Nick wants to cry! Martin's clothes are hideous!

[ealgylden]

or, CSI and Without a Trace are back. Yay!

Normally I try to wrangle my thoughts into some sort of sense (if not anything as useful as carolinecrane's very cool Subtext Reports), but this time some while-I-watch note taking is about it for me.



Assume Nothing

- Ahhh! Gil's face! It's fuzzy! Okay, it's weird, but I think I could get used to it. Doesn't help me with my "Gil is sexy?" issue though. I think William Petersen is attractive in the same way that a favorite-but-not-crushable teacher or a friend's dad is attractive- he's nice-looking, but in a non-sexual way. I've never gotten the "Gil Grissom, sex god!" thing that you sometimes see. But the wink at Catherine when she commented on his now-fixed hearing (and hey, that was quick. Goodbye, lingering plotline!) was very cute. I love those two together.

- Love the new clips of Nicky in the credit. So very cute. Less thrilled with Greg's, but oh well.

- Warrick greeting Sara with "hey, girl!" was also cute, as a one-off thing. And she smiled! Yay Sara! See, smiling is a good thing, kiddo!

- Wow, Nicky does not look thrilled to see Owen Wilson-guy rising out of the past. Nick's college years seem to be something he's happy not to think about, thank you very much. Hm.

- Was that Jacqui looking all pulled-back and conservative in the lab? Sounded like her and was doing her job, but so subdued. Weird.

- Archie! Yay! Haircut! Dorky!

- Oh no! Poor Nick! Owen Wilson is a bigmouthed jerk! Poor Nick, always the writers' whipping boy. And he really looked like he wanted to cry when Gil gave him that significant look after Catherine made her "help the killers" comment. His voice even sounded rough and not!teary. At least he was exiled back to the lab, where his fella is. Go get a hug from Greg, sweetie.

- Warrick/Catherine scene! Why oh why do they insist on foisting Gil/Sara on us when there's another pairing that works so much more naturally and convincingly (aside from Nick/Greg, I mean)? Warrick and Cat actually have chemistry, so why not use it?

- 120 degrees? I am so never going to Vegas.

- Nick knows a lot about the Magic Fingers. Huh. Right then, moving on...

- Nick and Greg have their brief plot moment with the coins and the DNA after Nick almost cries in front of Gil, and then the scene cuts away real quick. Why? To deprive our spying eyes of a lovely h/c scene, of course. Dumb CBS. *g*

- oh great, they're Shakespeare-quoting freakazoids. That's original.

- "To be continued"? I didn't know that. Darn. Their TBC lettering looks like the X-Files credits. Neat.


The Bus

- Hey! You teases! You give me Tears for Fears songs that are not sung by Tears for Fears! No fair! They were my favorite band for years and years and "Mad World" is an awesome song. Yeah, shuddup.

- I like Sam's hair pulled back like that. I hate Martin's much-too-short hair, and his awful, awful outfit. Dear god, does he shop at Gullible WASPs R Us? The boy must be blind.

- WaT's Archie needs a name. It's always the same slightly greying, vaguely stressed-looking guy doing the AV and computer stuff, and the actor looks familiar, but I can't place him.

- Gee, Danny needs a shave. And he's really jittery. Actually, they all seem a little off (except Viv. Nothing stops Viv). How much time has passed since the season ender? Are they all traumatised still?

- cute "let's pick on Jack!" banter at the drop. Yes, more of that, please. I get the feeling that Viv (obviously) and Danny have been with him the longest, and then Sam joined the team later. Of course, Danny's comfort level with Jack, as opposed to Sam's, could be due to the fact that he wasn't dumb enough to have an affair with the married boss, but even so.

- ah, okay, let's have Martin and Sam talk kids and families... and reinforce my feeling that they're all wrong for each other. Very, very wrong. But I bet Danny wants kids, Martin. He's good with them, too. You two should talk.

- [eee! Wee RotK commercial attached to the Secondhand Lions commercial! Dernhelm! Almost subliminal flash of Dernhelm! Eeee!]

- aaaaand Sam is coming apart at the scenes. Why isn't she in therapy? I thought that was mandatory after an agent is shot?

- heh, corny Roger Daltry joke from Martin. Yeah, I bet he's a big Who fan. Well, he might be, actually. They're pretty mainstream these days (not to diss The Who, or Roger. He's all cuddly now, and he was Fitz. I loved Fitz).

- wow, Mastermind Mom's a trip. Twirl your moustache some more! Maybe give us a big "Mwa ha ha!"

- but hey, Martin stays latest, just like we all thought. So that's good. Too bad Sam showed up. And they're off for a totally platonic, just-worried-about-a-friend drink. Because I know my boy wouldn't be dumb enough to let himself be not only Rebound Guy, but also I'm-Still-Traumatised-and-Don't-Know-What-I'm Doing Guy. Right? Right. Lalala I can't heeeear you... And what a cheeseball he is, with his "can't have a beautiful woman drinking alone" (or whatever) line. Not very good at chatting up women (even ones he knows). Funny thing, that.

So overall, I didn't think either episode was outstanding, but both were solid and entertaining. My poor Nicky, though. Off to a bad start this season. Don't end up like Case Contaminating Catherine, Nick! You can do better than that!

Comments

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Hate hate hate Martin's new haircut. It's far too short, not at all flattering, and he looks like a dork. And not in that adorkable way, just a dork.

ah, okay, let's have Martin and Sam talk kids and families... and reinforce my feeling that they're all wrong for each other. Very, very wrong. But I bet Danny wants kids, Martin. He's good with them, too. You two should talk.

Hee! Yes, let's discuss adoption, boys *g*

Sam really bugged me in this ep. She obviously needs some counseling after the shooting, and if she's using Martin as the rebound/PTSD thing, I'll be pissed. They have *no* chemistry.

"Mastermind Mom" (heh) amused me, 'cause I didn't see it coming. Plus, she used to be on Sports Night, as this laid-back, amazingly cool therapist, so seeing her in this role was different.

I like Danny all scruffy. He's pretty scruffy. 'Course, he's always pretty, but there are all the different kinds of pretty, and I should really shut up now and stop drooling. Yeah.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

It let me post! Woohoo! ::does happy dance::

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Yay! Finally! Take that, evil LJ! Or wait, should that be, thank you, evil LJ? Hm.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Hate hate hate Martin's new haircut. It's far too short, not at all flattering, and he looks like a dork. And not in that adorkable way, just a dork.

Preeeecisely. Makes his head look weirdly shaped, too, which is never a good thing. And then when you combine it with those dorky clothes... poor Martin. Help him, Danny! It's a desperate situation!

Hee! Yes, let's discuss adoption, boys

I'm just saying, it seems a lot more natural than this Sam/Martin thing. ;)

Yeah, I don't understand why Sam's back working full time, carrying her weapon and everything, when she's obviously only just keeping it together. I'm sure they'll do some big dramatic scene where Jack forces her to get counseling, but she should be doing that already. I'm pretty sure it's required.

"Mastermind Mom" (heh) amused me, 'cause I didn't see it coming.

Oh good, not just me then. *g* I knew her kid was lying when he blamed the bullies, but the rest was a surprise. If she was so bitter about her town, though, why not move? Kidnapping a school bus seems, um, extreme. A bit, anyway.

I like Danny all scruffy. He's pretty scruffy. 'Course, he's always pretty, but there are all the different kinds of pretty, and I should really shut up now and stop drooling. Yeah.

Hee! No no, go on. *g* Yeah, he does look pretty scruffy. I'm just concerned about poor Martin's skin, with all that stubble. He's so pale, after all- beard burn will show.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Preeeecisely. Makes his head look weirdly shaped, too, which is never a good thing. And then when you combine it with those dorky clothes... poor Martin. Help him, Danny! It's a desperate situation!

Maybe the Fab 5 should come in and help Martin out. Carson could get him some cooler clothes! And Kyan could introduce him to hair products.

I'm just saying, it seems a lot more natural than this Sam/Martin thing. ;)

Hell, Martin/random desk would seem more natural than Sam/Martin.

Yeah, I don't understand why Sam's back working full time, carrying her weapon and everything, when she's obviously only just keeping it together. I'm sure they'll do some big dramatic scene where Jack forces her to get counseling, but she should be doing that already. I'm pretty sure it's required.

I agree, I think there's a standard investigation any time an agent discharges their weapon. She killed two guys, so there would *definitely* be someone looking into it, and I think counseling is required now.

Oh good, not just me then. *g* I knew her kid was lying when he blamed the bullies, but the rest was a surprise. If she was so bitter about her town, though, why not move? Kidnapping a school bus seems, um, extreme. A bit, anyway.

Eh, I was on the computer at the time, so I was only paying half-attention to the plot *sheepish grin* And yeah, she did seem a bit extreme. So very bitter.

Hee! No no, go on. *g* Yeah, he does look pretty scruffy. I'm just concerned about poor Martin's skin, with all that stubble. He's so pale, after all- beard burn will show.

Beard burn! Now I'm gonna be watching carefully, to see if Martin shows the signs of having encountered scruffy!Danny *g*

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

"Mastermind Mom" (heh) amused me, 'cause I didn't see it coming.

And here I thought it was telegraphed almost from the start. *G* That's been one of my biggest problems with both WaT and CSI: I almost always know whodunit in the first ten or fifteen minutes.

I didn't mind Martin's hair. It's not as flattering as last season, granted, but it has a soft "pet me, please!" look to it. And I don't even find EC attractive!

Sam annoyed me. Sam has always annoyed me. Sam is one of the reasons I don't watch the show on a regular basis. Viv, otoh, totally rocks and is one of the reasons why I do watch the show from time to time. And Danny. I like Danny.

Jack annoys me, but not in the same way as Sam. Sam is a useless character whose only purpose is the T&A factor, IMO. They need to dump her and replace her with an actress who is both hot and competent.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

And here I thought it was telegraphed almost from the start. *G* That's been one of my biggest problems with both WaT and CSI: I almost always know whodunit in the first ten or fifteen minutes.

Well, part of it, for me anyway, is that I'm really bad at mysteries. Really. I love them, but I rarely guess whodunit (not that I usually try, but still). But I had just figured she was a lousy mom with bad hair. shrug. She wasn't very daunting in her Evil mode, either. Not a very impressive baddie, as they go.

I didn't mind Martin's hair. It's not as flattering as last season, granted, but it has a soft "pet me, please!" look to it.

Like a hamster! Or a Chia Pet! *g* I really liked his hair in its mid-length, slightly spiky look about halfway through last season. Oh well, it'll grow.

I like Poppy as an actress, and Sam had potential originally (if she'd occasionally behaved professionally, I mean), but she's a horribly written character. She gets on my last nerve the way she is now. I agree with you on Viv and Danny- Viv is so wasted. It's criminal that she languishes without a plotline while Sam hogs the stage. And while I liked Jack at first, I'm at the point now where I wish he'd retire or quit and let Viv have the team. He and Sam could run off together, and leave the good characters with the show. That would be nice.

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

Well, part of it, for me anyway, is that I'm really bad at mysteries. Really.

Whereas I tend to be very good at them. I think part of it is being a writer. It's pretty easy for me to look at the basic set-up of an episode and figure out the most logical direction the plot will take. Suppose that's why I tend to like quirky shows and films; they're not as easy to figure out. *G*

Like a hamster! Or a Chia Pet! *g*

LOL! Pretty much. *G*

I really liked his hair in its mid-length, slightly spiky look about halfway through last season. Oh well, it'll grow.

Yeah, that was a nice look on him. I much prefer EC with shorter hair, it suits his features better than that scraggily mess his was sporting in his M7 days.

I like Poppy as an actress, and Sam had potential originally (if she'd occasionally behaved professionally, I mean), but she's a horribly written character.

I actually meant if they replaced Sam with a competent character, not actress. I think the actress does remarkably well with the crap she's given. Sam is just so ... spiteful and petty.

I agree with you on Viv and Danny- Viv is so wasted. It's criminal that she languishes without a plotline while Sam hogs the stage.

Yup. I loved the ep where Viv tries to find out what happened to the missing boxer because he was her son's hero. It wasn't the best plot in the world, but it was a Viv-centric story and she just shined.

And while I liked Jack at first, I'm at the point now where I wish he'd retire or quit and let Viv have the team. He and Sam could run off together, and leave the good characters with the show. That would be nice.

I was thinking the very same thing, actually. Jack has really worn thin on me as a character, and it would be great to see a kick-ass black woman in charge. Aside from S. Epatha Merkerson's character on Law & Order, I can't think of another show that has a woman of color in a position of authority. You see men more frequently--GODS do I miss G. from HOMICIDE-- but it's still rare to find portrayals of women authority figures, regardless of race.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

I actually meant if they replaced Sam with a competent character, not actress. I think the actress does remarkably well with the crap she's given. Sam is just so ... spiteful and petty.

Oh no, I didn't think that was what you'd meant (replacing Poppy, that is). It's just that accusations of misogyny are thrown around so lightly these days (not by you, obviously- in fandom at large) when anyone criticises a young, attractive female character, particularly one who comes between a slash pairing (like Sam does with my lovely Danny/Martin), that it's become a reflex for me to preface all comments with "Well I like Blah Actress, but..." or "Blah Character had potential, but..." Both of those statements happen to be true for me with Poppy/Sam, but still, the reflex is there. And I agree that Poppy has done a great job considering the tripe she's been given.

It really bothers me that all of Sam's plotlines detour through her bedroom sooner or later, and that the writers can't seem to find a way to make her strong and determined without making her bitchy and irrational. And now it looks like her recovery is going to be all tangled up in love geometry stupidity, which shouldn't be the point. I mean, honestly, shouldn't we be past that by now?

And a big, resounding YES to your point about wanting more women of color, and women in general, in positions of authority. Considering how unevenly Sam is written, though, I don't have much hope for WaT being the show to do it. Alas for poor wasted Vivian.

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

It's just that accusations of misogyny are thrown around so lightly these days ... when anyone criticises a young, attractive female character, particularly one who comes between a slash pairing ....

Huh. I guess I'm fortunate in that I've managed to avoid arguments like that. I have been known to get irritated with the way women are portrayed in slash fanfic (when they're dealt with at all), but I generally put that down to bad writing.

It really bothers me that all of Sam's plotlines detour through her bedroom sooner or later, and that the writers can't seem to find a way to make her strong and determined without making her bitchy and irrational.

Right there with ya. The way she's coming off now is petty, vindictive and emotionally brittle. It's like they haven't decided what to do with her, whether she's a competent agent who made a mistake--getting involved with her boss--or if she's an emotionally disturbed basket case and Jack had better start minding the family pets lest they get turned into soup stock in a future episode.

And a big, resounding YES to your point about wanting more women of color, and women in general, in positions of authority. Considering how unevenly Sam is written, though, I don't have much hope for WaT being the show to do it. Alas for poor wasted Vivian.

We've come a long way, but we've still got a lot farther to go. And I remembered another woman of color in a position of authority after posting last night: Anna Deavere Smith as Natl. Security Advisor Nancy McNally on West Wing. I've always liked her character and look forward to her appearances on the show.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Huh. I guess I'm fortunate in that I've managed to avoid arguments like that. I have been known to get irritated with the way women are portrayed in slash fanfic (when they're dealt with at all), but I generally put that down to bad writing.

Yeah, you're definitely lucky. It's possible, sometimes, that poor treatment of women in slash is due to misogyny, but I agree, I think it's generally just bad writing. And it makes me a bit uncomfortable to see serious terms like that tossed around so easily and with so little understanding, until they've lost their meaning. But that's fandom for ya.

or if she's an emotionally disturbed basket case and Jack had better start minding the family pets lest they get turned into soup stock in a future episode.

Hee! Sorry, sorry- I agree with your point and it bugs me too, but that's still a funny image somehow. Maybe because it doesn't seem all that far-fetched anymore and giggling is better than crying for my poor show?

Ooh, Nancy McNally! I forgot about her. She's great. Tough, smart lady. And it's always nice to see Anna Deavere Smith onscreen, even if it's not as often as I'd like.

[aithine]

The lady who plays Paula van Doren (Lynn Whitfield)—Jack's boss on WAT—is black, too. She's a good character so far, I think. (At least what we've seen in the four eps she's been in.)

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

Upon further reflection, I think they should do an ep where Jack disappears and it turns out Sam was responsible. Then we can get rid of them both and Viv will get Jack's job. aithine and I decided it would go something like this (http://www.livejournal.com/users/aithine/13621.html).

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

If today weren't, you know, a major holiday (and thus prime smiting time), I would seriously be making graven images of you guys. Too, too fabulous.

[aithine]

Heeeee! Glad you liked it. :)

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

My work here is done. :-)

Seriously, thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Well, I was on the computer at the same time, so I wasn't exactly putting all my attention on the plot :) Sometimes I like trying to solve the mystery, and sometimes I just like to sit back and be surprised.

I think the actress could be really good if they didn't write the character so very badly. The affair with Jack was the worst, I think, because it really says some bad things about Sam's character.

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

Oh, one more comment. I would have been much more impressed with the use of the song "Mad World" had Smallville not used the very same cover in an episode last year.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Who does the cover? Because he sure as heck isn't Roland Orzabal, more's the pity. WaT is always behind on their music choices anyway- I was really surprised that they used Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" for last season's finale, after three out of five shows had already used it the season before (and often prominently, like on West Wing). They're not really cutting edge.

[ex-declinean757.livejournal.com]

Truthfully? I have no idea. I just remember hearing that exact same version of the song in a Smallville episode a few weeks ago.

WaT is definitely not cutting edge, which is both part of its charm and part of why it irritates me. They have a solid cast and a decent premise to work with. They need writers and producers who can give them plots worthy of the talent they have at their disposal.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Not a problem, I was just curious. It's not like I would want to run out and buy the album when the original is so much better. Really not worth it.

They have a solid cast and a decent premise to work with. They need writers and producers who can give them plots worthy of the talent they have at their disposal.

Yeah. That about sums it up. I have hopes for this season, now that they're a little more secure and have had a chance to work out some kinks, but I don't know. There seems to be an awful lot of Sam on the books for coming weeks. That's not good.

[blue_ant]

Sam is coming apart at the scenes. Why isn't she in therapy? I thought that was mandatory after an agent is shot?

THANK YOU. Sorry. I was shouting (in my head, because my mother slept through the episode) PTSD throughout the episode. God. If they wanted me to feel sorry for Sam, they sure did a bad job.

Don't end up like Case Contaminating Catherine, Nick! You can do better than that!

*snorts* No, see they did it that way so that Greg and Nick can have angst and comfort sex. Or maybe they just do that in my head. Uh ...

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

If they wanted me to feel sorry for Sam, they sure did a bad job.

I felt bad that she's stuck with such a useless boss as Jack. Maybe he's a deductive genius who can find every missing person ever or whatever, but man, is he a terrible leader. He sleeps with one of his underlings, he allows another one to seemingly perjure himself, he quits and rejoins at random, he allows a team member to have full field rights and responsibilities instead of starting her back up slowly while she recovers from her PTSD... if she's not able to make decisions rationally about whether or not she should be in the field yet (and she can't and shouldn't), then it's his responsibility to, and he didn't. Bad call, Jack. And Sam's the one that suffers for it. (I still don't like her much; I just dislike Jack more).

No, see they did it that way so that Greg and Nick can have angst and comfort sex. Or maybe they just do that in my head.

Hey, we're sharing a brain again! *g*

[blue_ant]

I used to like quirky Jack and smart-strong-Sam. But, man. They've just run them down hill. I have to admit there were more times that I cringed last night then during all of last season!

Hey, we're sharing a brain again!

Nice, cozy and filled with slashy!TV :D