward to.

Poor Hank still draws sympathy as a tough guy in a tough business who can't bear to admit his very understandable trauma. Walt's life has fallen completely to pieces and it seems like he will cook again just to feel like he is great at something. Jesse may have become clean but he remains wedded to a life of crime and here almost ruins another girls life, a major step backward. Skyler is sleeping with a guy who also broke the law, she now has a proverbial ton of bricks waiting to fall on her head. Even Saul, the comic relief is the ultimate bottom feeder, trying to capitalise on people's grief in order to put together a lawsuit.

Like no other show I watch, Breaking Bad wallows in human misery. It's a glorious wallow, squeezing the reality out of every scene for maximum impact. But a wallow in misery nonetheless. Another reason the humour is difficult to get into is that the bleak future of these characters translates into a bleak imagining of the future of the show. Where is the show going from here? Toward arrest, trial, humiliation and prison? Toward bloody death and posthumous shame and misery? It will doubtless be compelling to watch but I can't laugh about it.

Modern Family - 120 - Benched

The trouble with not writing a full review of each episode of a show is that you lose touch with specifics. You forget little details and how they played out before. I don't know with Modern Family how many times I have seen particular dynamics interact or similar stories be told. I hope one day to do justice to all the shows I watch and write full reviews for all.

What I will say about Modern Family is is that I think it succeeds because of its casting and tone and the actual episodes it puts together aren't as satisfying as they could be. It's reaching the stage now where we know all the characters pretty well and it would be nice to get into some stories with real teeth. Stories which focus on one character or one family exclusively and are perhaps more plot focussed then joke focussed.

What worked about "Benched" was that the writers understand their characters really well. All the characters feel authentic and behave as you would expect them to. The tone of their emotions and interactions is excellent and thoroughly enjoyable throughout. So Cameron weeping about wanting to be a Trophy Wife or Jay pushing everyone around or Gloria and Claire commiserating on motherhood were all good ideas and effectively portrayed. But by episodes end I wanted more depth. I wanted an entire episode just about the basketball team or about Mitchell's career or about motherhood. I wanted to get into those worlds and pull out the real emotions and the more involved jokes which stick in your memory.

Modern Family is now thoroughly in The Big Bang Theory territory. As in they are so good at playing to the masses that they are in danger of never reaching their potential. I don't think pushing for more depth will ruin the commercial appeal of the show. Season two will probably tell us a lot about what the producers want to create. Right now it is a very appealing but broad family comedy. There is a lot of money to be made doing that for five years straight. But is there anyone there who wants more? Who wants the glory of being talked about as one of the best comedies ever? I can only hope.