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patricia-resnick
Reviews
The Mentalist: Red John's Footsteps (2009)
Not the Usual M.O.
I enjoy The Mentalist as fairly intelligent, light-hearted character-driven hour of TV, one of few I make a point of catching. This episode, though still loyal to the characters, was much darker and more intense. I won't give anything away here, but I will say EXCELLENT turn by Alicia Witt. I knew she was in it and still almost didn't recognize her. She and everyone else were just excellent in this change of pace. I sometimes get irritated by Jane's characteristic child-like grin, but it was completely missing from this episode, and I found myself wishing that something would happen to bring it back. This episode made me appreciate Simon Baker as an actor. I honestly don't want to leave any spoilers here, but this was just an excellent and unforgettable episode, one that I would gladly watch again, just to see what I missed in the details. I'll end by saying excellent use of Alicia Witt's skills as a pianist.
Star Trek: For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (1968)
Hey, could have been worse! ***SPOILER!!***
I'm being a bit unfair. One thing I will say is that this should have been a 2-parter, or at least had better flow and pacing. There was time spent on things that didn't need that much, to the detriment of segments that could have used more time. Overall, it just needed more time to develop things properly. So, better scripting and, certainly, better direction. Still, I always can watch this episode, which is more than I can say for a lot of First Trek. Ms. Woodville is excellent as Natira, although her accent leaves me more than a bit irritated. "We need her to sound exotic and foreign...I know, a really phony sounding British accent, yeah, that's it!"
On the other hand, we do have James Doohan as the voice of the Oracle, and that's a bit of fun. It's also fun to see Bones get the girl. And get the girl he does, at least until the end. I've seen comments about him riding off into the sunset and leaving her behind, but it seemed more like a mutual decision to me. She also had a role to play with her people, and she chose to stay with them. McCoy had a role to play with his people, and he chose to stay with them.
Each of them understood the other's decision, even if it pained them. That understanding was a part of who each of them were portrayed to be. Bones was, if anything, responsible, and so was Natira. I do wish the series had gone on long enough to see their scheduled reunion in a year's time.
As for the lack of passion, this was television in 1968. There wasn't a lot of passion, at least when the censors were able to avoid it. And Kirk was the love 'em and leave 'em ooey-gooey passionate one on this crew. I think the fact that they married was meant to imply a different kind of passionate side, even if we didn't get to witness it. It also worked better with McCoy's personality; he was just more of a commitment sort of person, and so was Natira.
The love scenes were rather stiff and "directed" looking, but there was a tenderness to the whole thing, or at least I perceived one. By the way, about the Oracle using the heat at the end, the heat allowed them to be made gradually more uncomfortable, including Natira. Of course, they couldn't kill three stars of the show. This was more necessary and useful. If they had killed Natira outright, they wouldn't have had her to motivate the others to stop what they were doing. (stopping Natira's punishment being a motivator)
Yeah, all things being equal, better direction and scripting could have made it better, but it certainly could have been worse!
The Twilight Zone: Kick the Can (1962)
Not Perfect, But It Works For Me (sorta Spoiler)
I'm the first to admit that this episode isn't perfect. What I find interesting is that the things about it that used to bother me or embarrass me now make me wistful. I think perhaps it's helps to get to a "certain age" to really appreciate this episode. I'm not OLD, but I'm old enough now to find it very appealing. I can feel each of the characters inside of me, fighting it out as I maintain my grownup dignity at the expense of my childlike sense of fun and imagination. I'm pretty sure which side I want to win, I just don't want to get locked up for it. The important thing about this episode is that it reminds me to make sure I still have my moments, that I don't harden into deadwood before my time. There is a difference between childish and childlike, and we too often forget that. For me, that's what this episode is about.
Gypsy Caravan (2006)
Stunning!
I stumbled upon this on PBS, and I'm enchanted. I've always been fascinated by the Romani culture and history, and there is so much of that here, tucked in between the songs. There is so much good information here about a people who have been horribly misunderstood and persecuted for most of their history. The movie's approach of wrapping the history and culture into the music, and the stories of the musicians, works very well. The artists, from India, Macedonia, Romania, Spain...all very different, but springing from the same place in the heart. Beautiful, soulful music from beautiful, soulful people. I especially enjoyed Esma, and her stories of life with her husband, Stevo. But I also loved Maharajah, and the other bands. The whole thing is beautifully done. I'll be buying this so I can watch it at my leisure. Don't miss it if you have a chance to see it.
The Twilight Zone: Little Girl Lost (1962)
Excellent episode!
Okay, the acting is a little over the top. That's really the only mild criticism I have of this episode. Overall the whole thing hangs together quite consistently. And besides, I'd be a little wild-eyed dealing with a situation like this one! You've got to cut the scientist a little slack. He's in three dimensions, and he's trying to represent, in two dimensions, the portal to a fourth(?) dimension. I see those curved lines as representing boundaries he can't draw with a two (or even three) dimensional medium. (And yeah, I know the chalk has depth, but you know what I'm trying to say!) This is one of my all time favorites. No surprise it's Richard Matheson.
Ballykissangel: The Reckoning (1998)
funny and a tearjerker (spoiler)
"But I'm freezing!" I'll try not to give this away. It's just such a good episode, each character portrayed so wonderfully. You realize just what a family they've all become to you as you've been watching. Peter as a babysitter/chef, Padraig as a barrister, what a hoot! Jamie, the Irish/Chinese chef. Brian Quigley as the compassionate counselor. Peter as Chicago gangster. This is just such a great episode. And then you have to watch it all fall apart. I never want to watch this one, because I cry every time. But I have to watch it because it's just so good. This is a don't miss it episode of a shouldn't be missed series and program.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Samaritan Snare (1989)
so-so
Not a BAD episode, but I kept wincing at the stilted dialog and direction. Painfully awkward. Not a horrible plot, but very contrived in its development, and for me the whole episode is just plain awkward, from the dialog and direction to the plot and ending. TNG by the numbers, very little imagination or logic, and it seemed to end just because it was time. This is SO not one of the crisp, intelligent episodes that I make a point of catching. I just wish they'd give me a chance to rewrite the dialog, and give the characters more chance to actually express some intelligence, and not move through the scenes like robots. It's TNG, of course, and I'll continue to watch it. Unless there's something better to do.