I review "The Nine" in this morning's column:Reviewing a new TV show requires a certain gift for prognostication. I have to comment on the quality of the first episode, but also guess where the quality level is going from there. Some series pilots give me enough information that I feel like I'm sitting in the command center of the National Weather Service, with real-time barometric pressure data at my fingertips. The pilot for "The Nine" makes me feel like all I can do is spit on my thumb and hold it up to see which way the wind is blowing.
As a self-contained pilot episode, "The Nine" is one of the two or three best -- probably the best -- of an outstanding new season. The characters are vivid, the concept exciting and the execution flawless. And yet it gives me absolutely no clue how good the show will be next week -- or even what it might look like.
To read the rest, click here. We'll also use this as the place to comment on the pilot tonight
I'll definitely come back to see what's next - so good to see so many of those faces back on TV(particularly Michael O'Neill, who rules).
ReplyDeleteOne problem though: Alex Graves. I actually switched off West Wing episodes he'd directed, because all of all the shaking and spinning. I hope he's not in the permanent director pool for this show, or I'm going to have to invest in some Gravol.
Graves is an EP, so I expect he'll be back. And Michael O'Neill may not be around for long--he apparently is a regular on "3 lbs." (House with brain surgeons!) which is a midseasoner on CBS.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with this one is the same one I had when I watched the "Smith" pilot. This is a darn fine 2.5 hour Michael Mann film--it's just not showing itself as a sustainable TV show, especially for the longer term.
I liked The Nine quite a bit. Mainly I watched it for the actors, but there was a good twist around the 30 minute mark. And I like this idea of just following these people around as they share a connection.
ReplyDeleteAnd Daly punched someone out, which is always awesome.
It took about five minutes to remind me why I hate so many primetime crime dramas: The flashy nonsense edits that are supposed to fool the viewer into thinking more's going on than there is. I respect Lost all the more for avoiding that nonsense.
ReplyDeleteBeyond Fox' presence, doesn't the dinner conceit feel like a direct Party of Five nod/steal? And I wonder where Julia, Claudia and Owen Salinger are practicing surgery. Seems to run in the family.
God, I thought I was the only one getting sick from the spinning and back and forth edits. Friggin' annoying. Enjoyed the episode, but if that keeps up I'm not watching it.
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