"One" Helluva AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

Article originally written for Seat42F.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. revisits S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fall this week in “One Door Closes,” while the fragile, rebuilt group threatens to collapse again. This time, it’s not villains who seek to destroy what Coulson (Clark Gregg) has built, but members of the organization who think the new Director is taking things in the wrong direction and doesn’t deserve the position. Are they right? Can a compromise be reached that doesn’t involve civil war?

The “real” S.H.I.E.L.D. that seeks to topple Coulson is made up of Robert Gonzales (Edward James Olmos), Agent Weaver (Christine Adams), Agent Calderon (Kirk Acevedo), Bobbi Morse (Adrianne Palicki), Mack (Henry Simmons), and more. These are good people, and we see their nobility and bravery in flashback to their time during the initial Hydra revelation, circa Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Along with now-deceased Izzy Hartley (Lucy Lawless, who it is wonderful to see return), they take back a vessel that Hydra has conquered. These are good agents, the real deal, who love their country and their organization.

Which makes it very hard to be mad at them when Bobbi and Mack sabotage Coulson’s base and let in their comrades. They may have valid points about Coulson, putting his selfish motivations in front of the group and following in Fury’s arguably too-secretive footsteps. Fury and Coulson use those with powers without transparency, and with Coulson acting a little nuts in the search for the buried city, his stability is questionable.

Yet, it’s also hard for viewers to turn on those people who we’ve watched for two years on MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. None of Coulson’s original team betrays him because they’ve been with him a long time and trust him. May (Ming-Na Wen) even helps Coulson escape with Fury’s toolbox and alerts Skye (Chloe Bennet) that they are coming for her. Our agents are not going down without a fight, and “One Door Closes” leaves two separate teams doing battle, Coulson joined by Hunter (Nick Blood) on the outside, and Bobbi and Mack helping Gonzales and company keep the others prisoner within.

Is there a possible happy ending here? Could Gonzales be reasoned with if Coulson let him in on why secrets are necessary? After all, Coulson has worked to break down some of the security levels under his leadership, even if he’s kept a few things classified as needed. If the two leaders, both respectable men doing what they think is right, could just sit down, surely they could talk things out?

In the meantime, I can’t help but wonder if some of Coulson’s people may be swayed. May has deep personal reasons for supporting Coulson, but she’s also seen him act erratically. Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) remain at odds partly because they disagree over how Coulson has treated Skye. Bobbi and Mack are their friends; there’s a chance at least one of them could come ‘round to Gonzales’ way of thinking.

If Coulson has to take back the base by force, he doesn’t have his best weapon to do so. Skye isn’t captured by Bobbi, but instead escapes with Gordon (Jamie Harris). Gordon offers her answers and understanding concerning her new abilities, and given how Skye is so caught up in dealing with her powers, and not knowing how serious the S.H.I.E.L.D. situation is, she’s likely to stay focused on herself for at least a little while. That’s a good thing for her in the long-run, but it doesn’t help Coulson and her friends much right now.

Gordon seems nice, too, if he’s being honest. He is accepting of Skye and knows about her, being like her. He approaches her in a friendly manner, not forcing her to go with him or anything, and not asking for anything in return yet. We know Gordon isn’t working for Skye’s father, so he might be good people. My instinct is that Skye is in safe hands.

What this means is that “One Door Closes” has a lot of conflict, but not bad guys. I really, really like this. Fighting Hydra or Ward is exciting and cool, but by pitching those who all have similar morals but different perspectives on maintaining those values against one another, the story gets much more interesting. It allows complexity in the various characters, and makes the outcome very uncertain.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Don't Quite "Love" MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.

Article originally written for Seat42F.

Last night on MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., two people find “Love in the Time of Hydra.” Maybe. At the same time, another relationship or three nearly completely dissolve and things continue to build towards a semi-unknown showdown. What does the rest of the season hold for the team? I certainly don’t know.

Ward (Brett Dalton) finally shows back up, in the company of Agent 33 (Maya Stojan). Ward decides to take 33 under his wing, and step one is to nab Bakshi (Simon Kassianides) and torture him. The problem is, Bakshi is still in Talbot’s (Adrian Pasdar) custody and 33’s face replicator isn’t working. These are surmountable tribulations, and it isn’t long before 33 is trying to repay Ward for his help by allowing him to finally have sex with Skye (Chloe Bennet). Well, have sex with 33 wearing Skye’s face and possibly May’s (Ming-Na Wen) voice, though Ward may just be over Skye and ready to move on with the real 33.

33 and Ward make a creepy pair, and if Ward’s affection for Skye has really and truly evaporated, they are dangerous foes. I’ve been pleased at MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.’s decision to keep Ward around full-time, even if he’s not in every episode, and the set up for him in “Love in the Time of Hydra” elicits a general feeling of fear and uneasiness. It’s not clear what this duo’s plans are, but they are definitely up to something sinister.

S.H.I.E.L.D. has more than Ward and 33 to worry about, though. They also must fear S.H.I.E.L.D. Or, the other S.H.I.E.L.D. See, Robert Gonzales (Edward James Olmos, Battlestar Galactia), Agent Weaver (Christine Adams, Terra Nova), Agent Calderon (Kirk Acevedo, Fringe), and others decide that Nick Fury keeps too many secrets, and that Director Coulson (Clark Gregg) is going down the same wrong path. Bobbi (Adrianna Palicki) and Mack (Henry Simmons) apparently agree with them, and because they’ve infiltrated our heroes so fully, this could spell trouble, especially if they act at the same time Ward does.

Hunter (Nick Blood) might be able to warn Coulson and company, but will it be in time? He manages to escape his captivity on a ship in the middle of the ocean, twelve hours from land by the sub he steals. Bobbi says she only needs six hours to do whatever she’s going to do, which doesn’t exactly point to the outcome Coulson’s S.H.I.E.L.D. will want. But considering Bobbi says her affection for Hunter is true and she does let him escape, might she be a double double agent, working for Coulson while pretending to work against him?

Let’s hope so, because Coulson is distracted by what’s happening with Skye. He takes her to a cabin where she and the rest of the team can be safe, separated, while they figure out what to do with her. The “vacation” is not punishment, even if she kind of feels like it is. It makes logical sense to isolate her, given how Skye shakes the base down repeatedly, a barely controllable Hulk in their midst. But if there really are two dangers coming at S.H.I.E.L.D., Coulson may regret sending away his best weapon, as Skye has talents none of his other agents have. Although most of alt-S.H.I.E.L.D. seems ineffective, Hunter easily overcoming the whole group of them, Bobbi is anything but, and we still don’t know for sure whose side she is on.

“Love in the Time of Hydra” has all of the moving pieces mentioned above, but those aren’t the only threads weaving through MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Something the show does well is balance a variety of segments who all have their own motivations, letting them clash at the perfect, sometimes unexpected, times in spectacular showdowns. Roughly two-thirds of the way through this season, it seems likely that will happen again soon.

In the meantime, this installment does serve various characters well. The scenes between Hunter and Bobbi, between Ward and 33, between Coulson and Skye, and between Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge), the last of which are still on the outs, make for compelling personal drama. What more could you want?

Well, something. I love this show, but lately it’s felt like there’s just a little something missing for me. I can’t quite pinpoint what it is because all of the stuff I talk about above is exciting. Maybe some of the characters are a little flat or the pacing is slightly off, but season two has just not quite been clicking like the latter half of season one did. When I figure out exactly why that is, I’ll surely let you know.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

12 MONKEYS Not Too Many

Article first published as 12 MONKEYS Review on Seat42F.

SyFy’s newest series, 12 MONKEYS, is inspired by the 1995 film Twelve Monkeys. Those familiar with that movie know the basic story. Almost all of the world’s human population is wiped out by a deadly virus. Desperate scientists in the future send back one man to change the past and prevent such disaster. It’s mind-bendy, twisty stuff, full of action and time travel and paradox.

Aaron Stanford (Nikita) stars in 12 MONKEYS as James Cole, the Bruce Willis role from the film. In the pilot, circa 2013, Cole meets Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull, Suits) and enlists her help with his mission. When Cole returns to Railly in 2015, scant moments have passed for him, but her life has forever changed by the task he assigns her: find Leland Frost. With a little help, she does locate the man Cole believes is responsible for the epidemic (Zeljko Ivanek, Damages, Heroes, Madam Secretary). Of course, that’s only the beginning of the story.

One thing that struck me about the film Twelve Monkeys is that it is quite difficult to try to keep track of everything that is going on and when everything is supposed to have happened, especially once the time line begins to change – or does it? 12 MONKEYS begins with this same head-spinning issue, bringing in not just two distinct time periods, but several more. However, by being given many weeks to unfold the tale, I assume it will be much easier to follow as it goes along, the series being given the gift of more than two hours to tell its story.

12 MONKEYS is ripe for such exploration. The movie is great, a self-contained film that leaves one thinking. But the universe has plenty to unspool over multiple seasons. The time traveling hero who doesn’t have all the answers, nor does his boss, the mysterious Jones (Barbara Sukowa, Hannah Arendt), meets the girl who takes a chance on him. Toss in a secret terrorist organization, the 12 MONKEYS mentioned in the title, led by a female version of the Brad Pitt part, Jennifer Goines (Emily Hampshire, My Awkward Sexual Adventure), and there’s the makings of an epic battle of good versus evil fought over decades, with the lines not clearly drawn.

12 MONKEYS also has a supporting cast experienced in the genre. Standford’s Nikita co-star, Noah Bean, plays Aaron Marker, a former love interest of Railly’s, while Fringe’s Kirk Acevedo is Ramses, a contemporary of Cole’s. Along with those noted above, this makes for a pretty solid, if not well-known, core cast.

SyFy has been moving into more intelligent dramas as of late. Its cheesy movies and goofy shows, like Warehouse 13, still have a place there, but the network is also attempting some higher concept stuff, such as Helix and 12 MONKEYS. It’s a good sign, to see their fare turn to something more worthy to serious fans of science fiction, as nothing really has there since Battlestar Galactica and Caprica ended, and 12 MONKEYS certainly fits that label. It’s similar in makeup to the Canadian program Continuum, which also runs on SyFy, but adds several other layers to that concept. It’s not my favorite new series of the year by a long shot, but it’s interesting and complex, which is a step above what I expected.

The pilot eats through much of the movie’s most central plot, skipping some subplot items that won’t fit in a longer-running show and not really getting to the mental institution yet. While the latter does leave enough to fill another hour or so, that means that very early on in season one, 12 MONKEYS will be leaving its source material behind and starting to forge its own path. I look forward to seeing where that’s going.

12 MONKEYS premieres this Friday, January 16^th, at 9 p.m. ET on SyFy.

I'm "Too Far Gone" to Not Rave About THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 4 Episode 8 Too Far Gone on Seat42F.

AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD paused for two months with the climatic mid-season finale, “Too Far Gone,” last night. The showdown went pretty much as expected, with some key players breathing their last and a heck of a lot of action. Which does not detract at all from the tension as events unfold, bullets are fired rapidly, and bodies hit the floor.

The Governor (David Morrissey) easily convinces his new camp to attack the prison, and who wouldn’t be convinced by him? He’s a smooth talker who is very good at persuasion. The story that he tells, taken at face value, seems very reasonable, and it’s not surprising that people who have only seen one side of him, a softer side, would fall in line. Especially when his plan supposedly will not involve bloodshed.

Yet, for those of us who have watched The Governor all this time, it’s certain that no matter what he says, this is not how it will play out. When Rick (Andrew Lincoln) doesn’t kowtow to The Governor’s demands, the choices for the one-eyed leader are to compromise or back off. He has never been good at doing either, and faced with these people who took so much from him, he cannot bring himself to do so. Instead, he attacks.

Has The Governor changed? Hershel (Scott Wilson) says he sees development and Rick appears willing to forgive and forget, to a point. The Governor himself does give the prison group a chance at life, which seems like something his self at the time of Woodbury would never have done. I think there has been a shift here.

In some ways, he’s still the same, though. The Goveror will not accept Rick’s offer. One can argue that The Governor knows Michonne (Danai Gurira) would never let him live, and sharing the prison is too dangerous for his own personal safety. However, he could have negotiated specifically about Michonne and found a way around this. If Rick and Hershel supported him, The Governor may have brokered a deal. It may have ended with Michonne striking out on her own, but there would be peace.

There are others in The Governor’s group who probably wouldn’t fall in line, even if The Governor had accepted Rick’s terms. Mitch (Kirk Acevedo), for one, would probably have caused trouble within the encampment and eventually would have had to be dealt with. Most of the others would have been fine, folding into the group the way the Woodbury survivors have done.

Either way, the catalyst for violence is The Governor. In a moment of anger, he slashes Hershel’s neck with a blade, unable to take Rick’s offer at face value, or take it at all. He’s just “Too Far Gone.” There is no way the prison group, who loves Hershel dearly, can take this, and so fighting breaks out, resulting in many, many deaths, including practically all of The Governor’s followers.

The Governor himself is taken down by a combination of Rick, Michonne, and Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson), which seems appropriate. He’s a big villain, and huge measures must be taken to stop him. Rick and The Governor have had their differences, and so deserve the chance to slug it out. Rick, weakened, would lose this hand-to-hand combat if not for Michonne, who has more reason that practically anyone to hate The Governor. She was willing to give up her vendetta, but with The Governor right in front of her, killing her friend Rick, it must be satisfying to run him through with her sword, as she does.

Lilly gets the last blow in when she shoots the severely wounded Governor at close range. Even before The Governor shoots Meghan (Meyrick Murphy), who has been bitten, in the head, Lilly senses something off about him. As the woman who is closest to him, she sees the change within, the secrets he tries so hard to keep buried. He has personally betrayed her by deceiving her, and she puts him down for it, showing strength it may not have been obvious she had.

Funnily enough, it’s Lilly’s sister, who always seems so tough, that cannot fight. Tara (Alanna Masterson) is fine with The Governor’s plan until the guns are used, and then she flees. Her bravado is a façade, or maybe she just has a moral compass that only allows her to be tough towards those who deserve it. She alone of The Governor’s army escapes, as far as we know, because she runs. Let’s hope Tara and Lilly, who seem like good people, get to join our heroes, though they may be loathe to do so after witnessing so much violence, desiring to stay away from everyone involved in the battle.

Mitch is taken out by Daryl (Norman Reedus). This seems a great match, a lieutenant-to-lieutenant fight, the second-in-commands of both camps facing off. Given the personalities and skill sets of each, though, it’s with little surprise that Daryl handles Mitch quickly and easily, not as even a pairing as their positions might indicate.

Rick is made to be a leader again in “Too Far Gone.” The Governor forces Rick to step forward and deal with him, even though the power in the group has shifted away from a lone person. The thing is, though, Rick is the de facto leader left. With Carol (Melissa McBride) cast out and Hershel dying of a mortal neck wound, the council is in tatters. The others who help lead are not prepared to deal with The Governor, nor do they show any signs of wanting to. When the going gets tough, everyone still looks to Rick to save them. Which he sort of does.

Rick handles it better now. He’s had time to heal and reflect, and while some may take his willingness to cooperate with The Governor as weakness, neither does he back down completely by giving The Governor the prison. He strikes the perfect balance of sanity, compassion, and ferocity. This is who the group needs in charge of them.

If there’s a group to be had any more in THE WALKING DEAD. As the gates of the prison come down, everyone runs in different directions. Some, including the sick like Glenn (Steven Yeun), who aren’t able to fight, take a bus through a previously arranged backdoor exit. Others leave in small groups, still firing their weapons. A few are injured, but have others with them to protect them. This means it may be some time before they reunite, even if they have a pre-established rendezvous, which seems probable.

Rick and Carl (Chandler Riggs) get away, but in the process they come across Judith’s bloody baby carrier. Is the infant dead? It seems likely, given the evidence, though there’s always the chance she was taken out of the seat for some unknown reason and then a Walker stepped in it, resulting in the blood we see. In the comics, this is when Judith is killed, albeit in a different way, so that’s another strike against her survival.

Judith should have been taken to the bus by the other kids, but they were convinced to arm themselves and fight by Lizzie (Brighton Sharbino). One has to admire her pluck, wanting to be a fully contributing member of the group and taking Carol’s lessons to heart, but it’s also a very stupid move. She’s no Carl, and doesn’t have the presence to pull it off, surviving through luck more than talent. Not being an able leader of the others. If Judith is dead, it’s Lizzie’s fault.

Plus, now Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) has to look out for Lizzie and her friends. Lizzie shoots Alisha (Julianna Harkavy), Tara’s girlfriend, saving Tyreese’s life, which is a good thing. But then Tyreese is stuck with several young girls who have been left behind by the larger group. That may not be an easy challenge for him, as we haven’t really seen him around the kids at all.

Especially if one of them proves to be a psychopath. We still don’t know who was feeding the Walkers rats at the fence, though that mystery deepens when Tyreese discovers a dissected rat in the prison. Lizzie seems the obvious choice, though perhaps she’s too obvious a culprit. Either way, there is someone crazy within their midst, and if Tyreese is trying to protect a few children, this will be a challenge he doesn’t need right now.

Perhaps, while scattered, Daryl with find Carol. He seems to accept her banishment OK early in “Too Far Gone,” but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still care about her. If he’s on his own, or with only a couple of others, it seems a logical move to look for Carol, who can help take care of anyone that needs it. Carol is not in this episode, however it seems highly unlikely she’s done for the season.

Losing Hershel, who is gone for good, is a rough blow. Not just for Beth (Emily Kinney) and Maggie (Lauren Cohan), his loving daughters, but for Rick and everyone else. He was a wise elder, giving good advice and caring for the sick, the only one left with medical training. Hershel’s death presents practical, as well as emotional, issues for the group. He will be deeply missed.

It is kind of surprising that Hershel is the only main character good guy that dies here. With practically all of The Governor’s group taken out, one expects some equal losses on Rick’s side. Aside from a few nameless extras, this doesn’t happen. There are enough bodies to satisfy those just looking for death, but very few really matter in the larger scheme of the story as much as Hershel (and the prison itself, which is now uninhabitable, overrun with Walkers). It may mean more that Hershel goes down alone, but it also stretches the realism just a bit too much.

Overall, that’s a minor gripe, and “Too Far Gone” is a fantastic ending. Carol and the mystery psycho leave hanging threads for the second half, the scattering of the group provides some interesting new plot to start back with, and the stakes are very high, resulting in some very real, lasting losses. It’s a heck of an installment, one that will not be soon forgotten, and a fitting end for the biggest bad the show has produced yet.

THE WALKING DEAD will return the first Sunday in February to AMC.

No "Dead Weight" in THE WALKING DEAD

Article first published as THE WALKING DEAD Review Season 4 Episode 7 Dead Weight on Seat42F.

“Dead Weight,” the lastest episode of AMC’s THE WALKING DEAD, once more changes all the rules. As it begins, Brian, a.k.a. the man formerly known as The Governor (David Morrissey), is accepted into a new camp. He tries to make a go of things as a contributor who does not seek power or control. But when it becomes apparent that the leadership of this group is unstable and Brian’s new family is threatened, he allows himself to once more be a survivor.

At first, it appears there could be peace and balance in this group. Brian just wants to make sure Lilly (Audrey Marie Anderson) and Meghan (Meyrick Murphy) are safe, and he’s fine with falling in line behind Martinez (Jose Pablo Cantillo) if Martinez can do the job. It’s not an ideal life, with a leaky trailer, but for now, Lilly is happy and Brian can stand it.

But Martinez asks for more. First, he takes Brian with him out on raids. Then he makes him part of his circle of advisors. Then he tells Brian they should share power. This makes sense to Martinez, who abandons The Governor when he lost focus and became a bit crazy, but who respects what The Governor built in Woodbury. Assuming that Brian has the talents of The Governor, but has found a way to get right in the head again, of course Martinez wants to make use of that skill set.

This is something that cannot stand for Brian, who whacks Martinez in the head with a golf club and feeds him to a pit of Walkers. There can definitely be some debate about why Brian does this. Is he just avoiding the power that he found so addictive and corrupting, and knows Martinez, who places emphasis on contribution, won’t leave him be? Does he give in to a fit of rage when he considers Martinez’s offer and thinks about what that might lead to? Or does Brian consider Martinez stupid and unworthy of leadership because he trusts someone who did not do right by the last settlement?

Either way, Martinez is dead, and that leaves a power vacuum. There are two obvious contenders to replace Martinez, not counting Brian, who doesn’t admit to the killing or immediately step forward. Pete (Enver Gjokaj, Dollhouse) is levelheaded and compassionate, refusing to rob another camp of their supplies. His brother, Mitch (Kirk Acevedo, Fringe), it a hothead, who thinks they should take what they can, anyone else be damned. Neither is a great pick.

Brian’s first solution to resolving this mess is, surprisingly, to run. He packs up Meghan, Lilly, her sister Tara (Alanna Masterson), and Tara’s new girlfriend, Alisha (Juliana Harkavy, Dolphin Tale), into a truck and tries to run. The way out is blocked by a mud trap full of Walkers, and so they are forced to turn around and go back.

I think Brian’s decision to flee is actually a testament to just how much he wants to be a different man. He could easily wrest control of these people himself and put down the threat, but instead, he decides to go away. He desperately wants to protect these women and not repeat Woodbury if he can avoid it.

Now, yes, Brian could try to escape harder. He might have found an alternate route or another opportunity. He does give up before the end of “Dead Weight,” so doesn’t have full commitment to this course of action. But part of this could be that the girls don’t support escaping, believing things safe. And part of it could also be that once Meghan is attacked by a Walker in the camp, Brian decides he cannot wait any longer to take action, and so chooses the quickest resolution.

This is a return of The Governor. He’s cold again, and murderous. He stabs Pete and puts him in a lake where The Governor can visit him, a la the fish tanks from Woodbury. The Governor threatens Mitch and gets him in line, his new attack dog, like Martinez used to be. And he starts thinking of ways to bring the group together to ensure their survival, knowing that a few trailers and some barbed wire just will not do. After all, he’s got some recent examples to prove this, seeing two other settlements slaughtered earlier in the installment.

Again, The Governor thinks of a swift way to meet this goal. Woodbury is destroyed, and so he sets his sights (or sight, since he has only on eye?) on the prison where Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and the others live. This allows him to simultaneously work towards two goals. One, if he succeeds, he’ll have a new environment that has proven a safe haven over quite a period of time from the Walkers and other marauding gangs. Two, he will finally get his revenge on those that wronged him, which he clearly still craves, unable to resist pointing his gun at a distant Michonne (Danai Gurira).

Can he succeed? He’s very good at persuasion, so I have no doubt that he can talk his new “friends” into following him. Mitch, Tara, Alisha, and others in the new group have military training. They also have a tank. These are important tools to lay siege to an entrenched enemy, and it gives them a chance. Should things roughly follow the comic book (which actually found Woodbury residents attacking the prison, not these other people), The Governor will fail and all of his followers will die in the process, taking many of Rick’s people with them. This could be a heck of an action-packed, exciting finale.

The one thing to consider, though, is that The Governor does have two people he cares about and wants to protect. Is he willing to go in guns blazing with Lilly and Meghan’s lives on the line? Will he try to leave them somewhere safe, and sacrifice someone who could be a good soldier to watch over them? Or will his rage and the necessity of being in command override those protectionist instincts, and he’ll think about them again only after he has the prison?

“Dead Weight” is a great, solid episode, and definitely negating many of the musings I put forth in last week’s review. Somehow, the writers keep finding unexpected ways to take the story in that feel authentic to the characters and tell one heck of a tale. Whatever they have planned for next week, I’m sure it’ll be amazing.

THE WALKING DEAD completes its fall run next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.

Prime Suspect not prime

     NBC's Prime Suspect follows Detective Jane Timoney (Maria Bello, ER), a homicide detective who is not exactly welcomed into her new department, even having her cases stolen. Things get even worse when, after a colleague dies, she secures his position, putting her in a leadership roll. The boys club that runs the show doesn't trust her, though Lieutenant Kevin Sweeney (Aidan Quinn, Weeds) has faith that she will get the job done. And she does, without much help and support from her team. Though she may warm a few of them up slightly.

     Prime Suspect is based on a very successful British series of the same name. The themes of the original involve a woman trying to make it in a man's profession. Given that this is 2011, those don't seem quite so relevant any more. Yet, somehow Jane's treatment at the hands of her co-workers rings with a bit of truth. Is it possible, even in this day and age, there are still some jobs that women are not expected to do? Other television shows rarely address this, and there are plenty of cop shows around to choose from. But perhaps taking this different stance gives Prime Suspect a leg up on the competition.

     The cast is fantastic. Bello shines as Jane, even if she should consider losing the stupid headwear. Quinn does a decent job, and Brian F. O'Byrne (Mildred Pierce, FlashForward) is terrific as Jane's main protagonist. The other guys don't get a lot to do in the "Pilot," but recognize Kirk Acevedo as Fringe, so hopefully he will have a large role. The feel is also pretty decent. It's a grittier show than many, and the cinematography isn't completely typical.

     Unfortunately, that will probably not save it from being a rote procedural. Though Prime Suspect airs on NBC, not CBS, it has many of the familiar staples of the million other crime series already airing. There isn't much story apart from the case of the week. Unlike the original version, each case will be solved by the end of the hour. These are not the makings of a bold new show. It may be too soon to tell if Prime Suspect can hold interest, but it's not exactly off to a promising start, despite a couple of intriguing characters.

     The best thing Prime Suspect has going for it are the scenes that Maria spends with Matt Webb (Kenny Johnson, Sons of Anarchy, The Shield), the guy she lives with. Matt is trying to get partial custody of his son, but his ex (Lena Georgas, Kingdom Hospital) doesn't make it easy. She has a new guy, but still seems jealous of Maria. Maria steps in, behind Matt's back, and makes sure that Matt gets to see his kid. This bit really makes the character of Maria, demonstrating what she is like off the job.

     Also nice is the time that Maria spends with her father, Desmond (Peter Gerety, Mercy, Brothers & Sisters). If Prime Suspect can keep a major focus on Maria's family, as it sort of does in the "Pilot," then perhaps Prime Suspect will make something of itself.

     Prime Suspect airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. on NBC.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

JWTV Quickie: Fringe - "Bloodline"

     The Observer (Michael Cerveris) is back! That means something big is stirring on FOX's Fringe. Of course, that is no surprise, considering that Faulivia (Anna Torv) just gave birth to Peter Bishop's (Joshua Jackson) baby. The fate of both universes hang in the balance, supposedly the decision resting in Peter's hands. While Peter is in love with Olivia (also Torv), not of his universe, learning that Fauxlivia has had his (age accelerated) baby just may shift the balance. A showdown seems imminent, as the season finale will be called "The Day We Died", and chances are, one universe of the other may be dead for good soon.

     What will that mean for characters we've come to love? Sure, Olivia, Peter, Walter (John Noble), and the like are much cherished. But I have also gotten attached to alt-universe counterparts, especially seeing Charlie (Kirk Acevedo) back from the dead, and alt-Fringe leader Lincoln Lee (Seth Gabel). While we have now seen Lincoln (Gabel) on our side, I don't want alt-Lincoln to die either. Could we possibly stage a little rescue before a universe implodes? You know, let a few people immigrate over from one side to the other? Peter did it. Let's have a few more. Or everyone. Can you imagine the possibilities if there was an en-masse evacuation?! It could fuel three more seasons, easily!

     As for this week's episode itself, it was hell-a-citing! Fauxlivia is kidnapped and medical procedures are done to her. While we think she is in danger, Walternate (Noble) is actually saving mother and baby. Why did he do it so secretly? If there is a way to save the baby, surely Faulivia would be on board. Losing her sister to the condition that now threatens her, the threat is more than hypothetical to her. I'm glad everyone is all right. Walternate is showing more and more to like, rather than just being a flat villain, but sneaking around is not going to help his case. Especially odd considering the secrets that Walternate did let out of the bag.

     Also of note, adored Lincoln, Charlie, Henry (Andre Royo), and weird alt-Astrid (Jasika Nicole) (what is up with her, anyway?) teaming up and sharing Walternate's secrets. It was great fun, and wonderful for so many reasons. They could be their own spin-off! Or a Fringe B-Team if they come over to stay. Now that we're getting to know them through a few separate adventures, I'm liking them more and more. Please don't take them away.

     Fringe airs Friday nights at 9 p.m ET on FOX.

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Fringe Keeps Getting Better

     A fan of FOX's Fringe from the onset, I did get a little bored with the case of the week mentality the first season, and to a lesser extent, the second, brought us often. However, after beefing up Olivia's (Anna Torv) story little by little over time, it soon became apparent that The Olivia Dunham Show, as my wife likes to call it, was something pretty darn interesting. Not only that, but Walter (John Noble) also got better and better arcs. Late last season, and even more so this season, the third member of the central trio, Peter (Joshua Jackson), has finally been given his due, too.

     Somehow, Olivia and Walter's parts are no less central, even after Peter stepped front and center, ending his long reign as the third wheel. I think making each week's individual mystery less and less important allowed room for the growth, and now the series often jettisons the weekly stand alone stuff altogether. This season's arc of Olivia being trapped in the alternate universe, as Peter fell in love with her counterpart, Fauxlivia (also Torv), has been amazing! Torv and Jackson have been able to show such raw emotions, and allow such deep feelings to be ripped to the surface, that both are having banner years.

     In past reviews, I have discussed the debate over what name the alternate Olivia should go by. Bolivia was a popular suggestion, and seemed to be first on the scene, although I preferred Fauxlivia, as I used in the preceding paragraph. This week's episode was the first to refer to her by a special name on screen, and they chose Fauxlivia, making the debate essentially over. Fauxlivia seems to have won.

     But names are semantics. Torv has brought both characters alive in ways both obvious and subtle, showcasing her immense talent. These are two very different women, who are at their core, nearly the same. It's a strange paradox that Olivia and Fauxlivia can be alike and different at the same time, but Torv has excelled in demonstrating that in ways that it's hard to express in words. A++ for her performance.

     Peter seems poised to suffer even more as the rest of the season plays out. Friday night, he went on a killing spree, taking down shape shifters sent by the other side. He justified this to himself and Walter by calling them soldiers, making them casualties of war, and helping Peter sleep at night in a way he wouldn't after committing murder. But it is murder, and Walter's concern that the ancient machine has negatively affected Peter seems a valid concern, since the serial killing thing is kind of out of character for Peter. How this will play out is a burning question, as well as what will happen to Peter concerning the ancient machines, one of which exists in each universe.

     Walter, who has always set himself apart as an amazing actor and essential piece of the show, is even more exciting now. He is a parent terrified for his son, but also thinking rationally most of the time for the first time in awhile, and willing to make sacrifices. He faced Peter's death only last week, and worried even more about Peter this week as test after test was performed on him. It's a change from the distracted scientist who doesn't care for others, and a welcome one. Walter and Peter's bond is the strongest on the show.

     The Observer (Michael Cerveris) last week seemed to reference Peter's death being among the upcoming events, but I am suspicious of this. Surely, Fringe would not kill off one of the central trio before a series finale? I could see Peter's death being one of the last things that happens on the show, although a happy ending with Peter and Olivia would be nice, so maybe Walter, being older, could somehow sacrifice himself and take Peter's place? But however it plays out, I don't see Peter dying in one of those machines this year. Unless it's a dying fake out of some sort. It would be kind of cool to see Olivia and Walter mourn Peter, though he couldn't possibly be permanently dead.

     The Observer saved Peter for a reason, unknown to us viewers, years ago, angering fellow Observers. That means Peter is vital to something in the two universe war. This plot arc seems finite, and closer to an end than a beginning. I really think things have to come to a head by the end of this season, with Olivia and co. facing down Walternate (also Noble), Fauxlivia, and the others. I don't see this going on for years longer, and the show is doing well enough that it is in no danger of immediate cancellation. Even the move to Fridays has only bolstered the ratings, not hurt them. Other shows that J.J. Abrams has been involved in have completely rebooted the plot after a couple of seasons, and always came out stronger than ever, so I'm not afraid of a reset. I'm excitedly anticipating one.

     I think the alternate universe story line has been fantastic. Normally when fiction tackles an alternate reality (I'm looking at you Star Trek and Star Trek: Deep Space 9), they face a reality drastically different than their own, often with evil versions of themselves. Yet, the Fringe alternate universe is quite similar. Sure, society and government have been drastically altered due to the rip factors on the other side. But our Walter clearly had the capacity for evil if his life had played out differently, and I can see how Walternate ended up the way he is. Other characters, like Charlie (Kirk Acevedo) and Broyles (Lance Reddick), are nearly the same man on both sides. Or were, as one of each has now been killed off. Which begs the question, were they killed (in the series or in the universe) because they were too alike, and it was repetitive to have both?
 

     Which brings me to the other main characters, who have too frequently been shut out of any real development. Seeing the alternate Broyles (who got no cool, trendy nickname and now probably won't) help Olivia escape was some of the best work Reddick has gotten on the show. Nina (Blair Brown) has had more to do with Massive Dynamic now under Walter's ownership, and the company working on the ancient machine, than she ever had before. Astrid (Jasika Nicole) has been more involved in what the rest of the team is doing, not just cleaning beakers in Walter's lab.

     It's a welcome change. All three of those actors are very talented, and were picked to star in Fringe for a reason. While the series is essentially a three person story, these other three can carry their own weight. In fact, letting Peter be believed dead for a little while might give them a chance to be fleshed out even more, and in that regard, I welcome the idea. However, seeing as how the writers made Olivia hallucinate Peter in the alternate universe episodes so that Jackson could keep starring every week makes me think that even if the characters think Peter is dead, he will probably still get ample screen time. I'm not asking for less Jackson, I think this is the best role of his career to date, but I would like a bit more fairness to Brown, Nicole, and Reddick.

      That aside, I have no complaints about this season of Fringe. It's tightly written, wonderfully exciting, super suspenseful, and beyond creative. Check out Fringe, now airing Friday nights at 9 p.m. on FOX.

Article first published as TV Review: Fringe Keeps Getting Better on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Fringe "Amber 31422"

    Five episodes into the third season of FOX's Fringe, and it's already been spectacular. The major game changing play this year, alternating each week which universe the episode takes place in, has been wonderfully successful. While Fringe toyed with the alternate world in the first two seasons, seeing those other versions of our favorite characters in major arcs is incredibly rewarding. I love the red theme song for alternate weeks, and the cast of characters that appear over there, but not (yet) back here. Plus, seeing John Noble as Walternate is very satisfying.
     Last Thursday was an alternate week, however, aspects of it were a call back to previous episodes on our side of the universe. Olivia (Anna Torv) was once again drugged up and put in the sensory-deprivation tank, although this time it was Walternate's much more sophisticated version. Her powers have been dealt with on and off for years, and this episode confirmed that whatever Walter did to Olivia as a child plays a huge role in what she can do. It's sort of been a question of mine if Olivia is special because Walter did experiments on her, or if Walter's experiments were so interesting because she was special. This episode seemed to confirm that Walter was responsible for many of her gifts. Plus, now Olivia is not only realizing that she's in the wrong universe, but also that she can travel back and forth under the right circumstances. As Olivia continues to grow as a person, and gains knowledge and confidence of her abilities, this particular talent is sure to play a substantial role in the story.

     If you'll indulge, a quick side trip here. Unlike Walternate, whose alternate name has been widely accepted very quickly, there is much argument over what to call the alternate version of Olivia, currently carrying out some secret mission in our world. I firmly fall into the camp of Fauxlivia (sometimes seen with a dash, as Faux-livia), as it makes the most sense to me, and I will refer to her as such in my tweets and reviews. Other popular suggestions have been Alter-Olivia or Altlivia, which seem clumsy. Bolivia is how she is referred to in the script, because she was called B-Olivia (as opposed to A-Olivia, our Olivia). However, while I guess I understand how that would work on paper (though shouldn't it be Olivia-B, instead of B-Olivia?), Fauxlivia just sounds better.

     Whatever you call her, Torv is doing a bang up job capturing the subtle differences between the two characters, making Fauxlivia a bit dumber (she doesn't have the photographic memory or chemically-enhanced abilities). Fauxlivia is tough, but seems to value muscle more than science. Clearly both versions have potential, but without the same experiences shaping them, they became two different people.

     I have found it sort of odd that Peter (Joshua Jackson) keeps appearing to Olivia. Yeah, I get the explanation that he represents her true self, and that he is the part of her figuring our what's really happening after Walternate brainwashed her into believing she belong in the alternate universe. But honestly, to me it seems like a ploy to keep the third leading character, the one who doesn't have a living counterpart, in each episode week after week. I'm not exactly complaining, as I'm quite fond of Peter, and Olivia has to externalize the conflict somehow. However, let's just admit that it's been done to benefit the actor more than the story.

     This week's guest stars were also fantastic, as they played out a fascinating self-contained story. Aaron Ashmore (Smallville) and his real-life twin Shawn (the X-Men movies) played twins, one of whom was a bank robber and one was an accountant. The accountant was frozen in amber (that's how the alternate universe tries to contain disturbances in the fabric of their existence), but the authorities believed that the victim was his brother. Four years later, the criminal brother rescues his innocent brother, and the Fringe team try to contain the implications. If society at large found out their loved ones could be revived from the amber, they would want to rescue everyone. Ultimately, Olivia's true nature asserts itself, and after the bad brother is re-ambered, she allowed the good brother to live his life in peace.

     Walternate claims that rescuing people from amber threatens the stabilization of the effort. As the Secretary of Defense he is more concerned with security that innocent lives. He has been shaped by a tough existence, though, losing his son, and dealing with a series of disasters caused by Walter's original cross over. I don't excuse his callous nature, but he is more than a two-dimensional villain. What's unclear is if there is any science to support his hesitation to un-amber people, or if he just doesn't want to take any risk at all that might come back to bite him and the people he is trying to protect. It's obvious that he doesn't care about lives in our universe, but at least some of his motivation is to help the people in his world.

     I'm also loving the alternate universe Fringe team. It's so good to have Charlie (Kirk Acevedo) back on a regular basis. I don't think he will be promoted back to main character, as his part has been handled in a reduced role. But the third member of the team, Lee (Seth Gabel, Dirty Sexy Money, United States of Tara), has also been enjoyable. It would be great if our-universe Lee popped up, or if Olivia found him when she returned, and he could be added to the cast. My only hesitance in supporting this move is that Astrid (Jasika Nicole), who is one of my favorite characters, and already gets too little screen time in both universes, would likely lose her precious moments by the addition of other cast members. The screen time surely won't be cut for Jackson, Torv, or Noble.

     I'm content to wait for most of the plot to pay out this season, because although it's been a tad slow unfolding, the writing and acting has been incredibly strong, as is consistent with this great series. However, there are two burning questions that I don't know if the writers ever plan to address, and I'd really like to know the answers: Where is the alternate universe Nina Sharp (Blair Brown), the only main character we haven't seen a second version of? And what happened to F.B.I. Agent Jessup (Meghan Markle), who was sort of put up as Charlie's replacement in season two, but only appeared in two episodes last fall? I'm sure most fans don't care about my second question, if they even remember Jessup, but I liked her, and I'm curious. Even if I'd rather have Lee.

     Fringe airs Thursday nights at 9pm on FOX.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.

Article first published as TV Review: Fringe - "Amber 31422" on Blogcritics.