ISN'T IT A LITTLE EARLY FOR A FINALE? Wanted to talk a little about two shows which wrapped up their third seasons last night in fine form. On NBC, we had a solid finale for Parenthood, which managed to service pretty much all of the large cast well. Sure, some of the plot points were annoying (hopefully, this is finally the end of the Crosby/Jasmine merry-go-round) or seemed out of character (Adam's decision about the Luncheonette seemed entirely out of place), but there were plenty of solid moments, including the resolution of the season-long Julia/Joel plot and the brief father/daughter dance between Adam and Haddie, and, as one would expect from a Jason Katims show, plenty of handheld camera montages with a song playing in the background designed to make you emotional. A solid season of a solid show, and I hope we see it back--it's not a ratings bonanza, but it's the closest thing to a critical darling NBC has on the drama side right now, which would seem to help it, along with a finale that makes it easy to cut cast for next season, or at least reduce the number of episodes certain cast members appear in.
Over on USA, there was a finale for White Collar, a show which may be making the leap from "solid fun buddy cop show" to something a bit deeper as it explores questions of redemption and the difference between what is legal and what is moral (while still remaining a fun buddy cop show). It's an interesting hit of the reset button they managed, and I'm intrigued to see where they go from here--there are several directions I could see them going, but many of those marginalize part or all of the current supporting cast.
Best part of parenthood was the Pam across the reception that showed every Braverman dancing, terribly.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful episode of White Collar.
ReplyDeleteThat last shot lingering on Matt Bomer's face was breathtaking.
Been a fan of the show since the beginning mainly because it is a show in which adult friendship is explored in a way that is quite rare in television. I always thought it was underappreciated.
I'm beside myself that 2 1/2 million would even be a feasible offer for the Luncheonette. Gear and potential alone could make that studio worth way more than that. I think Adam made the Adam move, but they may see some legal disputes due to the breaking of their verbal agreement to Gilchrest.
ReplyDeleteLOVED Billy crossing over. Also, I was petrified that Sarah was going to walk into a certain scene, and I'm glad they let go of that trope.
As much as Bob Little freaks me out, I'm proud of the way they are both handling their shit. Life is long, after all, and campaigns are not.
I have hated saying goodbye to Parenthood every time, and was happy to bring into the fold of viewership my first significant girlfriend since the show started. My favorite conversation with her, as we were bootcamping the first season:
ANA: ....So these people show up at every single thing any of them do?
ME: They're the Bravermans!
ANA: Jesus.
(ten minutes later, at another family function)
ANA: ...Wait, they're together again?
ME: They're Bravermans!
ANA: (eye roll) This show is not realistic.
ME: Nope! Want to watch another episode?
ANA: Yes.
I think they had to make Neil run for there to be a show with any narrative arc, and before his sentence was commuted or out of spite for it not having been, but remember each time Peter caught him before it's because he knew what Neil wanted most. Which is now probably to be with Peter. I think they'll do something with the woman on Roosevelt Island, whose set up was a lot like June's, and the reveal that his parents are alive, but the concern is abandoning the crime of the week completely. Does Neil just turn into Mozzie, helping Peter on the sly? Peter's career is also well and proper screwed, even if Neil ran for the right reasons. Is Diana his new boss?
ReplyDeleteThat said, thisis the second time they've done something plum ridiculous, even within white collar's narrative grammar -- half the treasure still being there; not figuring out the con man obsessed with the music box might have been relevant a bit sooner to a story arc involving the music box. I'd buy moz shipped enough to live on in case they couldn't move the rest, but not just under half.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of that way of looking at White Collar, but it makes a lot of sense, and you're right, it's one of the appeals.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was thinking was that Peter quits the bureau and becomes an insurance investigator alongside Sara, but that either requires the other agents to switch sides or appear less regularly.
ReplyDeleteIf you flip it and ask Isn't it a little late for a premier? I caught the pilot for Awake (which I believe starts tomorrow) and it's very good, if people are looking for some replacement TV.
ReplyDeleteThere are a bunch of premieres of new stuff of varying quality (Awake, GCB, Missing, Scandal) coming up, partially inspired by the success ABC had launching Grey's in March of 2005, as well as a large number of returning cable shows (Psych, Fairly Legal, In Plain Sight, Mad Men, Game of Thrones).
ReplyDeleteNo way Peter quits. I doubt he even gets fired, since he can point to Kramer's impure reasons for wanting to further incarcerate Neil. Also, I can't see him not wanting to cathc him yet again. Each no doubt feels betrayed by the other. Peter because Neil ran, Neil because Peter couldn't protect him. As always, gotta listen to Jones -- why force the issue. It sets up the intellectual puzzle of how Neil stays ahead or somehow tries to clear his name, and the moral puzzle of how far does Peter go to catch Neil, if it means making life uncomfortable for Sara, June, or White June. I bet Neil is brought back to NY somehow and winds up working as a PI, somehow on the same cases as Peter and they leave clues for each other, perhaps thru Moz, who likes working with the FBI more than he cares to admit.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I knew about cable shows, but I didn't know the networks premiered new series at this point.
ReplyDeleteIt is too realistic, at least my own family is Braverman-esque (I think my parents have gone to my sister's rec league basketball games on Saturday mornings, she is 30)! I mean I don't join them for these things because I live many many many states and 2 time zones away. These facts might be related.
ReplyDeleteI always wind up nitpicking things after every episode of Parenthood (especially on Alan Sepinwall's blog, since he so nicely does a write up after every one) but I could watch episode after episode. As much as the Bravermans, and some of the head-scratching plot points can be annoying, they can also be very moving, and hit very close to home, especially in the way they portray little moments and family dynamics. It makes me a little sad to think this was the last new episode for a while. (Hopefully it's just a while, if NBC's smart and brings it back)
ReplyDeleteI think we're going to see more off-cycle launches. The two unquestionably successful launches of the fall were "New Girl," which debuted a week early as well as having extensive pre-launch screening/availability, and "Once Upon A Time," which debuted almost a month after the rest of the new shows and got a big launch campaign of its own--the ability to focus on launching one and only one show means more bang for the buck.
ReplyDeleteStrongly hope NBC brings it back (in the fall, I guess?). I was a little worried about Adam turning down the offer in terms of financing Cornell, though, especially since he told Haddie not to worry about it.
ReplyDeleteI do feel like they've had Crosby mature a good bit over the season, bit by bit rather than all at once (with some backsliding with his hissy fit and food fight with Adam here), so that the Crosby/Jasmine wedding seems like a good thing rather than "no! run!" And it was a nice callback with the dishwasher and Jasmine saying she could load it another way.
The Julia/Joel baby plot started so ridiculously but then progressed well and ended so heartrendingly -- I really didn't think Zoe was going to change her mind, until she did. I'm glad they removed their conditions and their first encounter with Victor was handled delicately and went well, though I wonder how Sydney will do with a similarly aged brother (foster brother?) who presumably had somewhat of a troubled homelife (since his mother is not only incarcerated but relinquishing parental rights).
Really like the Micah/Max friendship from last week (though his parents had better get him back playing basketball by talk to the gym teacher about making sure kids pass him the ball, and stopping that archaic and rotten practice of having the kids choose teams).
I don't think Sarah's going to move to New York, not with Amber in California and having trouble -- how good she was when Amber came by and didn't want to talk about it but just wanted to be close to her mom. And there must be places for playwrights in California.
I just watched last night, and was debating how they'll continue now. How do they get back to where they were? And what's Neal's explanation for running? He didn't want to go to jail again? He didn't want to give Kramer the chance to use him in any way?
ReplyDeleteMoving Neal and Peter even closer to being two sides of the same coin is really interesting, and I suspect Peter takes some time to talk to Ellen (was that her name?), and tracks down Neal's parents, and deals with them before Neal comes back. The show doesn't work without Peter's FBI connections, so he'll be in, I'd guess, but he'll be watched. Peter and Elle using Neal's tricks to subvert the system will possibly be a subplot. I'd love to see Elle showing off what she's learned from Neal and Moz!