I could never watch 'The Closer' because I found Kyra Sedgwick's character obnoxious and annoying. I didn't like her fast talking, whiny voice either and the way she treated her "team" who may as well have been featured extras at times. The modern 'follow camera' style gave me a headache too.
So it was a little difficult to catch up at first because it begins by assuming the viewer has watched 'The Closer' to the end and I felt like I'd "jumped in" in the middle of an existing series. I had to go back and double check I was watching season 1 episode 1.
Inspite of that, I immediately warmed to the show. So much so, I even tried to watch some more episodes of 'The Closer' to get some context but couldn't.
I say this because I believe it's a compliment to the show that it holds up on it's own merits. They really don't go out of their way to explain who anyone is and you just have to work it out by yourself. I liked that.
I gathered very quickly that this series gave more screen time to the whole team than 'The Closer' did and recently read that it was designed to. I really enjoy the camaraderie of the team and how well they work together to uncover the details and solve each case. It's obvious they've worked so long together in these roles as the chemistry is great between them all.
The decision to emphasize the deal making process of sending their killers straight to jail is difficult for me to watch because I don't agree with it but I understand this is the very essence that separates the two shows and the reason for the need to have new leadership under a boss trained to adhere strictly to the rules. Something I gather Kyra's Sedgwick's character ignored a little too much in 'The Closer'.
Mary McDonnell's character is calm, smart, insightful and gives her team the respect they deserve. She knows how to manage them and play to their strengths. I really enjoy her calm acting style and she sets the tone of the show.
The camera work is classic and the production values are good and I like that it has a slightly more "cozy" feel than most detective shows of this nature. It falls somewhere between shows like 'Castle' and 'Law and Order'. I also appreciate that the violence is kept to a minimum and not sensationalized ...at least through the first two seasons. I've almost finished watching season 2.
I also agree in part that Rusty's character was very annoying in season 1 but I don't think he ever detracts from the show and he starts to mature in season 2 from the obnoxious, entitled brat he is in Season 1. I like that we're able to see more of Sharon's maternal side and her deeper character through her dealings with him. It's interesting how level-headed she is and how there is very little difference between the way she treats him and they way she treats her staff and cases but there is just enough of a tenderness towards him to show us more of herself. And even though it's highly unlikely he would ever be allowed to hang around the station the way he does and be privy to all their investigation details and procedures, it keeps our focus on the cases and keeps us firmly within the walls of the police station without distracting us with lots of screen time 'at home' in order to show their deepening relationship.
I do feel they all mollycoddle the kid too much and I can totally understand why someone would lash out at him (I don't want to give away any spoilers). And I do think they are wrong to allow him to disrespect any adult he feels like. But, he seems to be a 'work in progress' and I have enjoyed his acting so much more in season 2. His part is being well written to show us how much he's growing up and maturing in the more stable environment surrounded by people who care about him.
Often the storylines are a little too basic and predictable. Often, I can tell who the killer is by half-way through an episode but I enjoy that 'cozy' aspect of it. But I don't enjoy when things are just too coincidental and unbelievable and I hoped it wasn't going to go more in that direction in season 2, but the introduction of ADA Rios was a great decision to shake things up a bit and add a new perspective especially in dealings with Rusty.
I'm looking forward to watching the entire series and just wish I could afford to binge watch it all.
So it was a little difficult to catch up at first because it begins by assuming the viewer has watched 'The Closer' to the end and I felt like I'd "jumped in" in the middle of an existing series. I had to go back and double check I was watching season 1 episode 1.
Inspite of that, I immediately warmed to the show. So much so, I even tried to watch some more episodes of 'The Closer' to get some context but couldn't.
I say this because I believe it's a compliment to the show that it holds up on it's own merits. They really don't go out of their way to explain who anyone is and you just have to work it out by yourself. I liked that.
I gathered very quickly that this series gave more screen time to the whole team than 'The Closer' did and recently read that it was designed to. I really enjoy the camaraderie of the team and how well they work together to uncover the details and solve each case. It's obvious they've worked so long together in these roles as the chemistry is great between them all.
The decision to emphasize the deal making process of sending their killers straight to jail is difficult for me to watch because I don't agree with it but I understand this is the very essence that separates the two shows and the reason for the need to have new leadership under a boss trained to adhere strictly to the rules. Something I gather Kyra's Sedgwick's character ignored a little too much in 'The Closer'.
Mary McDonnell's character is calm, smart, insightful and gives her team the respect they deserve. She knows how to manage them and play to their strengths. I really enjoy her calm acting style and she sets the tone of the show.
The camera work is classic and the production values are good and I like that it has a slightly more "cozy" feel than most detective shows of this nature. It falls somewhere between shows like 'Castle' and 'Law and Order'. I also appreciate that the violence is kept to a minimum and not sensationalized ...at least through the first two seasons. I've almost finished watching season 2.
I also agree in part that Rusty's character was very annoying in season 1 but I don't think he ever detracts from the show and he starts to mature in season 2 from the obnoxious, entitled brat he is in Season 1. I like that we're able to see more of Sharon's maternal side and her deeper character through her dealings with him. It's interesting how level-headed she is and how there is very little difference between the way she treats him and they way she treats her staff and cases but there is just enough of a tenderness towards him to show us more of herself. And even though it's highly unlikely he would ever be allowed to hang around the station the way he does and be privy to all their investigation details and procedures, it keeps our focus on the cases and keeps us firmly within the walls of the police station without distracting us with lots of screen time 'at home' in order to show their deepening relationship.
I do feel they all mollycoddle the kid too much and I can totally understand why someone would lash out at him (I don't want to give away any spoilers). And I do think they are wrong to allow him to disrespect any adult he feels like. But, he seems to be a 'work in progress' and I have enjoyed his acting so much more in season 2. His part is being well written to show us how much he's growing up and maturing in the more stable environment surrounded by people who care about him.
Often the storylines are a little too basic and predictable. Often, I can tell who the killer is by half-way through an episode but I enjoy that 'cozy' aspect of it. But I don't enjoy when things are just too coincidental and unbelievable and I hoped it wasn't going to go more in that direction in season 2, but the introduction of ADA Rios was a great decision to shake things up a bit and add a new perspective especially in dealings with Rusty.
I'm looking forward to watching the entire series and just wish I could afford to binge watch it all.
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