Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Justified, Season Two
Still a guilty pleasure. Raylan Givens remains a loose cannon, still a
charming rogue. The body count actually rises this season as various
clans fight over past grievances and control of turf and criminal
activities. Never in doubt is the quality of the acting, the good
humour, or the civility even in the face of the most dire veiled threats
until the lead starts flying. By the end of the season any of the bad
guys who haven't been killed off one way or another are in prison
leaving one to wonder just who the writers came up with for Raylan to
chase in season 3 already on DVD and Season 4 now running. The way this
season ends it looks as if the producers didn't count on the series
being renewed.
The only thing stronger than clan loyalties is that to the land and the
hillbilly lifestyle. It may be a hard life and a demanding one but it's
the only one these people understand. Making moonshine and growing weed
are a sacred right. Bring out the fiddles and the banjos and add some
food and you have yourself a party. The church may lurk in the
background as insurance against the hereafter so long as it doesn't get
in the way of the present.
charming rogue. The body count actually rises this season as various
clans fight over past grievances and control of turf and criminal
activities. Never in doubt is the quality of the acting, the good
humour, or the civility even in the face of the most dire veiled threats
until the lead starts flying. By the end of the season any of the bad
guys who haven't been killed off one way or another are in prison
leaving one to wonder just who the writers came up with for Raylan to
chase in season 3 already on DVD and Season 4 now running. The way this
season ends it looks as if the producers didn't count on the series
being renewed.
The only thing stronger than clan loyalties is that to the land and the
hillbilly lifestyle. It may be a hard life and a demanding one but it's
the only one these people understand. Making moonshine and growing weed
are a sacred right. Bring out the fiddles and the banjos and add some
food and you have yourself a party. The church may lurk in the
background as insurance against the hereafter so long as it doesn't get
in the way of the present.
Friday, February 15, 2013
ER 15
The final season of ER. The scripts remain as good as they were in year
one. The cast has changed almost completely but the city of Chicago and
its down and out are still co-stars. Ending a series that lasted 15
seasons is like the death of an old friend. I have no clue as to the
authenticity of the medical terminology used or the procedures performed
by the actors but what is never in doubt is the humanity of the
characters they portrait. These have always been real people with good
days and bad days. They make mistakes, they have temper tantrums, they
are kind, caring, health care professionals. They have problems at home,
they have inter-personal issues, they attempt to rise above it all. In
the final few episodes we make contact with many former doctors in an
attempt at closure. We see the memorial wall in the basement. In the end
the show ends appropriately with all hands on deck dealing with the
fall-out from an industrial explosion. How else could it be in an ER.
one. The cast has changed almost completely but the city of Chicago and
its down and out are still co-stars. Ending a series that lasted 15
seasons is like the death of an old friend. I have no clue as to the
authenticity of the medical terminology used or the procedures performed
by the actors but what is never in doubt is the humanity of the
characters they portrait. These have always been real people with good
days and bad days. They make mistakes, they have temper tantrums, they
are kind, caring, health care professionals. They have problems at home,
they have inter-personal issues, they attempt to rise above it all. In
the final few episodes we make contact with many former doctors in an
attempt at closure. We see the memorial wall in the basement. In the end
the show ends appropriately with all hands on deck dealing with the
fall-out from an industrial explosion. How else could it be in an ER.
