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Backstrom (2015)
Outside of the Box, GREAT TV
Backstrom is described as a character-driven police procedural but it really is outside of the box. This show has strong cult classic written all over it. Whether it will be allowed time to achieve its market potential is, as of this writing, up in the air (as far as I know ;)
What is its magic? It includes: * A fabulous cast of actors creating believable multidimensional characters within excellent, non predictable plot lines. * Really smart direction, cutting, costuming meticulous for each character, and the absolute beauty of endlessly wet Portland. * Huge diverse multi generational market potential. * Irreverence. Really smart irreverence.
The show is funny, and in many scripts in this first season, took excellent aim at some of the sacred cows of television stereotypes; non-heroic firefighters, anyone? Just get it done justice? Perhaps the most charismatic believable preacher ever to strap on a gun? The cutest pair of brothers ever to share television housing? (If you quibble on that - take the average.) Even the romantic pairings are beautifully weird; the relationships can't work, they are doomed - and they work perfectly to mesmerize.
The turns and twists of the social commentary in this contemporary Don Quiote are perfectly aimed; it is the empathy which irresistibly grows on the viewers as the series develops which keep us laughing, nodding and shaking our heads; it has THE hallmark of a really excellent long term series.
Let's hope the people who make the decisions see the remarkable potential in this show.
As a side note - I am amazed at the number of negative user reviews posted in January of this year - before the episodes aired. Mostly these reviews compared the show to other comedy-drama procedurals, poorly. Too bad those reviewers didn't see the series - but they prove: this show is different. Beautifully and a little disturbing different.
Eli Stone (2008)
Don't let the first episode scare you off; exceptional show
The first episode of Eli Stone angered many people. I am one. But it is not the whole story.
The 1st episode plot focused on and promoted some fears about preservatives in immunizations. Those fears and years of ensuing real life drama were based on a vigorously debunked medical study which purported to link a preservative used in some immunizations with autism. I nearly stopped watching the show right there. I have young family with autism, which is a very difficult, very distressing condition. I loath the pseudo science and propaganda which raised the hysteria about this (I repeat) debunked link.
However I believe that the first Eli Stone episode was written and produced before the fundamental flaws in that study were revealed in scientific reviews, before a retraction was published, and before other studies failed to show any scientific correlation or link, between immunizations (with or without the preservative) and autism. There is no science justifying the fears, and many scientists have looked. It has been a few years; now, we have many parents not immunizing their children "just to be on the safe side", and as a result - we have some major outbreaks of measles... which can and does kill people. It's a tragedy. It's ironic, and very sad.
But that is not the fault of the television series Eli Stone. And I have now watched the entire series, every episode, two years worth. And it is - was - a wonderful television series.
The writing was nuanced, provocative, open minded on matters of faith and doubt, belief and disbelief. It was funny, and touching. Many topical issues were approached with respect, and without any "here's the one *right* answer to this dilemma" - and that rings true, because life does not run that way either.
The direction led really fine actors into giving consistently excellent performances. The character development was very human, realistic and wonderful and flawed, showing generosity, pettiness, fears, hopes, illusions, jealousy, and great beauty and strength in the human condition.
What is living a good life? The show doesn't ask that question, let alone offer a nice snappy summation that one could see and nod and walk away from. Instead, the show Eli Stone and all its characters delivered thoughtfulness and compassion and questioning, with humor, and on occasion with some excellent pizazz. The musical pieces are superbly done. Every character who sang in this show, as I recall, sang really beautifully - and those performances added depths to the characters they played in "normal" life.
I wish Eli Stone was still in production. I would love to see these characters more, I would love to see these actors and directors working in the beautiful broad sandbox of life they created. But - it is done.
I am so grateful that I took the ride, of watching the entire series. I encourage others, even those who like me, were really annoyed at the first episode, to - yes, I will say it - have a little faith, or curiosity, and take a further look.
Body of Proof (2011)
BoP S1-2 great writing & cast but S3 was a crime
My friend and I really enjoyed Seasons 1 and 2. Strong female characters, strong male characters, excellent writing, nice character development.
And then there was Season 3. About 1/2 of the regular cast from Season 1 and 2 are eliminated, but worse - the ones that were retained were mutated into a caricature of themselves. Consistently, they act out of character with the existing history and styles of the roles. Every female character is thin, weak, stupid, shallow, lacking the foresight of a gerbil. Every male character is arrogant, sexist, and mostly interested in exaggerated male bonding gestures to establish a new hierarchy. All the characters become or are introduced as simply dis-likable.
Season 3 is so bad, it is a parody of the former show and the genre. It is so bad, it is a grotesque anti-strong-woman propaganda piece lacking any artistic follow-through from previous seasons. No wonder S3 was its last season; its existing audience had no chance to like this abrupt transformation. But it wasn't a natural death. This was an artistic murder of an interesting show. I am embarrassed for those unfortunate enough to be responsible for this travesty of a series re-boot.
And this is really sad - because in seasons 1 and 2, Body of Proof showed interesting quirky characters in a police procedural with nice dashes of pretty accurate science. The relationships made sense and changed over time; there was some lovely expressions of ambiguity, showcasing excellent writing, direction, and acting.
Megan Hunt, Kate Murphy, Ethan Gross, Curtis Brumfield, Lacey Fleming, Joan Hunt, Bud Morris, Sam Baker and Peter Dunlop: RIP you marvelous characters. We may never know who killed you - but we will mourn, and remember you.