Other TV 14 - 20 Feb 2010

Posted by The TV Critic on 21 February 2010 | 1 Comments

Tags: V, True Blood, Spartacus, How to Make it in America

A week off from most of my regular shows has allowed me to catch up on some TV

V – 101-104
I may keep an eye on V as it goes on because it’s pretty easy to watch. The aliens are the bad guys and the humans and fifth column work together to bring them down. It’s simple. It’s not good, but it’s simple. I don’t really feel like going into great analysis about the show. But needless to say the characterization is thin and the producers are far more concerned with creating “tension” from meaningless betrayals and attacks rather than tapping into anything real. Elizabeth Mitchell does just fine playing a strong woman but no one else distinguished themselves particularly. The V are such obvious and bland villains at this stage that I don’t expect much from the show.

True Blood – Season 1
What a weird show. As with most things in life, if no one had hyped it up my reaction might have been different but I am surprised this has been such a cult hit. Its tone and structure are far more like a soap opera than a drama series. With endless meaningless fights between characters and a never ending emotional rollercoaster for Sookie. The focus on the relentless arguments and changing relationships obscures practically all the science fiction elements of the story. Sookie’s telepathy gets the most flippant treatment you can imagine, switching on and off when it suits and never leading to any personal or plot developments of significance. The vampires are so strong and fast that there is no tension in seeing them fight humans or one another yet. And Sam’s revelation as a shape shifter came out of nowhere and didn’t freak Sookie out like it really should have. Rene’s revelation as the killer felt like the lamest and laziest of season plot arcs.

The characterization is consistent but not good and the acting has to work hard to make up for it. Tara is very passionate and convincing, Lafayette is wonderfully self confident and relaxed, Jason is very believably naïve and Bill is the very picture of a Southern Gentleman. But having said that why should I care about any of them? Tara has arguments with empty rooms as does Sam. Jason is constantly foolish and though he starts to show a likeable innocence it comes after a lot of lying and screwing people over. We never adequately learn why Bill is the only vampire who behaves like a human. The scenes where he had to turn a girl were the closest the show came to dramatic intensity but still he felt more old fashioned than someone you really empathized with.

Then there is Sookie. She should be the moral centre of the show. I kept waiting for her to be shown as this soft, caring person whose goodness would somehow endear me to her but it never happened. She was always far too willing to yell at people or snap at customers or complain or whine. In the worst part of her story she began complaining that Bill had left her when he had made it clear how serious his trip was. Then after barely three days had passed she started making out with Sam and then snapped at Bill for returning to her. It didn’t say a lot for her supposedly deep feelings for Bill. Even worse was her accusing Sam of being untrustworthy because he hid his shape shifting from her for years. What was he supposed to do? Mention it when hiring her?!

I will continue watching to stay in touch with what’s going on but I hope the show changes focus at least a bit in season two.

How to Make it in America – 101 – Pilot
I found this to be a pretty engaging pilot. It definitely reminded me of Entourage in style and tone but by starting at the other end of the fame and fortune ladder it had a more relatable emotional palette. Ben’s story was particularly relatable as it focused on his sexual rejection both by a girl at a party and by his ex-girlfriend. It’s a classic place for a male character’s story to begin and he had a nice mature temperament to him. Cam too came across well bringing the energy, the enthusiasm and the x factor into Ben’s life. I’m intrigued to see where this goes.

 

Spartacus: Blood and Sand – 103 + 104
I’m starting to warm up to Spartacus and as a critic it pleases me to say that. The show isn’t following the realistic characterization and logical plot points that I see as the formula for good television. But unlike so many other shows it actually has a direction of its own and a way of telling the story that is different to most shows on TV. This is pretty rare and I will be fascinated to see if it can engage my emotions more as the tale goes on. In both these episodes we get to know the characters at the gladiator school and see Spartacus’ impatience with the search for his wife.

At first I wondered why we were spending so much time getting to know the other gladiators like Crixus, Barca, Doctore and Varro. Initially I assumed they would simply be fodder for Spartacus as he rose in the gladiatorial ranks. But then it dawned on me that Spartacus is going to lead a rebellion from this school. We are actually getting to know those who may well be fighting alongside him soon, building an army to fight the Romans. Suddenly stories like Crixus’ crush on a slave girl became a lot more interesting.

Although the characterization remains thin what has been built strongly is a wrestling style storyline to finish each episode. In episode three Spartacus engineers a fight with Crixus and learns the hard way why Crixus is the champion of the ludus. The fight was really entertaining because like any good fight the combatants strengths and weaknesses had been built up well and the battle played out as you would expect. In the end Spartacus was forced to humble himself, an important development in his gladiatorial career.

And his actions had real consequences as he was taken to a gambling pit to fight for his life in episode four. Again I don’t know how historically accurate this idea is but it created another excellent fight story. As Spartacus’ energy began to sap he agreed to die in exchange for his wife’s safety. But at the very last minute he went back on his word in order to save Batiatus’ life. It was a true wrestling match style finish which neatly bought him his return to the ludus.

Both stories made for excellent conclusions to the episodes, ending them on a high note. Both stories added to Spartacus’ relationships even if he remains relatively undeveloped as a character. I really appreciate this very different approach to the drama genre and I like seeing good fights. I have complained for a long time about shows like Heroes not featuring good action when the show cries out for it. This show is giving barrel loads of it.