Another night with only one newbie debut. I've said what I wanted to on "Moonlight," so now it's your turn. Bonus points to anyone who finds a way to trash it that's as clever as "Moonlight sucks" without being remotely as obvious.
You mean that the victim attended Hearst college? Yeah, I caught that too.
I don't know if I care much about these people. The narration is a bit annoying and Forever Knight had a much better pilot episode. [since they both originate from the same source material)
I think it's going for a post-modern thing, but if vampires only inject blood and feel queasy in sunlight, aren't they like glorified heroin addicts?
Buffy/Angel did wry humour better. And Blood Ties, where the pi roles are reversed (Female PI with vampire assistant) established actually chemistry between the leads and threw in other quirky characters that worked.
I really liked Dohring in VM, but I am feeling nothing for this new character. He seems like Logan in a Michael Douglas Wall Street era suit.
I get the sense that they are afraid to be cheesy, and are trying to play this straight... but it's a show about vampires, you need a little cheese to make it work. Even Whedon included it within the self-awareness.
"Moonlight" bites. (No, too obvious...) Bloodless. Fangs, but no fangs. Long in the tooth. "Moonlight" lowers the stakes. Stick a fork in it. Eye-gore.
Bless me Father, for I have sinned, it's been 31 years since my last confession. I watched a promotional video on the internet for "Moonlight". Even though I knew exactly how tired the premise was - the lead character would be the fourth vampire detective on TV - I.. well, I sort of liked it. Something about it appealed to me. As a penance, when the actual pilot makes it to my country I'll sit down and watch it all the way through. Judging by the reviews, that should be enough to redeem me.
Nothing catchy from me, I'm afraid. Just here to say how unbelievably dreadful it was. Myles also needs to work more with her dialect coach--she was sliding in and out of her American accent like a pair of comfy loafers. That professor was from god-knows-where as well.
The only time the screen came alive (so to speak) was when Jason Dohring was on. The others simply can't act. But Dohring managed to make that cheezy dialog work.
There was so much to bemoan in this pilot, but my personal favorite was the professor's doctorate in "mythical anthropology."
Since I never watched "Buffy" or "Angel" or any other vampire-themed TV show (you can stop your gasping now), I feel like I have a pretty 'pure' perspective of the pilot. I hated the voiceover, hated the fake interview at the beginning (which was just really sloppy storytelling), and didn't like the chick who plays the love interest.
However, I do like the main character. And as a female viewer, I think I can say he is very good-looking and I don't mind watching him on screen. He did have some decent dialogue with a bit of a wry humor. And I do like the dark undertones, in that he is the typical brooding vampire who wants to do good things.
Logan seemed oddly cast, but he acted well. The suits were a little much. He looked like he was wearing his father's clothes and playing dress up. I'd rather seem him as a rich, casually dressed vampire playboy.
I'm going to watch a few more episodes. Can't hurt. I watched the whole thing, which is more than I can say for 'Chuck.'
I loved Myles both in "Doctor Who" and "Hallam Foe" but here I couldn't get into any of her scenes. Her accent reminded me of that time when Spike was faking an american accent and was all like "I'm a frrrriend of Xah-nderrrrr's" and everything concerning her character was ridiculous. Going undercover when you're a somewhat public face? Very smart.
All in all, this was the worst pilot this year (the only two I've not seen, and I'm not planning to, are Big Shots and Cavemen) and if this episode was anything to go by, it's going to be so laughably bad that I'll probably keep watching. I mean, please tell me I did not just see Shannyn Sossamon falling from 10 cm above ground in slow motion wearing a white dress that would make Drusilla look sane. Delightful, just delightful.
"Going undercover when you're a somewhat public face? Very smart."
Speaking of the dumbness, how is it St. John was operating with the same name in the same town in 1985? Hasn't anybody noticed he hasn't aged a day since then? Sure, it's LA, but come on.
I kept wondering why I was getting a Beauty & The Beast feeling from this, and it turns out the same guy created both shows. Bye-bye.
Yeah, it was funny how the Greenwalt pasts were very distinct from the Koslow parts. I don't know which one of the two wrote the undercover thing, but I bet it was ol' Ron.
When Mick was running like the wind in the midst of some of the funniest visual effects around, to save the Fair Lady from the hands of evil Professor Dracula (Rudolph Martin played Dracula in Buffy. Subtle!) and then growling while throwing Evildoers around on trashcans it was like watching Beauty & the Beast. Only, with Alex O'Loughlin instead of Ron Perlman, which, hello, bad.
On the other hand, there was definitely an attempt to recreate the Spike-Angel-Drusilla dynamic with Mick, Joseph and Coraline. (or at least you can tell Greenwalt was trying to create the basis for such a dynamic.) But with Greenwalt's departure we'll probably get stuck in an X-Files situation where nothing ever changes between those three after whatever is the state of their relationship in episode 3 or 4.
Another night with only one newbie debut. I've said what I wanted to on "Moonlight," so now it's your turn. Bonus points to anyone who finds a way to trash it that's as clever as "Moonlight sucks" without being remotely as obvious.
Moonlight: More often than not, it's only half-bright.
ReplyDeleteHey, who caught the Veronica Mars reference? (Besides Logan being a vampire.)
You mean that the victim attended Hearst college? Yeah, I caught that too.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I care much about these people. The narration is a bit annoying and Forever Knight had a much better pilot episode. [since they both originate from the same source material)
I think it's going for a post-modern thing, but if vampires only inject blood and feel queasy in sunlight, aren't they like glorified heroin addicts?
Buffy/Angel did wry humour better. And Blood Ties, where the pi roles are reversed (Female PI with vampire assistant) established actually chemistry between the leads and threw in other quirky characters that worked.
I really liked Dohring in VM, but I am feeling nothing for this new character. He seems like Logan in a Michael Douglas Wall Street era suit.
I get the sense that they are afraid to be cheesy, and are trying to play this straight... but it's a show about vampires, you need a little cheese to make it work. Even Whedon included it within the self-awareness.
Moonlight: slightly less painful than a stake through the heart.
ReplyDelete(I'm cheating because it hasn't aired out here yet.)
How about...
ReplyDelete"Moonlight" bites. (No, too obvious...)
Bloodless.
Fangs, but no fangs.
Long in the tooth.
"Moonlight" lowers the stakes.
Stick a fork in it.
Eye-gore.
I'm here all week...
On second thought, to paraphrase one of the New York Post classics...
ReplyDeleteMindless body in bloodless show.
And so, having re-disposed of the monster, exit our hero stage right...
Was the Grey's Anatomy post deleted?
ReplyDeleteA great show for Angel to watch. There's no risk of him having a moment of perfect happiness while it's on.
ReplyDeleteBless me Father, for I have sinned, it's been 31 years since my last confession. I watched a promotional video on the internet for "Moonlight". Even though I knew exactly how tired the premise was - the lead character would be the fourth vampire detective on TV - I.. well, I sort of liked it. Something about it appealed to me. As a penance, when the actual pilot makes it to my country I'll sit down and watch it all the way through. Judging by the reviews, that should be enough to redeem me.
ReplyDeleteI didn't notice it as much on The Shield, but Alex O'Loughlin needs to spend a *lot* more time with Anthony LaPaglia's dialect coach.
ReplyDeleteI heard NBC is going to use Moonlight clips in their Bionic Woman promos:
"Tonight on NBC...Michelle Ryan is slightly more convincing as a human being than anyone on CBS Fridays!"
It's bloody awful. It has no teeth. It's a bat example. Overall, it's just a big ol' drag-ula. They're no Angels. But fangs for trying.
ReplyDeleteWhere did Grey's Anatomy go?!
ReplyDeleteNothing catchy from me, I'm afraid. Just here to say how unbelievably dreadful it was. Myles also needs to work more with her dialect coach--she was sliding in and out of her American accent like a pair of comfy loafers. That professor was from god-knows-where as well.
ReplyDeleteThe only time the screen came alive (so to speak) was when Jason Dohring was on. The others simply can't act. But Dohring managed to make that cheezy dialog work.
There was so much to bemoan in this pilot, but my personal favorite was the professor's doctorate in "mythical anthropology."
WTF?
After two minutes, we fast-forwarded to Jason Dohring's scene, but he appeared to just be playing Logan in a suit and tie, so we gave up.
ReplyDeleteIt was so much worse than you hinted at, Alan.
I liked it. I really like O'Loughlin. I hope the show stays around because I want him for my new TV boyfriend.
ReplyDeleteAccents didn't bother me, but I did notice he sounded like Rob Marrow.
I'm as big a fan of Angel as anybody, but Boreanaz can't act and he isn't nearly as pretty as O'Loughlin.
Since I never watched "Buffy" or "Angel" or any other vampire-themed TV show (you can stop your gasping now), I feel like I have a pretty 'pure' perspective of the pilot. I hated the voiceover, hated the fake interview at the beginning (which was just really sloppy storytelling), and didn't like the chick who plays the love interest.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do like the main character. And as a female viewer, I think I can say he is very good-looking and I don't mind watching him on screen. He did have some decent dialogue with a bit of a wry humor. And I do like the dark undertones, in that he is the typical brooding vampire who wants to do good things.
Logan seemed oddly cast, but he acted well. The suits were a little much. He looked like he was wearing his father's clothes and playing dress up. I'd rather seem him as a rich, casually dressed vampire playboy.
I'm going to watch a few more episodes. Can't hurt. I watched the whole thing, which is more than I can say for 'Chuck.'
I loved Myles both in "Doctor Who" and "Hallam Foe" but here I couldn't get into any of her scenes. Her accent reminded me of that time when Spike was faking an american accent and was all like "I'm a frrrriend of Xah-nderrrrr's" and everything concerning her character was ridiculous. Going undercover when you're a somewhat public face? Very smart.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, this was the worst pilot this year (the only two I've not seen, and I'm not planning to, are Big Shots and Cavemen) and if this episode was anything to go by, it's going to be so laughably bad that I'll probably keep watching. I mean, please tell me I did not just see Shannyn Sossamon falling from 10 cm above ground in slow motion wearing a white dress that would make Drusilla look sane. Delightful, just delightful.
"Going undercover when you're a somewhat public face? Very smart."
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the dumbness, how is it St. John was operating with the same name in the same town in 1985? Hasn't anybody noticed he hasn't aged a day since then? Sure, it's LA, but come on.
I kept wondering why I was getting a Beauty & The Beast feeling from this, and it turns out the same guy created both shows. Bye-bye.
Yeah, it was funny how the Greenwalt pasts were very distinct from the Koslow parts. I don't know which one of the two wrote the undercover thing, but I bet it was ol' Ron.
ReplyDeleteWhen Mick was running like the wind in the midst of some of the funniest visual effects around, to save the Fair Lady from the hands of evil Professor Dracula (Rudolph Martin played Dracula in Buffy. Subtle!) and then growling while throwing Evildoers around on trashcans it was like watching Beauty & the Beast. Only, with Alex O'Loughlin instead of Ron Perlman, which, hello, bad.
On the other hand, there was definitely an attempt to recreate the Spike-Angel-Drusilla dynamic with Mick, Joseph and Coraline. (or at least you can tell Greenwalt was trying to create the basis for such a dynamic.) But with Greenwalt's departure we'll probably get stuck in an X-Files situation where nothing ever changes between those three after whatever is the state of their relationship in episode 3 or 4.
Two very different fates for Veronica Mars alums: Kristen Bell's on Heroes, and Jason Dohring is in this.
ReplyDeleteAnd Colantoni moved back to Toronto!
ReplyDelete