Premiere Season

[coalescent]

Yesterday I spent the day in London watching shiny new media - or in the case of The Matrix Reloaded in IMAX, shiny big media. I, and danmilburn, wg, greengolux, pikelet, starofheaven, ajr, fba and others, were able to do this through the generous hospitality of snowking. Quick thoughts on what we watched:

Angel 5x01 - 'Conviction'

Angel season premieres tend to have a lot riding on them, and 'Conviction' is no exception. The episode has the job of demonstrating how the premise established in 'Home ' - AI running Wolfram and Hart - is actually going to work. It has to reassure long-term fans that Angel is still recognisable, if changed, and it has to be fun enough to make new viewers want to come back again.

For the most part, I think it does these things fairly well. The obvious comparison is with 'Lessons', last season's Buffy season-opener. That had a similar credibility gap to cover, was also penned by Joss Whedon, and was also largely solid work. 'Conviction' has a few more directorial flourishes - a seven or eight minute tracking shot through the new offices early in the first act is particularly impressive - but a similarly unspectacular main plot.

'Conviction' establishes all the characters - including Gunn - in niches that seem to have a lot of potential for future development. It etablishes that existing character development has not been forgotten, mindwipe or no mindwipe (the nicest touch being Angel and Wesley responding to a call of 'Boss?'). And it almost establishes why the gang would take this gig in the first place. The remaining piece of evidence we need is a demonstration that they can do some actual good in this position. Not just ameliorate the institutional bad, but do some actual, concrete good - otherwise, as greengolux pointed out, there isn't really a reason why they shouldn't just work their way down Wolfram and Hart's client list.

The episode's other rough spot is Eve, Angel's new link to the Senior Partners. Currently, she's ever so slightly bland. She needs more sass. As to the magical reappearance of everyone-knows-who at the episode's close, well, I'm reserving judgement...

The West Wing 5x01 - '7A WF 83429'

The first truly Sorkin-less episode of The West Wing. Does it measure up?

It's hard to say. It's not a great episode, certainly, but by necessity it's a somber piece, which means that I don't necessarily agree with those who are immediately bemoaning the absence of Sorkin's whip-sharp dialogue. Even if Sorkin had been around, it's hard to imagine this episode playing with any other tone, and I think we're not going to be able to really identify how severe the effects of his leaving are until we get into the bulk of the season.

On this topic danmilburn made an interesting observation, which was that Sorkin may have written the dialogue, but there are plenty of episodes where he's not credited with the original story. It may be that even if the style of The West Wing changes, the substance may be salvageable.

'7A WF 83429' didn't have the in media res approach of many a Wing episode past, but the characters were still recognisable, and the politics seemed to still be reasonably handled. The close of the episode, however - another musical montage, but an overblown, overwrought effort compared to previous uses ot this device - does inspire some concern.

So on balance, the jury's still out.

Smallville 3x01 - 'Exile'

Smallville is my guilty pleasure show. Don't get me wrong, it can have genuinely great moments, but for the most part it's just a frothy mix of comic-book action, angst and sub-X-Files conspiring. There are also the moments only Smallville can carry off, such as the red-kryptonite-enhanced Clark stumling into a phone booth, rending his shirt to reveal a glowing brand on his chest, a brand that looks remarkably similar to an infamous 'S'...

It's possible you have to see that to really appreciate it. Trust me, though, it's nifty. In a deeply geeky way, obviously.

Anyway, 'Exile' is more or less business as usual. Clark is rampaging around Metropolis, Lex is getting all Fight Club on a desert island, Lana appears to have grown a spine, or at least a semblance of one, and Chloe has made a bad hair choice. There are some nice set pieces, more chances for Tom Welling to act a little (the regular Clark is more than a little bland, let's face it), and the possibility of a recurring role for Rutger Hauer. I don't ask for much more.

In addition to watching the above, I was quite chuffed to be lent several tapes of Doctor Who by fba, and gifted with a David Boreanaz-emblazoned towel on behalf of the consortium who went to End of Days back in May. Embarassing pictures of myself with this latter item will no doubt surface in the near future.

Comments

[gagravarr.livejournal.com]

Having now watched the Smallville and Angel episodes, I'm much inclined to agree. Both shows have the potential for a good season, now to wait and see how they pan out

Now to track down a copy of the Tru Calling pilot, and wait for the new 24...